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“No. Thanks, though. I’ll drive myself. Easier to make an early getaway. With this storm predicted to get worse, I want to be home at a decent time.”
“Okay. Let me know if you change your mind. See you tonight.”
Harper disconnected the call as she pulled into her condo development. Two minutes later, she dashed through the rain and unlocked her front door. It had been messy on the bluff and she kicked off her shoes before entering her home. Dropping her keys and purse on the counter, she hung up her coat. A generous glass of wine would take the chill off. The idea of food wasn’t appealing and instead she poured a robust red into a goblet and took it to the window to stare out at the Atlantic Ocean from behind her balcony doors.
As she sipped her wine, she reflected on how lucky she’d been three years ago, when this place had come up for sale. The two-bedroom condo right on the bluff overlooking the Atlantic was perfect for her. It was also expensive, but she’s managed it and now she couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. The view and the sound of the waves hitting the rocks were the two things that got her through the worst times in her life. It was hard to believe Astrid had been buried just a couple of miles down from her. And now she would go a few miles more and attend a party. It was all so surreal.
There was talk about building more condos along the bluff somewhere and adding tennis and pickleball courts, and a pool. Rumor around city hall was there was a bid to make the next set of condos a fifty-five-plus community. Someone else said no it was supposed to be some kind of private club that was super hard to get membership in. Nothing had come across her desk yet and Susan hadn’t mentioned it.
There weren’t many places left with enough space for those types of things. Susan had changed the zoning on a lot of the bluff property to stop overdevelopment and preserve local wildlife. It was how she got elected. Harper was glad she got her condo before all that happened. She’d never be able to afford those types of amenities.
Her mind went back to Astrid. It was so horrible. That Everlasting Manor was involved was not so surprising. The Rainy Day Club had hit Harper the wrong way from the beginning. The members came to town and mostly kept to themselves. The members didn’t seem to interact with the locals other than to play tourist. Fair enough. But the fact that no one, not even Susan, could become a member? That was weird. The woman, Mrs. Carruthers, gave some song and dance about talking to the membership people in New York. Except the people in New York said there were no vacancies and there was a waiting list to join. It would be years before Susan’s name would come up and then of course, there were rules about sponsorship and all kinds of stuff.
Bullshit. All of it. As far as Harper could tell. Her instincts said there was more going on up there at the Manor than anyone wanted to admit. The problem was the new woman, Ms. Ling, blew so much smoke up Susan’s ass, Harper was surprised wisps weren’t coming out her ears. Susan wouldn’t hear any criticism of the Rainy Day Club and she certainly wouldn’t ask them any hard questions.
And now Harper was pretty sure Astrid had been in the Manor before she died. The green paint was indelible in her memory because her father had painted the place and then brought the extra paint home and painted one wall in her bedroom the deep green. Harper had grown up with it. That’s how she recognized the green. She’d painted over it when her folks sold the house she’d grown up in and bought themselves a one-story bungalow.
Her cell pinged and she swore as she checked the display. Susan was asking when she would arrive at the party. She grimaced.Not late enough.She needed to get her ass in gear. First though, she had to call her sister.
“Marnie,” Harper said in a quiet voice. “How is everyone doing?”
“Harper, it’s just awful. I mean we knew it was coming. None of us believed Astrid had run off but still, it’s such a shock. Audrey is just crushed. I’m driving down to Boston to see her. I’ve asked the university and they’ve said she can take some time if she needs to, but she doesn’t want to come home. At least not at the moment. She says everywhere she’ll go she’ll see Astrid or have a memory of the two of them together.”
“Oh, Marnie. I wish there was something I could do. Astrid’s father must be devastated.”
“Paul’s not doing so well. His sister Nancy is staying with him. First they lost Patti and now he’s lost Astrid. I suppose it’s a blessing that Patti went before all this happened. She suffered enough with cancer.”
Harper stared out the window through the rain. “I’ll call Nancy and maybe send her some food from Grace’s Lunch Spot. I know Paul loves that place.”
“That’s a good idea,” she agreed. “Bob and I are heading down to Boston tomorrow first thing. I’ll let you know how it goes.”
“Give Audrey a big hug for me and keep in touch.”
“Will do. Love you,” her sister rang off.
Harper swallowed a big gulp of wine and then put her glass in the kitchen sink. Time to haul ass. Ten minutes later, warm and pink from the shower, she stood in front of her closet and stared. Susan had said nothing dowdy which meant no pantsuits.
She pulled out a soft blue dress but it was too summery and wasn’t appropriate for a Maine fall. She put it back and pulled out a brown one but one look and she knew Susan would call it dowdy and in fact, she would be correct.
She’d been right earlier; she would have to wear the dark purple one. She had a large selection of black clothing from her time with the Mayor’s office in New York. Black was the staple that every New Yorker wore but sadly none of the little black dresses she had would work for tonight. The purple was sexy enough but the black ones were way over the top.
After a glance at her bedside clock, she swore. She shook off her robe and pulled on sheer nylons. Then she slid into her dress. It was short, mid-thigh and it hugged every curve. She’d been thrilled when she bought it. The perfect going-out dress. It was less perfect now although it still fit like a glove and clung in all the right places.
She grimaced as she looked in the mirror. Not what she wanted to wear, but whatever. She’d pulled her dark hair back in a messy bun and let a few tendrils escape. Then she put on some dangly earrings and a bit of makeup and called it good enough.
Pulling on her over-the-knee boots, her one concession to the weather, she gritted her teeth and hoped that Susan was grateful for all this effort she was putting in, but knowing Susan, that was highly unlikely.
Fifteen minutes later she was pulling up to the doors of Everlasting Manor. There was a valet, thank God, and several young men standing around with umbrellas. The valet opened her door while one of the young men held a black umbrella over her head. “Sorry about the rain,” he said with a good-natured smile.
“Perfect night for a Halloween party,” she said as they climbed the stairs.
He waited until she was inside before stepping back again. She offered him her thanks, but he was already going back down the stairs to help the next guest.
“And you are?” a woman’s voice said.
She turned and made eye contact with the young woman holding what appeared to be a guest list. So they were running a tight ship. No party crashers allowed.Interesting.The young woman had a smile pasted in place and waited expectantly. “Your name please?” she asked again.
Harper pegged her for no more than early twenties. Her blond hair curled over her shoulders, and she wore a strapless, black, body-hugging short dress with dark stockings, not unlike the outfit Harper was wearing but she’d paired hers with sky-high heels. She was about Harper’s height, five feet six inches in the heels so she had to be just a little thing without them.
