Silver Linings

by Debbie Macomber

  “I was thinking I’d wear the dark-wash skinny jeans with the teal top, blue scarf, and boots,” Katie said. “Isn’t that what I showed you earlier?”

  Clearly, her friend’s mind was on something other than fashion, thought Coco. If Katie wanted to stand out in the crowd, she was going to need more help than Coco could give her, although that teal top would be a nice complement to her curly red hair.

  “That outfit was for Sunday, and even then I had doubts. I’m afraid you might come off looking like you’re ready to attend a Seahawks football game.” Tightening the cinch around her waist, she said, “Let me look at what you brought again.”

  “Okay.” Katie led the way to her room.

  It took several minutes to sort through the items Katie had unpacked. By the time Coco finished, the entire contents of Katie’s closet were scattered across the top of the bed. They finally decided on a yellow sleeveless dress with a white sweater in case the air-conditioning was on high.

  “You’re going to knock everyone’s socks off,” Coco promised, approving her final choice. It was perfect. It complemented Katie’s coloring and gave her a look of understated sophistication.

  Katie didn’t look nearly as convinced. “I certainly hope James is impressed.”

  “You okay now?”

  “Of course.”

  “Good.” Coco was eager to return to her own preparations for the evening.

  Just as she was leaving Katie’s room, an unearthly howl could be heard from downstairs.

  “What was that?” Coco asked, startled.

  Katie glanced toward the door. “It must have been Jo Marie’s dog. Do you think he’s hurt?” Katie asked, and then quickly added, “I better go check to make sure he’s all right.”

  Before Coco could remind her they had places to go and people to see, Katie dashed down the stairs. Her friend was a soft touch when it came to children and animals. Coco might have followed if she was more appropriately dressed.

  Standing at the top of the stairs, she waited for Katie’s return. It seemed to take an inordinate amount of time, but when Coco looked at her watch she found that it was less than five minutes.

  “What was it?” she asked, as Katie bounded back up the stairs.

  “Just as we thought…it was Rover. He wasn’t hurt.”

  “What did Jo Marie say happened?”

  “She said he’s mourning the loss of a friend.”

  “A friend?” Coco liked animals, too, but she didn’t get mushy over them the way Katie did. “You mean another dog?”

  “No, she said it was a human friend who’s decided to move away. Apparently, Rover thought the world of him.”

  “The dog knew this person was leaving…for good?” Coco couldn’t quite wrap her mind around that, but it was of little consequence. She was well behind where she wanted to be when it came to getting dressed and ready.

  “Give me forty minutes.” She started back toward her room and then abruptly turned around. “Make that fifty.”

  “Or another hour,” Katie teased.

  “No way. I’m determined to be on schedule.”

  Katie simply smiled. “You know there was a very good reason we called you Lightning in high school, don’t you?”

  “Very funny. I’ve changed my ways.” After nearly being fired from two jobs, Coco had learned to set her watch ahead fifteen minutes so if she was late then she would actually be on time. The trick had served her well.

  “I’ll be ready when you are,” Katie promised.

  An hour later Coco had finished. When Katie saw Coco, her eyes widened appreciatively. “Wow. You look fabulous.”

  “Thanks. You look really nice, too.” And Katie did. The yellow dress was perfect with her auburn hair and dark eyes. Katie had worn her curly hair short for several years now. Its maintenance was wash-and-go with a misting of spray conditioner. Her hair looked perfect every time. Coco envied her friend the natural look. For her part, Coco used every hair product available. She spent copious amounts of time taming her hair with a straightening iron and a dry shampoo for extra volume before it was wrangled into shape every morning. While it might look effortless, it was anything but.

  They left the inn ten minutes before the mix and mingle was set to get started. They could have walked to the Captain’s Galley but opted to drive because they were both wearing four-inch heels. At five-eight, Coco didn’t need the height, but those extra inches boosted her confidence. She’d paid full price for these puppies and they were worth every cent. And surprise, surprise, they were actually comfortable.

