Page 68 of Dead Man's Hollow
“Sure thing, Ms. Farley. Mom and my aunts are in the kitchen.”
He walks down the hallway with them before opening the door to the basement and descending the stairs. Judging by the cacophony of laughter and shouting, that’s where all the kids are.
After barely beatingAva at a game he’s been playing since before she was born, Rich begs off a rematch and tells the kids to have fun. As Owen organizes a tournament and Ava and Emilie put their heads together, giggling, Rich makes his way upstairs. He bypasses the crowd in the kitchen and makes a beeline for the second floor and the main bedroom.
He heads straight to the attached bathroom, scoops up an armload of toiletries to add to his dopp kit, and returns to the bedroom. As he crosses the room to get a change of clothes from his dresser, he glances out the window and down into the backyard. A woman stands by the fence. It takes him a moment to realize it’s Chloe. She’s alone in the garden, walking through the flowers, stopping to inspect the blooms. He watches as she inhales the fragrant scent of a patch of sweet lavender. She turns her face to the sun. Her eyes are closed and a smile creases her lips.
This might be his best chance to get her to understand what’s at stake. He abandons his bag to race down the stairs and through the front door. He circles around to the backyard. As he approaches Chloe, he rolls his shoulders and reminds himself he has the upper ground: he remembers every interaction they’ve ever had. She remembers nothing.
“Hey,” he says, drawing near.
She turns, surprised. “Rich, I didn’t realize you were here.”
There’s no reason to pretend with her. She must know he didn’t spend the night.
“I just came back to get some things before I go to work.”
“Oh.” She grimaces, discomfited, and hurries to change the subject. “This garden is gorgeous.”
“Yeah, I guess you and Amy both got your mom’s green thumb.”
A look crosses her face. He’s not sure if it’s grief, curiosity, or something else entirely. Once upon a time, he could read Heather’s emotions, but that was a long time ago.
Despite his uncertainty, he senses an opening and seizes it. “Have you been by your old house?”
“No, not yet. Isn’t it occupied?”
“Yeah, but you can see the outside. I’ll take you before I go to work.”
“Oh, I don’t?—”
“It might be good for you to see it,” he interrupts. “You know, it might bring some things back.”
“Oh, I ... maybe.” She’s flustered, but also curious. She takes a breath. “Yes, I’d like that. Let me go get Bastian and Emelie.”
“It’s a short drive. You don’t need to bring your husband along, and Emelie’s playing a game with her cousins. I can’t stay long anyway because I have to get to work. I’ll just run you over to see the house and bring you back quick as a flash.”
She wrings her hands, hesitating, and he thinks she’s going to refuse.
But she doesn’t. Instead, she squares her shoulders and gives a brisk nod. “Sure, okay.”
He puts his hand on the small of her back to hurry her out to his car before anyone comes outside or she changes her mind.
“Oh, I don’t have my phone,” she says as they reach the SUV.
He glances at his watch. “We really need to go right now.”
“It’s really only a few minutes away?”
“Yes, really.”
She frowns but deposits herself in the passenger seat. He races around to the driver’s side and starts the car, fastening his seatbelt one-handed as he backs out of the driveway.
Maisy and Jordanabump into Diana as soon as they walk into the kitchen. She gestures toward the island, laden with trays of bagels, donuts, and muffins, bowls of fruit, and at least two coffee cakes. Pitchers of ice water and orange juice and a carafe of coffee complete the spread. “Help yourselves.”
“Thanks.”
“Thankyoufor bringing her home,” Diana says. The doorbell rings. “Oh, that’ll be my girls! Excuse me.”
