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?”
