by Laina Turner
“Do you hear yourself? If you felt moved to take a picture, maybe you’ve just figured out your next chapter.”
“I told you, I’m not in the market for a man, Claire.”
Her friend laughed. “I was talking about photography, but I like the way you think.”
“You mean be a photographer?” Kate responded incredulously. “I don’t know the first thing about being a professional photographer.”
“Well, that’s why there’s Google. Just think about it. Put it on your list of things that you might want to do.”
Kate hadn’t yet started a list of things that she might want to do to earn a living. Although Claire’s suggestion that she consider starting a photography business seemed ridiculous to Kate, she had to admit that she felt excitement course through her at the possibility.
And wasn’t that what this new chapter was about, she mused. New possibilities?
She found the prospect of starting over, starting fresh, both exciting and a little terrifying.
9
“Any plans for the day?” Claire asked Kate the next morning as they sat at the kitchen island with their coffee cups.
“I feel like I should be actively figuring out my next steps. I’ve got to do something to have an income at some point, sooner rather than later, and I need to decide where I’m going to live and all that other fun stuff that comes with adulting.”
“What’s the rush? Take time for yourself, you deserve it. Use it to heal and figure out what you want. Look at this time as a gift.”
Kate nodded in agreement, knowing her friend had a valid point. “I should. This attitude of mine isn’t helping matters. I know there’s not a huge rush. It’s just that I’ve lived in a fog for almost two years now, not thinking of anything beyond how to get through the current day. At this point, I need to plan for my future. A plan will make me feel better. At least, I think it will. Floating aimlessly through each day without purpose definitely doesn’t make me feel better.”
“I get it. That makes sense, and as much as I want you to take your time, I’d feel the same way. Have you considered staying here?”
“I can’t impose on you and Jim forever, Claire, though you don’t know how much it means to me for you to offer.” It meant more to Kate than she could convey. She couldn’t believe that she had waited so long to visit her friend.
“Not with us, although it’s fine for you to stay as long as you like. We’re happy to have you, but I meant in Moonshire,” Claire explained. “You’ve lived in New York your entire adult life. I admit, I loved my time in the big city too, but maybe part of your new life plan is relocating somewhere less hectic without so much hustle and bustle. Plus, to be completely honest, I’d think you’d want to get away from the circle of people who you will undoubtedly continue to run into, who know all of your and Todd’s business. You already told me that they’ve pretty much dropped you as a friend anyway.” Claire paused, biting her lip as if she was worried she may have overstepped. “Sorry to be so blunt,” she finished with a sympathetic smile.
Kate could tell that her friend was concerned that she might have offended her, though she hadn’t at all. Claire had merely spoken the truth, and she had a point. Several good points.
Kate had hardly left the house since the whole mess had started. She’d had little motivation and hadn’t been in the mood to socialize. She’d even avoided the things that she’d previously enjoyed, like yoga classes, in order to escape the stares and judgment of others.
Some of the women she’d been avoiding had husbands who were burned by Todd’s scam. There were others who had read about it in the papers and formed opinions about Kate because of it. She’d become a spectacle, someone about whom to gossip.
“I don’t know. I admit this town has a lot of charm, and I can absolutely see why you love it so much, but it’s so far away from my kids.”
“Yes, it’s farther away from them than where you lived in New York, but face it, we’re empty-nesters and our kids don’t need us as much as they used to. Who’s to say they’ll stay in New York long term anyway? They have their whole lives ahead of them, and this is the time for us to have our lives. Besides, you can get to wherever they are by plane, train, or automobile if one of them needs you. Not to mention you can talk, text, or video chat anytime, day or night.”
“You’re just a fountain of wisdom this morning,” Kate mused. She couldn’t help but laugh before taking another sip of coffee. She appreciated Claire’s insight, but the idea of uprooting her life and starting over felt so scary. But then, she considered, wasn’t her life already uprooted? Wasn’t she already starting over? “How about some baby steps. I think getting back to some of my old routines but in a new place might be good for me. I saw a yoga studio in town. Is it any good?”
“Listen, lady, we may be small, but we have all the trendy things. Moonshire Bay is the proud home to a fancy coffee shop and a great yoga studio. There’s even a pottery studio where you can make your own clay creations and several boutiques with cute and affordable clothing and home decor,” Claire touted, pretending to be offended that Kate would ask if the studio was any good.
“Who knew? I guess you do have everything the big city has to offer,” Kate responded, playing along.
“All joking aside, we are a small community, but everyone supports each other. So, while the bulk of our business does come in during tourist season, we’re able to make ends meet all year. The yoga studio, Bend and Stretch Yoga, is one block from the diner. You can’t miss it. Lucy, the owner, has lived here for a couple of years—about the same amount of time as I have. I don’t know her that well, but she’s really sweet.”
“How do you not know her that well? I thought everyone in this town knew everyone,” Kate teased.
“We do, mostly, and I do know her, I just don’t know her well. She’s friendly enough but keeps to herself a lot. She does come to the diner quite often, though. She loves my peach pie.” Claire looked at her watch. “Speaking of the diner, I better head there now. The pies won’t bake themselves.”
