of it all, right? The Scholarship Fair, the betrayal.
She scanned the corners of the room, along the walls, half-expecting there to
still be bits of broken glass hidden along the edges.
But, nothing. It was just a normal room full of milling people.
Carol, carrying a small box, led her across the floor. People milled all around
her, some carrying more boxes, toting children. None she recognized. Yet, anyway.
The carnival was opening its doors in about fifteen minutes. The plan was to
stick close to Carol, help at the art booth, not wander. Maybe say hi to Peter at
the balloon dart booth, of course. Had to be neighborly.
Speaking of which…
Peter waved from the hallway. Hmm. Could a wave be sexy? She decided it
could.
“Ladies, lovely as always,” Peter said, blue eyes simmering.
Whoa, was Carol blushing? The schmoozer. Wait, was she blushing?
“Should be a big crowd tonight.” Carol grinned, shoving the box at her.
“Kate, can you take these paints to that table, please? I have to check in with Marcie.”
“Here, I can take that.” Peter reached for the box and led the way to the face-
painting booth.
“Thanks,” Kate said once they were at the streamer-decorated table.
He gave her a friendly thunk on the shoulder. “I'll be across the way. If you
need me.”
He ambled through the growing crowd, half a dozen people stopping him to
say hi on the way.
Carol returned. “Okay, we set here?”
“Oh. Sorry.” Kate began to sifting through the box. It was packed with brushes, sponges, and small jars of various colors. “I've never done this before,”
she told Carol, who was busy sorting bills in a metal cash drawer.
“Oh, nothing to it. I did it last year. Here.” She pushed a laminated card across the table. “Here are the designs they can choose from.”
Kate slid the paper towards her. Butterflies, teddy bears, flowers, hearts.
Seemed simple enough.
The gym was becoming noisier as more people filtered in. She swallowed, smiled at a family wandering past. A little girl tugged at her mom's hand, pointing at Kate's table.
“Maybe later, sweetie,” the mom said as they moved on.
Kate fumbled with the brushes, her heart thumping. She felt more nervous than if she'd been giving a presentation to the whole Garman board in a bikini. It was the people. She felt out of place. They all seemed to know each other, laughing, big sudden grins as a new friend approached, kids playing together.
Yeah, one big happy small-town family.
She surveyed the room. Spin-art booth a few tables away. Cakewalk in the corner, in front of the stage. Plastic ducks in a blue wading pool across the way, a boy pulling one out to see if he'd won a prize.
She hadn't recognized anyone yet. Maybe she'd escape the night after all. I
mean, she'd been gone for twelve years. But all it would take would be one Kate
sighting, and the word would spread. Get the pitchforks and torches, Katie Brady
is back.
Why had she agreed to…? Right. A good cause.
She sighed. Okay, relax. It was just for a few hours, right? It might even be…fun.
