“There’s some lady crying in the bathroom—she’s making a scene. People are gathering.” Dale, the intern, had great ideas, but he was shy about putting himself out there. The idea of an issue in the women’s restroom probably freaked him out. To his credit, crying females did that to almost all men. They had no idea what to do when the tears flowed free.
Sheila left her perch. She had loads of experience talking Kelly down from a tantrum—this lady should be easy. “Which bathroom?”
“Top of the steps over the home dugout.”
“On my way.” They hadn’t sold as many tickets to this event as they had to the one the week before. That was to be expected. When they had an open audition, the contestants brought in their families and friends to watch. Today, they were floating on people who had become invested in the outcome, those who wanted a say. The top fifth of the stadium was empty; that was all right, because the concession lines were long.
She wove through the press of women waiting to get into the bathroom and shoved the door open with her hip. Pausing for a moment to take in the situation, she let out a moan. “Kelly!”
Her sister’s head whipped in her direction. She left the group of five women who had been patting her on the back and handing her tissues to throw herself into Sheila’s arms.
Sheila patted her back. “What’s the matter?”
Kelly sniffed, leaning back and swiping her fingers under her raccoon eyes. “I thought things were going well, and thenbam!He says he’s seeing someone else.”
Sheila ran her tongue over her teeth. “Brock?” What brought this up now? In the stadium?
“Yes, Brock. Who else?” She fisted the tissue, squeezing it like she could strangle the life out of Brock, and then shaking it in front of her. Ladies stepped back to give her room in case she was going to blow.
Sheila glanced around. The line was moving again, but there were a lot of interested eyes on the two of them. “Let’s walk. You’re a better thinker when you’re moving.”And there are fewer people standing and staring on the walkway.
Kelly nodded, allowing herself to be pushed along by Sheila’s arm around her back. “I really liked him.”
“He can be quite the charmer.”
“I’m sure you’ve seen it up close and personal, working with him the way you do.” Kelly scooped her hair off her face. “I just … I really felt like we could be one of those power couples. He has the face and all this fame, and I have the brains. Our children would have been athletic and smart. I just really wanted someone who would add to our gene pool.”
“Wow. You thought this through.”
Kelly sighed.
“Were you guys that compatible?”
“Of course. I mean, he eats red meat, but he can stop. And he drives a truck, but that can be sold.” Kelly frowned. “He didn’t talk much at dinner, so our evenings would be quiet. But you know me—I don’t like a lot of noise at home anyway. The hospital is loud all day long.”
“Right.” Sheila stopped them at the end of the walkway and turned them around to head back. “You’ll find that guy. One who drives a minivan and prefers chicken.”
Kelly gulped. “All the good guys are gone.”
“Naw.” Sheila swatted away her worries. “They’re out there, building their careers and dreaming of a small family and quiet evenings. Probably doing seaweed facials to stay handsome.” Sarcasm was easy to hide with a smile—especially when she was saying exactly what her sister wanted to hear.
“Do you think so?”
“I know so.” There had to be a guy out there for Kelly. Everyone had a match, didn’t they? Sheila leaned her head on Kelly’s shoulder. “I’m sorry he broke your heart.”
Kelly stopped walking and did an internal scan, her eyes moving back and forth as if reading a cardiograph. “He didn’t.”
“But the crying …” And the scene in the bathroom where an intern had to call for backup.
“I’m fine.”
Fine?Fine?Her sister was anything but fine. “Have you looked into bipolar meds?”
Kelly laughed. “I feel things deeply. There’s nothing wrong with that. It’s healthy to allow yourself to fall all the way into your feelings, roll around for a while, and then let them go.”
Agree to disagree.
Kelly used her shiny phone case to check her makeup. “Gah! Except I look like the walking dead. Why didn’t you tell me?” She dug in her purse and came up with a makeup wipe, which she used to remove all traces of tears.
