“Thanks! Send her back!”
He lifted the partition next to the register. “Go on back.”
“Thank you, Bobby.” She slipped through the doorway, away from Kirk, and headed for Grace’s voice.
“Let me just finish cleaning and then we can head up.”
“Thank you for this.” Maggie bit her lip and pushed Kirk from her mind.
“Anytime! You want a cupcake before we head up?”
Maggie shook her head. “I’m too nervous.”
Grace tilted her head and started up the stairs to the apartment. “Luke’s a great guy. You don’t need to be nervous about him.”
“He’s not the problem,” Maggie eyed Grace, wondering how much she should say. “It’s… been a while.”
Grace looked back over her shoulder at her, but didn’t say anything until she shut the door. “How long has it been?”
Maggie tried to do the math and started to give herself a headache. “Years,” she finally answered.
Grace nodded and took Maggie back into her bedroom. She threw the closet doors open. “So, what are you thinking? Dress, skirt, pants?”
Maggie stared at the explosion of color the bi-fold doors revealed. “Wow. I don’t have the foggiest idea.” She ran her hands over the different fabrics. “I hope I don’t spill anything on it.”
Her new friend gave her a sad chuckle. Maggie looked back at her and saw how she looked at the closet like an old photoalbum. “I haven’t worn the dressy stuff since I got back to Hawthorn Hills. I used to wear it more, but I don’t have the opportunity anymore.”
Maggie had only ever seen Grace in her chef uniform or casual clothes. There was a story there, but she didn’t want to pry. So, she changed the topic. “Would a dress be too fancy?”
“Nah.” Grace waved her off. “I have a few options.” She reached into her closet and pulled out a handful of hangers. “Do you want to change in the bathroom?”
“Works for me.” Maggie slipped into her bathroom and pulled her t-shirt and jeans off, laying them on the closed toilet seat.
Grace handed her dress after dress through the crack in the door, and Maggie tried them all on. She ended up choosing a comfortable dark green wrap dress in a soft knit fabric. The long sleeves were perfect for the March weather.
“What about shoes?” Grace asked her.
“Shit. I just have my chucks.”
Grace tutted. “What’s your shoe size?”
Maggie’s feet were a bit smaller than Graces, but they found a pair of ballet flats and stuffed the toes with tissue. “We should go shopping soon.”
“Is there a thrift store around here?” Maggie laughed sarcastically.
Her hostess made a face. “I wouldn’t buy second hand shoes. Gross.”
“You saw my entire wardrobe in the photo I sent you.”
“Yeah, about that. What happened?”
Maggie’s throat tightened. She opened her mouth to speak, then shut it again. Repeatedly.
At her silence, Grace drew closer, placing her hands on Maggie’s shoulders. Her new bestie stared into her soul, and a mask that Maggie hadn’t realized Grace had been wearing fellaway. Grace knew her struggle, personally. Of that, Maggie was certain.
“You don’t have to tell me. But I’m here if you want to talk, okay?”
“I…Thank you. I made a mistake, many years ago. I’m trying to correct it now.”
