Kerrigan clapped for himself, as if to drive home exactly how wonderful. Everyone else stared at him blankly, in various stages of realization that they were going to have to relocate.
“But wait, there’s more,” Kerrigan said. “The reason I’m moving to Costa Rica is because I’ve met someone. I’m getting married and we’re starting our lives together there.”
Finally everyone snapped out of it, clapping and making congratulatory noises, demanding details.
They met online. Three months ago.
First, her mother had fallen head over heels in love. Now Kerrigan? Had someone put something in the water to make people fall in love so fast? She had known Aidan since high school. They were married and she still wasn’t sure.
How could her mother and Kerrigan be so sure after such a short time?
Just as pressing was the thought, where was she going to go now? Where would she move her clientele?
Zelda would eat up this news like one of Jane’s pastries.
It dawned on her that her sisters had succumbed to Zelda’s master plan to move her three daughters and their careers into the Forsyth Galloway Inn. They seemed happy. Kate hadn’t asked too many probing questions for fear that Zelda would mistake her curiosity for interest in securing her own place at the inn. The mere thought made Kate itchy with claustrophobia.
Still, it felt as if the fates had been conspiring with Zelda and Aidan to herd her and keep her close to home. Making her settle down with responsibilities that made her chafe even thinking about them.
Could she do hair in her kitchen?
Her clientele liked luxury. That was why they were willing to pay the prices they paid that allowed Kate to live comfortably. They would not want to sit in her kitchen.
If she did go to the inn, it sure would simplify things, and it would be a good time to see if some of her favorite colleagues might want to join her. Granted, the spa was a few months from opening but if she planted the seed now—
She shook her head. It was all too much, coming at her too fast.
Maybe she should talk to her sisters and get the inside scoop on what it was really like to work at the inn under their mother’s well-meaning but intrusive watch.
Carrying one of Jane’s famous colossal cinnamon rolls, Kate walked back to her station and opened her bag to get her phone out, but she was waylaid by the sealed manila envelope that contained her father’s contact info. It had been in her purse—unopened—since the day Aidan had presented it to her. While she was at it, maybe she should talk to her sisters about him, too. They had all been hurt by him. Each of them carried the scars of his abandonment in her own way. The main difference between Kate and her sisters was that Elle and Jane had gotten on with their lives. They had found love and happiness and fulfilling places in their community.
Kate was admittedly stuck on an island of her own making, unhappy and unable to move on. That was evidenced by the fact that she hadn’t realized she had been at the Kerrigan Karol Salon for eleven years. Doing the same thing day in and day out. Life had been passing her by. More than a decade was gone and what had she done? She was still in the same spot, treading water. It took Kerrigan draining the pool to make her make a change.
Kate plucked the envelope out of her bag and contemplated it. What was the harm in looking at the information Randy Ponder had gathered. It wasn’t as if he would have to face him. But it might be the first step toward a better life. She glanced at her watch. It was still early. Her first client wasn’t due for a half-hour. Envelope in hand, Kate hitched her bag onto her shoulder, and approached the salon’s reception desk. “I have to step out for a minute. If my client arrives early, please tell her I’ll be right back.”
She to the coffee shop across the street to read private detective’s report.
Chapter Ten
“They’re over there, Daddy!” Chloe pointed toward a group of girls and moms at a picnic table. “Can I go?”
Aidan nodded and watched Chloe set out across the park with her stuffed white cat tucked under her arm, running toward her rock-painting friends. When she reached the table, Doris greeted her and then immediately walked toward Aidan to meet him halfway.
“I’m so glad you could make it,” Doris said. “Where’s Kate today?”
He knew they had to ask this question. He had been prepared, but for a moment he lost his words.
“She is away right now, but Chloe still wanted to come. I hope it is okay that I’m here. I know this is a mom-and-daughter thing.”
He wished she would offer to keep an eye on Chloe so that he could go back to work for a couple of hours. He didn’t want to ask since Chloe had already spent so much time over there. Apparently, his returning to work wasn’t in the cards, because she had linked her arm through his and was walking him to the table.
“Nonsense,” she said. “You are absolutely welcome to join us. We won’t be here very long anyway since a couple of the girls have commitments tonight. We’re just going to paint a few more rocks and let the girls place them around the park for people to find. I had little labels made with our collective Instagram handle @savannahrocks2754.”
“Does 2754 have a significance?” he asked.
Dori shrugged. “It was available.”
He nodded, not quite sure what else to say.
At least there would be something to do, a way to keep busy. He could help Chloe paint and then they could hit the road. His heart was heavy thinking about going back to the house and Kate not being there. He hadn’t heard from her today. A couple of times, he had had his phone
