‘Look,’ Rachel said, ‘I don’t need to go into all the details, but I just wanted you to know, I don’t have any ill will toward Vera. I hope one day she and I can work everything out. So please don’t tell her – as confident, as amazing as Vera is, she really does care about what people think about her. I hope you won’t lead her to believe I’m over here gossiping about her. It isn’t like that at all. You don’t even really need to tell her I’m friendly with Maggie. I’m not sure she’d like it.’

I nodded, but Rachel stared, wanting further confirmation. ‘Don’t worry. I won’t say anything.’

She grinned. ‘Thank you. Thank you so much.’ Then she turned, traipsing across the lawn and disappearing back into Maggie’s house.

Dusty continued on, dragging me toward Rachel’s navy Subaru, which I hadn’t even noticed until now. I chastised myself for that – I should be more aware of my surroundings. Sure, Davis had been silent since that first email, but that didn’t mean I was safe.

When Dusty stopped to do his business, on a stretch of woods that separated Maggie’s property from the next one, I stole a glance back. I felt strongly that Rachel shouldn’t be here – and weekly, no less. It was too close to Vera and John, to whatever had happened between them. What if I ran into her in the road? Or what if she decided to pop by and check her mail? What if Vera saw us? If she found out that I knew Rachel, even if ever so loosely, and that in all this time we’d spent together, I’d never thought to mention it, it would upset her – I knew it. And besides, now I’d agreed to keep a secret for Rachel. I didn’t like that at all.

Vera saw the world in black-and-white, John had said. What if she thought that by even talking to Rachel, I’d somehow betrayed her? What if she cut me out, too?

I shook the thought away, tugging Dusty, turning around and heading back toward the cottage. I was being silly. Vera and I were friends. And Rachel and I barely knew each other.

Besides, Vera and John were leaving.

Who knows – maybe I was, too.