“So you’re saying...you’re saying Joanna is...is...”

“Jealous.”

“Of what or...or of whom?”

“Luce.”

“Luce?” Evelyn said, turning a one syllable word into two.

“Luce,” Noah said with a nod. “Ever since Joanna found out about her—”

“Sorry, Noah, but you’re wrong. I’ve already mentioned that to Joanna, and she said she doesn’t care about Luce. It’s just the fact that Addison has a life, and she doesn’t.”

“And you believed her?”

“Well...well, yes. Of course, I did. Why would she lie?”

“Because she’s fallen for our boss,” Noah said as he rested back in his chair and crossed his arms. “Think about it, Evie. Addison’s always ‘had a life’ as Joanna calls it, but until recently Joanna didn’t know Addison also has a mistress. And I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t care less who my friends are screwing, unless, of course, my feelings run a little deeper than just friendship.”

“So she’s doing this...”

“Like I said...hell hath no fury.”

Evelyn brought her fingers to her lips. “Oh my,” she whispered. “Oh...my.”

***

In the early hours of a Sunday morning in late March, Addison left The Oaks to start a fifteen-day business trip across Europe, and less than an hour later, flatbeds began rolling up her driveway.

Machinery was the first to arrive, and creeping down the ramps leading from the long trailers, compact backhoes and loaders were driven onto the lawns to await their need. Next were trailers complete with truck-mounted forklifts, and with the help of the Moffetts, stacks and stacks of scaffolding were offloaded and placed around the house.

Samson Dawkins had never taken on a job so large, but large or small, every project started with paperwork. He had spent weeks drawing up plans, making schedules, and signing contracts with the smaller companies he would need to finish the work. He had obtained the permits and permissions he needed, arranged for inspections, and systematically scheduled for an unbelievable amount of material to be delivered and placed exactly where he wanted it.

Before the sun had fully risen, cars and trucks filled with workers began to appear, and in no time at all, areas in the front of the estate designated for parking were filled with vehicles of every shape and size. Massive dumpsters were rolled off lorries, portable toilets were strategically placed behind trees, diesel generators were set to plan, and over a dozen light poles were put in place so when the sun eventually set, not one square inch of the house would be hidden in darkness.