“Okay, have fun. I’ll probably make my way to town later to check out the yoga studio and come in for lunch.”
After Claire left, Kate drank another cup of coffee. As she thought about checking out the studio, she realized that yoga was just one of the many things from her old life that she missed. She longed for some of her old routines, like going to yoga in the morning and then having coffee afterward with the other women in the class. As cliché as it sounded, she’d appreciated the fellowship that the group had shared by simply enjoying each other’s company. She’d considered the women that she’d hung out with to be her friends, and losing both her friends and her activities had been hard.
Kate resolved to forget about what she’d lost from her past and to create new routines and make new friends. She also recognized that she could really use the exercise that yoga would provide. All of her clothes had become tight due to eating too much as a coping mechanism. After her walk the previous day, she’d become painfully aware of just how much endurance and toning she’d lost. Her hamstrings felt incredibly sore and tight this morning.
With new resolve running through her veins, and before she could change her mind, Kate ran up the stairs and dug through the drawer that held the workout clothes she’d brought. She hadn’t packed much for exercising, but she had a couple of her favorite yoga outfits, which she’d expected to wear mostly for lounging around. She chose her favorite set in order to boost her confidence: wild, tie-dye print pants in pink, white, and teal and a matching top that had a built-in sports bra but didn’t cling tightly to the midsection, which she felt made it more flattering. She quickly slipped on the ensemble, then went back downstairs to grab her purse, keys, and a water bottle from the refrigerator. Her yoga mat was in the trunk of her car where she always kept it.
She decided to drive to town and take the chance that there would be a class soon. If not, she figured she had nothing to los
e. She would just hang out at the diner and eat pie, so either way was a win. She was glad to be getting out of the house and knew that if she didn’t seize the moment, she might lose her motivation.
Kate found the yoga studio with no problem, and was proud that she hadn’t even used her GPS to get back to town. She was normally so directionally challenged that—even though there were only two roads between Claire’s house and her destination—it felt like an accomplishment, nonetheless. These days, she’d take any win that came her way. And at least this time, she mused, she’d made it without an accident.
The front of the yoga studio was all glass and she could see a small reception area with a woman standing behind the counter. If nothing else, she would get information and find out a schedule of class times. Kate pushed open the door, causing the handle to produce a tinkling sound of bells. The woman behind the counter looked up and smiled. Kate wondered if she was face-to-face with the owner, Lucy, whom Claire had mentioned. The woman’s demeanor was friendly and instantly put her at ease.
“Welcome to Bend and Stretch Yoga. How can I help you?” the woman said, her voice sounding kind and cheerful, making Kate feel glad that she had come.
“I’m new in town, visiting, and wanted to get some classes in while I’m here, if that’s possible.”
“Of course. I’m glad you came in. I’m Lucy, the owner of the studio.” Kate approached the counter and Lucy raised her arm for a handshake.
“I’m Kate. I’m here visiting my friend Claire.”
“Oh, I know Claire. Lovely woman, and she makes a mean pie.”
Kate laughed. “That she does.”
Lucy slid a laminated sheet across the counter and started to explain the packages. “We have single visits or a monthly package, depending on how often you want to practice. I’m guessing how long you’ll be in town will determine which one is your best value.”
“Honestly, I’m not sure I know the answer to either of those questions. I know that sounds lame,” Kate said, feeling embarrassed that she was so unfocused at the moment that she couldn’t make a decision about something as simple as a yoga class.
Lucy shook her head. “Not at all. Why don’t we do this? I have a class starting in fifteen minutes and your first class is free. Join us and see how you feel after the class. If you like it, I do have a two-week introductory special that’s a good deal, so you could try that and see how you are feeling two weeks from now. By then, you might know your plans a little better and we could decide what membership would be the best fit.”
Relief replaced her anxiety, alleviating the tension in Kate’s chest. “That sounds like exactly what I need.”
Lucy took Kate into the back and showed her where everything was, then told her to go into the studio where it was quiet and dark so she could relax before class started. As Kate rolled out her mat, she felt a sense of calm wash over her. Coming here had been the right thing to do. If she figured out nothing else that day, she had at least taken a step in what she felt was the right direction.
What was it I’d told Claire? Baby steps.
10
“It’s Kate, right?” Zach asked, even though he knew perfectly well that it was her as he watched her walk out of the yoga studio and head toward her car with its crumpled bumper.
She was hot and sweaty, but had a smile on her face, and she couldn’t have looked more beautiful if she’d been dressed up for a night on the town.
Kate turned toward him, and he could tell that she felt embarrassed by the redness creeping up her neck, though he wasn’t sure why. Maybe because he had caught her after a workout, he considered. He wanted to assure her that she had nothing to be embarrassed about, though he wasn’t sure how to do so. He noticed that her yoga pants hugged all the right curves, but he wasn’t about to tell her that because it would seem totally creepy.
“Is it Kate? Or do I have it wrong?” he pushed after it seemed as though she wasn’t going to respond. Maybe he did have it wrong, he thought.
