Danica and her friends were in the living room. Billy was
there, with a blonde, petite woman sitting beside him. Likely
his girlfriend.
“Quinn’s in the kitchen,” Katrina said in low tones. “I can
take your gift, if you’d like.”
“Thanks.” Dallas handed over the gift bag, and then, after
a moment’s pause, passed Billy’s hat over too. Katrina took
that as well, without asking how Dallas had come to have it.
“Ashton is barbequing a thousand burgers outside. I’m
not sure how he thinks we’re going to eat all that, but he’s
grilling it all anyway. I’ll give you two a few minutes before I
come back into the kitchen and get in your hair setting the
table.”
Dallas nodded. She didn’t like to use the phrase choked up
because it was so overdone, but she did feel choked. Painfully
so. Her nose burned and her eyes prickled and she knew the
tears were close. She walked through the hall, past the living
room, around into the kitchen. The house opened up there with
the kitchen to the right, the basement stairs to the left. If she
walked through the kitchen and dining area, she’d be back in
the large living room. The bedrooms were down the hall from
there.
Quinn whirled when she heard Dallas’ soft steps on the
laminate flooring. It had been white when they were kids, with
little squares and flowers at the juncture of each printed
border, but now it was yellowed with age and worn down in
the heavy traffic areas.
Most of the appliances in the kitchen seemed to be the
same. The fridge looked different, without all the drawings,
photos, and art projects. There were still some photos, but it