“Good?” the owner asked when she saw how much her guest was enjoying the food.
Kat nodded too enthusiastically. “It’s delicious,” she said with a smile. “Thank you so much.”
“You in town for business or pleasure?” the owner asked. She was a middle-aged woman with short, curly hair and a friendly smile. Kat had to rein in her instinct to resist answering. She reminded herself that this was a small town. Everyone knew everyone else, and asking about something that would be frowned upon in a more urban setting was considered perfectly normal and polite here.
“Well,” Kat said, “it’s not pleasure, but it’s not business either.” She smiled. “My uncle passed away a couple days ago. I’m in town for the funeral.”
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.” The B&B owner laid a gentle hand on Kat’s shoulder.
“It’s OK, really. We haven’t been close for years. But I have fond memories of him, and I’m looking forward to seeing my family again.”
“Well, I hope you have as nice a time here as possible under the circumstances. Can I get you something else this morning? Some coffee?”
“No, thank you,” Kat said, still smiling. “I was thinking I’d head into town and get reacquainted with the neighborhood before the funeral. Is Rise and Shine still operating?”
“Of course they are,” the B&B owner said with a twinkle in her eye. “Same owners, too. They’ll be happy to see you again, I’m sure.”
Kat finished her breakfast and went back upstairs to dress for the day. She had already chosen her outfit and brought everything she needed to get ready, so it didn’t take her too long. She wore a simple black dress with high heels and a black purse with white details. Her outfit was understated but classy, as was her hair, which she wore in a low ponytail draped over one shoulder. Her earrings and bracelet were all carefully chosen to complement the rest without standing out too much. She felt pretty good about herself as she glanced into the bathroom mirror one last time and left.
All that confidence melted away the second she got into town, when it became painfully clear that she’d overdressed for the location. If the funeral had taken place in Houston, she would have looked appropriate and well-dressed for the occasion. But this wasn’t Houston. Even people in their Sunday bests looked halfway casual compared to her. She looked like someone’s high-powered attorney, off to ruin someone else’s day.
Sheepishly, Kat walked into Rise and Shine to order her usual Americano. She knew the woman behind the counter, remembered her name, even. “Good morning, Melissa,” she said, forcing a smile.
Melissa turned away from the filter she was changing to see the woman now standing at the counter. “Oh, hello,” she said, looking more confused than pleased. “I’m sorry, do I know you?”
“It’s Kat,” Kat said. “Kat Naylor? I used to live in the red house on Third and Main.”
Melissa’s eyes lit up with recognition. “Oh! Kat Naylor. My gosh, I didn’t even recognize you. How have you been?Wherehave you been?”
“I’ve been living in Houston,” Kat answered. “Got work in advertising.”
“Well, you certainly look like a big shot, I’d say. What was your order again?”
“Americano,” Kat said. “Black.”
Had she really changed that much? The fact that one person from her past didn’t recognize her shouldn’t have troubled Kat as much as it did. But despite disparaging her hometown back when she was living here, she’d always considered it home. When she thought aboutgoing home, this was the place that came to mind. These were the people that came to mind, too. But apparently, she hadn’t come to mind for them, and now she looked like “a big shot,” which just meant someone important who wasn’t from around here.
But no matter how exotic or important she may look to those who never left, she was still a homegrown girl. She still missed her mother and brothers from time to time. She still craved her favorite café, even though it might not be considered top-tier in Houston. All of it held a special place in her heart, and it was a difficult reality to face that she was no longer considered part of it.
Kat paid for her coffee and thanked Melissa, who asked, “Are you in town for the memorial then?”
Kat nodded.
“That explains the dress,” Melissa said. “I’m sorry for your loss. Pass along my condolences to your mom, will you? Tell her coffee’s on me next time she comes in.”
“Sure thing, and thank you.” On her way out the door, Kat added, “You have a good day now.”
She went to several more shops that morning, just browsing, killing time. With every shop she entered, it became more and more clear that she didn’t really belong here. No one recognized her, and everyone treated her like she was way more important than she actually was. For some, that treatment might have been a good thing, but it made Kat feel like an outsider. The problem was that she couldn’t argue against it. She was an outsider by almost every definition of the word. She’d come in from out of town with her fancy dress and aloof mannerisms that she’d adopted to survive in the big city. But she had never really belonged there either. Now, she was left feeling like she didn’t belong anywhere, and it was breaking her heart a little more with every person she talked to.
Kat arrivedat the church early. Killing time around town was becoming more depressing than a funeral, she realized, and she wanted to see her mom. The church was small and unassuming, with flower arrangements everywhere and photos of her uncle propped up on the altar. The sight of his suntanned,wrinkled face smiling back at her brought back a flood of memories.
She recalled the way he would show her around his ranch, giving her little demonstrations of how things worked. For Kat, the fun part was always the animals, and she often ignored her uncle’s presentations in favor of petting and playing with the livestock. Her uncle found it hilarious and often teased her about how soft she was. Now, as an adult, she understood the affection inherent in that teasing.
“Honey!” Her mom moved through the slowly growing crowd toward her. “You’re here.” She threw her arms around her daughter and hugged her tight. “Thank you so much for coming.”
“Of course, Mom,” Kat said, squeezing her mom back. “A promise is a promise.”
Her mom let her go and smoothed her daughter’s dress. “It’s been so busy I’ve barely had time to cry,” she said with an exhausted laugh, but Kat could see by the red tint around her eyes that wasn’t entirely true.
