“My Lord!” Frances stopped the car. “Look at that pink house. Have you ever seen anything like it?”

“I love the blue one!” Haley, who was sitting in the back-seat, leaned forward excitedly. “Look, Mama. Isn’t that the cutest thing you’ve ever seen in your life?”

“No! The pink one! It’s gorgeous!” Frances insisted.

The houses still looked to me as if some visually challenged architect had designed them. But I was in the minority here, so I kept my mouth shut while they ooohed and ahhhed.

“The lavender one is Eddie and Laura’s,” I said finally.

It was wonderful, too. Did I think it would be all right if they got out and looked?

“Sure,” I said. What did I know? I even got out and looked around some myself, peeked in the windows of Laura’s lavender house, which glistened with new paint and wallpaper, walked down the pier and admired their boat. I had to admit that being on the bay would have its advantages.

“Most gorgeous place I’ve ever seen in my life,” Frances announced. “When I say my mantra, I’m supposed to imagine myself in a beautiful location. I’m going to be in that pink house from now on.” She had turned around in the Stampses’ driveway and we were headed back toward the highway. We waved at the guard, who was back on duty, and at Lolita, who was standing on the porch of the log cabin. “That’s going to be my place from now on.” Frances’s voice was determined. “Yep. You can bet on it.”

“Hey,” Mary Alice said that afternoon. “Where have you been?” I had just gotten off the elevator, and she was unlocking the condo door.

“Guess.” My arms were full of grocery sacks. I went into the kitchen to put them down.

“How did the workshop go?” Haley called. “Is the guy going to get medical help?”

“I hope so. The instructor read my story to the class. Everybody laughed.”

“It’s a funny story.” I put the yogurt into the refrigerator. “You want some grapes?” I held out the bowl.

Sister shook her head no. “I went by, but Laura’s not at home. Then I stopped in to see Fairchild. I’m fixing to go over to Emerald Waters for him. I just stopped by to get a beer and go to the bathroom.”

“What are you going to Emerald Waters for?” I folded empty grocery sacks and put them in the pantry.

“Fairchild doesn’t think Emily Peacock knows about Millicent’s death. She’s in Savannah visiting her sister, but the number up there doesn’t answer. I told him I’d go check with the neighbors and see if they know if she and her sister were going somewhere else.”