“Sara,” she said, swinging the door wide. “I almost didn’t recognize you. Golly, what a nice surprise. Please come in.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to impose.”
Ellie gave a dismissive wave. “Nonsense. You’re no imposition, and it’s nice to see a familiar face.” Ellie showed her inside and offered her a seat in the living room. “My mother and sister won’t be back for a while, so we have the place to ourselves.”
“I can’t remember the last time I was in this house.” Sara’s eyes wandered around the room. “I’m terribly sorry for your loss. Miss Clara was a wonderful woman.”
“Thank you,” said Ellie. “That’s sweet of you to say. I was just about to sit down to lunch. Care to join me?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Ellie offered Sara a seat at the table, then brought out a plate of sandwiches and two glasses of tea. “I didn’t realize you still lived around here.” She relaxed into the chair. “What brings you out this way?”
Sara set her glass on the table. “To offer my condolences and to speak with you about Jack.”
Ellie’s eyes narrowed. “Jack? What about him?”
Sara stiffened under Ellie’s gaze, her expression becoming determined. “I know you went to see him yesterday.”
Ellie detected a hint of jealousy in Sara’s voice but took it in stride. “Yes. I went by the dock to see the changes he’d made. It’s a first-class operation now.”
Sara nervously sipped her tea before responding. “Did he happen to tell you he and I are together?”
Ellie felt the air leave her lungs but held it together. “No, he didn’t.”
“Figures.”
“How long?”
“Six weeks tomorrow,” she answered proudly. “That may not seem like a long time, but when you’ve waited as long as I have for Jack…”
Ellie mustered a smile. “Well, I’m happy for you. You’re a good person. I’ve always thought so.”
“Thank you,” she said with a smile of her own. “And don’t worry, someday you’ll find that special someone too. I just know it.”
Ellie thought she detected a hint of malice in Sara’s voice, but ignored it, thanking her instead.
When they’d finished eating, Ellie walked her to the door. “So I’ll see you at the funeral tomorrow?”
“Of course. Jack and I wouldn’t miss it.”
* * *
Needing to clear her head, Ellie went into town to pick up some essentials. Sara’s visit had left her rattled, and as she walked the supermarket aisles, she wondered why Jack hadn’t mentioned his relationship with Sara the day before.
“Hey there, stranger. Fancy running into you.”
Ellie looked up at the sound of Jack’s voice. “Hey,” she said, and kept walking.
“Everything okay?”
She stopped and took a breath. “Sara came to see me this afternoon.” She watched as the color drained from his face. “How come you didn’t tell me about the two of you?”
Jack rubbed the back of his neck. “I was going to, but then we got to talking, and… Anyway, I’m sorry you had to find out like that, but I’m glad you know.”
“That’s all right. You didn’t exactly owe me an explanation.” She reached for a cabbage head and placed it in the shopping cart. “It’s funny, I don’t remember Sara being so forward.”
“Typically, she isn’t, but you bring out a different side of her.”
