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Katherine stiffened at the barrage of questions.

“No, no, and no,” she answered, reminding herself that they didn’t mean to pry. “Everything’s fine. Nothing for you to worry about.”

Florence smiled, giving her hand a sympathetic pat. “Well, whatever it was, we were praying for you all the same.”

“Thanks, ladies. Your concern means a lot.”

As the morning went on, Katherine was in and out of the kitchen more than usual at the request of Beth Ann and the Fraser twins. They were tired of answering questions from people wondering how she was doing. Over and over, everyone asked if she’d been sick or hurt or worse. Some even seemed to require in-person proof.

Like Officers Kendall and Patrick when they finished their shift and stopped by for coffee and a half dozen chocolate chip muffins.

“The Chief said you were taking some time off,” Kendall spoke first. “We’re glad to see you’re okay.”

“Real glad.” Patrick nodded. “But I wasn’t too worried. I bet Kendall twenty bucks it was for lady reasons.”

“Eeew…” Lucy and Lyla chorused as Kendall elbowed Patrick in the ribs. As Katherine turned away to bag their baked goods, and pour coffee into to-go cups, she pretended she hadn’t heard them.

“Shut up, knucklehead,” Kendall whispered to his partner. “You can’t say that kinda stuff to a female. It’s a sensitive time for them. Do you wanna make her cry?”

“No.” Patrick pouted.

“No wonder you’re still single.”

“Here ya go,” Katherine said, interrupting them from whispering and elbowing each other. “Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your breakfast.”

Officers Kendall and Patrick thanked Katherine, then waved to Lucy and Lyla on their way out the door.

Later, when the breakfast crowd finally dwindled to a few customers, Katherine felt relieved and exhausted and needed to escape out back for some fresh air.

Waving to Florence and company on their way out the door, Katherine promised to see them tomorrow for breakfast, untied her apron, and asked Beth Ann if she could hold down the fort for a few minutes.

“Take your time, Katherine. We got it covered.”

Passing through the kitchen, Katherine let Zach know she’d be outside if he needed her and picked up one of the apple crates her mother found at an antique sale. Once she was outside, she put the sturdy old crate on the ground and sat down to rest. Breathing in the cool morning air, she thought about how lucky she’d been to have Beth Ann and Zach by her side, and decided it was time to give them both a raise. Maybe even the Fraser girls and Grace, too.

“Baby girl? Are you alright?”

Turning to see her mother, Katherine jumped up to hug her. “This is a nice surprise.”

Though Ginny Bennett was caught off guard by such a warm greeting, she happily accepted the hug.

“How was your water aerobics class?”

Ginny tsked, shaking her head. “So, you’ve seen your father.”

Katherine hesitated. “What makes you say that?”

“How else would you know about my new class?”

“I saw him yesterday,” Katherine admitted.

“So, did he come here or go by your place to walk off his guilt?” Ginny said, with the questioning rise of one brow. “I knew I should’ve hidden that pie before I left the house.”

At that moment, Katherine knew her father had kept his promise not to tell her mother anything that had happened the day before. If he had shared the details about Justin storming into Matthew’s kitchen and finding her and Matthew together, Ginny Bennett would’ve never brought up the pie thing.

“Daddy came by the house,” Katherine said, figuring it was better to be honest. Well, at least as honest as possible. She didn’t want to tell her mother, or anyone else, lies about them. Yet she agreed with Matthew. What happens between them should stay between them.

“I’ve been telling that man for years that he’s not fooling anyone. Does he honestly believe he can talk shop every night at my dinner table, and I wouldn’t pick up a thing or two?”