Page 23 of Shadows of Before

The one on the ladder grinned down at him. “Well, who do we have here?”

Katie spun around. “Hell, Will, what are you doing here?”

“I came to settle our spat. So,” he added. “Who are you?”

The ladder lady climbed down. “I’m Mary Donovan.”

“Katie has a sister?”

“I’m her best friend.”

He didn’t know she had a best friend. That was good, he guessed.

Katie said, “Do you want to talk to me?”

“Yeah. But tell me what you two are up to.”

Mary said, “We’re cleaning the house. We’re almost done.”

“For what?”

“Are you blind?” Mary asked.

“Okay, the place needs an overhaul.”

“That’s an understatement.”

Kate crossed to him. “Will, come into the kitchen with me.”

An alarm buzzed. Mary checked her watch. “Uh, oh, time to feed Henry.”

“You got a baby here?”

“No,” the woman said heading to the bedroom. “The smells would be bad for him.” She looked cute in raggedy short shorts and tank top. So did Katie. When the woman returned with a purse, she said, “I have to go nurse my son at our Dad’s place.”

“I’m confused.”

“She’s married to my brother.”

The woman took off her head scarf. Her brown hair tumbled to her waist.

“Hey, Katie’s hair used to be long like that.”

“I know. I hate that she cut it.”

That makes two of us.

Mary left. “I’ll be a while. I’m going to have lunch with Dad then take Henry to my mother’s. Can I bring you two something?”

“No.”

“No.”

“O-kay.” Mary walked out and they heard the door close.

Katie turned to him. Turnedonhim. “What the fuck, Will? I said I needed time.”

“I said we could go back to just sex. You’ve had enough time, though I don’t know for what.”

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