As soon as Donald finished speaking, he was surrounded. Almost as one the women had abandoned their desks and rushed to his side-to comfort, to reassure, to declare their loyalty to the company and to him. They were, of course, shocked by the news. Susan doubted if anyone other than herself noticed when Donald slipped a sheet of paper from the bottom of a pile on his mother’s desk into his jacket pocket.

TWENTY-THREE

SUSAN WAS CONVINCED THAT DONALD’S DESIRE TO VISIT HIS mother’s office had been driven by a need to obtain the paper he had slipped into his pocket, despite his statement to the contrary. After accepting condolences from his employees, he had wasted no time chatting, but found Susan (wiping her hands, pretending to have just left the restroom-an effort wasted on him) and pretty much demanded to be driven immediately to the police station. She was happy to oblige. And even happier to discover an officer smoking outside the station door who came out to the car to greet Donald and escort him inside.

Her responsibilities completed, Susan drove straight home. Her street was now more crowded than ever, with roadblocks set up at both ends. After identifying herself to the officer manning the barricade, steering around a reporter speaking earnestly into a camera in the middle of the macadam, and driving right over cables laid down by someone for something, she arrived home. Chrissy had parked in her mother’s spot in the garage so she left her car in the driveway and went into the house. This time not even Clue was waiting for her in the kitchen. In her living room she discovered an impromptu party in progress. Erika Fortesque had brought her six-month-old daughter over to see the twins. Zoe Fortesque was, until a few weeks ago, Susan’s favorite baby as well as her goddaughter. A miniature of her mother, Zoe had dark brown hair, big serious eyes, and a slow smile. Sitting on her mother’s lap, she was flirting like crazy with Susan’s grandson. Shannon was sitting on the couch, a twin in each arm, chatting with Erika. Chrissy was kneeling on the floor, unwrapping a bulky package with Kathleen Gordon’s help.

“Zoe and I thought we’d stop in for a visit now that she’s over her cold,” Erika said. “Of course, I didn’t expect to discover Brett and most of his department next door.”

Susan nodded. “You know what happened over there, don’t you?”

“Yes, I called his cell phone as soon as we arrived. Incredible, isn’t it?”

“Yes, I-”

“Mother, look. Look what Erika and Brett gave the twins.”

Susan looked. “Amazing. But what is it?”

“An antique sled. Probably made in Connecticut or Rhode Island between 1790 and 1810,” Erika answered. “I was at an antiques fair over the weekend looking for things for the store, came across this, and couldn’t resist. Look.” She sat Zoe down on the floor and joined Chrissy. “It was made for two children to use at the same time.” She pointed to the double C shape of the back support. “I know it’s not terribly practical.”

Chrissy hugged the bulky object. “I love it! Next winter Stephen and I will take Rosie and Ethan sledding in Central Park the very first snowstorm.”

So much for moving to Hancock, Susan thought.

“Sounds like fun,” Kathleen said, moving over to Susan. “My in-laws are in town for a few days…,” she began, lowering her voice.

“I didn’t know they were coming.”

“Well, things have been so hectic, which is why I’m here now. Jerry and Jed are going to meet us for dinner at the inn tonight. I called them right after hearing what had happened next door.” She looked at her friend, a stern expression on her face. “You need a break.”

“But the kids…,” Susan began to protest.

“My kids are probably already pigging out at Wendy’s with Jer’s parents and I’m sure Chrissy and Stephen can manage here.”

“We can, Mom,” Chrissy jumped in. “You and Dad go out. You’ve been looking exhausted.”

“Well…”

“Come on. Run upstairs and change your clothes.” Kathleen checked her watch. “We’re due there in half an hour.”

“But how will Stephen get home from the station?” Susan asked.

“Stephen is driving Jed’s car home. You and I will drive over separately. I’ll drive home in my car. Jerry will drive home in his and…”

“Jed and I will come back here in mine,” Susan continued the pattern. “You’ve thought of everything, haven’t you?”

“We’ve tried. Go get dressed.”

“Go on, Mom. You don’t want to be late.” Chrissy sounded just like a mother.

Susan gave up. Why should she scrounge around in her kitchen for food, prepare a meal that would be eaten, not in the dining room while the family conversed about the day, but around the needs of the twins, then spend at least another hour in the kitchen cleaning up when she had been offered an opportunity to dress up and let someone else do all the work?

“Okay. Give me twenty minutes to change.”

“I’ll give you fifteen. If we get there early, we can have a quick glass of wine in the bar and catch up,” Kathleen said.

Susan, who was dying to tell Kathleen about her day, took ten minutes to change, two to make sure all the dogs had done what they needed to do in the backyard, and five more saying good-bye to Erika and Zoe. It took less time to drive to the inn than to maneuver out of the driveway and around the mayhem in the street. But she and Kathleen entered the inn fifteen minutes before Jed and Jerry’s train would arrive at the station.

The Hancock Inn was in full flower. Pots of spring bulbs lined the walls and sat on the tables. Massive glass urns full of flowering quince, forsythia, and pussy willows filled the deep windowsills of the old stone building, their vibrant colors reflected back into the room. Hundreds of votive candles in frosted glass holders augmented the brass chandeliers and electric wall sconces. The effect was warm, lush, and as different from the nightmare that was going on next door to the Henshaws’ house as it was possible to get. Susan took a deep breath and felt herself relax.

Charles, maître d’ and owner, dashed to the door to greet his guests. “Mrs. Henshaw. Mrs. Gordon. I was thrilled to see your names on the reservation list. It has been too long since we saw you.”

“Three weeks, I think,” Susan said, smiling at Charles’s enthusiasm.

“Too long. Too long. And you must try the New Zealand cockles tonight. They’re on the menu as an appetizer, but, of course, we can prepare them as an entrée. They are absolutely superb.”

“Sounds sensational,” Susan said. “Charles, Kathleen and I only have a few minutes before our husbands arrive. Do you think you could find us a private spot in the bar where we could chat?”

“Of course, girl talk. Follow me!”

Charles seated them in a booth at the back of the bar and hurried off, promising to send a waiter and two glasses of chilled Prosecco to their table immediately.

“So, tell me about your day!” Kathleen demanded.

“I don’t know where to start.”

“Did you speak to Nadine’s neighbors?”

“Yes! Although I can’t tell you how much trouble I had finding them.”

“Well, save that for later. Tell me what they said.”

Susan leaned across the table so her words could only be heard by her friend. “Donald grew up on Perry Island!”

“What?”

“But not in the family home we’ve heard about. He lived in an apartment over a real estate agency when he was a kid, before his mother bought the family home there.”

“That’s interesting.”

“And she wanted to build a development out there.”

“What?”

“Yes, on the point of land where Perry Island Care Center is located!”

“But-”

“And Donald told Sophie-”

“Sophie?”

“A neighbor at their old place. She and her husband live in one of the houses that Donald built on the land that he purchased along with Edith’s cottage.” She saw the mystified expression on her friend’s face and backtracked a bit. “Sophie and Donald have known each other for years. And they had an affair.”