“So, nice to have all the family together again after so long. Dylan, Ava, and you. Your parents must be happy,” Maggs said, sitting on the arm of Piper’s chair.

“Of course.” Charlotte dropped her eyes, which pretty much told the other women she was lying.

“You and Dylan catch up often?”

Charlotte took a sip of the wine she clutched in her hand before answering Piper’s question.

“No, we haven’t stayed in contact. Dad sends the occasional email, telling us all the news, but other than that we… well, we’re pretty much strangers. In fact, that email from Dylan was the first one in a long while.” Her laugh was dry and painful, and the smile on her face brittle.

“Did you enjoy the hike?” Bailey asked, changing the subject.

“Oh yes. I walk a lot, but the scenery is not as amazing as this.” Charlotte frowned. “I’d forgotten how lovely it is here.”

They moved on to less stressful topics and away from anything personal after that, which was hard for Piper as she wanted to ask questions about Dylan—which told her exactly why she needed to keep her distance.

Girl talk was something Piper, Maggs, and lately Bailey, excelled at. They gossiped, discussed fashion and movies, and laughed a lot. Charlotte simply listened and added nothing, and was clearly uncomfortable. They tried to include her but all attempts failed.

“Anyone special in your life, Charlotte?” Maggs asked.

“I don’t have time to date at the moment.”

“But you go out, right, with friends?”

“Look, not everyone lives their life like an episode of Friends, okay. I like what I do and how my life is tracking. For now my career is what’s most important.”

“Sure, and no one said any different. We were just interested in what was happening with you, Charlie. I mean, we were once all friends,” Maggs said.

“Charlotte,” she said, getting to her feet. “I should go; this was a mistake.”

“No, sit, please, we didn’t mean to upset you,” Piper said.

Her cell phone started ringing, and Charlotte dug it out of the pocket of her jacket. “Excuse me, I must take this call.”

No one spoke until she’d left the room.

“Okay, so that was awkward,” Piper said.

“She didn’t talk much on the walk either, and isn’t comfortable here. It’s weird, don’t you think? I mean, sure I forced her into letting me hike with her, but still… you’d think she’d be chattier. And what was that last bit about? Who doesn’t date or have a social life?” Maggs said.

“She’s also got the same look as her siblings,” Piper added.

“She’s unhappy,” Bailey said softly. “I know what that looks like, because when I arrived back in Ryker Falls I was just like Charlotte. Edgy, and wary of people. Plus, I didn’t date.”