Page 18 of The Pink House

Though the invitation had said six o’clock, if the number of people milling around and already chowing down were any indication, she was one of the last neighbors to arrive.

A badminton net had been set up, and there was a horseshoe pit at the far back of the yard. Those areas were empty, as most of the guests appeared to be focused on eating.

Picnic tables dotted the blanket of green. People sat or stood with plates and drinks in hand. The variety of colors and styles of chairs told her many had brought their own.

“You’re here.” Charlie glanced down at the container in her hand. “Those look good.”

“I tested one, and they taste as good as they look.”

“I have no doubt.” Charlie pointed. “My mom saved a seat for you next to her.”

He gestured with his head toward where Lisa sat. Instead of relaxing in one of the many varieties of lawn furniture, his mother lounged in her ergonomic desk chair.

The table where Lisa sat was on the patio, instead of on the grass. Hannah assumed that was to give Charlie’s mother more stable footing when she stood.

“Are you sure she wants me to—?”

“I’m sure.” Charlie hesitated. “Unless you’re starving, I’d like to introduce you around first.”

“You don’t have to introduce me,” Hannah protested. “It’s your party, and I’m sure you have better things to do. Besides, many of the neighbors are familiar, and the others I can meet on my own.”

“Humor me.” He smiled at Beverly, who strolled up. “Beverly and Geraldine helped Mom and me pull all this together.”

“It was our pleasure. There’s nothing we like more than a good party.” Beverly, the silver in her light brown hair glistening in the late-day sun, glanced at the bars. Her eyes lit up.

“My contribution to the party,” Hannah said when she noticed Beverly’s interest.

“These will go quickly.” Beverly lifted the container from Hannah’s hands. “Thank you for bringing them.”

“You’re very welcome.”

“How are you doing? Getting all settled?”

“I am.” Hannah was conscious of Charlie standing beside her. She thought about telling him to go on and deal with his guests, but hadn’t she already done that with no success? “I went for a walk in the woods today.”

“Geraldine mentioned she saw you headed in that direction around noon.” Beverly smiled. “The woods are lovely this time of year. We pretty much stick to the path when we walk, but when I was young, I loved to take, as they say, the road less traveled.”

Hannah perked up. “You’d go off the path?”

Beverly chuckled. “Oh yes. I learned my lesson, though. I got lost—those were the days before everyone carried a phone—and I admit I was frightened. By the time I found my way out, it was dark. Geraldine was frantic and ready to call the sheriff.”

“Did you ever see the house?” Hannah kept her tone offhand.

“House?” Beverly pulled her brows together. “Like a hunting cabin?”

“No, a regular house.” Hannah nearly mentioned the color, but decades ago, when Beverly had been doing her exploring, it might have been a different color completely. “Two-story older home with a cupola. Two porches. One on the first story. One on the second.”

“I’d have remembered seeing a house like that.” Beverly slowly shook her head, her brows still furrowed in concentration. “The only structure I ever saw was the remnants of a tree house.”

“Oh.” Hannah offered a perfunctory smile. “I thought maybe you had.”

She considered changing the subject, then realized that just because Beverly hadn’t stumbled across the house didn’t mean someone else hadn’t mentioned to her that they had. “Did you ever hear any talk about a house in the woods?”

“No, but then, what’s in the woods doesn’t come up often on the committees we serve on or on the card-club circuit.”

We. Hannah remembered all too well usingwein conversations instead ofI. Back then, she’d been part of a couple. Now, she flew solo.

“If you hear anyone mention anything about a house, will you let me know?” A part of Hannah wasn’t sure why she persisted. After all, what she thought she’d seen that day could simply have been a figment of her imagination. Still, another part of her couldn’t let it drop.

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