Page 62 of The Friendship Pact

Chloe waved to them as she helped a customer.

“This is by far my favorite place to shop,” Kate said. “I bought my outfit for the wedding here. Chloe redesigns dresses into her own style.”

“I wondered where you’d gotten that. I’ll have to find one for myself.” Jill took off toward the rows of dresses.

Chloe came bounding over. She had bejeweled her U2 T-shirt, adding sparkly ornaments to the Joshua tree. She wore her favorite combat boots and had fashioned a red-and-green streak in her hair. “Hey, Kate. Or should I start to call you sis? I’ve always wanted a sister.”

“Not you too.”

“What? A girl can dream.”

“So, I see you have some new shirts,” Kate said.

“Yes, and I’ll let you change the subject for now, but . . .” Chloe pulled her to the opposite side of the store and said in a whisper, “I feel I need to say one thing. I know you’re only fake dating, but seriously, my brother is a good guy, and I don’t want him hurt. I don’t think he’s faking. So be gentle with his heart. It’s been broken before.”

“I know, Chloe. We have an understanding.”

“Okay, good. I trust you. Your mom just came out of the dressing room, looking for you.”

Kate felt like the worst of the worst. Pond scum. Bubble gum stuck to the bottom of a shoe. Worse—dog poo kind of horrible. This town loved Sheriff Nicholas Reid, and she was playing with his emotions.

She followed Chloe, zigzagging through numerous displays of shirts, jeans, purses, and fun Christmas items like a pooping reindeer candy dispenser.

“What do you think?” Jill stood in front of the three-way mirror, wearing an ice-blue gown with silver chains looping across the open back. A slit ran up the side to just above her knee.

“Gorgeous. You look fantastic, Mom. I hope I look like you when I’m your age.”

“You will. It’s in the genes. Besides, you take after your father’s family, who don’t seem to age. I swear, you have the best traits from both of us.”

“Should I wrap it up for you?” Chloe asked.

“Definitely,” mother and daughter said in unison.

Jill sashayed in front of the mirror. “I’m still looking for something to wear to Christmas dinner at your parents’.”

“We’re pretty casual. I’ll bring a few outfits for you to try on.”

“Great. Thanks, Chloe.”

Jill went into the dressing room to change out of the dress.

“Come on,” Chloe said to Kate. “Help me find a few blouses for your mom.”

After spending over an hour in Rural Chic Boutique, their arms were weighted down with shopping bags. Kate should have known better and driven the two blocks instead of walking.

She wrestled with the bags, relieving her mom of the heavier items. “Let’s head home.”

Jill shifted the shopping bags. “I still have to buy something for Nick. Plus, I’d like to stop at Fran’s floral shop for a hostess gift. What does Nick like? What did you buy him?” A grin formed on her red lips. “Unless you don’t want to share. I’ll understand.”

OMG. No, mom. I don’t want to share, because I didn’t buy him anything. “I’d rather not share, but I do have an idea for a stocking stuffer.” She was getting better at lying. But she had an idea. Just a small gift she’d give a friend. “I’ll need my car to get it.”

“Sounds like an adventure. We’ll drop off our bags, pick up your car, and have lunch. Then we can run more errands.”

“It’s a plan.” Surprisingly, even after a substantial breakfast, her stomach growled, and she craved a large Cobb salad.

* * *

After lunch, Kate drove her mom out to the gun range. “I can run in quick if you don’t want to come in,” she said.