Killing Kate(50)

“Wow,” Justin says, coming to my side and looking in the same direction I am. “She’s the last person I expected to see around here. It’s been a long time.”

“I’m sorry, who?” Sarah asks us, popping her head between the two of us. Her chin digs into my shoulder. She has a way of being nosey that’s adorable and obnoxious all at once.

I turn back toward the group I’m talking to and lower my voice. “Holly is Devin’s ex,” I explain as everyone leans in to hear. “Back when we lived in the neighborhood, they were together. I mean I’m talking high school sweethearts.”

“They were like Syd and Nancy,” Justin explains. “They bonded by shooting each other up with heroin.” We all can’t help but simultaneously look over again. I’m sure we’re being really obvious, but Devin and Holly are too absorbed to notice. “She actually looks good.”

“Rehab?” George asks. “That’s not the body or face of a junkie. I get too many at the club and I know what they look like.”

Admittedly George appears to be right. Holly looks healthy. When we were younger and she was with Devin she probably weighed no more than 90 pounds, with stringy unwashed dirty blonde hair that she wore in a boy’s haircut with a Mohawk. Her eyes used to look too large to fit on her small face. Her clothes were usually ripped and dirty. She resembled a pixie junkie. Since I’d last seen her almost ten years ago she has probably gained twenty pounds in all of the right places. Her hair is nicely cut and styled in a blonde angled bob, setting off her tiny ski slope nose and dimples. She is wearing a cute black tank wrap dress and red wedge heels. Her makeup is tastefully simple and her nails are long and manicured. Considering she was the junkie, she certainly looks like she has her act together more than I do.

“Jenna!” she exclaims after she greets Devin with a warm hug. “Wow, it’s so good to see you! You look great.” She comes up to me and takes my hands in hers and smiles warmly. Is she for real?

“Hi Holly. You look…fantastic,” I say, really meaning it. I can see from Devin’s gaze in her direction that he thinks so too. “But how did you two…?”

“I, ah, ran into Holly when I went to get a haircut,” Devin tells me. “She works over at Star Cuts on 95th and 52nd.”

“No kidding,” I say. “So you still live in the area?”

“With my mom,” she admits, looking a bit guilty. “She took me in when I was in rehab and then it ends up she likes having me around. At least now that I’m sober.” She laughs casually and I give Justin a “what the fuck” look but try and smile back at her. “She’s getting older and doesn’t like being alone.”

I look at Devin and smile. “Wow,” I finally say. “Devin, I guess you’ve been keeping secrets from me.”

He looks sheepish. “I thought it might be a nice surprise.”

“It’s definitely a surprise,” Justin says, stressing “surprise”. “Hello Holly.”

“Justin, oh my god!” Holly exclaims, reaching over to hug him. “I heard you were still around. Didn’t you photograph Michelle Hodge’s wedding? I did her hair and makeup.”

“I did,” Justin replies. They settle into familiar chatter and I take the opportunity to walk over to Devin and pull him back a few steps out of earshot. He shrinks back a little in anticipation of what I’m going to say.

“Well done,” I whisper. “I guess I didn’t need to bring a potential setup for you after all.”

“Which one?” Devin says through his teeth which are fixed in a smile. “The blonde head or the brunette?”

“The brunette,” I said. “Cute, right?”

“I guess.” His eyes are fixed where I know they will be the rest of the night, on Holly. I shrug and surrender myself to the situation. You can’t mess with soul mates, and despite their checkered past, I can’t think of anyone else that Devin has ever cared for like Holly, besides me, but that’s very different. Maybe Syd and Nancy could grow into Ozzie and Harriet. I see Sarah has swooped in to make herself acquainted with Devin’s railroad buddy Steve and Yaara is chatting with George. Louisa is walking around making sure everyone is fed and telling Alicia and Carlos to try some cake. I smile, enjoying the scene. I can relax in good company.

“What’s going on?” Justin says, coming up behind me.

I smile and reach for his hand. “I’m having a great time. This is wonderful, everyone seems to be getting along.”