Free The Penalty Box by Deirdre Martin Page A

nearby?” Katie asked hopefully.
    Denise and Bitsy looked at each other and burst out laughing.
    â€œA Starbucks?” Bitsy practically shrieked. “In Didsbury ?”
    â€œSorry,” said Denise. “Tabitha’s is the only game in town.”
    â€œYou up for it?” asked Bitsy.
    Katie nodded. She wasn’t totally sure what to make of Bitsy. But after being kissed by Paul van Dorn, she knew a lot could change in ten years. What did she have to lose?
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    â€œ I saw the fear in your eyes when I asked you to join us,” Bitsy said to Katie later when the two of them, along with Denise, were safely ensconced in a booth at Tabitha’s. Unable to completely resist temptation, the three of them agreed to split a piece of crumb cake, the perfect accompaniment to their plain black coffee.
    â€œI don’t blame you,” Bitsy continued. “I was a total bitch to you in high school.”
    â€œYes, you were,” Katie agreed, nibbling on her cake.
    â€œWell, what goes around comes around,” said Bitsy ruefully. “I mean, look at you now.”
    â€œYou can lose the weight,” Katie encouraged.
    Denise looked at Bitsy with envy. “She’s already dropped ten, the witch.”
    â€œThat’s great,” said Katie, meaning it. Psychologically speaking, she knew how important reaching that ten-pound milestone was. “Keep it up.”
    Bitsy sighed. “I’m trying, but it’s hard. Frank is the junk food king. The man never met a Ho Ho he didn’t like.”
    â€œA boy after my own heart,” trilled Denise. She turned to Katie. “You remember Frank, don’t you? Frank DiNizio? Played football?”
    Katie tried to conjure his face, but all she could see was a pair of grizzly-bear-size shoulders. “Sorry,” she apologized. “I don’t really remember him.”
    â€œHe has a flat head like Frankenstein,” Bitsy offered helpfully.
    Katie coughed to cover a laugh, taken aback by Bitsy’s bluntness.
    â€œDo you remember him now?”
    â€œKind of.” The description of his head helped.
    â€œWell, anyway, he says he’s supportive, but then he brings all this crap into the house.”
    â€œA diet saboteur,” Denise put in knowingly. “The worst kind of evil.”
    â€œTell him to put all the bad stuff out of sight,” Katie advised.
    â€œI think I’ll just tell him to keep it at the bar with him.” She took a sip of her coffee. “He tends bar nights at the Penalty Box,” she explained.
    â€œReally?” Katie’s interest was piqued. Here she was with two townies. She had no doubt she could get a world of info on Paul if she wanted, but she had to be subtle. “Does he like it?”
    â€œHe says Paul’s a better boss than Cuffy was, that’s for sure.”
    Denise shuddered. “Cuffy was an old perv.”
    â€œDid you both stay in Didsbury after high school?” Katie asked.
    Denise popped her entire portion of crumbcake in her mouth before answering. “I was in Boston for a long time. I came back two years ago after my mom died. She left the house to me.”
    â€œThat gorgeous Queen Anne up on Maple,” Bitsy swooned. Katie had no idea what house she was talking about. Maple was part of the Ladybarn District.
    â€œWhat do you do?” Katie asked Denise.
    â€œI’m an insurance adjuster. Very glamorous.”
    â€œAnd you?” Katie asked Bitsy.
    Bitsy smiled proudly. “I’m a stay-at-home mom.”
    â€œHow old are your kids?” Katie asked.
    â€œI just have one, my son, Christopher. He’s nine.”
    â€œSo’s my nephew, Tuck!” said Katie, regretting it immediately. Didsbury was small; everyone had to know what Tuck’s circumstances were.
    â€œHow’s Mina doing?” Denise asked tentatively.
    â€œShe’s still in rehab. We’ll be allowed to see her in a