Page 46 of The Pink House

Hannah’s doubtful expression made him smile.

“It’s true. Scout’s honor.” He twisted his fingers to form the Boy Scout salute. “In fact, in high school, we had this secret code for a camping trip. You know the tent emoji?”

“There’s a tent emoji?” Hannah pulled out her phone, swiped a few times, then paused and held up her phone. “This one?”

“Yep.” Just seeing the tiny tent on the screen had memories flooding back. “We used to sneak out during the night and camp in the woods. Brian’s dad had these single-person tents that he called pup tents. He’d tossed them out, and I pulled them out of the trash and took them home.”

“This story is getting more and more bizarre.” Hannah rested her back against the counter and offered an encouraging smile.

Charlie remained where he was, liking the closeness. “If one of us texted the tent emoji during the night, it was code that we were up for a camping trip that night. If the other responded with a thumbs-up, we’d meet at my place in thirty minutes.”

“Why your place?”

“There were several dogs in Brian’s neighborhood that could be yappy.” Charlie’s lips curved as he remembered. “Plus, I had the tents. We were always home before dawn.”

Hannah’s eyes twinkled. “What would you do once you set up the tents?”

“Drink Mountain Dew, eat junk food and get very little sleep. It was a blast.” Charlie expelled a breath. “Good times. Happy times.”

“Isn’t being in the woods at night dangerous?”

“Most everything in life carries an element of danger.” Charlie shrugged. “On the whole, the woods are pretty safe.”

A lot safer than standing next to his best friend’s widow, whom he suddenly wanted to kiss.

* * *

The next day, Hannah met Mackenna for lunch at Auggie and Arlo’s, a bistro near the college. Spending time with her friend and hearing the happy chatter surrounding them buoyed Hannah’s already sunny mood.

“I’m sorry about ditching you on Sunday,” Mackenna said, two bright swaths of pink coloring her cheeks. “There’s no excuse other than when I get around Jace, I sort of forget about anything else.”

“It was okay.” Hannah offered her friend a reassuring smile. “Charlie and I walked around for a little while, went to the brewery for a bit, then I went home.”

“It won’t happen again,” Mackenna insisted. “Forgive me?”

“Already forgotten.” Hannah waved a hand. “And forgiven.”

“You and Charlie.” Mackenna gazed at her, a half-smile on her lips, and stabbed a piece of endive. “I heard you had him over for dinner last night.”

Though Hannah had been about to bring that up herself, it startled her that Mackenna already knew. “Who told you?”

“Sean O’Malley’s wife works at the college. Tawdra and I were walking in from the parking lot at the same time this morning. She mentioned it.”

“How did Tawdra know?” Hannah pulled her brows together. “They live down the block, and Charlie is next door to me.”

“Nothing goes on in that neighborhood without Beverly and Geraldine knowing about it.” Mackenna dipped her fork into her dressing and stabbed more lettuce. “One of them told Tawdra. Is it true?”

“It’s not a big deal.” Hannah took a bite of her sandwich. The bistro was known for its turkey Reubens, and she hadn’t had one in years. “We went out to Devil’s Bathtub that afternoon, and when we got back, I offered to make dinner as a token of my appreciation for him arranging the excursion with Mr. Jessup.”

“Are you and Charlie dating?” Mackenna didn’t bother to modulate her voice, and two women at a nearby table turned.

The likelihood that they knew Charlie, or even knew which Charlie was being discussed, was small. Still, Hannah flushed.

Leaning forward, Hannah lowered her voice. “Charlie was just helping me out by taking me to the place Brian mentioned in his letter.”

“That’s right.” Mackenna’s brown eyes sparkled. “The mysterious letter you got from the old woman in the forest. The one from Brian, even though he’s been gone a year.”

“I know it sounds crazy.” Hannah kept a firm grip on her rising emotions at her friend’s flippant tone. “But the letter was in Brian’s handwriting, and Charlie said the places that were mentioned are places the two of them used to visit.”

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