I know you have kids and men to take care of, but can you come over tonight? I need you both.
Brandee
What’s wrong?
Zaina
I’ll find a sitter.
Hannah
Chad. Please bring Lily along if you need to.
Brandee
Fuck.
Hannah
Yep.
Chapter Twenty-nine
Kate looked in the mirror. The green makeup was holding up well. And today she felt she’d gotten her nose to closely resemble a snout. By the time the market ended, she was going to be a pro. When she’d gotten out of bed this morning and looked at her reflection, she’d panicked for a second at the pallor of her complexion before she realized a ghost of the green makeup was making her look sickly.
Fortunately, Cathy and her dog Munchie had an appointment today. At first, Kate was surprised that some pet parents wanted to be in the picture with their pet and the Grinch. But at this point, it was almost par for the course.
Kate knew Cathy was well-versed in makeup. Hopefully, she’d know what Kate should use to get the green completely off her skin. Kate recalled watching Hannah put on her makeup one morning before she’d left for work, and that memory felt like someone had punched her in the gut. If Hannah were still in her life, she’d have gotten Kate the perfect makeup remover that notonly worked but also added moisture to the skin. She physically shook herself. There was no time to wallow. She still had five Grinch appointments left. At least Cathy would be here at any moment to break up the day. When she’d decided to do portraits with the Grinch, she hadn’t realized how uncooperative pets could be. It had taken the last four days to get in the groove.
Munchie, on a long retractable leash, sniffed at her feet. “Hello, friend.” She said as she patted the fluffy dog’s head.
Then she looked up and saw Cathy’s ugly sweater and giant furry hat. “Wow, I hope that’s fake fur. It’s huge,” Kate said.
Cathy petted her hat. “Of course it’s fake fur! I’m not a monster. It’s so soft, feel it.” Cathy leaned over.
Kate took off her furry green paw, tucked it under her arm, and ran her hand through Cathy’s hat.
“That is soft. Do they make it as a blanket?”
“Sadly, no,” Cathy said. “Guess who I ran into earlier today?”
Kate reloaded her pocket with treats, distracted, her mind blank. “I have no clue.”
“Hannah. What did you do to that poor girl?”
Kate ground her teeth. She didn’t appreciate Cathy asking her the same thing she’d been asking herself. She sighed. “Cathy,” she began, and then she paused because she had no clue what to say.
“Yes?” Cathy replied, raising an eyebrow.
Kate clenched her hands into fists. “I can’t take the chance.”
“Why not?” Cathy asked. She gathered Munchie in her arms and cleaned off the dog’s paws with some pet-friendly wet wipes Kate had left on the counter for that reason.
Kate rolled her eyes.
Cathy clicked her tongue. “You are really embodying the Grinch right now. Is this method acting?”
Kate scowled and then she sighed. She moved around the small space behind her counter, where a canvas background wasset up. She had a few stools of various sizes for the pictures. Kate adjusted everything and put her phone on the stand and tightened the handle. “Yes, Hannah is amazing. Am I a fool?” She shrugged one shoulder. “Maybe yes, maybe no.”
