At Home in Last Chance

by Cathleen Armstrong

  “Well, that’s Last Chance. They’re not nosy; they just care.”

  “Baloney. They’re nosy, and you know it.”

  “Well, maybe they are a little nosy.” Chris grinned. “But they do care. When you’re not used to having anyone really care about your life, it does take some getting used to. I know. I had a problem with it too when I first got here.”

  “Personally, I can do without so much caring. I’m sure by breakfast all of Last Chance will be caring deeply that Steven Braden, of all people, shut me down in the middle of the Dip ’n’ Dine.”

  “Oh, come on. He just said he already had plans for this Saturday. It happens. He did say he’d like to come another time.”

  “Yeah, right. That’s going to happen.”

  “Suit yourself.” Chris went back to his computer. After a few minutes he closed it and set it on the coffee table. “There’s something else I want to talk to you about, though.”

  Kaitlyn just looked at him.

  “That conversation you had with Juanita this afternoon, when you told her how much you hated working at the Dip ’n’ Dine?”

  “Oh, Chris, do we have to talk about that now? I’m so not in the mood. It couldn’t have come as a surprise.”

  “No, it didn’t. I knew you didn’t want to come to work there, but I hoped once you settled in, you might like it a little better.”

  “Sorry.” She buried her face again in the pillow she held.

  “We need to figure something out then, Kaitlyn. In the first place, as your brother, I hate to see you so unhappy. But as the owner of the Dip ’n’ Dine, I don’t want employees who hate working there. It shows, and it’s bad for business.”

  Kaitlyn looked up at Chris. It hadn’t occurred to her that he might think she was bad for his business. He was her big brother. He had to make a place for her, even if she didn’t want it.

  “Got any ideas?” He raised an eyebrow. “There are just not a whole lot of options here in Last Chance, you know.”

  She smiled. “Funny you should mention options. That’s exactly what Elizabeth and I talked about yesterday.”

  “Oh? Come to any conclusions?”

  “She seemed to think that there were a lot of options and that I should start praying about them.”

  “She is a wise woman.”

  “Since then, I’ve been thinking I might want to get my New Mexico cosmetology license.”

  “Really. Then open a shop here in Last Chance?”

  “I wouldn’t go that far, but who knows? I guess that’s one of the things I need to pray about.” The words sounded so odd to Kaitlyn’s ears, but right nonetheless.

  “I’ll pray too.” Chris reached for his computer again. “Meanwhile, let’s see what it would take to get your New Mexico license.”

  Kaitlyn scooted next to him so she could see the screen too. There was a time in her life when she had prayed, but that had been long ago. And she had the feeling that when she did start praying, there was a whole lot she was going to be talking over with the Lord before she even got to the subject of her salon.

  Actually, the next day went a lot better than Kaitlyn was afraid it might. It only took until about 10:00 to convince Juanita that she did not want to talk about Steven, his plans, or anything that happened the day before and only until around 1:00 for Juanita to get over being miffed about that. After that, things went smoothly until it was time to go get Olivia.

  “Do you want to do something Saturday? It’s just going to be the two of us now.” Kaitlyn sat at the kitchen table at Elizabeth’s house watching Olivia try to interest Sam in a piece of yarn she was dragging across the floor.

  Olivia looked up. “Like what?”

  “Oh, we could go out for pizza, or a hamburger. Maybe see a movie.”

  “Could we go to that place we went to with Steven? The one where you put the quarters in for music?”

  “Oh, Livvy, really?”

  Suddenly going to San Ramon for the evening didn’t sound like such a good idea after all. She hadn’t thought about bumping into people.

  “But I like that place.” Olivia drew the words out in a long whine.

  “How about this?” Kaitlyn tried to keep her voice light. Olivia’s days started before 5:00 a.m.; she was entitled to be a little tired and cranky this late in the day. “Let’s go ahead and make the mac and cheese with hot dogs together like we planned. We can even eat it on the coffee table while we watch Pocahontas. Then we’ll give each other manicures and pedicures.”

  “Sounds like fun. Can I come?”

  Kaitlyn jumped as Sarah walked into the kitchen. “Hey there. Didn’t hear you come in.”

