Page 75 of The Pink House

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Rising three stories above the Inner Harbor Marina, the Rusty Scupper, a contemporary seafood restaurant, surprised and delighted Hannah from the moment she and Charlie stepped through the doors.

She wasn’t sure what pleased her most—the background piano music, the tables with incredible harbor views covered in linen or the amazing food and attentive service.

Hannah might have felt out of place because of how casually she was dressed, but most of the other patrons were dressed in Orioles gear.

It was over an appetizer of calamari that talk turned to the pink house.

“Does it concern you that you haven’t seen Maisie since you ran across her in the woods a couple weeks ago?” Charlie sat back in his chair, his hair gleaming like highly polished walnut in the light.

Hannah shook her head. The loose strands of her own hair tumbled around her shoulders. They’d both taken off their caps when they’d entered the restaurant. She’d also removed the band holding her hair in a tail.

“Remember I didn’t actually run across her. She came looking for me.” The distinction was important and should be clear, but in case it wasn’t, Hannah added, “She can find me anytime. Maisie assured me she’ll see me again.”

“When do you think that will be?”

“Whenever I need her.”

Puzzlement blanketed Charlie’s face. “You gotta explain that one.”

Hannah thought about telling him that first she needed to figure it out herself. Then it struck her. “When I first ran across Maisie at the pink house, I didn’t approach. I didn’t want to be a bother. I’d felt that way a lot after Brian’s death. Like I needed to soldier on alone and not bother friends who’d already done so much for me.”

She paused to take a sip of wine.

“Go on,” Charlie urged.

“The next time I saw the house, I was ready to take a chance.” Hannah gave a little laugh. “The worst that could happen was she’d toss me off her porch.”

Charlie’s lips quirked upward. “She didn’t.”

“No, she didn’t. She gave me the letter.” Hannah met Charlie’s gaze. “I shared the contents with you.”

“Because I was Brian’s closest friend, and you sensed I’d understand.” Charlie lifted a hand and subtly motioned away a waiter headed their way, undoubtedly intending to ensure nothing was wrong with the calamari they’d barely touched.

“The fact that you were Brian’s friend was part of it, but not all.” Hannah absently picked up a piece of the crispy calamari and dipped it into the red sauce. “By showing you the letter, I opened myself and my world to someone new. My life was changing. I was changing.”

Charlie gave a cautious nod. “I can see that.”

“Having Maisie come up to me unexpectedly when I was in the woods, well, that reassured me that I’m as important to her as she is to me.”

Charlie's gaze never left her face. “Important how?”

“I don’t know.” Hannah gave a little laugh. “All I know is that when I was a little girl, my imaginary pink house had everything I needed. I’m starting to believe this pink house might, too.”

Before he could ask any more questions, Hannah shifted the focus to baseball. “Why did some fans boo when the pitcher’s ball went way high? I’m sure he didn’t mean to throw a bad pitch.”

Nearly two hours later, all Hannah’s baseball questions had been patiently answered, and her stomach was very happy. She took a sip of wine and sighed. “Heaven has to be like this.”

Charlie, who’d settled for club soda since he was driving, took a long sip, a smile tipping his lips. “Which part of ‘this’ are you referring to?”

“Everything.” Hannah flung out both hands. “The convertible, the ball game and this amazing food. I have never had better seared scallops. For that to mean something, you need to know that I consider myself to be a scallop connoisseur. I also have to say the bite you gave me of your crab-stuffed shrimp was incredible.”

“It was tasty,” Charlie agreed, appearing amused by her exuberance.

“Next time we come here, that’s what I’m getting,” she told him. Only after the words had left her mouth did she realize she’d made an assumption that there would be another time. With him.

Before she could backtrack, he spoke. “Sounds like a plan. The server asked if we wanted any dessert. What say you?”

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