There was a pause as they both sipped their tea. This was getting really awkward. She’d looked forward to having time to herself, maybe reading a good book. And now her peaceful afternoon of solitude and wine was ruined. But she would have felt bad not inviting Serena in when the weather was so bad outside. That would have been uncharitable of her. She’d probably be hit by lightning or something for thinking this, but she hoped the storm didn’t last too long and that Serena would soon be on her way.
As if to undermine her wishes, the wind suddenly howled, whipping branches against the house and making the loud pounding of the rain even more ominous. Annie was glad to be inside, safe and sound. She hoped Brody was staying dry at the airport.
Serena spoke up, breaking into Annie’s thoughts. “How long have you been here?”
“You mean Kauai? What makes you think I haven’t lived here all my life?”
“Oh, I mean . . . I don’t know.” Serena blushed again.
“Sorry.” Annie caught herself and realized she was being rude. Seriously. She really had lost all her social filters. But something about Serena was making her nerve endings stand up, like someone had sent a shock of electricity through her body. “You’re right—we moved here over a month ago. So we’re pretty new to the area.”
Serena smiled and Annie was surprised at how it transformed her face. She went from an ordinary-looking woman to one with a luminous face, her eyes lighting up. Serena opened her mouth, but before she could say anything, a loud crack of thunder shook the room and she let out a scream instead.
Annie placed a hand at her heart and walked to the window next to the front door. Wow, that was loud. It rarely thundered in Kauai, so to hear it now, so loud and near, sent her heart racing. She peered out the window. This storm was bad. She could see the way the palm trees were whipping in the wind, leaning to one side as if fighting off the storm. Her father had been right to worry. How was Brody going to get home from work?
Annie’s phone dinged in her pocket, and she took it out to read a text from Brody.
B: Everything okay?
A: Yes. You?
B: I’m good. People are saying they think the storm is going to be really bad.
A: It already is really bad. Maybe you should come home early.
B: I’ll try. I’ll let you know.
Annie’s head snapped up when something crashed outside. She looked out the window again. The rain was coming down so hard that she could barely see anything. But she squinted and saw a large branch had fallen in the backyard. Her heart sank. As much as she wanted to be alone, there was no way she could let Serena go back outside in this. It looked like she was stuck with company for the time being.
6
Annie walked back to the kitchen counter and picked up the open bottle of wine. With a storm so bad out, who could blame her for needing a drink? “You want a glass?” She gestured to Serena with the bottle.
“I’m okay with tea. Maybe later.” Serena still had her hands wrapped around her teacup.
“I guess you’re stuck here for the time being.” Annie looked longingly at the bottle. She needed a drink, bad. Screw it. It was her house, after all. If she wanted to drink in the afternoon, she was going to drink, invited intruder and all. She put the bottle back down and reached for her wineglass. Taking a healthy swallow, she dared Serena to comment.
But Serena wasn’t even looking at her. She was staring out at the storm, as if mesmerized by the sheets of rain falling outside.
Annie’s phone dinged, and she put the wineglass down to look at it.
B: What’s the woman’s name, in case I need to tell the detectives later?
A: Oh, right. Good idea. We should be careful. Her name is Serena.
B: What’s her last name?
A: No clue.
B: Ask her. So that we have a full name. Just in case.
A: Don’t scare me.
B: I’m not trying to.
“Is that your husband again?”
Annie looked up when she heard Serena’s voice. “Yes, sorry. He’s just checking up on me.”
“That’s nice.” A longing look played across Serena’s face. “Don’t mind me. Go ahead and text him.”
“Thanks.” Annie looked back down at the phone.
A: It feels rude to ask her last name right now. I’ll ask her later. We’re having tea.
Well, Serena was having tea. Annie didn’t say that she’d switched to wine.
B: Be sure not to wash her cup. We can use it to get her DNA later to ID her.
A: Hardy har har. You’re so funny.
B: I’m not trying to be funny. And hardy har har? Who says that anymore?
A:
B: Maybe you should let her know you’ve contacted someone from the outside in case she’s planning on robbing us blind.
A: We don’t have anything of value to rob. And besides, she knows I’m texting with you. She’s sitting right in front of me. Be right back. I feel rude just sitting here texting. I should probably turn on the news.
B: Ok. Talk soon. I’m here.
Annie looked up from her phone to find Serena studying her.
“Where’s your husband now?” The woman tilted her head to the side. “At work?”
“Yes. He works at the Lihue airport. I don’t know how he’s going to be able to get home tonight.” Annie worried her bottom lip with her teeth. “I hope they don’t close down Kuhio Highway.” She walked to the coffee table and picked up the TV remote. “We should probably keep an eye on the news.”
Serena swiveled on her stool so that she could see the TV. “I hope your husband can get home safely. You guys look like you have a wonderful relationship.”
Annie was absorbed in finding a channel that had the weather on, so it took a moment for her brain to catch up to Serena’s words. When it did, she turned sharply toward Serena. “What do you mean, we look like we have a wonderful relationship? When have you ever seen us together?” She narrowed her eyes. “I thought you said we’ve never met?”
“We haven’t.” Serena’s eyes widened. “I just meant . . .” She broke off and gestured toward the wedding photo Brody had unpacked and placed on the side table next to the couch. “From your picture . . . I, um. And the way he texts to check up on you. It just sounds like you have a wonderful relationship. That’s all I meant.”
“Oh. Sorry. Didn’t mean to jump down your throat.” Annie relaxed her death grip on the remote, not realizing she’d been clutching it so tightly until she eased off.
As if to prove Serena’s point, Annie’s phone dinged again.
B: All good?
A: Yes. But something about her bothers me. I feel like I know her, but I can’t place her.
Annie looked up from her phone, but Serena was absorbed in watching the news and not paying attention to her. Still, it made her feel funny to be texting about someone when they were sitting right there with her. She looked down when Brody responded.
B: Wait, what? You’re serious?
A: Yeah. It’s just a feeling I have. Can’t put my finger on it.
B: How would you know her? From Kauai?
A: Maybe? I don’t know. I asked her if we knew each other and she said no.
B: That’s not good. Do you feel unsafe?