  Sarah grinned. “I learned where all the squeaky boards were when I lived here during high school. Gran is a very light sleeper.”

  Olivia scrambled to her feet and threw her arms around Sarah’s waist. “Sure, you can come. I’ve got blue sparkle polish and purple sparkle polish. You can pick.”

  “Sarah’s going out with Uncle Chris Saturday, remember? That’s why we’re having our girls’ night.”

  “Oh, right.” Olivia dropped her hands, clearly disappointed. “Well, why did you ask if you could come then?”

  “I guess I was wishing I could come. It sounds like you’re going to have so much fun.” Sarah gave her a quick squeeze before dropping into a chair across the table from Kaitlyn. “How’re you doing? Seems like I hardly ever get to see you.”

  Kaitlyn sighed. “I’m doing fine. I’m doing just great, thanks. I don’t know if Chris sent you to check on me, or if you thought of it on your own. But believe me, I’ll survive.”

  Sarah looked at her in puzzled silence for a moment before bursting into laughter. “Oh, you think I came in to pat your poor hand and commiserate because my dumb cousin has other plans Saturday? Like that’s a surprise? No, Gran’s moving to the rehab center tomorrow, and I’ve come to pack her a suitcase. She gets to wear her own clothes. Yay. Besides, why would I think you’re falling apart over Steven, anyway? You’ve got way more sense than that.”

  “Steven’s not dumb.” Olivia, who had gone back to trying to entice Sam with the yarn, glared up at them. “Calling people dumb isn’t nice anyway.”

  “You’re right, Livvy. Words do hurt. Thanks for reminding me.” Sarah turned back to Kaitlyn with a weary smile. “There you have teaching in a small town. You’re never away from the classroom.”

  “Yeah, I’m learning all about life in a small town. Who told you about Steven and his plans, anyway?”

  “Chris, of course. We may not see each other a lot during the week, but we do talk. He says, ‘How was your day?’ I say, ‘How was yours?’”

  “Oh.” Kaitlyn was beginning to feel a little silly. Maybe she was making just a little more out of this than it warranted.

  “But I’m much more interested in the news that you’re thinking about getting your New Mexico beauty license. Is that true? Say yes.” Sarah grabbed Kaitlyn’s arm and gave it a little shake.

  “Maybe. I just started thinking about it.”

  “Well, when you finish thinking about it, do it! Then open a salon right here in Last Chance. Please, please, please. You have to.”

  Kaitlyn grinned and shook her head. Sarah Cooley’s enthusiasm was hard to say no to. No wonder her brother was toast.

  “I don’t know. That’s jumping way, way ahead. But it would be easy to transfer my license. The requirements for both states are identical, so all I need to do is prove my Arizona license is valid, and it’s done. Then I could maybe get a job at a salon in San Ramon, or even volunteer up at that convalescent home where Elizabeth is staying. It’s kind of exciting to think about.”

  “Well, I love it, so keep thinking about it. But don’t go work in San Ramon. Open a place here in Last Chance.” The phone Sarah had placed on the table vibrated, and she picked it up and smiled at the screen. “Excuse me, would you? He only calls from work when he has something to say.”

  “Go ahead.�
� Kaitlyn watched her head down the hall, cradling her phone to her ear. She was happy Sarah and Chris had found each other, really she was. If anyone deserved the outright adoration that lit Sarah’s face when she saw him, it was Chris, and he more than returned the devotion. But if she were honest with herself, Kaitlyn had to admit that seeing them together, or even hearing them speak about the other, sometimes made her feel so alone that she thought she might break in half.

  “You’ll never guess.” Sarah came back in the kitchen, tucking her phone back in her pocket. “Your mom just called Chris and invited him and me up to Scottsdale next weekend. Sounded kind of like a royal command.”

  “Yeah, that’s Mom. She probably shuffled some stuff around on her calendar and inked you in. Announcing your engagement got you on the priority list. After all, she has to meet you if she’s going to start telling everyone how adorable Chris’s fiancée is.”

  “What if she doesn’t think I’m all that adorable?”

