Stages of Grace - By Carey Heywood Page 0,44

surrounded by all of those memories, was not healthy for me. I don't fault your mother for not forgiving me. I wasn't an easy person to be around. I was cold and angry and felt like I couldn't deal with the world around me."

I have a hard time connecting the image Kate portrays of herself with the person sitting next to me. I let it drop, not wanting to upset her. I have a good time seeing the mermaid show. The park is full of little girls and their parents or grandparents. I smile being able to lump myself into that category even though I'm much older.

~*~

Once we are back at Kate's house, she takes a nap while I return the car to Ryan's garage. Ryan is pulling into his driveway as I'm letting myself out of his house.

"We took Kate's car out," I explain, feeling my face get hot.

"Sorry, my place is a mess."

"What? It seemed clean, but I only saw the front room and the kitchen."

"No peeking at my boxers?"

"No, not that I would admit it if I had" I joke.

He rubs his chin and smiles "I will now assume you did."

"Don’t!"

"But it's more fun that way. So what do you ladies have planned for lunch?"

"Kate's resting right now. I was just going to make myself a sandwich. Want one?"

Ryan follows me back to Kate's house and keeps me company in the kitchen while I make our lunch. He rambles on about his day. I like the sound of his chatter. We take our plates out by the pool. I'm really going to miss the weather. I'll not be outside like this until well into spring back home. Ryan pours us some lemonade and asks me how I like Kate's car. I tell him it’s longer than any car I've ever driven so other than being nervous when I was parking I think it is a great car. Ryan loves that car, telling me how he would put the top down and drive Kate around town. It makes me wonder why Ryan seems content to spend his time with Kate instead of people closer to his own age.

I have been so distracted I miss what he asks me. "Sorry?"

"Want to go out with me tonight?"

"I don’t know. What about Kate?"

"No worries. I cleared this with the boss lady last night."

"I guess."

"You don’t have to if you don’t want to."

"No. I didn’t mean—what I meant to say was you don’t have to."

"I know I don’t have to, Grace. I'm asking you because I'd like to."

"Well, in that case..."

It is settled. Ryan will pick me up at seven. He helps me clear the plates before he goes back to work. Kate comes out not long after, having finished her nap. I'm onto her.

"Did you fake a nap so Ryan and I would be alone?"

"Oh, Ryan stopped by? How is he?"

"You can't fool me." I smile. "He's great and taking me out tonight."

"Oh, I'm so happy you said yes."

"Mm hmm. Has your matchmaking made you work up an appetite? Can I make you a sandwich?"

"Oh, that'd be lovely, dear."

~*~

That night, I wear a cream-colored sundress with little eyelets at the hem. The dress comes down to my knees. My bruise is an odd shade of blue now. I take a green cardigan with me in case it cools off. I wear brown ballet-style flats and a small, green crossbody bag for my wallet. I borrow Kate's curling iron, adding some gentle waves that hit just past my shoulders. As I put on some mascara, I wonder if all the sun has lightened my hair, or maybe I’m just not used to seeing it styled. Not one for much makeup, I actually put on a little blush. Pointless, I think, since I always seem to feel red-faced around Ryan.

"Do you think Ryan thinks this is a date, Kate?"

"I don’t know, dear."

"Yes, you do."

She nods her head "Well, maybe."

"But I have a boyfriend."

"Then you really shouldn't be going on a date, dear."

"Kate!"

"I know Ryan will be here soon, but there was something I—"

"Knock, knock," Ryan calls out from the front room.

"Be right there," I call out. Then turning to Kate. "What were you saying?"

"It's not important. Come on, dear."

I follow Kate to the front room, stopping when I see Ryan. He’s wearing khaki trousers and brown dock shoes with an untucked light blue dress shirt, his sleeves rolled to his elbows. His hair looks damp like he is fresh out of a shower.

Ryan