She started down the stairs. Objectively speaking, she was probably moving pretty fast—she seemed really excited to see Sawyer—but Eve felt like she was watching a car crash in slow motion. Sawyer recoiled, physically stepped back from Jeannie, but the van behind him prevented him from dodging the incoming hug.

“I was hoping I’d run into you,” Jeannie exclaimed.

“Jeannie.” His voice was flat. “What are you doing here?”

“I’m back!” she said. “Well, I’m in Grand View. Just off a spectacular divorce, returning to my roots, you know, the whole clichéd thing. My dad has had a couple minor health scares, and even though when I was growing up here all I wanted to do was escape, bam, I’m suddenly all nostalgic for this place.” She swatted his chest. “So I just thought, screw it, I’m making a change. I quit my job, got my real estate license, and here I am.”

“Here you are.” He was still speaking in a stilted, sort of robotic way. It was awkward enough that Jeannie looked around, like she thought there might be some external explanation for why Sawyer was acting so oddly.

Eve, calmer now, looked around, too. She could have sworn they had an audience. She felt like everyone was watching. Just the same as that day in the parade. But although there were people on the street, no one was paying them any attention.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” Jeannie exclaimed. She held her hand out to Eve. “I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Jeannie Wilkerson.”

Eve allowed her hand to be pumped up and down. We may not have met, but I’m familiar with your work. Ha! Look at her. Running into Jeannie Wilkerson had been her worst nightmare, but here she was cracking jokes to herself.

It turned out that Jeannie Wilkerson was just a person. A divorced real estate agent with a sick dad. A regular sort of person.

“This is Eve Abbott,” Sawyer said, still in the flat, robot voice. Was it possible Jeannie’s appearance was affecting him more than it was her?

“Oh! Eve!” Jeannie clapped her hands. “I think that guy is going to make you a very good offer. I have another showing this afternoon, but I don’t think we’re going to do better than that guy.”

“Who was he?” she asked.

It no longer mattered. But she was mildly curious.

“He works for a development company. They want to gut the place and do condos. They’re very motivated.”

“What does that mean, gut the place?”

“Well, I know it’s a little disconcerting, because you’ve done such a lovely renovation, but they’ll probably keep the facade so the shell looks historic, but take it down to the studs inside and start over.”

Eve hoisted her bag on her shoulder and went inside without a word. Like hell they will.