“Now and then,” she says. “Schedule permitting.”
I let my eyes slide briefly toward the pool deck, making sure Gabe is still down there and out of earshot.
“We were actually even once in the same showcase,” I tell Ash before looking back at Hannah. “By the way, I double-checked, and you were definitely involved. The Lilac Theater on West Thirteenth Street. Are you sure you don’t remember? It was two years ago this October.”
She hesitates, and I can almost hear the wheels of her brain spinning.
“The Lilac Theater, of course,” she says after a couple of beats. “Iwasin a showcase there.”
“Maybe I confused you somehow when we spoke about it last night,” I say, trying to keep my tone neutral.
“Just a little,” Hannah says. “But no harm done. You thought I was in a play about a woman who had amnesia. But it was actually about a scientist who turns a cat into a woman and then falls hopelessly in love with her.”
That’sexactlywhat I told her last night, and she knows it. Her lips curve up in the tiniest of smiles, and I realize she’s not just lying now. She’s trying to gaslight me.
5
Itake a long, slow breath as I try to drum up the right response. I can’t have Ash picking up on any tension between us, but I also don’t want Hannah to think I’m unnerved by her ruse.
“Well, whatever,” I say, with a little wave of my hand. “We’ll catch up more later. I need to grab my bathing suit.”
I leave without giving her a chance to respond, but the second I start up the path, I kick myself for having gotten into that exchange in the first place. What’s the point in trying to show someone like Hannah that I’m wise to her? It’s hardly going to chase her off the property, and any obvious game playing could make my in-laws think less of me. What’s the old expression?Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty and the pig enjoys it.
The smartest strategy is for me to cut her a wide berth and pray that Nick sees through her soon enough.
A rustling stirs me from my thoughts, and I glance up to see Claire emerging from the glade of cloud boxwoods. She’s dressed today in a casual, salmon-colored tunic dress thatshe’s belted around the waist and paired with the sneakers she always wears for gardening. A camera dangles from her neck.
“Is everything all right, darling?”
Clearly, I’m wearing my consternation on my face.
“Um, yes, fine. I was just trying to remember something.”
“Have you had a nice day so far?” she asks, stepping closer. Even in bright daylight, her skin looks creamy and naturally youthful, like she’s in her fifties rather than early seventies.
“Absolutely. Before lunch I took a walk down to the stream, which was heavenly—though I hear I should be keeping an eye out for coyotes.”
“That’s what our neighbor says. Frankly, I’ve been more concerned about hunters this year. Even though our property’s posted, we’ve spotted them sneaking through our woods.”
“How annoying.” I nod toward her camera. “Gabe mentioned last week that you might be taking on a new landscaping job. Does that mean you’re considering coming out of retirement?”
“Yes, I’m working on a small project but not for commission. Friends of ours in Palm Beach want to give a jungle garden feel to their property, and I said I would create the design as a favor because I absolutely love doing those. I had to fly down a couple of weeks ago to take a closer look at their property, but it gave me the chance to check on our house. While we’re on the subject of gardens,” she adds, “I promised Hannah a tour at four today. I know you’ve been on plenty before but please join us if you feel like it.”
I flash a smile, despite how much the mention of Hannah’s name irritates me. “Thank you, Claire, but I’m sure it will be more fun for her if the tour’s a private one.”
“That’s sweet of you to say, Summer. And she does seem very eager to learn.”
I wish I could tell Claire that Hannah’s simply trying to ingratiate herself, but knowing how catty it would sound, I instead wish her good-bye and promise to see her later. After changing into my swimsuit at the cottage, I return to the pool area and end up playing Marco Polo with Henry, Gabe, and eventually Nick. By the last round, I’m wondering what kind of sadist invented this game.
“One more game?” Henry begs as I hoist myself out of the pool.
“Tomorrow, okay, sweetie?” I tell him. “I’m too waterlogged today. Why don’t you read for a while?”
“Hey, Henry,” Nick calls out. “Dive for coins with me, okay?”
He eagerly agrees, and I give Nick a grateful thumbs-up. As I do, I notice that Hannah’s sunbathing facedown at the far end of the pool, near Blake and Wendy. I’m glad she’s at the other end. This is as close as I hope to get to her for the rest of the week.
I collapse onto a lounge chair next to Gabe, who has a slightly damp Nordic thriller splayed on his torso. He rolls over onto his side, rests a hand on my stomach, and stares at me intently.
