[[ wheelsy, south carolina ]]

[justdidntseeit]

[ "you're throwin' him a party?" ]

She doesn't move from the kitchen after she ends the call.

She just stares at the handset on the counter, willing it to ring.

(It doesn't.)

Her eyes are no longer red when Bill returns from the store, a six-year-old-at-Christmas grin on his face.

"Found it, after all."

She tries to return the smile and presses a kiss to his shoulder as he draws even with her at the sink.

"Y'got no right -- "

She pulls back, part of her certain she doesn't deserve this, doesn't deserve him, and swallows a you should call your mom.

"All right, sheriff," she says, licking her lips to keep them from trembling. "It's time you learned how to julienne."

"Julia-what, now?"

"Pass me those carrots."



- - - - -



She makes the call early the next morning, while Bill's still sleeping.

"Sarah, I don't think it's a good idea, after all. We should cancel -- "

"We can't cancel, Kate. Everybody already knows about it, an' -- "

"But -- "

"Rudy's got it worked out with Mary to put that Xbox on all four big screens. He even convinced Dave to write off extra wireless controllers as a business expense for the department."

"There's still time to call it off -- "

"Kate, honey, what's got you so worried? He's gonna love it."

"I -- "

She almost tells Sarah about the conversation with June, but the words stick in her throat.

"Did you forget I'm makin' Hello Dolly bars just for the occasion?"

"You are?"

"I am. An' that nutmeg an' maple cream pie I was tellin' you about."

"But ... "

"An' tiramisu cake."

Kate stifles a quiet sigh.

"We can't cancel, can we?"

"No," Sarah says with a light laugh, "we really can't."

"He's in a hurry t'get himself killed, an' I'm so glad you're there to encourage him."

She closes her eyes to ward off the headache building behind them and forces a cheerful tone.

"Okay, then."