SHIFT EXCHANGE

Chapter 2

Kara related the events of her morning to Anita who sat in just as rapt of attention as her friend had supplied to her only moments ago.

Anita whistled long and leaned back from the edge of the table where she had been perched hanging on Kara's every word. "Wow. What a morning we both had." She took a sip of her tea. "So what now?"

Kara splayed her hands out in front of her in surrender. "It's over. I'll be lucky if he'll even allow us to try to remain friends." Guilt wedged in her throat and made it difficult to swallow. "I should have talked to him sooner. Should have made my feelings clear to him. Refused to become something more with him. This is all my own fault."

Anita reached across the table and took her friend's hand. "It is partially  your fault, but it takes two to tango. I saw you guys together. It was quite clear to anyone watching you weren't on the same page. In my opinion, there was more than a little willful delusion on his part."

Kara could feel the tears pricking the back of her eyes. Anita's sympathy was welcome and soothing. She shook her head swiftly to pull herself back from the brink. She didn't have time for that nonsense now. Her watch told her she only had an hour left before official check in hours began.

 "Oh Anita! Thank you so much for coming. I really needed this time with you."

Her friend stood and wrapped her in a hug. "Anytime hun. I'll see you at work. Have a good time with your guests." Anita placed her mug in the sink and walked down the hall to the door.

Kara followed her friend and waved as Anita turned her truck and retreated down the driveway. The crisp air bit through her t-shirt. When the big Dodge was not longer in sight Kara turned, closed the door and climbed the stairs to the attic her aunt had renovated several years back to be her very own haven in the large home.

Aunt Lucille and her twin sister, Kara's mother Lydia, had been born in the 2 story clapboard farmhouse on 40 acres 55 years before. Twenty years ago Lucille decided the roomy, nearly empty home deserved to be put to better use. With money left by the loss of her husband, she renovated and updated her childhood home. A year later Aunt Lucille opened the doors to the  Old County Bed & Breakfast. She'd managed it happily, with the help of her friend and handyman Marvin Roletto until her recent death.

Kara had nothing but fond memories of the home. Whenever her mother got itchy feet, she'd suddenly decide that Kara needed to go visit Aunt Lucille. To her credit, Lucille had never batted an eye at her niece, always making her feel welcome. However she had felt about her sister's neglectful parenting tactics, she'd kept to herself. Kara never new when her wayward mother would re-emerge, hungover and full of promises to do better. She didn't yearn for her return. Life with Lucille was good, stable, and safe.

Kara reached the former attic and opened the door to her room. Most days she still thought of it as Aunt Lucille's room even though it was now covered in all her own things. Sometimes she still caught a waft of her aunt's White Shoulders perfume and it through her back in time.

She opened the large closet and chose a soft brown skirt, purple cotton shirt, and her dark woolen ruanna wrap. Kara shrugged out of her work clothes and pulled on the more presentable outfit. She looked into the full length mirror and ran her hands through her short bob haircut to make sure it was all lying down. A light dusting of powder and thin coat of lip gloss finished her efforts.

The wind was starting to pickup outside. Bright orange and red leaves swirled through the air as they vacated their spots on the old Red Maple and Beech trees out front.

She realized she should really go round up Merle and get him situated before her company arrived. If they were in for a storm, it wouldn't do to be out chasing a goat in the rain when she should be making dinner. With a sigh she pulled her shawl around her and headed downstairs.