“But it changes the actions. Enough.” Erica turned to look at them. “I’m not telling her. That’s my decision.”
“Whatever you want.”
She was grateful that they hadn’t argued with her. “And now I need stress relief. There’s no gym, and it’s too early for a glass of wine. Any suggestions?”
“There are acres of trails around the place.” Claudia glanced out the window. “We have at least an hour before it gets dark. Shall we go for a walk?”
“We could walk to that bookstore. Books are always a stress reliever,” Anna said and Erica nodded.
Anything to get out of here and clear her head. She didn’t like this version of herself. This unsure, shaken, indecisive version. She needed a dose of normal, and visiting a bookstore with her friends sounded suitably normal. It was a tradition when they met up for their book club. They always found the nearest independent bookstore and spent a few happy hours browsing and buying.
“The bookstore sounds like a good distraction. Let’s do it.” She looked at the room properly for the first time. Saw the size of the bed, the fur throws, the velvet sofa, the stack of carefully chosen books on the nightstand and the small Christmas tree sparkling in the corner of the room. It was stylish and comfortable and she felt a momentary twinge of regret that she was going to be checking out the next day. The feeling surprised her. She’d stayed in more hotel rooms than most, and generally she didn’t ever feel an inclination to curl up and move in forever. But that was the way this room made her feel.
It was welcoming. They could have relaxed here. They could have had a good time.
Who had chosen the decor? Was that Hattie—she wasn’t ready to think of her asmy sister—or her husband?
What sort of person was Hattie? It gave her a jolt to think that there was someone in the world that she was related to but knew nothing about. All she knew about her was that she’d moved to the US with her husband, and that they had a daughter. Facts. She knew facts, but facts weren’t what made a person.She didn’t know what made her laugh. She didn’t know if she was a city person or a country person—presumably country, or she wouldn’t be living here? She didn’t know if she loved chocolate and could mix a good cocktail. She didn’t know what Hattie wanted out of life.
And she never would, she reminded herself, because it wasn’t her business. Hattie’s life, however that looked, would continue without her intervention or interference.
All she knew about Hattie was that she’d loved her father, that they’d been close, and that was something she and Erica definitely didn’t have in common.
ELEVEN
Claudia
Claudia watched as Anna slung her bag over her shoulder and buttoned up her coat.
“Let’s go straight out,” Anna said. “Right now. Let’s not even bother taking off our coats.”
Thank goodness for Anna, who was a master at handling delicate situations.
Erica eyed their luggage. “You don’t want to unpack and settle in first?”
Claudia nudged her suitcase to one side. “No point in unpacking if we’re leaving tomorrow.” She’d fallen in love with the place and the thought of leaving was depressing, but after everything Erica had done for her there was no way she was going to voice that thought.
“I can’t wait to explore the town.” Anna pushed her feet back into her boots. “It looked so pretty driving through.”
Erica looked guilty. “Better than Boston.”
“Boston will be great, too. I love Boston. I’m excited about Boston. We will have had the best of both worlds.”
Claudia wondered if Anna was laying it on a bit thick;they all knew Anna only loved Boston for very short trips, but Erica seemed grateful.
“I know what a big sacrifice this is.” Her voice was thickened. “I saw your faces when I pulled up outside the inn. You both fell in love with the place. And I’m making you leave.”
“You’re not making us,” Anna said. “We’re the ones suggesting it.”
“Right.” Erica gave a wan smile and reached for her purse and her car keys. “Let’s go. And hope we don’t bump into Hattie on the way out.”
Claudia hoped for that, too. The last encounter had been awkward, to say the least.
They slunk out like criminals, all relieved that there was no sign of Hattie as they walked out of the inn.
Claudia glanced back at the inn and felt an inexplicable sense of loss. The place was tugging at her, in a way that nowhere ever had before.
But friendship sometimes required sacrifice, and this was a sacrifice she was prepared to make for Erica. What would she have done in Erica’s position? It was impossible to say. Her family was boringly normal. She called her parents weekly, and they met up for all the key holidays if they were in the country. After Claudia had left home, her parents, taking advantage of their empty-nest status, had expressed their intention of traveling, and since then they’d done exactly that. They took two major trips a year, and much of their remaining time was spent in the planning.
