Why did he sound disappointed? “Have fun! I should go, work to do . . . and stuff.”
Paul made a noise of objection in his throat, but Tessa ended the call. She dropped her phone in her purse and drove to the library before going to the hardware store. She wanted to see if they had any Mystic Water history books with photographs of historical homes. Outside the library Tessa sat in her car and made a quick list of the items she thought she’d need to survive in the house. Near the bottom of the list she wrote,Sanity.
Tessa unlocked the apartment. “Hello?” No one responded. She shuffled into the living room and hefted the flattened boxes and heavy-duty tape onto the couch. The living room smelled like cloves and mint, and a pink bag of caramel creams sat opened on the coffee table along with Paul’s laptop.
Tessa taped the boxes together and packed quickly. The idea of still being in the apartment when Paul came home made her heart race. His easy smile would lure her back in again, tempting her to give in to his charm, but in less than a day, he would be gone. She had to stay resolute in her decision to put space between them.
Within an hour, the Great Pumpkin was packed with boxes. She returned one last time to the apartment and stood in front of the mint plant. The mint had used the pushpins the way honeysuckle used lattice; it climbed and stretched and curled around itself into impossible knots. “How am I going to get you home? I can’t leave you here. Paul will be gone, and then you’ll be all by yourself.”
A spring-scented wind rushed up the stairs and banged the front door against its stopper. The air swooped around the living room, and the mint leaves flapped against the map like green butterflies. Then in a breath, all the tendrils dropped from the pushpins and dangled down the edges of the pot, carpeting the floor. Tessa gaped at the plant.
“Well, if that’s not the weirdest, coolest thing I’ve seen in a while. I guess you’re ready to go too.”
Tessa gathered up the mint and piled the longer vines on top of the pot. Then she hoisted the heavy pot up to her hip and carried it down the stairs, placing it into the passenger seat. By the time she was done, the Great Pumpkin smelled like Christmas.
Tessa rolled down the windows and cranked the engine. Her cell phone rang, and she smiled at the caller’s name and picture blinking at her. “Lily!”
“Hey, stranger! I am so sorry I haven’t called sooner. I know you’ve probably been knee-deep in work and water and mud, and I had totally forgotten about my Wildehaven Beach trip when I was with you last weekend. Are you okay? How’s the condo? Did you decide to sell it? Who’s this Paul guy you’re talking about? Did you end up staying together? Tell me everything.”
Tessa leaned back against the seat and laughed. “I will when you stop talking. I can’t believe you said all of that without breathing.”
“It’s a skill. So, how are you? Oh, and Anna’s here. Let me put you on speaker.”
Tessa heard Anna’s voice in the background. “Hey, Anna! I have something to tell both of you.”
“Oh, the suspense,” Lily said. “Should we be sitting down? Are you having Paul’s baby?”
Tessa choked on a laugh. “Lily—”
“I’m kidding.”
Anna laughed. “Go on, Tessa. Spill the beans. I’ll tape Lily’s mouth shut.”
Tessa cast a sideways glance at the mint plant. “I decided to sell my condo, although I didn’t have much choice since all the owners wanted to. And . . . well, I . . . I bought a house.”
Lily squealed. “Tessa! You’ve been holding out! When did this happen? I’ve only been gone for a long weekend. What did you buy?”
“Let her talk,” Anna scolded.
Tessa smiled. “I bought a house on your street, Lily. On Dogwood Lane.”
“You did?” Lily asked. “I didn’t know there was a house for sale.”
“Honeysuckle Hollow was,” Tessa said.
Tessa heard waves crashing in the background. A lone seagull called. Her friends remained silent. “Hello?” Tessa tried to imagine the faces of her two best friends. Were their eyes bulging? Were their mouths hanging agape like cartoon characters?
“I could be wrong,” Lily said with hesitation in her voice. “You’re talking about the place Dr. Hamilton used to own, right?”
“Yes.”
“Didn’t he pass away?” Anna asked.
“Two years ago,” Tessa said.
“And the house hasn’t been touched in just as long,” Lily said. “Tessa, is this a joke?”
Tessa’s throat tightened. She squeezed the steering wheel. “It has great bones.”
