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Her brows are scrunched, face worried, but all I manage to say is, “Do you ever feel completely overwhelmed?”
She answers with a snort. “Kate, I’ve got three kids.”
“Okay, fair.” I laugh. “I guess I’ve just been under a lot of pressure lately with my family, and I’m having a hard time letting go.”
As badly as I want to talk to her about Thad, I don’t. We may not be together at the moment, but it’s almost too weird airing out my dirty laundry to a woman I’ve known less than three days.
The symbol across the street blinks for us to cross.
“You know, when I was a little younger than you, my mother wanted me to be a veterinarian.”
“Every little girl’s dream,” I tease.
“Right? Well, my family ran a small animal hospital up in Idaho, and she was hell-bent on me following in her footsteps. But the trouble was, I couldn’t stand the sight of blood. And as you can imagine, there’s a lot of blood involved in being a doctor.”
Her laughter is the warm, laidback kind.
“So, what did you do?”
A sly smile tugs her cheek. “I ran off to Las Vegas and became a stripper.”
It’s my turn to snort. “You didn’t.”
“Sure did.”
Astounded, I ask, “What about your mom?”
“Well, that’s the thing. When other people force their expectations on you, it makes you question everything about yourself. To the point that you start wondering if you’re making the right or wrong decision about even the tiniest things.”
I watch my feet as we walk, every word landing like a punch in the gut.
“Something I learned after being on my own as a dancer is that living your life to please anyone other than yourself means giving up the pieces ofyouthat are worth loving.”
We stop just outside the dress shop, and she smiles softly, looking like an angel with the crown of her red hair reflecting the sun.
“Had I never left, I wouldn’t have met Chuck or had my babies. And I can say, without a doubt, that I’d do it all again.”
The very idea of breaking free from my life in Georgia is enough to get my palms sweating. But then, could I be like Brandi? Could I rip my roots from the earth and replant somewhere new?
“Thank you.”
“You bet.” She winks.
“Can I ask you a question?” I blurt before she reaches for the door. “About Damon.”
“Of course.”
“Is… Does he do this often? With other women, I mean.”
“Do what, exactly?”
She’s really going to make me say it.
“Invite them to stay with him for extended periods.”
My neck burns hot as her face lights with amusement.
“No, Kate. He doesn’t.”
