I was thinking about it now as Vera Sterling took me in with a slightly shocked expression. My brown hair was piled up on top of my head in a messy bun. I could feel the shorter strands at my nape and temples damp with sweat. I wasn’t wearing a lick of makeup, and my oversized-tee-shirt-and-jean-shorts combo left a little to be desired. Especially for a fifty-something church lady who rarely went out without her face on.
“What has that New York City done to you, Candy honey?”
I tried for a smile. “Oh, I was just in the middle of cleaning when I needed to run to the store. Then I decided to stop by Bev’s here and see if the shaved ice was as good as I remembered.”
She still looked a little disappointed in me.
Vera Sterling owned a bed-and-breakfast downtown that catered to tourists. She’d gone to church with my family for as long as I could remember. But she was a nosy woman who made everyone’s business her own. I could only imagine how fast the news of raggedy Candy Judd would make the rounds on the Kirby Falls hotline. A report of my appearance would probably end up in the town’s Facebook group.
Small towns and entitled opinions. Some things never changed.
“Well, Bev’s sure is a welcome treat on such a hot day,” Ms. Sterling offered with a sweet smile as we shuffled forward in line.
I nodded.
“I am just so glad to see you back home, young lady. And I know your parents must be thrilled. All Amy ever talks about is how darn proud she and your daddy are of you.”
I swallowed hard and made myself maintain eye contact. Ms. Sterling didn’t know she was pushing on a tender spot. She was just telling the truth. My parentswerevery proud of me and so supportive.
But I didn’t deserve their constant praise. The fact that I was back home right now proved that.
Ms. Sterling went on, “And such a big-city professional! Well, it’s hard to envision right this minute. But this town has always known that little Candy Judd would accomplish great things.”
Clearing my throat, I managed, “Thank—thank you, Ms. Sterling. That’s very kind.”
I was saved from further conversation when the window slid open and a bored-looking teenage boy awaited the next order.
“You go ahead,” I said to Ms. Sterling. “I still need a minute to decide.”
And then I slipped to the back of the line behind a woman with short blond hair who looked really familiar.
I was so distracted by Ms. Sterling’s words and the reminder of what a phony and a failure I was—crawling home with my tail between my legs after my “big-city” disaster—that I barely noticed when the woman in front of me turned around with a big, pretty smile.
“Hi, Candy. You might not remember me, but I’m Bonnie Jensen—used to be Bonnie Clark. I was a few years ahead of you in school.”
“Oh, hi!” I replied as her face clicked into place with the aid of her introduction. She was one of the Clarks from Grandpappy’s Farm. Her family worked the attraction across the road. “Yes, of course. Laramie was in my grade.”
“That’s right,” she agreed. “How are you liking being back?”
“It’s great,” I said automatically.
Her smile widened knowingly. “You’ll get settled. I imagine it takes some getting used to after living somewhere bigger and brighter for so long.”
“Yeah.” I nodded, grateful that she hadn’t called me on my fib outright.
While it had been nice to be back in Kirby Falls, it had been a challenge too. I loved seeing my parents, but things with Joan had been rocky. The mountains that gave me peace, but after seven years in the city, it was too quiet at night, and I had trouble sleeping.
“So what are you up to now?” I asked, hoping to take the focus off of me.
She tucked a strand of short blond hair behind one ear. “Oh, I married Danny Jensen, and I teach art at Kirby Falls Elementary School.”
“Wow!” I wanted kids of my own, but I couldn’t imagine trying to wrangle twenty of them every day while they wielded tiny paintbrushes and glue sticks.
Bonnie laughed. “I know. It’s not for everyone, but I like it. I love the school and my students.”
“Do you have any kids of your own?” I figured someone who willingly interacted with other people’s children and enjoyed it probably had plans to create their own offspring.
Her light brown eyes dimmed just a little, and I felt like an asshole for asking. “No, not yet.”
