Page 74 of Pity Parade

“It would seem so.”

She takes a sip of water before saying, “Speaking of screwed up, have you heard from Heath?”

“Nice segue,” I laugh. “But no. I haven’t even seen his car in front of his cottage. Have you or Tim heard from him?”

She shakes her head. “Do you think he left town?”

“He was looking forward to being in Elk Lake too much to just leave.”

Paige picks up her phone and makes a call. “Anna, it’s Paige. Have you heard from Heath Fox in the last couple of days?” She must not have because Paige adds, “Let me know if you do, will you?” Then she looks at me. “She hasn’t heard from him either.”

“It’s not like he owes any of us an explanation for his whereabouts,” I say. Although, he really does. You don’t just befriend a group of people and then go missing. That’s rude.

Trent enters the dining room, so I stand up to greet him. By the time he gets to our table, Prim has also walked in. I reach out my hand to Trent, and tell him, “I’m glad you could make it.”

He shakes my hand firmly. “Thanks for inviting me.”

Prim arrives at the table looking lovely in her white summer dress. “Hi there!” She seems very excited.

“Prim”—I gesture toward Trent—“this is Trent. He’s a landscape architect.” Then I address Trent. “This is Prim; she’s a forester.”

His face lights up like it’s Christmas morning and he just found a puppy in his stocking. “A forester, cool. Where do you work?”

“I work for the City of Elk Lake,” she says. “Mostly doing surveys and making sure the local flora is healthy. How about you?”

Trent pulls out her chair for her before taking his own. “I’m in Elk Lake, too. I’m currently working on a potential zip-lining course.” He doesn’t say more, but I assume that Heath has gotten in touch with him.

Paige stands up. “I’m just going to check in with Tim. I’ll be right back.”

Once she’s gone, we order a pitcher of lemonade along with our food. I order Paige’s patty melt for her. Then I sit back and listen while Prim and Trent get to know each other.

“Have you lived in Elk Lake your whole life?” Prim asks him.

“Since I was seven. How about you?”

“I was born here.” After a beat, she asks, “Why don’t we know each other?”

Trent tells her, “I’m forty-one. How about you?”

“Ah,” she smiles. “Thirty-three. That’s why.”

They continue to share vital information and the conversation flows smoothly. Paige comes back and sits down.

Trent asks me, “So have you seen Heath lately?”

“I haven’t. Have you?”

“No, but he called me from Chicago a couple of days ago and asked that I start working on the zip-lining angle for his land. I’ve been out there a couple of times.”

“Chicago?” Paige and I ask at the same time.

“Yeah, he said something about needing to go back for work.”

“He didn’t say anything to me about going to Chicago,” I say. And quite honestly, I’m surprised he’d leave town without telling me.

“Are you guys friends?” he asks before telling me, “I got the feeling from Heath that you went out once but that was it.”

While that’s true, I’m surprised Heath told Trent about it. I would have thought he’d tell him we were still dating like he did with Nick, the tennis pro. “I might be working with him on a new project.” I don’t mention that it’s the same one he’s working on.

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