Page 28 of The Hometown Legend

Quinn had managed to do things Rory hadn’t.

She’d had no trouble being away for four years at school. And she kept her focus the entire time.

Quinn knew who she was.

Quinn also knew that none of them needed PowerBait.

“I do want Pop-Tarts,” said Rory, grabbing the cart and taking it down the aisle that had breakfast food. She also got some syrup and pancake mix. They were all great bakers, but the truth was, she just didn’t think anything was as good as pancake mix where you just added water. They were fluffier, and they were easier. And there was simply no reason not to use a mix when the mix was good.

Even though Quinn lived next door now, she did often still come over for breakfast. Alaina less so, but she lived a few miles across the Four Corners property, at McCloud’s Landing. Her husband, Gus, was the oldest brother of that clan, and their responsibilities on the ranch kept them busy. That was the other difference. Alaina worked at McCloud’s. Her passion was horses, and it had taken her there.

It isn’t a move to Boston, though, is it?

She shrugged off her feeling of guilt. It was funny, to think of Alaina as being distant when she was quite literally on the same property.

And had a baby. She was busy. Just because she didn’t always come over for breakfast, or go shopping with them, didn’t mean she wasn’t around. And it didn’t mean that Rory was going to be completely disconnected when she moved away.

One thing about being beige: it wasn’t complex.

Her move toward a new life and a new Rory was... Well it wasn’t simple, that was for sure. It made her excited and regretful at the same time. Happy for her sisters and a little melancholy that they’d moved on to a place Rory hadn’t.

Complicated wasn’t her favorite.

She was in the middle of a lot of complicated right now, for someone who had never really dealt in that before.

“You’re scowling at breakfast cereal,” said Fia. “Is there anything you want to tell us about what Honey Nut Cheerios did to you?”

“No,” she said, moving away from the box.

She wasn’t really a cereal girl. She liked pastries, pancakes, or at least a full two-egg breakfast. Otherwise, she might as well just have nothing.

“Well, anything else you want to tell us?”

“I’m good. I was just thinking about moving.”

“I don’t like to talk about you moving,” said Quinn.

“I know. But it’s happening in a little less than a month.”

“And were you feeling particularly sad about leaving us for the city life while standing in John’s looking at the array of goods on offer?”

“Actually, yes. I was.”

“It’s the PowerBait,” Quinn stage-whispered.

“You don’t have to go,” said Fia. “No one will think less of you if you change your mind.”

“I’m not going to change my mind.”

They took all their items and went to the front of the store. “Hi, Fia. Hi, Quinn.” John paused and he looked over at Rory. “Hi.”

He didn’t know her name. John, who knew her family well enough, who had known all the girls since they were children, remembered everybody’s name but hers. And this was the problem. This was the absolute problem.

“Rory,” she said, finding her voice, some strength, from somewhere deep inside her that she had never really tested before. “My name is Rory.”

John turned red, and she banished that feeling of guilt that she’d made him uncomfortable. He made her uncomfortable. He hadn’t remembered her. Beige sweater.

They finished paying and went outside. She felt a little bit shaky from the exertion of the last few moments.

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