Kate let herself in the front door with the key Carol had provided and found her

host unloading the dishwasher in the kitchen. She snuck up behind her. “Need any help?” Kate said loudly.

Carol dropped a metal mixing bowl that clanged to the linoleum and

wobbled under the table. She clutched her chest as she whirled around. “What in

the world?”

Kate stood with her arms folded. “I thought since you were such a great help to me today, I'd return the favor.”

Carol smiled weakly. “It was no problem at all.” Her face wrinkled in

confusion. “What did I help with?”

Kate put her hands on her hips. “As a matter of fact, a lot, as it turns out.

You reminded me of the reasons why I live in a big city.”

Carol pretended to straighten a loose lock of hair. “I'm still not sure—”

Kate gave an exasperated sigh. “You and Lucius and your little

matchmaking scheme.”

Carol kneeled down to retrieve the bowl under the table. “Well, I don't see

the harm in two old friends catching up with each other.”

“And I don't need someone shoving an old high school crush down my

throat…” She stopped, put her hand to her head. “I'm sorry, Carol. I didn't mean

that.”

Her friend gave her a swat on the arm on the way to the sink. “Oh yes, you

did. Don't worry. I've been called a busybody before.”

Kate managed a smile. “I doubt that.” Carol was one of the kindest, sweetest

people she'd ever known. Her heart was always in the right place. It was her brain that got a little ornery at times.

“Not to mention that on the way home I was accosted by my high school math teacher, a woman who says she was the friend of my mother's hairdresser,

and Denny Anderson, who's now apparently a police officer. All of whom

remembered good old Katie Brady. You'd think this town put out wanted posters

of anyone who's ever left here.”

“Oh, it's just a friendly town. You know that.” Carol put the bowl on the counter then moved to the table and sat.

Kate followed suit, pulling out her phone. Better check email, make sure

nothing had changed for tomorrow.

“So,” Carol ventured. “How was Ray's?” She pretended to rub a spot off the

table.

“We just had coffee.”

“Oh. How was Peter?”

“Fine, I guess.”

“Oh. Did you have a pie shake? Lucius says Peter's favorite is pecan pie.”

Kate sighed. She knew her friend would never drop this, so she might as well get it over with. “Carol, if I give you ten minutes to talk about my coffee

with Peter will you promise to never bring him up again?”

“Fine.”

“Good. Coffee was fine. Peter looks fine.”

Carol gave a sly smile. “Yes he does, doesn't he?”

Kate made a face. “You know what I mean. He looks…content, I guess. He

seems to like being here. Teaching, I mean.”

“He does. And from what Lucius tells me, he's very good. His students love

him. Did he tell you he just got voted State Science Teacher of the Year?

Youngest one ever.”

That caught her. “Really? Wow…no. But I guess he's not one to blow his own horn.”

“No, he isn't. Just another one of his many fine qualities.”

Kate shook her head. “I know what you and your partner in crime, Lucius,

are trying to do, but before you get too far into the matchmaking, I'm letting you know now. High school was a long time ago. I was just a kid, and so was Peter,

and that's all. Everyone needs to grow up sooner or later.”