reflecting the headlights of passing cars. Pulling into the strip mall where Goodwill was located Grace noted several small local restaurants there as well as a couple of local stores.
“Good, Little Nicky’s Pizza is still here. They have great food. Looks like you’ll get your pizza.”
Goodwill was empty except for a cashier and a young girl stocking shelves. Grace found some dishes and cookware but when it came to linens she had second thoughts. Kort sensed her reticence and said softly, “We can look somewhere else.”
“I don’t want to drag you all over town.”
Kort took the towel she was holding and folded it back on the shelf. “I don’t mind. We can grab a bite to eat. Let me ask around and I’ll pick you tomorrow after work. We’ll find someplace that isn’t too expensive,” he hesitated. “Someplace you can get something that isn’t used.”
“I hate to put you out. But I honestly don’t think I can do this.” Grace wrinkled her nose. “I guess I didn’t think it through.”
She paid for her purchases and Kort helped her carry the packages to the truck. As he placed the bags into the truck bed he said, “I’ll ask around and see if anyone can suggest a good place to shop.” Grinning he added, “I can’t have you stealing linens from the motel.”
Grace made a face at him and laughed. “Especially since the desk clerk referred me to her aunt the renting agent at the apartment complex.”
Coming around to the front of the truck he leaned against the hood. “That’s one of the good things about a small town. It’s also one of the bad things about a small town.”
Nodding her agreement Grace said, “I know. I come from a small town.” She hesitated. “I don’t know about Riddle but gossip was a form of entertainment where I come from.”
Kort looked around as if searching for words to say. “Unfortunately once you develop a reputation in a town like this it sticks.” His eyes were hooded when he looked back at her. “Memories are long when gossip is hot. And words travel fast when the story is good.”
Grace studied his face and although he tried to appear impassive she could see the pain and anger hidden behind his eyes. “I can’t imagine what it must have been like to be accused of killing someone; especially someone you loved. Didn’t they investigate?”
“Oh sure, they investigated. But they investigated me. From the moment Desiree went missing the fingers all pointed at me. I wasn’t a good kid, but I wasn’t a violent kid either. Sure I’d gotten into a few fights. Being adopted, being native, I was a ready-made target. It seemed I spent all my life trying to prove I was like everyone else even when I didn’t want to be like everyone else.”
“What about your parents? Didn’t they defend you?” Grace pressed.
Kort laughed harshly. “Grace my parents are white. Good white church going people who adopted a poor Indian boy and tried to make him civilized.”
“That’s crazy!” she exclaimed. “This is the twenty-first century.”
He leaned close to her. “You said you come from a small town. Wasn’t there someone who always got picked on, someone who didn’t fit in, someone different?”
Grace’s face grew hot. In many ways she had been that someone. She remembered going to school and somehow everyone knew she was poor, lived on the charity of the church and their neighbors. In high school she never had the designer clothes the other kids had.
Kort watched her cheeks grow red and he stepped back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think…”
“What?” her tone was sharp. “You didn’t think I got picked on and laughed at? Surprise.” Grace felt a lump forming in her throat. All the hurt was bubbling up. Why had she ever thought she could marry someone like David; a boy who came not only from the right side of the tracks but from one of the wealthiest families in town? How did she ever expect to compete with Emily?
Watching Grace blink back
“Good, Little Nicky’s Pizza is still here. They have great food. Looks like you’ll get your pizza.”
Goodwill was empty except for a cashier and a young girl stocking shelves. Grace found some dishes and cookware but when it came to linens she had second thoughts. Kort sensed her reticence and said softly, “We can look somewhere else.”
“I don’t want to drag you all over town.”
Kort took the towel she was holding and folded it back on the shelf. “I don’t mind. We can grab a bite to eat. Let me ask around and I’ll pick you tomorrow after work. We’ll find someplace that isn’t too expensive,” he hesitated. “Someplace you can get something that isn’t used.”
“I hate to put you out. But I honestly don’t think I can do this.” Grace wrinkled her nose. “I guess I didn’t think it through.”
She paid for her purchases and Kort helped her carry the packages to the truck. As he placed the bags into the truck bed he said, “I’ll ask around and see if anyone can suggest a good place to shop.” Grinning he added, “I can’t have you stealing linens from the motel.”
Grace made a face at him and laughed. “Especially since the desk clerk referred me to her aunt the renting agent at the apartment complex.”
Coming around to the front of the truck he leaned against the hood. “That’s one of the good things about a small town. It’s also one of the bad things about a small town.”
Nodding her agreement Grace said, “I know. I come from a small town.” She hesitated. “I don’t know about Riddle but gossip was a form of entertainment where I come from.”
Kort looked around as if searching for words to say. “Unfortunately once you develop a reputation in a town like this it sticks.” His eyes were hooded when he looked back at her. “Memories are long when gossip is hot. And words travel fast when the story is good.”
Grace studied his face and although he tried to appear impassive she could see the pain and anger hidden behind his eyes. “I can’t imagine what it must have been like to be accused of killing someone; especially someone you loved. Didn’t they investigate?”
“Oh sure, they investigated. But they investigated me. From the moment Desiree went missing the fingers all pointed at me. I wasn’t a good kid, but I wasn’t a violent kid either. Sure I’d gotten into a few fights. Being adopted, being native, I was a ready-made target. It seemed I spent all my life trying to prove I was like everyone else even when I didn’t want to be like everyone else.”
“What about your parents? Didn’t they defend you?” Grace pressed.
Kort laughed harshly. “Grace my parents are white. Good white church going people who adopted a poor Indian boy and tried to make him civilized.”
“That’s crazy!” she exclaimed. “This is the twenty-first century.”
He leaned close to her. “You said you come from a small town. Wasn’t there someone who always got picked on, someone who didn’t fit in, someone different?”
Grace’s face grew hot. In many ways she had been that someone. She remembered going to school and somehow everyone knew she was poor, lived on the charity of the church and their neighbors. In high school she never had the designer clothes the other kids had.
Kort watched her cheeks grow red and he stepped back. “I’m sorry. I didn’t think…”
“What?” her tone was sharp. “You didn’t think I got picked on and laughed at? Surprise.” Grace felt a lump forming in her throat. All the hurt was bubbling up. Why had she ever thought she could marry someone like David; a boy who came not only from the right side of the tracks but from one of the wealthiest families in town? How did she ever expect to compete with Emily?
Watching Grace blink back
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