Oh, you're acting your thin disguise

All your perfectly delivered lines

They don't fool me

You've been lonely, too long

-Dust To Dust by The Civil Wars

Lorna opened her door to find Kate standing on the stoop.

"Ms. Andrews, what a pleasant surprise," She said, gesturing the younger girl inside.

"Hi, Mrs. Corbett. Is Reggie here?"

"No, she's gone down to the Buy-Rite to retrieve butter with the last of our rationing stamps."

"Oh," Kate said, looking down at the book in hand. "Well, I just wanted to return this book."

"She'll be right back if you'd like to stay and give it to her. In fact, why don't you stay for dinner?"

She gestured to the dinning room behind them. She knew many of the factory girls didn't get proper home-cooked meals very often while living in the cramped quarters of the boarding houses. She wondered when the last time Kate had seen a hot meal. It couldn't have been any time lately with the way the young girl juggled her responsibilities. Reggie told her about Kate's newfound employments. She knew some girls often worked other jobs, even other war jobs, to send money back home to less fortunate families, but she worried the girl wouldn't be able to keep up with such hours and fall back on her job at the factory. But, every morning rolled around and there she stood, prompt and ready to work through the long days on the line. Never faltering. What one does to disguise the loneliness never surprised her anymore.

"Oh, I wouldn't want to intrude," Kate said timidly, her hands clasped securely around the book in hand.

"Nonsense," Lorna waved off. She stepped to the side to reveal the dinner table that had roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, mashed potatoes, and greens on it. "As usual, I've over estimated my audience for Sunday dinner. With Mr. Corbett off at his brother's and Sheila working so much, we usually end up with way more food than Reggie and I can eat."

"It does smell lovely," Kate said, her eyes wide with hunger as she took in the carefully prepared food before her.

"Besides, you know what they say, food is a weapon and it's our duty to not waste it. Why don't you come sit down while we wait for Reggie."

Kate smiled at the offer and accepted her mentor's resolute offer as she walked around the table and sat down, placing her book on the table beside her.

"Little Women," Lorna read out, sitting down across from Kate. "That's a classic."

"It's my favorite book Reggie's let me borrow so far," Kate smiled.

"Ah, yes. It was my Eugene's favorite as well."

"Gene Corbett's favorite book is Little Women?" Kate asked, her eyes lighting up at the revelation.

"Yes, and I will be forced to flat deny it or possibly move if it ever gets out," Lorna chuckled.

Kate laughed. "Your secret is safe with me."

"He cried like a child when Beth died," Lorna smiled, letting the memory warm her heart.

"Rightfully, so," Kate sighed. "Jo is my favorite."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Absolutely. She is so strong and brave. Moving to New York to follow her dreams and never letting anyone tell her otherwise," Kate gushed, smiling as she rambled on. "Always the one in trouble because of her fiery attitude and mouth to match. But nothing compared to how much she loved her family, especially Beth."

"Yes, she was quite the character," Lorna nodded, smiling knowingly at the girl across from her.

"I always loved how she kicked Laurie's butt. Seemed she lost some of that fire after she moved away to New York though," Reggie said, standing in the doorway. Lorna and Kate turned to the new voice in the rom. She held up the sack in hand for show. "Got the rub for the grub."

"Oh, good. Kate will be joining us for dinner."

Reggie nodded and smiled as she sat beside her friend.

"Kate, tell me," Lorna said, passing the potatoes to her. "How is Betty? She was out two days this week."

Kate swallowed hard as she spooned out the fluffy starch onto her plate.

"Feeling better, I think," Kate said as nonchalantly as possible, handing the bowl to Reggie while keeping eye contact limited. "She'll be back up and running soon, I'm sure."

"I hope so," Lorna said, worry cutting into her tone. Betty had been acting peculiar ever since she returned to the factory. "It's so unlike Betty to be so… under the weather."

"It's probably that toxic Arlene that's making her sick," Reggie replied as a heap of potatoes plopped onto her plate. "That's one odd bird, I tell ya. I heard she robbed a church back in the States and now she's hiding out here in good ole' VicMu."

"Really?" Kate asked, her face pensive with concern.

"Now Reggie, you shouldn't spread such fodder. I'm sure she has a good reason to be here," Lorna tried scolding, but it came out weaker than she meant for it to be.

"What?" Reggie shrugged. "I can't help it if Stable Mable comes off so untrustworthy. She seems like the type murder and mayhem follows."

"If Betty is her friend than she must not be that bad," Kate tried. "She's just…."

"Crazier than an outhouse rat?" Reggie quipped, eyebrows raised daring her friend to refute the statement.

Kate laughed and shook her head. Lorna tried to hide her smile behind her napkin as she watched the two friends carry on. She couldn't help but think this new person in Betty's life was proving to be a bad influence on her once best worker. Betty had been late and she swore she smelled the hint of liquor on her a few weeks back. She knew Betty was struggling to return to her life after her experiences earlier in the year, but it was still discomforting to see the promising girl falter. It seemed Betty was putting up her own disguised defense for loneliness.

"Betty has a good head on her shoulders," Kate offered, gently breaking into Lorna's thoughts as her eyes met Lorna's. "It may take some time, but I have faith that she'll bounce back. How could she not? She's Betty."

"Yes, well, lets hope she finds the motivation to find her way back to the Betty we know soon. VicMu could sure use her," Lorna said.

"Yeah," Kate replied, softly. "It surely could."