“I’m not thinking about Christmas. You grew up here and so did Joanna. You’re about the same age. Did you know her? What was she like when she was young?”

“Did I know her? It depends how you define ‘know.’ I saw her around. She was a year older than me so we didn’t hang with the same crowd. Silver Point isn’t as small as you might think.”

Joanna smiled. It was exactly as small as he probably thought.

Rosa was still talking. “Here’s your purse. I hope your wife loves it.”

“Her stepmother lives up the coast, I believe. Do you know where exactly? I might talk to her.”

“Well, good luck with that. I’m told her memory has gone. That must be the cruelest thing, don’t you think? Forgetting? Confusing facts? Are you sure I can’t interest you in earrings? You’ll be glad when it gets to December and you don’t have to find something.”

“I’ll worry about that in December. Can you direct me to Otter’s Nest?”

“Otter’s Nest? It’s decades since I went there. You head south. Take the third turn to the left. Or is it the fourth? I never remember. But if you head down the coast you can’t miss it.”

Joanna smiled. If he followed Rosa’s directions, he was going to miss it.

“I enjoyed meeting you,” Rosa said. “Come back soon.”

“Here’s my card. If you happen to see Joanna in town, will you call?”

There was a pause, presumably as Rosa read the card. “Mick. You’re a photographer. Well, of course you are. I thought that the moment I saw that fancy camera hanging around your neck. Everyone else just uses their phones these days, don’t they? I hate having my photo taken. I’m not sure I have a good side. Any tips?”

“If you see Joanna Whitman and give me a call, I’ll give you a photo shoot for free.”

“Thank you, Mick.” There was a sound of rustling and then footsteps as Rosa guided her customer to the door. “I had an uncle called Mick. Died at fifty-two of a heart attack. His wife blamed the cheeseburgers. You take care now. Drive carefully. These roads are busy in the summer.”

Joanna heard the door open and close and breathed again. She’d forgotten how clever Rosa was. She’d ripped the man off to the tune of almost a thousand dollars and she still hadn’t told him anything.

She felt ashamed for having doubted her. Ashamed that she’d allowed herself to lose faith in people.

There was a tap on the door and when Joanna opened it Rosa was standing there smiling broadly.

“A temporary reprieve, but hopefully better than nothing. And once you head south there’s no place to turn for ages. Let’s hope he loses interest.”