Page 11 of Fools in Love

“Where?” Kate asked, already not interested. It was raining out and probably cold. She was nice and warm in her fuzzy pajamas.

“The Brew-Ha-Ha, to begin with. Then I was going to meet Sara and Brook at Baked for lunch.”

She thought about spending time with her aunt and cousin and perked up a little. Since returning, she’d only seen them twice, since they were busy running their bakery, Sara’s Nook.

“I guess I can go. I’ll need to shower.” She looked at herself.

“That’s fine. Do you need any help?”

“No.” She made her way down the hall, dumped her crutch, and sat on the edge of the bed.

There was a stack of trash bags that she had to wrap her leg with before climbing into her parents’ shower, which thankfully had a long seat along the back.

As she passed her reflection in the mirror, she winced. Her blonde hair was dull, and her eyes were even duller. She looked mousy. Boring. Like a child. Her body, thanks to years of eight-to-ten-hour workout days and a strict diet, was rail thin and full of lean, strong muscles. Her barely-B-size breasts and narrow hips had always been suited to dancing. As a woman of twenty-three, she wondered just what someone would see in her.

She had no future. No possibilities. Would her body go flabby? Would she gain a bunch of weight and let herself become something… different?

What?

She sat in the shower and let the water run over her, her tears mixing with the droplets.

There was still so much she had hoped to do. All of the lead roles she’d coveted. All of the dances she’d yet to learn. All of the theaters she’d wanted to dance in.

All of that was just… gone.

She looked down at her garbage-bag-wrapped leg and felt like hitting something. Instead, she washed her long hair, shaved her good leg and armpits, then climbed out of the shower.

She wiped the fog from the mirror and looked long and hard at her reflection.

About the only time she’d felt alive since her injury was when she’d been talking to Tom. That brief interaction had played over in her mind so many times since then.

Maybe she’d run into him in town?

That thought had her spending a few extra minutes on her hair and makeup.

Since it was still raining, she pulled on a pair of black leggings. It was harder than she’d imagined to pull them on over her bandages. Then she added an oversized white sweater and low-heeled tan ankle boots.

When she stepped out of the room, her mother ran her eyes over her and smiled.

“Don’t you look lovely.” She walked over and hugged her. “You look like you’re feeling better.”

“I am,” she said with a smile.

She allowed her mother to chat the whole short drive into town.

“Oh, I have to go into Patty’s place for a quick stop. Do you need anything?” her mother asked, pulling into the grocery store’s parking lot.

There were a few things she wanted. “I’ll come in.”

“Sure.” Her mother smiled and then rushed around the car to help her out.

This was Kate’s first official outing since arriving in town. If she had thought about it ahead of time, she would have probably taken a little more time to prepare herself for the onslaught of attention.

She knew how Pride worked. It was a small town, and every single person knew everyone’s business. If they didn’t know what was going on in your life, they had no problem stopping you and asking.

Patty O’Neil owned and ran O’Neil’s Grocery. The woman had been at the small store for as long as anyone in town could remember. There were a handful of Pride townspeople, like Patty, who were… well, staples.

Even though she was getting older, she was as boisterous as ever.