Page 57 of The Pink House

“You’ve been doing some work on your living room, I see,” Beverly said.

The woman had given her an out, and Hannah took the change in subject like a running back catching a ball with a clear field ahead.

Hannah might have gone overboard, giving the two women a step-by-step of the progress on the floors and walls. By the time she had them caught up, all thoughts of Charlie were forgotten.

When Hannah finally headed back across the street, she couldn’t help but wonder if he’d ever taken the schoolteacher swimming in Devil’s Bathtub. Or gone camping in the woods with her.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

Hannah spent the next few days sanding and painting. The only time she took a break was to step out on her porch to watch the Independence Day fireworks put on by the city.

She’d hoped she and Mackenna could watch them together, but Mackenna had already made plans with Jace. Next year would be different, Hannah vowed. She’d host a party and invite all her new friends. By then, she’d have a boatload of friends to invite, as well as all her neighbors.

Charlie could bring his girlfriend.

Ignoring the pang that thought evoked, Hannah focused on the house. Despite her phone blaring her favorite tunes, sanding and painting was boring and tedious. She found herself doubting her decision to repaint everything. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad to leave at least one of the rooms white.

Then she reminded herself that she had the time. Once the living room was painted—and the new furniture arrived—she’d be glad she’d put in the effort.

Taking a lesson learned, Hannah worked on the house, but also took time to play. She read, exercised and contacted a couple of old friends.

Today, she was meeting a friend from high school at the YMCA.

Hannah strode into the modern building, hoping Lydia looked enough like her online pics that she would recognize her. Unlike Hannah and Mackenna, Hannah and Lydia hadn’t stayed in touch over the years.

At the desk, Hannah received a warm welcome when she let the receptionist know she was considering joining. With a guest pass in hand, Hannah stepped into the busy atmosphere of the GraceTown Y.

Lydia had suggested they meet by the ellipticals, so Hannah made her way to the fitness area. A long row of machines was set up before windows that looked out over the expansive parking lot.

Hannah scanned the machines, searching for a blond woman about her age.

There were a number of men, some older women, but—

A hand on her shoulder had Hannah whirling.

“Hannah? Hannah Beahr?” Familiar blue eyes in a slightly rounder face than she remembered gazed back at her.

“Lydia.” Hannah gave her old friend a hug. “It’s Danbury now. I was searching the machines for you.”

“My littlest put up a fuss about staying in the nursery. Once I got him settled, I had to drop the other two off at Kids Zone.” Lydia smiled. “It’s good to see you. I can’t believe it’s been so long. Do you mind if we work out while we talk?”

“Not at all.” Hannah positioned herself on a machine next to Lydia, adjusted the settings, then returned her attention to her friend. The eyes and the wide mouth that appeared curved in a perpetual smile were the same. “You’re a brunette now.”

Lydia lifted a hand to her straight short bob. “I’ve embraced all things natural.”

“It looks good.” Different, Hannah thought, but the warm brown suited her friend’s skin tone.

Lydia narrowed her eyes, studying her. “You’re still blond.”

“My dad said my mother’s hair never darkened as she got older. It stayed blond, too.” Hannah shifted under her friend’s assessing gaze.

“I was sorry to hear about Brian.” Lydia offered a sympathetic smile. “I didn’t know him in high school. I mean, neither of us did, but he seemed like a good guy.”

“He was the best.” Hannah had known the subject of Brian would come up, but she was determined not to spend this time with Lydia talking about grief and loss.

While Hannah wasn’t averse to updating Lydia on her life prior to moving back to GraceTown, she really wanted to get reacquainted with Lydia, to see if the friendship they’d shared all those years ago could be resurrected. “Tell me what you’ve been doing since high school.”

That’s all it took. As they worked out, Lydia updated Hannah on the past ten years of her life.

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