Page 26 of The Pink House

Hannah thought of Charlie’s stance that the unexpected was “great.” She wondered how, with everything that had happened to his mother, even with what had happened to his best friend, he could keep that outlook.

Shoving all thoughts of what might have been aside, Hannah hurried upstairs to grab her hiking boots. She needed to stop thinking and start moving.

And maybe, just maybe, today she would get lucky and find the pink house again.

* * *

Instead of letting her mind wander as she strode through the woods, Hannah paid close attention to where she was. She took note of a log covered in a filmy moss, a tree where someone had carved their initials and, most of all, the various directions she headed.

Anticipating that it might take some time before she found the house, she set aside the entire afternoon to search. She found the home in under thirty minutes.

The sun streaming through the thick trees cast a golden glow over the beautiful house, making the pink brighter, the blooms of the flowering plants more vibrant.

After taking pictures, Hannah pocketed her phone and stepped into the clearing.

Only one woman sat on the porch today. Hannah was relieved to see that she was the friendly blonde, her hair pulled back in a braid that hung down her back.

Catching sight of Hannah, the woman lifted her hand in greeting.

Returning the wave, Hannah strode to the house on surprisingly shaky legs. “Good afternoon.”

“It’s a gorgeous day, isn’t it?” The woman’s friendly smile put Hannah instantly at ease. “You look warm. Would you like to sit for a spell? I’ve got sun tea.”

For the first time, Hannah noticed the pitcher and two glasses sitting on the table.

“I’d like that,” Hannah said quickly. “As long as I’m not intruding…”

“Not at all.” The woman poured a glass for Hannah, then one for herself. She gestured to the empty chair. “Please, have a seat.”

“Thank you.” Hannah settled herself in the wicker chair and offered a smile. “I’m Hannah—”

“Maisie.” The woman extended her hand.

When Hannah wrapped her fingers around the slender hand, a feeling of warmth stole over her. In that moment, she knew that continuing to search for the house had been the right move.

“I tried several times to find my way back here.” Hannah gave a little laugh. “I discovered that even a pink house can be difficult to find.”

As if she’d heard that comment before, Maisie smiled and lifted the glass of tea to her red lips.

“Where are your friends?” Hannah asked.

The woman arched a brow.

“The women you were with the last time I came by.”

Maisie waved a hand. “They come and go.”

“So this is your house?”

“For now.” Maisie inclined her head. “Tell me about Hannah.”

The intense curiosity in the woman’s gaze surprised her.

Hannah set down the glass. “There isn’t much to tell.”

“Oh, I’m sure that’s not true.”

“I guess you can be the judge.” Hannah relaxed against the seatback. The porch had a roof over it, the ceiling as blue as the sky. Why did that fact comfort and soothe? She smiled at Maisie and prepared to give the woman a condensed version of her life over the past decade.

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