Don

'Hey, don't get so mad because I didn't recognize the name of the married sister of someone I've met.'

'You make it all sound so casual.' Cold anger filled her. 'Lily is my best friend. Tamara was her twin. I've known them since I was a child and I've talked about them so much since we've been together, but you don't remember. You weren't even listening to me.'

'Of course I was listening. I'm just not good with names.'

'Another lie.'

'Why are you so mad?'

She sighed. 'I repeat that I asked for time. Considering what you did, I think you might have the decency to grant it. Instead, this is the second time in less than a week you've called. I am not ready to talk.'

'So I gather.' He paused. 'You only have one more week of vacation time. You'll come home then and we'll talk.'

Home. Home was the condo she shared with Kenny. Could she possibly go back there and pick up where they left off?

I left off seeing Kenny in our bed with another woman, Natalie thought after hanging up the phone. Is that what he wants me to come home to?

A dull headache was forming at the back of her head. Tension. She could not take another round with Kenny. She turned on the answering machine to screen calls.

The doorbell rang. Natalie sighed. Now what? At least it couldn't be Kenny.

She opened the door. Ruth Meadows stood smiling at her and holding a pie dish covered with aluminum foil. 'I couldn't sleep last night so I baked a few pies. Your father told me once that your favorite is cherry, so I brought one over.'

'How nice of you!' Natalie was genuinely pleased. 'I haven't had cherry pie for years.' She stepped back. 'Come in. Dad isn't here.'

'Oh, I knew he wouldn't be,' Ruth said. 'Shall I put this in the kitchen?'

'Yes, please.'

She followed Ruth into the kitchen. Ruth opened a drawer, pulled out a dishtowel, laid it on the counter, and set the pie on it. 'It's still warm from the oven and I wouldn't want to damage this Formica. Such a lovely leaf pattern in these autumn colors.'

'Dad had the kitchen remodeled last year. Nothing had been replaced since the house was built thirty years ago, but I was still surprised by the renovation.'

'Your father is happiest when he's working. When he came to my house for dinner, he immediately decided the railing on my deck isn't strong enough and he plans to replace it soon. I told him I could hire a handyman, but he insisted.'

'As you said, he's happiest when he's working.' Natalie smiled. 'And he likes you.'

A slight flush came to Ruth's cheeks. 'Do you really think so?' Then she laughed. 'My goodness, I sound like I'm twelve.'

'Well I shouldn't offer coffee to a twelve-year-old, but I put on a fresh pot not too long ago. Would you like some?'

'Please. I hate these nights when I can't sleep. I get up and do any work I can think of. The next day I feel dragged out. I could use some caffeine.'

'Coming right up. Cream? Sugar?'

'Just cream. I gave up sugar a couple of years ago along with some pounds.'

Natalie glanced at Ruth's trim body dressed today in aqua slacks that matched her eyes and a V-necked white knit top. At her throat hung a cameo on a gold chain.

Ruth reached up and touched the pendent. 'My husband Walter gave this to me for our anniversary. He died four years ago. Cancer.'

'I'm sorry.'

Ruth accepted the coffee cup from Natalie. 'It was a prolonged illness. That was in Virginia, right outside of D.C. Walter had a government job. After his death I stayed for a while, but I just couldn't enjoy our house or my old life.'

'Why did you decide to move to Port Ariel?'

'Walter and I toured the Great Lakes in the early sixties shortly after we were married. We spent a couple of nights here. I liked it. As a matter of fact, we stayed at that lovely old hotel The Blue Lady. Such a shame it burned down.'

'The dance pavilion is still standing.'

'But it's closed and terribly unsafe, according to Andrew. I'd like to see it again, but I wouldn't take the risk, even if it weren't locked up. Besides, I've heard about those awful murders that happened at the hotel just a few years after my honeymoon. So frightening!' She shivered. 'No, you wouldn't get me near that place '

A scary history and unsafe construction didn't stop me from going to the old place at night, Natalie thought uncomfortably. Not me and a nut claiming to be a dead woman.

'Anyway,' Ruth went on, 'I came to Port Ariel for a quick visit after Walter's death and I made an impulse move five months ago.'

'So you're just getting used to the town.'

'Yes. I've made quite a few friends through church and the suicide hotline-that's how I met Tamara, you know- but I'm ashamed to say I haven't unpacked all my boxes yet.' They sat at the kitchen table and Ruth looked out the big window. 'This is such a spectacular view.'

'Yes, although today is overcast. The lake looks bleak.'

Ruth's smile wavered, 'A couple of weeks after I moved here I took a walk by the lake. It was late February and such a dismal day. The lake looked so vast and gray and lonely I felt overwhelmed by it. I gave serious thought that night to moving back home. The next day the sun came out and I felt better. I knew this was where I was meant to be.'

Blaine padded into the kitchen. Ruth beamed and reached out a hand to the dog. 'Here's the pretty girl! You've settled right in, haven't you?' The dog licked her hand and panted happily. Ruth looked at Natalie. 'I saw your ad in the newspaper. Has anyone called about her?'

'No, thank goodness.'

'You want to keep her, don't you?'

'Yes.'

'Your father says you live in a condominium complex. Do they allow pets?'

Natalie hadn't given the problem a thought. Pets were not allowed at Kenny's place and she had no intention of giving up Blaine except to her owners. If I really intended to go back to the condo, wouldn't I have considered what I would do with the dog? she asked herself.

'I'm moving,' she said abruptly.

'I didn't know. Are you planning to buy a house?'

'I'm not sure.' Natalie took a sip of coffee. 'My father has probably told you about my romantic relationship and living arrangement.'

'No, dear, he hasn't,' Ruth said mildly. 'He's mentioned that you see a doctor from the veterinary clinic where you work and I get the impression Andrew doesn't care for him, but he's never said much.'

'Oh,' Natalie said in surprise.

'It's your personal business, dear. Andrew respects your privacy.'

So her father might have something to say to her about every aspect of her life, but apparently he didn't broadcast his disapproval to everyone he knew. She had always assumed the worst, certain nothing she said to him was held in confidence. That hadn't been fair, she thought, especially because he never told her personal things about anyone he knew.

The phone rang again. 'The machine will get it,' Natalie said. She and Ruth sat in silence until after the second ring when Kenny's disembodied voice floated into the kitchen. 'Nat, it's me again. I didn't like the way we left things. We need to talk more. If you're there, please pick up.' Natalie sat perfectly still. 'Okay, call me back later. I'll be home all day. Love you.'

Natalie's gaze met Ruth's. 'The reason I'm here.'

'So I thought. Love can be wonderful. It can also be unbearably painful.'