“You ladies won’t believe me when I tell you,” Mrs. Fryt said, joining Dolly and Corinne Olson near the refreshment table at the back of the town hall following the Women’s Club meeting. Dolly had been unanimously approved for membership, only one anonymous woman abstaining. Dolly, though exhausted from worrying all last night about what would happen now that JJ Mickelson had discovered her in the Mickelson house, was pleased enough, but she knew she would always wonder which paragon of Pine Rapids thought she didn’t quite measure up. After the meeting, to perk her up, she had helped herself to a gingersnap and a cup of coffee. After all, she had a lot to contend with this afternoon. Between the chores waiting at the bungalow and that impossible JJ Mickelson being convinced that she was now in his employ, it wouldn’t do to let one abstention wither her.

Mrs. Fryt wore her fanciest hat today, and another wild floral dress. “Maybe my eyes were playing tricks on me,” she declared, tugging on the peplum of her dress, “but I would swear I saw a light in the Mickelson house last night.”

Dolly choked on her gingersnap; coughing, she spilled coffee on her hand.

“Dear, dear,” said Corinne, patting her on the back. When Dolly’s coughing was under control, Corinne said, “Are you certain, Cecilia? What time was it?”

Mrs. Fryt tugged at her peplum again. “It was late. I couldn’t sleep, so I got up and sat in my rocker by the window. It was just for a moment, in their living room window, a flare, almost like someone had struck a match. And then it was gone.”

“Maybe you were dreaming,” Dolly croaked, and coughed again. Her hand stung where the coffee had spilled on it.

“I am not that old, miss,” Mrs. Fryt snapped. “I know when I’m awake and when I’m asleep.”

“Maybe it was a ghost,” Corinne laughed. “Old Knute himself, I bet.”

Dolly stayed quiet, clutching her stinging hand.

Dolly soon escaped, after making sure that Mrs. Fryt was still engaged in conversation and wouldn’t be at home to see Dolly walking straight up to the Mickelsons’ back door. Dreams of creating the perfect home for Byron aside, she had no choice but to return to the Mickelson house. If she didn’t, JJ Mickelson was apt to report to his father that “the housekeeper” hadn’t shown up to work. Then the truth about Dolly breaking in would come out and she would really be in trouble.