Page 41 of The Pink House

“What were you thinking?”

“What was I thinking when?”

“You know when, Charlie.”

“Hannah, I really don’t.” He slowed the truck and looked over at her. “What’s going on?”

“Going to Devil’s Bathtub was supposed to be a Brian-and-me thing, not a me-and-Charlie thing.” Though Hannah’s expression remained composed, her voice held an edge.

Tightening his fingers around the steering wheel, Charlie reminded himself that this was a difficult time for her. And for him. The letter from Brian had knocked them both off-balance. “Actually, Hannah, I think this is supposed to be a you thing.” Though he was no longer looking at her, he could feel the force of her stare. “Brian said he wanted to give you everything, including all the parts of the life he missed out on sharing with you.” Charlie looked straight ahead. “I wasn’t able to do much for Brian when he was sick, but this, showing the woman he loved the places he loved that he didn’t get a chance to, well, that’s one thing I can do.”

Hannah kept her gaze focused out the passenger’s side window the rest of the way home. When he pulled to a stop in her driveway, he put a hand on her arm to keep her from jumping out.

“Look, if you don’t want to go to Devil’s Bathtub with me, I understand, but don’t go alone. Call Mackenna or someone else, just to be safe.”

CHAPTERELEVEN

Hannah did call someone, but it wasn’t Mackenna, and she wasn’t sure if she was safe.

She stared down into the swirling water of Devil’s Bathtub.

“We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” Charlie’s voice sounded in her ear.

Did she want to? Three days ago, she hadn’t. This wasn’t her kind of thing. Besides, it felt wrong to be doing this with Charlie instead of Brian.

Hannah had nearly put this off, then she’d read the letter again. This was one of the places where Brian had been the happiest, a place he’d wanted to share with her.

But Brian wasn’t here to go with her, so if she was going to try to honor him, this was the best way.

“The water is deep.” Charlie stood beside her, close but not touching. “It’s difficult to tell from up here, but there’s no worry about hitting the bottom when you jump.”

Surrounded by smooth stone, the “bathtub,” sported clear water the color of aquamarine. The pool of water flowed into a river that eventually culminated in a small waterfall.

“I’m doing this.” Stripping off her shorts to reveal a modest black one-piece, Hannah jumped. The rush that accompanied the quick drop into the water didn’t prepare her for the thrill of plunging deep into the clear, cold water.

She grinned, understanding why Brian had thought this was fun.

Treading water, Hannah called out to Charlie, “Come on in. The water is amazing.”

Grinning, Charlie pulled off his shirt, revealing a broad, muscular chest with a smattering of dark hair that arrowed down into his swim trunks.

He motioned her to the side with one hand. “Out of the way. I don’t want to land on you.”

She swam to the side of Devil’s Bathtub, her fingers finding purchase on a smooth edge. Gazing up, she taunted, “What are you waiting for?”

The force of him hitting the water sent the waves churning. In seconds, he surfaced, a big grin on his face, his hair dripping water. “You were right. The water is amazing.”

“A bit cold,” she admitted, her teeth chattering.

“A little.” When he smiled at her, everything in her went warm.

“What did you guys do after you jumped?”

“We tried to push the other under the water.” Charlie leaned back and floated.

“You did not.”

“We did.”

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