Good morning, she said loudly.
The conversation stilled as everyone turned toward her.
Thanks so much for coming. Our goal this morning is to decorate our collection bins for the toy drive. Theres one bin for each Sprout. Wed like the bins to reflect the individual Sprouts personality and family traditions for the holidays.
She went on to explain about the supplies and then broke everyone into groups. There was a mad rush for paint, glue and glitter. Gideon, a local late night DJ, strolled in with a portable music system.
Mind if I set up? he asked.
Id love it, she told him.
Kenny walked up to her. So what am I supposed to do? he asked. I dont know anything about decorating a collection bin.
Its okay. Were just here to supervise. Make sure no one goes wild with the glue sticks. Or you can help Chloe.
She pointed to the small group around her daughter. Madeline, who worked at the towns bridal boutique, had offered to be Chloes substitute mom for the day. Bailey had been concerned that if she was supposed to be running the event, she wouldnt be able to help Chloe very much. Shed gratefully accepted the offer of help.
Kenny looked around the large open space, then nodded toward Chloe. Ill be over there.
Hiding out? she asked, her voice teasing.
You know it.
She watched him go. He was a good guy, she thought wistfully. Before she could allow her thoughts to drift to more places they shouldnt, music filled the room. Gideon had brought a collection of upbeat holiday carols that soon had everyone singing while they worked.
Bailey walked to each of the Sprouts. Allison and her family and friends had come prepared with beautiful printouts of Russian nesting dolls.
Were going to decorate the background, then glue on the pictures of the dolls, Allison told her. Well put clear varnish over the top.
I like it, Bailey said.
She noticed Allisons mom had on a pretty beaded bracelet. For a second she thought it was an adult version of the bracelets the Sprouts woreone with beads they earned for various projects.
Allisons mom saw her studying the piece and held out her wrist. Isnt it wonderful? The beads represent all the colors of cancer awareness. She smiled at her husband. It was a gift for my birthday.
The man in question smiled back. Youd been hinting you wanted it for weeks. Dont give me too much credit.
They laughed together.
Bailey nodded and moved to the next group. But before she got there, she glanced back at the couple who had paused for a quick hug.
Their intimacy, their obvious love for each other, gave her a funny feeling in her stomach. Longing, she decided. She wanted what they had. She wanted to fall in love and stay in love for the rest of her life.
If any of her friends knew that was what she secretly longed for, they would be surprised. After all, shed been married. Happilyor so it had appeared on the outside. But not in her heart, she thought. Will had been a terrific guy...just not for her.
Theirs hadnt been a bad marriage. Just not special. Maybe theyd married too young. Maybe theyd grown apart because of his frequent deployments. There could be a thousand reasons. Her only hope was that hed never figured out that she wasnt happy.
* * *
THANKSGIVING MORNING DAWNED clear and cold. Bailey was up earlyin part to prepare the turkey and stuffing, but mostly because she couldnt sleep.
She was going to spend the entire day with Kenny. The realization made her feel like she was sixteen again and had a mad crush on... She stopped applying her mascara so she could laugh without poking herself in the eye. Because the cliché that had come to mind was a mad crush on the football captain. And she would bet that Kenny had been just that. He was the kind of guy who would take charge of the team and lead them to the championship.
Not that she would have been there to see it, she reminded herself as she leaned into the mirror and continued applying her makeup. She would have been working as many hours as she could manage. There hadnt been time for things like football games.
It wasnt going to be like that for Chloe, she told herself. Chloe was growing up in a community where she connected with people. Bailey wanted her daughter to feel safe and strong. Like she could do anything.
Baileys grandmother had been willing to take in her only granddaughter when her own daughter had skipped town. The older woman had been loving but firm. The message was clear. Bailey was expected to take care of herself starting the day she turned eighteen. To that end, Bailey had put aside her dreams of a college education and had instead focused on after-school jobs and learned to be an adult as early as possible. It wasnt until years later that shed saved enough to go to community college.
She supposed the lessons had served her well. While shed had to adjust when Will died, shed known that even if she didnt always feel capable, she had the skill set to survive.
She put away her makeup and tidied the small bathroom. It was the only one in the apartment and they were going to have company. She paused to take in the pink-and-gold plastic shower curtain, the princess-printed towels Chloe loved and the turkey-shaped liquid soap dispenser on the small vanity. Probably not anything a man like Kenny was used to.