  Coco found a parking spot close to the restaurant. She did an admirable job of parallel parking, something she usually avoided like the plague.

  Under normal circumstances Coco would have opted to be fashionably late. Not so this night. She wanted to be there first so she was in place when Ryan Temple arrived.

  The scene was set in her mind. He’d arrive and of course all her classmates would treat him like he was visiting royalty. And naturally he would bask in the attention. To this point he was by far the most successful member of their graduating class. Athletic and talented, he’d played football and basketball, and pitched for their baseball team the year they won the state championship. Coco wasn’t sure where his standing was currently. Not being a fan, she hadn’t followed his career.

  “You ready?” Katie asked, opening the passenger-side door.

  “Ready.” So, so ready.

  They walked into the restaurant and were immediately assaulted by the scent of stale beer. A pool table was set up in the back of the room and the bar had two or three patrons who looked them over and smiled appreciatively. Dinner must be slow, because only two or three tables were occupied.

  “We’re here for the reunion party,” Coco mentioned to the waitress.

  “Upstairs,” she told them, pointing to the back of the room.

  The staircase was next to the pool table. Coco remembered reading that the Captain’s Galley had closed down. That happened just after she’d graduated from high school. She’d heard it’d reopened under new ownership after she’d moved away. The new owners had chosen to keep the name, as it was a well-known watering hole. As she remembered, the food wasn’t half bad, either, although she’d eaten there only a couple times.

  It felt as if every man in the bar was giving them the once-over as Coco and Katie wove their way through the mostly empty tables toward the stairs.

  “We’re fresh meat,” Coco muttered under her breath.

  A table had been set up at the top of the staircase and Angela Palmer sat there, looking official. She’d been one of the key organizers for the reunion and was a bit of a snob, as Coco remembered. Following graduation she’d attended cosmetology school and worked at a successful salon as a stylist. Coco disliked her because she’d always been keen on Ryan.

  “Coco,” Angela cried, as if they’d been the very dearest and closest of friends. She stood and hugged Coco, leaning over the table and squeezing her neck.

  Angela released her and then stared blankly at Katie. Coco could almost see her mind working as she struggled to put a name with the face.

  “You remember Katie, don’t you?” Coco asked, coming to the other woman’s rescue. “Katie Gilroy?”

  “Oh, of course. Katie Gilroy. Sorry, I had a brain fart there for a minute.”

  “No worries.” Katie was generous in her willingness to look past the unintended slight. “I only attended Cedar Cove High our senior year. There isn’t any particular reason you should remember me.”

  “Yes, there is,” Coco insisted. “There’re plenty of reasons. Katie helped the swim team win the regional championship.”

  “Oh my, how could I have forgotten,” Angela said, and covered her mouth with the tips of her fingers.

  Someone came up behind them, a couple Coco didn’t recognize, and Angela was all business once again.

  “You’ll find your name tags here; they’re listed in alphabetical order. I used
maiden names.”

  Coco picked up her name tag and so did Katie. She peeled off the back and pressed it on the shoulder of her black dress. Coco and Katie started to wander away, but Angela stopped them.

  “Before you go,” Angela said, stretching out her arm to Coco.

  Coco and Katie exchanged looks.

  “Sorry to delay you, but I need a favor. A few of us are decorating the school gymnasium for the dinner and dance tomorrow night. We’re meeting at about one and we could really use your help.”

  “My help?”

  “You always had such a great eye for these things. Would you mind?” Angela asked, her eyes wide and pleading.

  Coco supposed she should be flattered. “Sure.”

  Angela smiled at Katie. “You can come, too, if you like.”

  “I’d be happy to.”

  Coco rolled her eyes. Angela made it sound as if she was doing Katie a favor by including her, when she should simply be grateful.

  As soon as they were out of earshot, Katie leaned close to Coco. “What was that business about the swim team winning the regional championship? You know that isn’t true.”

