Chapter 2
Katie enjoyed a hot shower after stuffing her clothes into a garbage bag to take to the laundromat later. She wrapped herself in a robe and started to put her groceries away when there was a knock on her door. Katie let her neighbor Sylvie in.
“Did you get it?” Sylvie asked, blowing on her hands and taking off her shoes.
“Yup, just a moment,” Katie rooted through the bags on the kitchen table. “You’ll never guess what happened today.”
“I think you should start a blog or write a book about all the things that happen to you. Call it ‘Katie’s Curse’ or something,” Sylvie said as she grabbed the kettle and set some water on to boil.
“Very funny,” her brow furrowed and she searched again through the bags. “I know I bought it.”
“What’s this?” Sylvie grabbed a tin. “Shoe polish? Since when do you use shoe polish?”
She didn’t. Suddenly Katie’s face flushed in mortification. “He’s got your pregnancy kit. He’s going to think it’s mine!”
“Who?” Sylvie put out sugar and two mugs. “Want to catch me up on what you’re talking about?”
Katie sat down and put her head in her hands. “Jackson Davis helped me search for my keys. He gave me a ride home from the grocery store and I must have mixed one of his bags up with mine. He’s got your pregnancy kit.”
“Oh dear,” Sylvie laughed. “This is taking things to a whole new level. Can you imagine the look on his face when he pulls that out of the bag?”
Katie groaned. “I don’t know what I’m going to say to him.”
“Tell him the truth. You were buying it for your friend who was stupid enough to agree to ‘risk it’ during a weak moment with her husband,” Sylvie rolled her eyes. “Never going to run out of condoms again.”
“Cheaper than diapers,” Katie said dryly.
“Cheers to that,” Sylvie made tea and poured for both of them. “We already have four running around. If there’s a fifth, I’ll lose my mind. I keep telling him to get snipped but he says he’s too attached to his jollies. Good thing they don’t let women have scissors during labour, there would be a lot of castrated men in this country.”
“I wish I had your problem,” Katie sipped her tea. “Unfortunately, there’s a shortage of good single guys around.”
“And Jackson Davis isn’t one of them?” Sylvie said knowingly. She grinned at Katie’s blush. “Well, there’s going to be a lot less in town soon. Hawkins’ is closing.”
“What? No,” Katie cried. “Please tell me you’re joking.”
“Nope. It’s done. They’re going to sell out everything over Christmas and Boxing Day then liquidate whatever is left over. The company is declaring bankruptcy,” Sylvie shrugged. “Neil has an interview later this week with a different company for a material handling job at a plant in the city.”
“You’re moving too?” Katie was dismayed. Sylvie had been her friend ever since she had moved in next door after college.
“There’s no choice,” Sylvie stirred her tea. “Hawkins’ employed nearly two hundred people. There aren’t enough jobs in a community this size for all those people. In fact, I think there’s only one job opening right now and it’s for the septic service. Those who can’t afford to retire of the Hawkins’ employees are going to be moving. I’m glad we stayed renting because I expect housing is going to take a real hit after Christmas with people moving.”
“How many people have families with small kids at Hawkins’?” Katie asked.
“A lot. At least forty or fifty do,” Sylvie looked at her friend in sympathy. “You think they’ll close the daycare.”
Katie sighed. “It’s just a matter of time. There’s talk of closing the grade school too.”
“Where would the kids go?” Sylvie asked, concerned.
“Buford,” Katie supplied. “It’s the closest.”
“It’s an hour away,” Sylvie shook her head. “We live in a dying town.”
Katie nodded, agreeing with her friend. “Find a good spot in the city. I’ll probably be following you pretty soon.”
