Page 28 of The Pink House

“‘An invincible summer.’”

“You know the Albert Camus quote.” The author’s quote was a favorite of Hannah’s and one she clung to as she tentatively negotiated a life suddenly gone dark.

Maisie met her gaze. “It says so much.”

Hannah nodded. “Brian was gone. My job was history. The townhouse where we lived was nice, but it had never really felt like home. At least not a permanent home. Other than friends, there was nothing keeping me in North Carolina. Then my father decided to move to Florida and offered me the family home. It was incredibly generous, but—”

Understanding filled Maisie’s eyes when Hannah’s voice trailed off. “Returning to GraceTown would be another change.”

“Yes.” Hannah paused. “When I hesitated, my father had difficulty understanding why I wasn’t jumping at the offer.”

Several beats of silence ensued that Maisie made no attempt to fill.

“Itwasgenerous,” Hannah added. “It was just…”

Hannah fluttered a hand in the air.

This time, Maisie filled in the blank. “Another change.”

"Yes.” Hannah sighed.

“Did you explain your feelings to your father?” Maisie probed, her voice as soft as silk.

“I tried. My dad is a computer guy, very analytical. He’s a wonderful man, but emotions aren’t his forte.” Hannah realized the woman hadn’t yet asked about her mother. To circumvent that, she added, “My mom died when I was young.”

“She loved you very much.”

“That’s what everyone who knew her tells me.”

“The fact that you’re sitting here now tells me you decided to return to GraceTown.”

Hannah gazed out over the forest of trees. “I must be getting good at change, because the move wasn’t as difficult as I anticipated.”

“Coming home was the right decision.”

“It was,” Hannah agreed. Inside the large home, a clock chimed the hour, the sound reminding Hannah that she was an unexpected guest. The last thing she wanted to do was overstay her welcome. “I should be going.”

When she started to rise, Maisie placed a staying hand on her arm. “Before you do, I have something to give you.” Maisie rose with an easy elegance. “I’ll be right back.”

While she waited, Hannah listened to the sounds of the forest—the chatter of squirrels, a birdsong she couldn’t quite identify and the pleasant sound of wind rustling through the trees.

Hannah found herself wishing she could linger. There was something soothing about the beautiful pink house and its owner.

Maisie returned with an envelope. When she held out her hand, Hannah saw her own name scrawled across the front, the looping style distinctive—and familiar.

For a second, Hannah’s heart simply stopped. Then it started again, but hard and fast, too fast.

Maisie placed a supportive hand on Hannah’s shoulder. “It’s okay. Just breathe. Slow and steady.”

“That’s…” Hannah looked up at the woman through widened eyes. “Brian’s handwriting.”

Maisie nodded.

“Where did you get this?” Hannah demanded, her voice pitching high.

“Does it matter where it came from?” Maisie met Hannah’s questioning gaze with a steady one of her own. “What matters is you have it now.”

CHAPTEREIGHT

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