  “You and I know it, but apparently Angela doesn’t.”

  “Why would you say something like that?”

  Coco didn’t answer. Frankly, she didn’t like the way Angela had dismissed Katie as if she was someone unworthy of her attention. It irked her, and she’d wanted to put Angela in her place.

  As they came into the room, there were high-top tables decorated with cardboard numbers of the year they’d graduated along with a sprinkling of those annoying confetti cutouts that people sometimes added to cards and invitations. Each table had four chairs.

  “Do you know how many signed up for tonight?” Katie asked Coco, staying close to her side.

  “No.” All Coco knew was that she’d caught sight of Ryan’s name tag. Knowing him, he’d arrive late and make some kind of grand entrance. The mere thought of him playing the role of the hotshot was enough to make her want to puke.

  “I saw James’s name tag,” Katie whispered.

  Coco heard the dread in her friend’s voice. “Everything is going to work out…for both of us.”

  “Yeah, right,” Katie muttered.

  “Let’s find a table and then get something to drink.” She was badly in need of liquid courage, and from the look of her, so was Katie.

  They scouted out what looked to be the prime location, offering them a view of the staircase and those who arrived. “I’ll get us each a glass of wine,” Katie offered.

  “Sounds good,” Coco said, keeping an eye on the staircase.

  “Honestly, I don’t know if there’s enough liquor in the world to see me through this night.”

  Coco smiled. Her friend was overreacting. She suspected James was as eager to see her as Katie was to talk to him.

  Katie walked over to the no-host bar and Coco made herself comfortable. She pulled out the chair and sat down. When she happened to look up it was just in time to see Ryan Temple walk into the room. In ten years he’d hardly changed a bit—if anything, he was more handsome. His shoulders had filled out, and naturally he’d brought a woman with him. And just as naturally, she was absolutely stunning—a model, no doubt. When the moment was right, this date of Ryan’s would get to hear just what kind of guy Ryan really was.

  Coco was a social butterfly and far more outgoing than Katie. While Coco fluttered about the room, visiting with friends, Katie sat quietly at the table sipping her drink.

  She recognized several faces, mostly because they were the more outgoing and popular members of their graduating class. She wanted to keep an eye on the staircase when people were arriving, but Katie felt silly and a bit awkward sitting by herself.

  A couple claimed the seats at a high-top close to Katie and looked as lost and uncomfortable as she did. Katie felt she should at least make an effort to look like she was enjoying herself.

  “Hi,” she said, joining the two. “I’m Katie Gilroy.”

  “Becca Cousins,” the other woman said. “And this is my husband, Troy.”

  “Pleased to meet you both,” Katie said, keeping an eye on new arrivals.

  “I’m sorry, I can’t place you,” Becca said, as she rearranged an off-white shawl over her shoulders.

  “No real reason you should,” Katie said. “I only attended classes our senior year.”

  Becca studied her and bounced her finger against the tabletop. “Were you on the swim team?”

  Katie smiled. “I was.”

  “You dated James Harper, too, didn’t you?”

  A tingling sensation went down Katie’s arms. Now she remembered why Becca looked vaguely familiar. She had lived on the same block as James. They’d been childhood friends.

  Katie didn’t get a chance to answer.

  “It was you, wasn’t it?”

  She nodded. “James tutored me after school in algebra.”

  Becca’s husband looked bored and smiled apologetically as he interrupted their conversation. “Honey, would you like something to drink?” he asked, scooting back the chair as he stood.

  “Please. A Diet Coke?”

  “Got it.” Troy left them, cutting around the tables and chairs and heading toward the bar.

  After her husband left, Becca leaned close to Katie. “James got in a huge fight over you. I remember it because James was never a fighter. Everyone was shocked to hear he’d been suspended from school.”

  Katie could feel her face heating up, and while it might have been the wine, it was as much the memories. “The fight wasn’t over me, really. James was defending me.”

