Class Reunion by Linda Hill Page A

confrontation ever. She closed her eyes and leaned her head back against the trunk of the tree. After several moments, she heard a soft sigh from Heather and lifted one eyelid enough to see that Diane had managed to steer Sheila away. Diane took a seat on the end of the bench as Sheila climbed back into the bleachers.
    “What a mess,” Jen muttered.
    Heather looked at her questioningly before standŹing and brushing grass from her shorts. “I’ll go get some ice and that first-aid kit now.”

Chapter 10
    Heather returned shortly, a bag of ice in one hand and a familiar red, white, and blue first-aid kit in the other. Jen accepted the ice pack, placing it against her brow as they bent to inspect her knee.
    “Looks like you lost some skin.”
    “He got me good,” Jen agreed as she looked over the area. “I can’t remember the last time I got scraped up like this. Probably when I was ten years old.”
    “Amy gets scratches and scrapes all the time,” Heather said. She pushed aside Jen’s protests and began to gingerly clean and dress the wound. She spoke quietly about her daughter while she worked. “It’s funny,” she concluded, carefully covering Jen’s knee with a large Band-Aid. “Years ago I couldn’t imagine myself as a mother. Now I can’t imagine myself as anything else.” Her task complete, she unŹcurled her legs and stretched out on the grass beside Jen.
    “She’s a sweet girl. You must be proud of her.”
    Heather’s smile was soft. “I am,” she admitted. “It hasn’t always been easy for her. But we’ve done all right. She’s happy.”
    Jen studied her carefully, uncertain whether to pursue the topic. “Does her dad live nearby?”
    Heather shook her head. “She doesn’t really remember him.” She hesitated, biting her lower lip as she assessed the other woman. “I met Amy’s father while I was going to school out east. By then the braces had come off. I’d gotten contact lenses and had let my hair grow straight.” She lowered her eyes and began absently running her fingers through the grass. “John was the first guy to pay attention to me, and I was overwhelmed by it. I got pregnant. We got married…” Her voice trailed off.
    Heather grew quiet. Jen watched her closely, capŹtivated, her heart heavy with the pain that she knew the memories must be stirring.
    “How long were you married?”
    “Only about a year and a half.” Heather’s smile was ironic. “I think he’s somewhere in Florida.”
    Jen searched her eyes, looking for clues. “He didn’t hurt you, did he?”
    “No,” came the quick reply. “If anything, it was the other way around. I didn’t love him.”
    “I’m sorry,” Jen said, knowing the words were inadequate.
    They continued talking for some time. Heather explained how she and Amy had moved to Flagstaff where Heather eventually earned her teaching degree. In turn, Jennifer told Heather about her life in Phoenix. Occasionally, they glanced over at the softball game before turning back to their conversation.
    The throbbing in Jennifer’s head began to subside, and she lowered the ice pack for Heather’s inspection.
    “Ooh,” Heather grimaced. “That’s quite a shiner you’ve got there.”
    Jen wrinkled her nose and felt the swollen lump. Thinking of Bobby, and then Sheila, she spoke aloud.
    “I knew I’d regret coming back here.”
    A small line creased Heather’s brow. “I hope you don’t regret everything about coming back.”
    Abashed, Jen smiled. “No. Not everything.”
    “Your sister seems glad to have you here. She’s very nice. I like her.”
    “She is, isn’t she?” Jen grew thoughtful and blinked hard, trying to arrange her thoughts. “I’m beginning to realize that I’ve kind of isolated myself from her a bit.” She stared meaningfully as she conŹsidered this. “My fault. But I’ve missed her, and it’s been good to see her.”
    Heather nodded, seeming to understand. “Well, for what it’s worth, I’m glad