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Chapter Nine
At eight o’clock on Friday, a knock sounded from the front door. Kylie opened it to reveal Audrey, her shorter frame looking comfortable in fitted jeans and a flower print T-shirt under a denim jacket.
“I should find something more casual.” Kylie looked down at her ridiculous outfit of acid washed skinny jeans under her tall black stiletto boots. Her shirt was a slouchy white blouse that came down over one shoulder with a turquoise tank top underneath. She’d accessorized with a chunky necklace and big hoop earrings.
“Well, you’ll definitely be the best dressed person in the garage.” Audrey gave Kylie a welcome hug.
“I look stupid, don’t I?” she said.
“Not at all,” Audrey said. “You’re like a magazine spread.”
Kylie chewed on her bottom lip, then took out the earrings and swapped the necklace for a knit scarf from the hallway closet. It would have to do since she didn’t have clothes that were more casual than that. She displayed the result to Audrey.
“Better.” She nodded.
Nick’s house was on the other side of the village proper, which was to say it was four blocks away, so they headed down the sidewalk.
“What was your job in Toronto anyway?” Audrey asked as they passed the Burger Hut.
“I was the Social Media Coordinator for Toronto Children’s Hospital,” Kylie said.
“Cool. What does that mean?” She laughed.
Kylie laughed too. Her title did sound much more official than her job ever felt.
“I ran the social media accounts for the hospital,” she tried to explain. “I posted fundraising events and press releases and answered questions from the public. Also, I’d post updates on initiatives and do staff spotlights.”
“Wow, that’s pretty cool.”
“Yeah, I really loved it.” A now-familiar choke gripped Kylie’s throat, and she blinked back tears.
“What are you going to do now?” Audrey asked.
“I have no idea,” Kylie said. “Are you planning on staying at the farm?”
“You know what? I am. At first, I was only coming home for a bit until Hank could hire some help, but after a year I started the riding lessons. A year later I got the job at the pet store. And now I’m kind of happy here. I know, it sounds sappy, but I like it here. It’s home.”
“Yeah, home is nice,” Kylie said. “But don’t you want to see the world?”
“Because I can save so much money, I travel once a year. Last year was Egypt, and this year I’m booked for Peru. I see plenty of the world, but this is where I want to come home to.”
“That’s awesome. I always wanted to travel the world, but living in Toronto is too expensive to save up for travel. I got sent on a few work-related trips, but the farthest I got was Vancouver.” Another failure on the list.
“Can I ask a question?” Audrey said, elbowing her.
“Sure.” She knew what was coming.
“Why did you fall off the face of the Earth after high school?”
Fair question. “I know. It was really crappy of me.”
Audrey gave her serious side-eye.
“I wanted a fresh start where no one knew me.”
“Was I such a terrible friend?”
“No, not at all.” Kylie never dreamed her distance would make anyone else feel bad. “I had such a hard time fitting in in high school. I wanted to remake myself when I left.”
