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“It’s true,” Howard agreed.
“Newish. I inherited property from my great-aunt—”
“Oh, you’re the new owner of Violet Gables,” Gladys cut in.
“Violet Gables?” she repeated.
“Oh, you don’t know the story?” Hazel tried to fill her in, but Norma Jean clapped her hands again, this time more peremptorily.
“That’s enough chitchat. We’re here to dance, right? So let’s get started.”
Belatedly, Iris realized just how close she’d be to Eli for the next two hours. Somehow, she hadn’t factored that in, but she offered her gamest smile as he extended his hand and pulled her into the correct position. This close, she could smell the soapy clean smell of his skin and hints of pine and juniper that teased her senses. His hand was firm and strong in hers, and the other curved carefully at her waist.
At first, it was awkward, and she couldn’t keep the beat. Shestumbled and stepped on his feet. He never complained. Never faltered. And then…everything shifted, as if the world vanished apart from his golden eyes. One night, while getting some fresh air, she’d seen him gracefully glide through his bedroom window, and she could see Eli’s hawk aspect, even in his human form, quietly watching, waiting, though for what, she had no clue. His movements guided hers, step and spin, four paces, back, forward, the music laying the magical lines they followed. Iris could have danced for two more hours when the melody suddenly stopped. Honestly, it was like being freed from a spell that prevented her from detecting the passage of time.
She gazed up at him for a long moment in breathless silence, and she saw…his mouth. A smile meant just for her. It was as if helivedfor her. No, that was absurd, one of her wild flights of imagination. But before she could make sense of her chaotic impressions, Hazel and Gladys were beside her.
Gladys said, inexplicably, in an oddly formal tone, “It has been a long, long time since we welcomed one of your kinfolk. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to keep the peace, Lady.”
Uh, what?
The statement felt weighted. She didn’t get a chance to pursue that, as Hazel bumbled into the conversation, fairly glowing with anticipation. “You might not know this, but I was friends with your great-aunt back in the day. Are you interested in hearing why we called her house Violet Gables?”
As it turned out, the story wasn’t as riveting as Hazel imagined, having to do with Anne of Green Gables, some homemade apple wine, and Great-Auntie’s impulsive decision to paint her housepurple. And while Hazel recounted that long-ago evening, the rest of the class trickled out, including Gladys and Leonard. Iris listened to every last word, feeling glad that Great-Aunt Gertie once had friends like Hazel, at least.
The other woman sighed, evidently realizing that Norma Jean wanted to lock up. “Looks like I’ve done it again, talked too much and made a nuisance of myself.”
“That’s why we like you,” Howard said in a bracing tone.
“You’re just saying that.” But Hazel seemed pleased with the comment, a touch of pink in her round cheeks.
“I’d love to hear any stories you might want to share about Great-Aunt Gertie,” Iris added. “You’re welcome to come by and chat.”
She gave Hazel her phone number, and the older couple walked out with Iris and Eli, who didn’t open the door for her this time.Why does that bother me? I can’t afford for things to get complicated between us.No, this was clearly for the better. Boundaries shouldn’t get blurred when they lived together. The parking lot was almost empty, just Eli’s truck and Howard’s car.
Before Iris got into the truck, Howard said, “I hear you’re living with my ex-wife.”
Oh, wow.
“You’reSally’s ex?” she exclaimed.
“That’s me. I just…well. Can you make sure she’s all right? Things didn’t work out for us, but she’s not used to being on her own.”
“There are four of us in the house,” Eli pointed out. “Sally isn’t alone.”
“Right. The woman lands on her feet, I’ll grant her that. I heard she’s dating—”
“So are you,” Hazel snapped. “If you keep this up, I’ll never go out with you again.”
“I think this is our cue,” Eli whispered.
Iris couldn’t get in the truck fast enough while the old couple argued in the community center parking lot. She could understand Howard being concerned for his ex, but it was a bit insensitive to leave his date standing while he asked about Sally.Ugh. So awkward.But she smiled faintly as a sudden thought occurred to her.
“I hate when people pester me about what’s making me smile,” Eli said softly.
“But you’re curious?” She grinned. “It just dawned on me… We think everything will be clear by their age. We’ll have it all figured out, right? But living with Sally and Henry Dale has clarified a few things.”
“Like?”