  A dreamy look came over the other woman. “That’s love, you know. Real love. I think James fighting Brian O’Malley was probably the most romantic thing I ever heard. Brian was a horrible human being. He loved terrorizing anyone he thought might be weak. I think he must have gotten a sick sense of pleasure from picking on others. I can’t think of a single person who liked Brian. No one ever stood up to him, because they were afraid.”

  “Except James.”

  “Right. He took a pounding, too, didn’t he?”

  He had and he’d done it for her. Every afternoon of his suspension Katie had made an excuse to stop by his house. His parents both worked outside the home, so it was only James and his sister at the house. Katie sat with him and they played computer games, and when his sister wasn’t looking, James would kiss her. Because she suspected his mother might disapprove of her being at the house, Katie made sure she left before his parents were due home.

  Caught up in the memories, Katie had to force her attention back to Becca. “What are you up to these days?” she asked, wanting to change the subject.

  “I’m a mommy blogger. Troy and I have two children. I love that I’m able to be with Justin and Janese and writing about our life. I’m getting a following, too. What about you?”

  “I work for the state as a social worker.”

  Becca looked impressed. “I hope you don’t mind me asking, but whatever happened with you and James? He was pretty hung up on you. He wasn’t like some guys. The only girlfriend he ever had was you.”

  Katie’s stomach clenched, unsure how best to respond. “We went our separate ways shortly after graduation.”

  “Really?” Becca’s face showed surprise. “You two were pretty thick back then. I grew up with James, we went through junior high and high school together. Lots of girls were interested in him and he dated a few times, but you were the only girl who lasted more than a week or two.”

  “Things happen.”

  “That they do,” Becca agreed. “Breaking up must have been hard on you both.”

  Katie couldn’t deny the truth. “It was.” Harder than anyone realized. Becca wasn’t telling her anything she didn’t know about James. He wasn’t like Ryan or any of the other boys she’d met. James was loyal and dedicated, serious and studious. And so incredibly smart. And yet out of all the girls in school, he�
�d chosen her. He’d loved her—deeply, profoundly loved her—more than anyone before, or since.

  “I was in your old neighborhood this afternoon,” Katie said, striving to sound natural. “I noticed James’s house is abandoned. Do you know what happened to his family?”

  “From what my mom said, the shipyard transferred his dad to San Diego a few years back. A young couple bought the house during the housing boom and then lost it. Seeing it empty like that really bugs my parents. The house is a neighborhood eyesore. I don’t know why the bank doesn’t just sell it.”

  Katie was glad to know that nothing bad had befallen James’s parents.

  Troy returned with their drinks and sat down next to his wife. Sipping a Shock Top, he glanced around the room and shifted uncomfortably. Katie understood. It must be difficult being with a group of people who all knew one another and feeling like an outsider. The only connection he had to these people was through his wife.

  “I should probably say hello to a few of my friends,” Katie said, looking for an excuse to leave.

  “Sure. Good chatting with you, Katie.”

  “You, too, Becca.”

  Katie wandered across the room, keeping an eye on new arrivals. Up to this point she hadn’t seen James, and she was beginning to wonder if he would show. Her fear was that he’d gotten word that she’d signed up for the reunion and decided to stay away. Obviously, James wasn’t one to back down from a confrontation, but then she didn’t know him any longer. And he didn’t know her, not the woman she’d become.

  Katie found Coco, who was chatting with a group of women, none of whom Katie remembered. She joined the circle and Coco was quick to remind her friends who Katie was.

  “Katie was on swim team with me.”

  A chorus of “hi,” “good to see you” followed.

  After a few minutes Coco broke away. “James arrive yet?” she asked the minute they were out of earshot of the other women.

  “No. I’m beginning to think he’ll be a no-show.”

  “Have faith, my friend,” Coco said, giving her arm a small squeeze. “He’ll be here.”

  Katie admired Coco’s confidence. With everything in her, she wanted to believe that, too.