Finding Home by Georgia Beers Page B

of her eyes, as if she’d been issued a challenge by Sarah’s lame description. She picked up the ball and threw it for Bentley.
    “What was nice about it?”
    Sarah shot a glare her way. “It’s a cool country. Very similar, but very different.”
    Obviously still not satisÞ ed, Natalie tried a different tack.
    “You were there for work?”
    “Yep.”
    “What do you do?”
    “I work.” Unnecessarily snotty, Sarah knew, but she couldn’t help it.
    “I see.” Natalie didn’t miss a beat, didn’t ß inch at the insulting tone, and didn’t take the hint and stop with the questions. She
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    kept right on as if they were two old friends having a chat. “What were the New Zealanders like?”
    “Kiwis.”
    “They were like kiwis?”
    “No, that’s what they call themselves. Kiwis. Not New Zealanders. A Kiwi is a bird.”
    “Oh. Well, what were they like?”
    “Nice.”
    “Nice?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “Friendly?”
    “Yep.”
    “What about the food?”
    “Not bad.”
    “The coffee?”
    “ Strong .” Natalie laughed at that, a sound Sarah loved, then immediately became annoyed by. No laughing. I should not be making you laugh. I don’t like you, remember?
    “How was the weather?”
    “Starting to cool. It was their fall.”
    “Did you get much chance to explore? Or did you work the whole time?”
    “I wandered a little, but it was mostly work.”
    “That’s too bad. Did you see anything cool? Go to any fun bars or anything? Meet any interesting people?”
    Feeling suddenly and inexplicably uncomfortable by the line of questioning, Sarah made a show of looking at her watch.
    “Wow, is it that late? I need to get going.”
    “But it’s barely eight o’clock in the morning.”
    “I have somewhere to be.” Unnecessarily snotty yet again.
    “Oh.” Was she mistaken or did Natalie sound disappointed?
    “Okay.”
    “Um…” Sarah squatted down to pet Bentley, who was panting like crazy and didn’t seem at all affected by any of this.
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    He was all about the ball. It was news to her that he liked this game so much, and the thought made her sad. She glanced up at Natalie, who was watching her closely, and had no idea what to say to her. She wanted to hate her, wanted to glare and be angry and spit and swear and yet somehow, she just didn’t have the energy. To add insult to injury—and much to her own horror—
    she felt tears suddenly spring into her eyes . Jesus Christ, what is happening to me? Dropping a quick kiss on the top of Bentley’s head, she muttered, “I’ve got to go.”
    She heard Natalie call out from behind her, asking if she was okay as she nearly ran back to the trail and stomped into the trees like some jilted lover from a romantic comedy. Her heart was pounding like a jackhammer and she couldn’t seem to catch her breath, but that didn’t stop her. When she reached the car, she didn’t even pause to collect herself. She keyed the ignition, slammed it into gear, and streaked home as fast as possible, feeling like something she couldn’t name—her past? her fears?
    her self-doubt?—was chasing her and any second now would have her in its cold and unforgiving grip forever.
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    FINDING HOME

CHAPTER NINE
    I feel bad for her. I can’t help it.”
    “Why on earth do you feel bad for her?” Andrea was clearly annoyed, still trying to absorb the news that Natalie had actually met with Sarah in the park that morning.
    “I don’t know. I just do.” Natalie took a sip of her Diet Coke and watched the people below. The biggest perk to living in her bitty apartment above Valenti’s was this, the tiny square of rooftop to which she had full access. All summer long and through much of the fall, Natalie and Andrea sat in lounge chairs, ice-stuffed cooler between them, and watched the neighborhood go by. The thermometer reading of ninety-three degrees had prompted her to leave Chino in the coolness of the air-conditioned