at Joan’s. I thought she was showing off that her relationship with Joan was more than just from the retreats.” Edie stopped for a beat and then plowed ahead. “Amanda wasn’t very friendly. She kind of blew me off when I tried to talk to her and said she was going to watch the sunset. The last time I saw her, she was heading for the beach,” Edie said.
Kris seemed stunned. “I had no idea something happened to Amanda.” She directed her comment at Edie. “I wish you had more details.” Anxious to please Kris, Edie dredged up a tidbit about the dead woman and said she was found holding some yarn.
I heard Lucinda clear her throat, and when I turned, I saw that she appeared uneasy. “I wasn’t going to bring it up,” Lucinda began. “I didn’t want the retreat to get off on the wrong foot, but since Edie brought it up—” She hesitated a moment, and I urged her to continue. Lucinda had gotten her information from the newspaper and also from the way information traveled around the small town: word of mouth. “Amanda Proctor was a computer programmer from Silicon Valley, and they thought she’d gone for a last chance to spend some time along the water before heading inland. It seems like she had walked down to a spot near the lighthouse to knit and watch the sunset. She must have gotten too close to the edge and slipped. There’s quite a drop there and rocks below.” Lucinda stopped talking and seemed to be measuring her words. “I think the lesson here is that you shouldn’t go walking alone.”
Kris tried to step in and change the subject, but no one listened. Bree’s face had drained of color, and she said, “Oh my gosh, tell us the rest.” Lucinda looked to me again for approval, and I told her not to hold back.
“If Amanda hadn’t been alone, someone could have called for help when she fell and maybe saved her. The waves had slammed her body between the rocks, and they didn’t find her for several days.”
Kris stepped into the middle of the group this time and intervened. “It’s was very sad what happened, but let’s try to concentrate on something positive, like what a great weekend we’re going to have.”
Bree still looked stunned. Her mouth had fallen open and her eyes were wide. “I’m not going anywhere near the water.”
3
THERE WAS STILL NO SIGN OF THE LAST THREE retreaters. Bree had moved over to the sitting area in front of the fireplace. She’d taken out her computer tablet and was hovering over the screen, talking. Concerned, I stepped behind her to see what was going on. These days you never knew if someone was nuts and talking to themselves or if they were talking on a cell phone. Okay, she wasn’t nuts. A little boy’s face took up almost the whole screen, and it was obvious she was video chatting. Bree appeared upset.
“Maybe I should come home now,” she said. Now there were two boys in the picture, jumping up and down, but the video image was distorted and kept stopping the action, making them look like they were momentarily floating in the air.
“Yes, Mommy, come home,” one little voice whined.
“Daddy gave us dog food sandwiches for lunch.” The other boy stuck his face close to the screen and made faces for the camera.
“Don’t listen to them. It was a joke. Everything is fine.” A nice-looking man with tousled dark hair had stepped into the picture and held the little boys off to the side.
“But, but this place is kind of creepy and somebody died here,” Bree said, sounding strangely just like her own kids.
“It’ll be fine, hon. Go on and have a good time,” the man said in an encouraging voice. He signed off, and I stepped away quickly, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping.
“You might as well get Bree, Olivia and Edie registered,” Kris said, snagging me.
“I’m first.” Edie was in my face before Kris got the last word out. There was really nothing for me to do beyond escort her to the registration counter and move off to
Kris seemed stunned. “I had no idea something happened to Amanda.” She directed her comment at Edie. “I wish you had more details.” Anxious to please Kris, Edie dredged up a tidbit about the dead woman and said she was found holding some yarn.
I heard Lucinda clear her throat, and when I turned, I saw that she appeared uneasy. “I wasn’t going to bring it up,” Lucinda began. “I didn’t want the retreat to get off on the wrong foot, but since Edie brought it up—” She hesitated a moment, and I urged her to continue. Lucinda had gotten her information from the newspaper and also from the way information traveled around the small town: word of mouth. “Amanda Proctor was a computer programmer from Silicon Valley, and they thought she’d gone for a last chance to spend some time along the water before heading inland. It seems like she had walked down to a spot near the lighthouse to knit and watch the sunset. She must have gotten too close to the edge and slipped. There’s quite a drop there and rocks below.” Lucinda stopped talking and seemed to be measuring her words. “I think the lesson here is that you shouldn’t go walking alone.”
Kris tried to step in and change the subject, but no one listened. Bree’s face had drained of color, and she said, “Oh my gosh, tell us the rest.” Lucinda looked to me again for approval, and I told her not to hold back.
“If Amanda hadn’t been alone, someone could have called for help when she fell and maybe saved her. The waves had slammed her body between the rocks, and they didn’t find her for several days.”
Kris stepped into the middle of the group this time and intervened. “It’s was very sad what happened, but let’s try to concentrate on something positive, like what a great weekend we’re going to have.”
Bree still looked stunned. Her mouth had fallen open and her eyes were wide. “I’m not going anywhere near the water.”
3
THERE WAS STILL NO SIGN OF THE LAST THREE retreaters. Bree had moved over to the sitting area in front of the fireplace. She’d taken out her computer tablet and was hovering over the screen, talking. Concerned, I stepped behind her to see what was going on. These days you never knew if someone was nuts and talking to themselves or if they were talking on a cell phone. Okay, she wasn’t nuts. A little boy’s face took up almost the whole screen, and it was obvious she was video chatting. Bree appeared upset.
“Maybe I should come home now,” she said. Now there were two boys in the picture, jumping up and down, but the video image was distorted and kept stopping the action, making them look like they were momentarily floating in the air.
“Yes, Mommy, come home,” one little voice whined.
“Daddy gave us dog food sandwiches for lunch.” The other boy stuck his face close to the screen and made faces for the camera.
“Don’t listen to them. It was a joke. Everything is fine.” A nice-looking man with tousled dark hair had stepped into the picture and held the little boys off to the side.
“But, but this place is kind of creepy and somebody died here,” Bree said, sounding strangely just like her own kids.
“It’ll be fine, hon. Go on and have a good time,” the man said in an encouraging voice. He signed off, and I stepped away quickly, not wanting to be caught eavesdropping.
“You might as well get Bree, Olivia and Edie registered,” Kris said, snagging me.
“I’m first.” Edie was in my face before Kris got the last word out. There was really nothing for me to do beyond escort her to the registration counter and move off to
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