“What’s the deal with her?” Fin whispered as Maggs stalked away from him looking pissed off.

“She met someone who likes hiking. She’s trying to impress him.”

Fin’s mouth drew into a line.

“So what are you doing up here?” Piper asked.

“Checking the course for the Coffee Run.”

“They still do that?” Charlotte sounded surprised.

“Sure.” He looked at Charlotte. “You planning on entering?”

“No, I won’t be here.”

“Those Howards don’t give much away, do they?” Fin said softly as Charlotte walked away. “She carries the same look as her brother.”

“Hardly surprising when you remember who their mother is.”

“There is that. Okay, sweet cheeks, duty calls. Watch the crazy redhead doesn’t fall down a bank or walk into a tree, will you.”

“Roger,” Piper said, accepting his kiss on the cheek.

They walked for an hour, then turned around and walked back again. Piper loved every minute, especially as the two women she walked with didn’t want to talk, which left her alone with her thoughts.

“Thank God,” Maggs moaned as they reached her home. “You two go on in and take a seat, I’ll get us something to drink and eat. Bailey’s probably already here.”

“I should probably leave,” Charlotte said, standing outside the front door looking uncomfortable.

“Why?” Piper asked her.

“Oh well… ah, I need to get home.”

“You told me you saw your dad just before we hiked.”

“I—yes, but Dylan and Ava….”

“Wine and food, what’s not to like. Move your ass, girl.” Piper waved Charlotte inside, deciding to take the choice away from her.

“Hello.”

Bailey was seated in the conservatory, which was the feature of the little cottage. Views of Roxy and Phil dominated the vista, and it was somewhere a person could lose themselves for a few hours.

“Wow.” Charlotte stopped walking when she saw it.

“Impressive, right?” Piper followed her.

“It really is.”

“Charlotte, this is Bailey. She’s married to my cousin Joe.”

After introductions they all sat and Maggs brought wine and snacks.

“How’s your dad, Charlotte?” Bailey asked.

“He’s better, thank you, and should be home soon.”

“That’s good. Must have been scary for you all.”

“It was, and difficult as I had to leave behind a series of meetings to get here, but Dylan sent me an email saying he was coming, so I thought I better too.”

An email. Surely this should have been discussed by phone? Piper wondered just what kind of job Mary Howard had done on her children to make them all emotionless.

“Where do you live, Charlotte?” Bailey asked.

“In Dallas.”

The woman wasn’t comfortable with this, Piper thought. Not comfortable with the girl thing. The gossip and sharing, almost as if it was something she rarely did.