Free Found by Karen Kingsbury

about him until then.”
    Katy waved her hand. “This is different.” She kept her tone even. “I’m talking about the tabs. Come on, Rhonda; do you ever read them?”
    “In the checkout line at the grocery store.” She stood, glancing at the clock that hung over the double doors. “Come on, Katy. The kids are coming in.”
    “We have a minute.” She rose and held her notepad to her side. “‘Cause here’s what I’m thinking. If Dayne and Kelly are having a baby and if they’re back together, then how come there’s nothing in the magazines?”
    “Katy, let it go.” Rhonda stopped and looked at her.
    “And how come they keep showing pictures of Kelly with Hawk Daniels?”
    The concern in Rhonda’s eyes bordered on worry. “It doesn’t matter. You know the truth.”
    Katy looked down at her low-heeled shoes. Rhonda was right, but why’d it still have to hurt so badly a month after she’d returned from LA? Hadn’t she convinced herself a year ago that nothing could ever come of her friendship with Dayne Matthews? Of course he was going to be a father, and why not? He and Kelly Parker had lived together after all. If Dayne could have asked Kelly to move in with him, then he never could’ve been interested in some drama instructor from Bloomington, anyway.
    She could hear the kids in the sanctuary, hear them singing and squealing and talking at once as they waited for her. Al and Nancy were warming up on the piano, and the excitement was something she could feel even a room away. She looked at Rhonda. “It’s so hard.”
    “I know.” Rhonda came closer and gave her a hug. “We can talk about it later, okay?”
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    “I have to wait until Robin Hoods finished, remember?”
    “Silly.” Rhonda took a few steps toward the door. Her eyes held a special knowing sort of compassion. “Rules like that are made to be broken. I’m here whenever you need to talk.”
    “Thanks.” Katy fell in beside her. “We’re painting sets tonight. Maybe we can talk then.”
    “With Ashley here?” Rhonda sounded doubtful. “You don’t mind talking about this around her?”
    “Not really. She already knows about Dayne and me.” Katy gave Rhonda a crooked grin. “He even gave Ashley a ride home one night after Annie practice.”
    “What?” Rhonda’s voice was suddenly twice as loud. “You should’ve invited him back when I was here.”
    “I know. I know.” Katy pointed toward the roar of kids in the sanctuary. “Let’s go. We can’t be late.”
    “Fine.” Rhonda giggled as they ran through the doors and into the other room. “I know where I stand.”
    They needed to finish two scenes today-the archery contest and the sword fight.
    Katy took her spot at the front of the kids and studied the faces of the fifty-three kids cast in the show. God, I need to be at my best today. Please help me stay focused.
    For the first time that afternoon, Katy couldn’t feel herself standing in a parking lot at Malibu Beach with Dayne Matthews’ arms around her. Instead her mind filled with all they had to accomplish in the next few hours. She did the special CKT clap, and around the room the kids stopped talking as they clapped out the beat in return.
    “Okay, you’ve all read the rehearsal schedule.”
    In the middle of the room, Bailey Flanigas-and her brother Connor were among the first to nod. They were the kids from the family Katy lived with, and though she was careful not to show favoritism, she loved them dearly. They were like family to her, and they were also some of the best behaved and most talented members of the cast.
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    Katy paced in front of the group, looking into the eyes of each boy and girl she passed. “We have to be at the top of our game today, guys.” The words were for her as much as for them. “The fight scene and the archery contest, both in one practice.”
    She gave directions to the various groups and released them to their assigned places. The sword fighters would take the