“Yes, it’s Kate. Sorry, I just got out of yoga class and apparently my brain is still there.”
“How did you like Lucy’s class?”
“I loved it. You’ve been?” she asked, seeming surprised.
“I tried it once, and I couldn’t walk for a week, so I never went back,” he whispered as he leaned in a little, like he was sharing some big secret. Kate laughed and it lit up her entire face. “You should do that more often.”
Kate furrowed her brow in question but didn’t say anything.
“Laugh,” he offered, to clarify his statement. He felt a little nervous and hoped that he hadn’t upset her. “You have a beautiful laugh.”
“Sorry, not a lot to laugh about lately.” She shrugged. He could tell by the look in her eyes that she was guarded, but she didn’t seem bothered by his comment.
“It’s okay. I’ve been there. That was a stupid thing to say. I hope I didn’t offend you.”
“No, it’s fine.” She raised her hand as if to ward off his concerns. “I’m just… I don’t know what I am. Listen, let’s both be sorry and then we’ll cancel each other out and we can start over,” she said. Her lips curved into a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. He wondered what had happened to her to make her so sad and felt an urge to put his arms around her.
“Speaking of being sorry,” she continued, “I’m really sorry about your car. It’s a beauty. I should have said that yesterday. I can tell you take a lot of pride in her.”
“Her?” His eyebrows rose in response to her comment.
“My dad always said sports cars were female. Beautiful, hot-tempered, and need to be handled with finesse and grace,” she responded.
Zach could sense from the quiet tone in her voice that she was recalling a fond memory. He wished he felt such fondness for his own dad.
“No hard feelings. Accidents happen. That’s why there’s insurance,” he said. He had a much better attitude about it now than he’d had the previous night at Jet’s, yet as he spoke, he noticed a stricken look on her face. “I know I was a little short with you yesterday, but I’m not mad. It’s just a car and can be fixed,” he added quickly, thinking that maybe she seemed so upset because of how he’d behaved the previous day. He clearly wasn’t on his game, he thought. Every time he opened his mouth around her, he stuck his foot in it.
“Um, yeah. Accidents happen,” she said, but her tone made it seem like she was uncomfortable, and again he wondered what was wrong. Strangely, he felt more concerned about her feelings than about his car. It had been a long time since any woman had gotten to him in this way. Years, in fact. Sharon had been the last, and Zach shook his head as if to ward off the bad memory of that relationship. He returned his focus to Kate.
“If you want, you can buy me a cup of coffee as penance for my car,” he joked, thinking that maybe if he got to know her a little better, she might open up.
“So basically, you’re blackmailing me into buying you a cup of coffee?” she said with a frown, though he could tell that it was a playful frown.
“Sure, if you want to look at it that way. I will go to great lengths for free coffee.”
“Okay, fine,” she said, pretending to act put out, but she couldn’t hide the twitching at the corners of her mouth where he could tell a smile was trying to break through. “Now?”
“No time like the present. Unless you’ve got somewhere to be?”
“No, I’m just not really dressed for coffee.”
He scoffed. “You look amazing. Luckily, there’s no dress code for coffee in Moonshire Bay.”
Zach walked with Kate to put her yoga mat in the back of her car, then she locked it up and they went down the street toward May’s Cafe. When they strolled in together, Claire looked up and waved. Zach didn’t miss the knowing look in Claire’s eye. Great, he thought, he could hear the gossip now. By the time their coffee was finished, the town would have them married and riding off into the sunset together. They took seats at an empty
booth and Claire immediately walked over.
“So, how did you two end up here together?” Claire asked, not beating around the bush and causing Kate to blush, which Zach rather enjoyed.
“Blackmail,” Zach answered, and Claire looked at him in confusion.
“It’s a long story but in short two coffees, please,” Kate said
“Okay, then, I better get those coffees,” Claire said, looking at Kate with a smile and raised eyebrows, which Zach could see was making Kate cringe. Zach figured Claire was going to give Kate the third degree later.
“So, what brings you to Moonshire?” Zach inquired.
“It was a good time to get away, and I hadn’t seen Claire in way too long. What about you? Have you always lived here?”
“Yes, I have. I’m a third-generation resident.”
“What’s it like living in a small town your entire life?” Kate asked.
She seemed genuinely curious, but he couldn’t help but notice how quickly she had changed the subject from herself. It was surprising to him since many of the women he had dated seemed to love nothing more than talking about themselves. Whether Kate had changed the course of their conversation by design or unintentionally, he wasn’t sure.
“It has its drawbacks, of course, like the lack of privacy and people often knowing your business before you do. But I like the tight sense of community the big cities just don’t have. The pros definitely outweigh the cons.”
“Have you ever lived in one? A big city?”
“When I graduated high school, I couldn’t get out of here fast enough. I went to college and then law school, but I grew up along the way and realized I was much better suited to this slower pace and not the rat race of Detroit. Not that bigger cities don’t have a lot to offer, and I enjoyed my time living there, but it just wasn’t Moonshire. How long do you plan on staying?”