Page 45 of First Date: Divorce
*
They stretched in silence before he set an easy pace, side by side.
It didn’t stay as easy because of the terrain.But she’d been right about him knowing good places.Light and respectful traffic, decent footing on the paths, terrific views.
When the path narrowed to single file, sometimes he dropped back and let her go first, sometimes he took the lead.After a few of those change-offs, she thought he took the lead when the way might not be clear, had her go first otherwise.
Their strides matched well.So did their rhythm.
Neither of them said anything until they came to an area with a paved path on a relatively level patch.
“Sprint?”
He started before she finished the question.She was after him immediately.Caught up only at the end, so it was hard to tell if she’d caught him with her speed or he’d slowed up for the change of footing.
They settled back to the easier pace all the way back.
After their cool downs, he said only, “Nice run.”
She found herself smiling a bit as she went upstairs.
Because the run had blown out a few cobwebs?Because she heard Pauline telling him to get his sweaty body out of the kitchen?Because ithadbeen a nice run?
All of the above?
*
The run had helped, but the drumming words that awakened K.D.now trimmed down to two:
Her wedding.
She’d been so sure she’d never have cause to think those words, so sure this would never happen that she’d never considered she might need to brace against it.
Get a hold of yourself, K.D.
It’s fake.
Pretend.
A necessary part of their cover story.
A make-believe wedding, that’s what Rebecca called it … and there Rebecca sat on her side of the aisle, smiling broadly at her.
This was Rebecca’s fault.
In the instant not long ago when Rebecca turned her toward the mirror and she’d seen herself in the white dress and wispy veil, her guard threw down its weapons and cried,My wedding.
The act that would turn her into a wife.
A fake wife.
Pretend wife.
For their cover story.
All of them turned to look at her, smiling and smiling and smiling at her.
She rested her hand on Grif’s arm and tried to focus on the strange outfits of the supposed wedding guests.Anything to get her mind off the short walk ahead of her.