  Sarah really did sound worried, and Kaitlyn gave an airy wave of her hand. “Oh, you’ll be adorable by definition. You’re going to be her daughter-in-law, and everything concerning her is top-notch. Except me.”

  “If that was supposed to make me feel better, it didn’t.” Sarah’s forehead puckered in a frown. “Now I’m really worried.”

  Kaitlyn looked over at Olivia. “Livvy, honey, we’re going to have to be leaving in a minute. Go put that yarn back in the sewing room, would you please? Be sure to wind it back up in a ball.”

  When Olivia left, she turned back to Sarah. “Don’t be worried, but let me give you some advice. First of all, do not try to impress her or act like you need her approval. She can smell that like a shark smells blood in the water, and she’ll forever hold it just out of your reach. Be yourself, and let her tell everyone how adorable you are. Second, remember that when the weekend’s over, she’s staying in Scottsdale, and you’re coming back to Last Chance with Chris.”

  Sarah did not look at all comforted. “Good grief, Kaitlyn, now I’m terrified. Don’t ever try to talk anyone off a ledge. It would end in disaster.”

  Kaitlyn laughed as they stood up and enveloped Sarah in a hug. “Don’t be. I mean that. I’m just saying be yourself without worrying too much about what Mom thinks, that’s all. The rest of us, including my dad, think you’re great. Especially Chris, and he’s besotted.”

  “He is not. What’s besotted?” Olivia had rejoined them.

  Kaitlyn handed Olivia her backpack and jacket. “It means he’s crazy about Sarah. Come on, we need to get home.”

  “Oh, that.” Olivia didn’t seem inclined to pursue that line of conversation and headed for the front door. “Bye, Sam, see you tomorrow.”

  Kaitlyn followed. At the front door, she turned and smiled at Sarah. “Seriously, do not worry one way or the other about making a good impression on Mom. You’ll do fine.”

  “Yeah. Right. Thanks.”

  Sarah’s smile did not reach her eyes, and Kaitlyn felt a twinge of conscience as she followed Olivia to the Jeep. Maybe she should have stayed out of it. Certainly, when Chris heard about the conversation, as Kaitlyn was sure he would, that would be his strongly vocalized opinion. But she could not let Sarah go in there expecting to find warm acceptance, expecting to be loved, only to find that no matter what she did, she would never quite measure up to Brooke Reed’s standards. That just hurt too much.

  No one made a conscious decision Sunday morning to leave Elizabeth’s place on the aisle vacant, but when they all sat down, there it was. In the few months she had been in Last Chance, Kaitlyn had never seen that spot empty, and she had a feeling that if asked, most of the people who came every Sunday would give a similar answer. But Chris and Sarah had gone to see her at the convalescent home last night after she got settled in and said she was ready to get to work, so maybe it wouldn’t be long till she was back where she belonged. Kaitlyn hoped so. She had come to church under protest in the beginning only because Chris wanted her to and because he said he always took Olivia. But Elizabeth had been so delighted at her presence, and had made her feel so welcome, that she didn’t protest quite so much the next time. Now, just a couple months later, Sunday worship services with the family were as much a part of her life as weekdays in the diner. She wasn’t quite ready to give Chris the satisfaction of telling him, but she was beginning to look forward to going.

  Lurlene took her place on the podium and nodded to the pianist. As the music filled the church and the choir filed in, Kaitlyn felt a movement at her left elbow and turned to find Steven sliding in next to her. She glanced up at him, he smiled, and she turned back to the front. Lurlene announced the first hymn, and he picked the hymnbook up, found the place, and held it out for her to share. She took it—it would have been rude not to—but she didn’t look at him. Steven had a nice tenor voice, and he sang harmony to her soprano. With Chris’s strong baritone, Elizabeth’s family pew sounded pretty good. Of course, there was Sarah, who never quite hit the key, but she sang with joy and gusto anyway. Elizabeth would have been proud.

  Although she did her best to ignore him, Kaitlyn found, to her annoyance, that throughout the service, she was increasingly aware of Steven sitting next to her. It wasn’t that he did anything to draw attention to himself. He just sat there listening, occasionally shifting position or clearing his throat, chuckling when Brother Parker made a joke, leaning over to read from the Bible Chris had given her when a Scripture reference was given—even flipping through the minor prophets to help her find the book of Micah as if he had the whole thing memorized.

