A: No. At least I don’t think so.
B: I can’t believe you let a stranger into the house, given your past obsession with Criminal Minds and true crime shows. And what happened at the lake.
A: She doesn’t look like a murderer.
B: Murderers never look like a murderer. You’re the one who’s always told me that.
A: Yeah, yeah. Use my words against me.
She looked up when the meteorologist came on and started talking about the storm. In silence, they listened to her, and Annie’s heart sank when she heard phrases like “rare severe thunderstorms,” “wind gusts up to sixty-five miles per hour,” “flash floods,” and “road closures due to coastal flooding.” She even warned of possible evacuation for parts of Kauai. This didn’t sound good. Especially because they lived right on the Wailua River.
“This is bad.” Serena’s voice echoed Annie’s feeling of dread. “I thought Kauai was supposed to be paradise. I wasn’t expecting storms like this.”
“This isn’t normal. My family has been vacationing here for years, and my father and sister moved here almost four years ago. This is pretty rare, as the news is saying.” Annie left the TV on but lowered the volume and made her way back to the kitchen. “But wait, didn’t you say you live here?” Had she said that?
“I envy you.” The longing in Serena’s voice distracted Annie from the fact that Serena hadn’t answered her.
“You envy me?” Annie couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice. “Why?”
Serena’s shoulders jerked up and then dropped. “You seem like you have the perfect life.”
“Ha!” Annie snorted. “Far from it.”
“You do.” Serena leaned forward, her face an earnest mask. “You and your husband look so perfect together, and you have a son and a dog too.”
Annie was about to take a sip from her glass but then stopped. “How do you know I have a son?” Marley was here with them, but Annie was pretty sure she hadn’t mentioned a son.
Serena pointed to a picture of Finn by the TV. “Isn’t he yours?”
“Oh, right. Yes, that’s Finn.” Annie took a gulp of her wine.
“Finn.” Serena turned the name over on her tongue, almost as if she were savoring it. “Where is he?”
“He’s at my father’s house.” Annie gestured toward the main house.
“How old is he?” There was a strange look on Serena’s face that Annie couldn’t decipher.
“He just turned four.” Annie kept her gaze on Serena. “Do you have any kids?”
“No.” Serena’s face closed up and she looked down into her lap.
Annie stayed quiet, wondering whether this was a sore topic for Serena. Maybe she wanted kids and a husband. She was suddenly curious about the other woman.
As if sensing that Annie was softening toward her, Serena looked up. “I gather you’re close to your family, if you’re all living together on the same property. I meant it when I said I envy you. You just seem so together and with it. Like you know what you’re doing in life.” Serena pointed to herself before letting her hand drop. “Me? I’m a big mess.”
Annie was taken aback that this was how a stranger saw her. Perfect life? She wished. “You have no idea how wrong you are. I definitely don’t have the perfect life.”
“Yeah right.” Serena laughed, and Annie wondered if she’d imagined the bitterness in it. “From the outside, your life looks pretty ideal. At least compared to me.” She gestured to the wine bottle. “You know what, I think I changed my mind. Can I have a glass?”
Annie walked into the kitchen and opened the cabinet where they kept the glasses. She pulled down a second glass and poured the cabernet sauvignon for Serena. Thank goodness. Now she wouldn’t feel like a lush. She handed it to Serena and regarded her curiously, before walking back to the breakfast bar to her own glass. Despite herself, this woman had piqued her interest. What could cause her to envy Annie, a woman she didn’t know? And maybe it did make Annie feel a tiny bit better, that someone thought her life was something to be envied. As if.
Serena took a dainty sip, her eyes visible over the top of her wineglass. They had grown distant, as if thinking of another time. “My fiancé left me, a few months before our wedding. It was devastating.”
Annie gasped. “How awful. I’m so sorry.” She placed her hands on the counter. She wanted to ask what had happened, but she didn’t want to pry.
A look of pain flashed across Serena’s face. “Yeah. It was horrible. It’s been almost three years, and I still get sad thinking about it.”
“I would too,” Annie said, feeling genuine sympathy for Serena. Maybe they had more in common than she’d thought. Not that Brody had left her, but it sounded like she’d experienced heartbreak like Annie had.
“Thanks.” Serena looked into her wineglass and took another sip, this one bigger. “What did you mean when you said your life is far from perfect? I’m not sure if I believe you.” She looked up at Annie in a teasing way, but there was something hard about her expression. As if she really didn’t believe Annie and thought she was lying.
Annie looked away from those piercing green eyes and gave a small laugh. “You don’t want to know. It’s a long story.”
“Actually, I do want to know.” Serena’s eyes seemed to bore into Annie’s. “And it looks like we might be stuck together for a bit if this storm doesn’t let up.” She smiled, and once again, Annie was struck by how a smile changed the other woman’s whole face.
Annie’s text alert broke the silence between them.
B: Hey, but seriously, maybe you should take a picture of her and send it to me in case something happens.
Annie shot Serena an apologetic face before she answered Brody.
A: How am I supposed to take a picture of her without her knowing?
B: Dunno. Maybe take a selfie together?
A: Right. But I guess it is a good idea in case I turn up dead . . .
B: That’s not funny. Maybe you should tell her to leave. I’d feel better. I’m starting to get a funny feeling.
A: It’s fine. She’s not a murderer. And have you looked outside? I can’t send her out in this. Especially with a dead car.
B: Well, better than a dead you. Keep your phone by you. Call me if you feel uncomfortable, Ok?
A: Yes, Sir.
B: Love you, Sexy.
A: Me too, My Fireman.
B: Stay safe.
“See, I don’t believe you. Look at the way you’re smiling, just texting with your husband.”
Serena’s voice had Annie looking up, and she realized Serena was right. There was a wide grin on her face, and she couldn’t hide it. It’d been so long since Brody had called her “Sexy” and she’d reciprocated with “My Fireman,” because Brody had worked for the FDNY. It was what they used to call each other when they first met. Back when they were so in love that they couldn’t get enough of each other.
7
Laptop ANNIE file
I still remember how giddy I used to get when I first started dating him and knew I was going to see him that night. I’d never felt that electricity with anyone before. At last, I thought to myself. I’ve found my person. He was sweet and kind to me, we had intellectual conversations, but we could also be silly.