Page 15 of The Pink House

On Friday, as Hannah pulled on her boots, she promised herself that this time, if she found the house, she would walk up to the porch, say hello and get acquainted. Most of all, she would ask questions. She had so many questions.

When she left, she would make a mental note of where she was so she could find the house again.

Striding out the door, she’d reached the bottom of her steps when she heard her name being called.

Turning, she saw Charlie headed toward her.

“What are you doing up so early?” Though she wasn’t one to keep track of her neighbors’ comings and goings, she’d observed over the past few days that Charlie rarely made it out of his shop before five. It was barely noon.

“The clambake is today.” His gaze searched hers. “You’re coming.”

Though he said it as a statement, she heard the question. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

That easy smile and warm look in his eyes were a potent duo. “Mom will be happy to hear that.”

“Well,” she gestured in the direction of his house when he showed no sign of returning home, “I’m sure you’ve got a lot to do to get ready. Is there anything I can bring?”

“Just yourself.” He inclined his head. “Where are you headed?”

“I thought I’d take a walk.”

A knowing look filled his brown eyes. “You’re going to try to find the house.”

Hannah nodded. “I thought I’d see if I can stumble across it again. Not that I’ve had much luck lately.”

“If I weren’t so busy, I’d go with you.”

“Thanks, but sometimes it’s more fun, and less embarrassing, for me to simply wander blindly on my own.”

He chuckled as she headed toward the woods.

On impulse, Hannah looked back to find him staring after her. She offered a jaunty wave.

Pleasure spurted when he waved back.

CHAPTERFIVE

Two hours later, Hannah returned home hot, sweaty and disappointed.

Therehadbeen a house in the woods. She hadn’t imagined it. Or had she?

Was she losing her mind? Had she somehow resurrected the pink house of her childhood, the imaginary house filled with toys and games her father refused to buy?

All I ever wanted was in that house.

The house in the woods had been a different story. Women on the porch, having tea and talking? There was nothing she wanted there.

Unless, of course, she counted being able to assuage her curiosity. She should have stopped, should have taken a moment to speak to the woman who’d smiled with such warmth instead of only waving in acknowledgment.

It wasn’t as if she’d had somewhere she’d needed to be at that exact moment. There had been time to stop.

Opening the refrigerator, Hannah pulled out a can of Diet Coke. Before Brian had been diagnosed, she’d given up drinking soda. That resolve hadn’t lasted. The fact that she’d purchased a six-pack on her last visit to the grocery store told her she might be more stressed than she realized.

As she savored the delicious taste of her once-favorite drink, she moved to the porch swing and contemplated her options.

She could continue the search for the house. Or let it go.

Pretty simple, really.

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