Chapter 7 Welcome to Willow Haven

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The "Welcome to Willow Haven" sign loomed before Katherine two weeks later like a mocking grin, its cheerful message a stark contrast to the knot of dread in her stomach.

Hailey, seemingly oblivious to Katherine's internal turmoil, bobbed her head to the radio, humming along to a jaunty pop song that normally would have made Katherine smile. But now, it felt like the soundtrack to a funeral, a cruel jest played by fate.

"Relax, Kat," Hailey said, her voice dripping with an easy confidence that Katherine envied. "It'll be fine, I promise."

Katherine wondered if her anxiety had reached to point where others could feel it now.

"So...what's the plan?" Katherine asked, her voice strained. "What am I even supposed to do?"

Hailey blinked, momentarily thrown off by Katherine's question. "A plan? What do you mean?"

Katherine's green eyes widened. "You mean you don't even have a plan?!" Her voice, laced with disbelief, sent a shiver down her spine. "Forget it, turn the damn car around!"

Hailey let out a laugh, her carefree demeanor returning. "Come on, Kat! Relax. Of course there's a plan. The first step was coming back to good ol' Willow Haven."

"And the next?" Katherine pressed, her anxiety turning into a physical weight in her chest. "What's step two?"

"Gaslighting the public," Hailey mumbled, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips. "You're going to make everyone believe that you're okay with the wedding between Castiel and Caroline existing. While that is going on, you're going to show Castiel what he's lost."

"But I don't want him," Katherine whispered, the words echoing in the quiet car. "Remember?"

"I remember," Hailey said, her voice turning serious. "And I don't even want you two to get back together, even if it was possible. He did sleep with your sister while you were both still together. He's a dick."

Katherine's heart ached, the memory of Castiel's betrayal resurfacing with the raw intensity of a fresh wound. It was a betrayal that had shattered the foundation of their relationship, the final blow to their already fractured foundation.

"But before that," Hailey continued, her voice lighter now, "we're gonna need to settle down at our new place, then we'll go shopping."

Katherine raised an eyebrow, her mind struggling to grasp the logic. "Shopping?"

"Yeah, I meant what I said about you looking like a billion dollars," Hailey murmured as she made a U-turn, the familiar streets of Willow Haven finally appearing before them. "We can't have you making a grand entrance at your ex-husband's place looking painfully average, can we?"

The town itself felt different. The quaint, charming Willow Haven of Katherine's childhood, a place of carefree laughter and shared secrets, was now just another sleepy town, its streets lined with buildings that felt worn and tired. The vibrancy she remembered had faded, replaced by a quiet melancholia that mirrored Katherine's own feelings.

They drove past the town square, the once bustling center of social life, now almost deserted, a testament to the changing times. The old bakery, where Katherine used to buy warm pastries with her father on the rare occasions when he wasn't working was now boarded up, its windows reflecting the emptiness within. The antique shop, where she had spent countless hours sifting through forgotten treasures, was replaced by a trendy cafe, its windows adorned with minimalist posters that promised overpriced coffee and avocado toast. Everything felt both familiar and utterly alien, like looking into a distorted mirror of a past life.

The drive to their new home was a blur of muted colors and faded memories. They settled on a quaint duplex on the edge of town, its modest exterior a far cry from the grand Victorian mansion Katherine had shared with Castiel. But Hailey, ever the pragmatist, pointed out the practical advantages - a cozy living room, a small but functional kitchen, a garden that promised fresh herbs and a tranquil escape. Katherine, though she felt a pang of disappointment at the lack of grandeur, couldn't help but acknowledge that this was a home she could actually feel comfortable in, a space that was entirely her own.

After settling in, Hailey dragged Katherine to the local mall. Katherine, still reeling from the whirlwind of emotions, was resigned to the shopping spree. She wasn't sure how much she believed in Hailey's plan, but a part of her knew that putting up a front, even if it was a facade, was better than allowing herself to crumble under the weight of her anxieties.

The mall, once a bustling hub of teenage escapades, now felt like a dusty relic of a bygone era. The stores seemed to have lost their shine, the mannequins in their window displays staring blankly into the void. Katherine wandered through the aisles, her reflection in the store windows a stranger to her. She had always been a creature of comfort, drawn to the familiar and predictable. Now, she felt lost in a sea of unfamiliar faces and uninspiring merchandise.

Hailey, ever the fashionista, seemed to be in her element. She darted from store to store, pulling out clothes and accessories, her energy a stark contrast to Katherine's quiet resignation. She chose outfits for Katherine, flattering yet understated, with a hint of subtle elegance. Katherine, though she questioned the necessity, couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope at the sight of her own reflection in the fitting room mirror. The clothes, though different from her usual attire, felt comfortable, a second skin that hugged her in a way she hadn't felt in years.

The shopping spree turned into a mini-makeover session. Hailey insisted on a visit to the local salon, where Katherine, reluctantly, allowed her to refresh her hair with a new, lighter shade, a subtle change that highlighted the warm tones of her skin. Katherine's initial apprehension gradually gave way to a surprising sense of excitement. She felt a spark of curiosity ignite within her, a longing to rediscover herself, to reclaim the woman she used to be, the woman who had once been vibrant and full of life.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple, they returned to the cottage, their shopping bags filled with new clothes and a renewed sense of purpose. Katherine stood by the window, watching the twilight shadows dance on the lawn, her heart strangely lighter than it had been in weeks. The future, though still uncertain, no longer seemed so bleak. She had taken the first step, and, surprisingly, she wasn't running away. She was standing her ground, ready to face the challenges ahead.

But she knew she hadn't even stared.