Lowering her head, feeling embarrassed and yet pleased, she thanked them.

Tina even suggested Carly could probably work with Aaron at some point if she wanted; he’d been impressed, too. They’d talk to him about it, she said, with Mitch nodding enthusiastically. That offer was the last thing Carly had expected. She felt highly complimented—but she couldn’t possibly…

Ironic that she’d worn this T-shirt!

When Mitch had left and they’d eaten some scrambled eggs, Tina asked if Carly wanted to go “downtown.” They’d hit the drugstore, she said, maybe the magazine stand, the deli.

Carly felt reluctant, for more reasons than she wanted to explain, but she agreed, which had more to do with Tina’s kindness than anything else. Carly needed to show her gratitude and she could do that by acceding to Tina’s wishes. In the process, she could pick up some stuff she needed—nail polish remover and suntan lotion.

They drove to the small drugstore, halfway up Main Street. Was there a town anywhere in the country, Carly wondered, that didn’t have a Main Street? Once there, she said, “I have a few things I need to buy. See you in ten?”

“By the exit,” Tina agreed.

Carly selected the items on her list, plus some volume-enhancing conditioner and a new hairbrush. She was on her way to the cash register when—just as she’d feared—she saw two of the girls she’d seen last night at Bailey’s. They saw her, too, and started to approach, calling, “Hey, Charlotte! Carly?”

In a panic, Carly dropped her intended purchases on a random shelf, turned and race-walked out of the store. Great! She didn’t need them recognizing her, identifying her, asking questions or spreading gossip. She wasn’t ready to be revealed, and if it had to happen, she wanted to be in control. So she had to escape. Now.

She waved at Tina, standing in line at the cash, then ran to the car, parked half a block down Main. Luckily Tina had left it unlocked. Another small-town thing, she supposed. She slumped in the passenger seat. She had no idea whether those girls knew Tina, whether they’d ask what was going on and why she’d been so rude—and who was she, anyway? Worse, what if they mentioned My 3 Dads?

What could she say to Tina about taking off like that? What remotely plausible excuse could she offer. I had to go to the bathroom? I felt sick? I had to make a call?

Five minutes later, Tina returned to the car. She got in, making much work of putting away her purchases, storing her purse, buckling her seat belt, never looking at Carly. Finally, she turned to her. “What was that all about?”