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“You know that garbage you eat is full of chemicals, right?” Katherine said, easing the clean pan into the basin of sanitizer before drying off her hands and giving Beth Ann a freshly baked muffin. “Just because the box says fruity doesn’t mean it’s made withactualfruit.”

“I know. But I love my cereal,” Beth Ann whined, then looked down at the muffin and brightened. It was a rare moment when Katherine gave her a coffee cake muffin instead of something healthier filled with fruit and nuts. “Wow, thanks, Katherine. You’re the best.”

“Don’t thank me, thank your ridiculously high metabolism.”

Beth Ann took an enormous bite. “Mmm, trust me, I do.”

As Katherine stared at her friend, she didn’t know what was worse, watching Beth Ann stuff food in her mouth with the fervor of a ravenous teenage boy or her rail-thin body despite living on sugar, calories, fat, and even more sugar.

“Maybe you should take smaller bites,” Katherine suggested before turning back to the sink. “You’re not running so late that you need to inhale your food.”

“Dang, this is so good,” Beth Ann spoke through a mouthful of sugary goodness before licking the cinnamon topping from her lips. “I almost forgot to tell you that Bella and Frank Vaughn sold their house and bought a condo in Florida. They’removingto Florida. Can you believe it?”

Katherine rinsed the soap from another pan before adding it to the basin of sanitizer. “Well, I should hope so. It’d be a waste of money if they didn’t.”

“Katherine!”

“What?”

“You’re not listening. I’m trying to point out a very important fact.”

“I am listening. You’re just not getting to the point fast enough.”

With a sigh, Beth Ann said, “There’s an open position at WDSG.”

“O-kay.” Katherine’s eyes widened in awho caressort of way.

“With Bella leaving, the television station has to hire a replacement. And since nobody else in town can do the job…”

Suddenly, Katherine knew exactly where this was going.

“Please don’t,” she said as she tried to walk away, but Beth Ann caught her by the arm.

“Just hear me out. I promise this isreallygood.”

“No, because I already know what you’re going to say.”

With an exaggerated eye roll, Beth Ann groaned in misery. “You know, sometimes you can besoclosed-minded.”

“I’m not closed-minded. I’m realistic.”

“Realistic? Ha! Try boring,” she complained. “You know, this could be really great if you’d just open your mind up to the possibility of it.”

“What if they hire a woman?” Katherine asked, hoping to throw a monkey wrench into Beth Ann’s big plan.

“Nope. Not gonna happen. BecauseIalready know his name.AndI also know it’s just a matter of time before he moves to Windsong.”

Katherine felt her stomach tighten, and her head started to hurt again.

“Just think… hunky, big city reporter moves to small town and sweeps local girl off her feet. Tell me, what would be so bad about meeting the man of your dreams?” Beth Ann sighed, glowing in naïve satisfaction, her eyes drifting upward as if drawn to some magical place in the sky. “Of course, he’ll be super smart and totallysweet, and you two would fall in love and get married.”

Katherine bit back a laugh, patting Beth Ann’s hand before removing it from her arm. “You’re cute, Bethie. Confused… but cute.”

Hurrying past the pouting waitress, Katherine knew she had to escape the confined space of the diner’s kitchen because there was no way she would let herself stay trapped inside Beth Ann’s ridiculous love bubble.

“Please, Katherine, be serious!” she whined, following close behind. “You never know what could happen. It could be the most romantic love story of all time.”

“Me?” Katherine scoffed over her shoulder. “I’m the one who should be serious?”