“Does she want to stay in Florida?” Kay said to her mother.

“Her stepchildren won’t let her sell the house. They all own it together and they like going down there for vacations.” Mrs. Pike pursed her lips on the rim of her cocktail.

“But they hate her.”

“She moves out for those weeks.”

“Why doesn’t she sell them her share of the house?”

“They don’t want that either. They want her to pay for the upkeep and the taxes.”

“But if they all have equal shares—”

Mrs. Pike held up her hand. “I have the same conversation with her every week at bridge. They have got her wrapped around their little fingers. I think she likes it. I think it keeps her close to William.”

“That’s very astute of you,” Kay said.

“You sound surprised.”

It was the most I’d ever heard Kay talk to her mother. It was forced, but they were both giving it a lot of effort. They were each trying to hide from the other the fact that Hugh wasn’t talking, wasn’t mocking them or the people of their youth, that he was sitting in his wrought iron chair slack and wan, holding then releasing big breaths without realizing the racket he was making. Kay had advised him to absolutely not mention the situation with Raven to his mother, but Hugh might as well have had a T-shirt printed up. I relaxed a little, understanding that as usual the adults were not thinking about me, and the words in my notebook were meaningless to them.

The children were playing in the garden below the patio, chasing each other around the rosebushes.

“Cara, please, have some salmon.” Mrs. Pike built me an hors d’oeuvre of a cracker, smoked salmon, chopped onions, and capers. I carried the little tower of it carefully to my mouth. It was delicious. So many sharp flavors at once.

Hugh watched. “The Education of Cara—what’s your last name?”

My mouth was too full to answer.

“Hyeck,” Mrs. Pike said. “And she hardly needs an education from us. She lives a half mile down the road.”

“She does?”

“Where did you think she came from?”

“I don’t know. She seems a little sophisticated for Ashing.”

“You’re not making any sense, Hugh.”

“Big vocabulary.” His expression did not change but his white-green eyes flashed at me, straight on, the pupils tiny because he was facing the sinking sun.

“I suppose she does,” Mrs. Pike said, not at all agreeing.

“Would you make sure they don’t fall in, Carol?” Kay said. The kids were edging toward the fountain at the end of the garden.

“Charlie just cleaned it, so it’s fine if they want to dip their toes in,” Mrs. Pike said.

I was relieved to be sent off. I soared across the grass with my arms out, flapping, tilting, and when the kids looked up they screeched at the great hawk angling at them.