  By the time the final hymn was sung, she was thoroughly rattled, furious at herself for allowing him to rattle her, and ready to make a run for the door. But stuck as she was between Chris and Steven, she didn’t have much choice but to stand there and wait for someone to move.

  “Hey.” He gave her a crooked smile. “I’ve been hoping we could talk. Are you busy this afternoon?”

  Kaitlyn shrugged. “I don’t know. Why?”

  Steven ran his fingers through his hair. The smile was gone. “Because every time I try to talk to you, something goes south, and you wind up mad at me again. I hate that. Especially since it usually involves a misunderstanding of some kind. What do you say? Can we go somewhere and just talk?” He grinned again and gestured with his chin at Chris and Sarah, moving down the aisle hand in hand. “I mean, we’re going to be kin, or close to it, pretty soon. Don’t you think we should at least be on speaking terms?”

  Kaitlyn watched Chris and Sarah head into the vestibule before looking back at Steven. Just a few days ago, she had been ready to get to know Steven a little better, and when you got down to it, the only crime he had committed was having prior plans. Not exactly a capital offense. She looked back at him and smiled. “Okay, I guess we can talk. I have to go get Livvy from Sunday school, but Chris and Sarah have already promised to take her to San Ramon for ice cream. I wasn’t going to go with them anyway. Shall I go tell Chris I won’t need a ride home after all?”

  A real smile broke through. “Yeah. I’ll go with you.”

  Steven looked over at Kaitlyn as he left the church parking lot. Man, she was so pretty, and whatever the outcome of the day, he really hoped that they could be friends. Olivia had wanted to come with them instead of Chris and Sarah, but fortunately, when she found that their plans did not include ice cream, she decided to go on with Chris and Sarah. It wasn’t that Steven didn’t like having Olivia around. He did. But today he just wanted to be with Olivia’s mom.

  They rode in silence as Last Chance disappeared behind them and the desert took them in. Steven had so much he wanted to say, but he just didn’t know how to begin. Kaitlyn didn’t seem to mind, though. He kept taking little glances her way, and she leaned her head against the headrest and gazed to the side. Finally she caught him looking.

  “What?” She smiled an easy smile.

  “Truthfully? I’m afraid of blowing it again.”

  “Blo
wing it? How?”

  “Oh, you know, saying the wrong thing. Seeing you close up, shut me out.”

  There, like that. Steven turned back to the road. Maybe he should give up. This really was going nowhere.

  He heard her gusty sigh and looked back over at her. When she turned to him, she smiled. Or tried to.

  “I’m sorry. I know I’m prickly. I don’t mean to be, really. I even try not to let things get to me, but I can’t help it. I just keep looking for that barb beneath the surface.”

  “Well, you won’t find any barbs with me. I promise you that. I don’t know. Depending on how well we get to know each other, we might disagree about stuff, even argue. But I’ll always be straightforward with you. You can count on it.”

  “Thank you.” This time she did smile.

  “Okay, since we’ve got that settled, I think we should clear the air. I know you’ve heard some things about me, likely from my own dear grandmother and cousin, so is there anything you’d like to know? Ask anything you want. Go ahead, I’m game.”

  He waited, determined to be honest, no matter what she asked.

  “Okay, I do have a question.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Did you have a good time last night?”

  He gave her an injured look, which she returned with a sweet smile. He wasn’t expecting to talk about last night.

  “Well, you said I could ask anything.” An angel couldn’t have sounded more innocent.

  “No, I did not. I had a rotten time, thanks for asking.”

  “I’m sorry.” She really did sound concerned. “I was just teasing you a little. What happened?”

  Steven took a deep breath. “Well, I went to a party with a friend from high school—Jen, you met her, remember? I knew just about everyone there, and it was like every other party I’d been to since high school. The same people were drinking just to be drinking, partying just to be partying, pretending it all meant they were having a good time, and suddenly I was so bored I knew I’d go nuts if I didn’t get out of there. Jen didn’t want to leave, so she got someone else to take her home, and I was back at the ranch by 9:00.”