Since Joanna’s outing with Fran and her appearance at the Easterbrook party, the hubbub about the new Mrs. Kane had faded, so there was no need for Joanna to remain inside. Evelyn knew it, and she could have easily argued the point, but something told her now was not the time.

“My mistake,” Evelyn said, bowing her head. “But as I was saying, you’ve hardly said a word to her, and those you have said were nothing more than curt. I’m not saying Addison doesn’t deserve some of what she dishes out, but...but I think she was getting used to your company and now that she doesn’t have it, she’s trying to get it back.”

“Yeah, but is she trying to make peace or just buy me off? Give me what I want so I’ll come around?”

Evelyn pursed her lips as she thought over what Joanna had said. “Did she put any conditions on you getting the patio fixed?”

“No...well, yes. She said to have the work done while she wasn’t here.”

“Nothing else?”

“No.”

“Then from where I’m sitting, I don’t see a problem,” Evelyn said. “She doesn’t seem to have any ulterior motives, and if she does, that’s on Addison. I know you’re upset with her, but if I were you, I’d stop reading between the lines that aren’t there. Stop questioning her motives and focus on what’s important.”

“What’s that?”

“We’re finally going to get something around this wretched place mended!”

***

Kicking a sliver of slate across the patio, Joanna hunched her shoulders against the brisk wind as she slowly walked the length and breadth of the veranda all the while thinking about the decision she needed to make. The word permission continued to nag at her like a toothache, but if Evelyn was right and this was Addison’s way of offering an olive branch, then why not take it?

Joanna stopped at the railing and looked out over the grounds of the estate, imagining what they could look like in a year or maybe two. When the marriage had been proposed, she had weighed the good against the bad, and even though her father had died, she still believed she had made the right decision. As she stood in the grayness of the February day, Joanna decided it was time to make another.

Walking back into the house, she found Evelyn and asked to borrow her laptop, and a short time later, Joanna was ordering one of her own.

***

“I’ve decided to take you up on your offer.”

Addison stopped mid-chew, raising her eyes to look across the table. Since their discussion the week before, Joanna had remained silent and aloof. She had returned to acknowledging Addison’s “good evening” when she appeared in the dining room, but other than that, she had not spoken a word.