glass of water.

“Here you go, dear.” She sat on the edge of the couch near Kate. “So, how

was your drive?”

“Fine.” Kate popped the two pills and chased them with the water.

“Just fine?” Carol was smiling but seemed worried by that answer.

“Just fine, yes. Fine is sometimes just…fine.” She rubbed her throbbing

temples.

“I suppose a lot of the town seems different?”

“Some.” Actually, most of it seemed pretty much the same. She had gotten

used to the fast changes of life around Chicago. Boutiques and restaurants popping up and disappearing like dandelions. Small towns seemed a little more

loyal to existing businesses. Maybe because nothing much ever changed.

“It was a nice day for a drive. I'm sure Peter enjoyed seeing you again.”

Had he? She wasn't so sure. She wasn't so sure she had. Her temples

thumped. “I suppose.”

“Did he take you past the Community Center?”

She had to think. “The old school? Yes.”

“Oh, good. I mean, I wanted you to see it sometime while you were here.”

Kate cocked an eye at her friend. There seemed to be something on her mind. Carol sat with her hands folded on her lap, just staring at her as if she had

something she wanted to blurt out but was afraid to. She was as transparent as thin air.

“Well, I was there, and we saw it. You can check it off the list.”

“It's where they're having the Homecoming Dance in a few weeks.”

There it was. “Really?”

“Yes, the theme is 'Making it Rad in the Eighties,' and they're decorating it to

look just like it did in the eighties. You know anything about the eighties?”

“Yes, I believe I read something about them in a history book once. It was

some sort of decade, right?”

Carol never got her sarcasm. “Yes, well, they're having eighties music, and

everyone is supposed to wear eighties clothes and have eighties hair. It's all going to be very…”

“Eighties?”

“Yes.” Carol still sat with her hands on her lap, smiling, watching her.

Kate sighed. It looked like she was going to have to play this out or Carol would stay that way until February.

“Teachers are invited, you know. To the dance.”

“Really?”

“Yes. They're allowed to bring dates, too.”

“How nice.”

“I don't believe Peter has a date yet, though.”

“That's so very sad. But I'm sure some hometown girl will snatch him up soon enough.” She thought of Penny Fitch. Her temples pulsed harder.

“I think someone sounds a little jealous.”

“Don't be ridiculous. But someone is getting a little miffed at her nosy but lovable old friend who keeps dropping hints about her neighbor like slippery sledgehammers. I'm not interested. I have work to do. And I won't be around, anyway. I'll be in Chicago.” Her brow furrowed. Unless she had to come back to

do more follow-up for this proposal…

“All I'm saying is that you're here and Peter's there…” She pointed at Kate

and then out the window. “And as long as you're here and he's there…”

“As long as I'm here and he's there, we're going to stay right here and there.

Where we were. Or are. Or…” Kate threw her hands in the air. “You've been doing this to me all day. You get me all worked up, and then I do something stupid like asking him for a ride.” She stopped. “Well, I'm not a dopey little high school girl anymore, and I can take care of my own life, thank you.”

“He's fixing your tire.”

She'd forgotten about that. “He is?” She cranked her neck to see out the front

window. All she could see was the porch and the back of her car.

“Yes. I saw him go by the house with his tire-fixing thingy a few minutes ago.”

Kate jutted out her bottom lip, thinking. Maybe she should go out. Say thanks.

“Maybe you should go out and thank him,” Carol said.