It hasn’t even been that long since I left, but I’m different now.
I round the corner of the aisle, my nose buried in my list, and immediately crash into another cart.
“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry!” I say, taking several steps back. “I wasn’t looking where I was going. Are you alright?”
The woman has her back turned to me, but she turns as soon as she finishes calling something out to her daughter at the end of the aisle.
“Oh, don’t even worry about it, honey,” she says, already waving me off before she makes eye contact. “It happ—Kenzie?”
My eyes grow wide to the familiar shag of copper blond hair and big brown eyes. She has her hair down, which is why I didn’t recognize her instantly, but I’d never forget that face.
“Mrs. Montgomery!” I gush, stepping away from my cart to pull her into a hug. “It’s so good to see you!”
She wraps me into a tight embrace, squeezing me and squealing in excitement.
“Honey, look at you!” she says happily, stepping back to rake her gaze over me. “You look amazing. Gosh, I’ll never get over your hair. And call me Hailey, would you?”
Her comment about my hair makes me giggle—she’s always been fond of my bright red curls, especially when I grew it out sophomore year. It’s almost down to my ass these days.
“Youlook amazing,” I tell her, beaming when she blushes and waves the compliment off. “How have you been? I haven’t seen you in years.”
Weekends at the Montgomery Ranch were my favorite growing up, whether I was hanging out with Bo or Oakley or just doing homework at the table while my mom and Hailey gossiped about adult stuff that I didn’t care about. She was practically a second mom to me.I’ve been so busy between graduating and moving that I didn’t even have time to tell her I was moving back. Hell, I only told my own parents a week before I signed the lease to my apartment.
“I’m doing great. Working and playing and dealing with all the kids being home,” she says with a sardonic grin. “How’s college treating you?”
“Last week I graduated! I enjoyed it, but I’m glad it’s over. Definitely ready to get on with real life.” College was the easy part, really. I graduated high school with enough AP credits to start as a sophomore, so I only spent three years living out of a dorm. School was something I enjoyed, and that didn’t change at college.
Now it’s time to make sure other kids get to have the same good experience I had in high school. My guidance counselor really changed my life, and the opportunity to take over for her now that she’s retiring is an honor. Finding an apartment in my budget was tricky, but there was a cute little one bedroom close enough to the school that I can walk when the weather’s nice. “I heard Oakley moved back, right? Is she still in college?”
“She sure did,” Hailey says with a fond sigh. “Damn near gave her dad a heart attack when she got back together with Jamie, but they’ve sorted all that out. She’s going to the community college with Phoebe now, and so is Jamie.”
Oakley texted me about the whole fiasco with Jamie and the guy from New York—Sean or Sam or Shane or whatever. It sounded like a mess and a half, but they got it all handled. I still need to get the full story about Chuckles from her, though, once I have time over some weekend.
Before I can respond, a voice calls out in our direction from the end of the aisle.
“Is this one okay?”
Hailey glances over at the girl she was talking to when I ran into her cart, who’s holding up a bag of chips.
“That’s fine, honey.”
The girl comes wandering down the aisle; her stride slow and confident. Her hair is the kind of bleach blond that people would kill for, perfect bouncy curls tied up in an artfully messy half ponytail that leaves the lower half of her hair free to flow down her shoulders. I smile warmly as she approaches us, pretty sure she’s Bo’s younger sister, Maggie.
Maggie does not return the smile.
“What’s next on the list?” she asks, flicking hazel eyes up and down at me in bland curiosity.
“Maggie, you remember Kenzie, don’t you?” Hailey says, smiling widely at her daughter.
“Yeah, sure.”
Oh, she’s got that teenage nonchalance down pat. She sure got all the attitude that (by)passed Bo and Oakley. I’m smart enough not to tell her she’s grown since I last saw her, although it’s on the tip of my tongue.
“It’s good to see you, Maggie,” I say politely, trading an amused glance with Hailey.
“Yeah, you too,” she says, smacking at her gum. “Mom, can I just have the list if y’all are going to catch up?”
Hailey rolls her eyes, but chuckles as she hands the list over and pushes the cart toward Maggie .
