Once I reached my neighborhood, I spotted an Austin Healy parked in my favorite place. I did a U-turn and found a space across the street. I pushed through my squeaking gate and down the driveway to Henry's backyard. He'd hauled his lawn furniture out of storage, hosed off the chairs, and added a set of dark green cushions with the tags still attached. Two glasses and a pitcher of iced tea rested on a small redwood table, along with a plate of homemade oatmeal cookies with raisins. At first I thought he'd meant them for me, but then I spotted him in the far comer of the yard, showing off his garden to a woman I'd never seen. The tableau bore an eerie similarity to an earlier occasion when a woman named Lila Sams had waltzed into Henry's life.

He smiled when he saw me, gesturing me over so he could make the introductions. "Kinsey, this is Mattie Halstead from San Francisco. She stopped off to see us on her way to L.A." And to Mattie, he said, "Kinsey rents the studio..."

"Of course. Nice to meet you. Henry's talked quite a bit about you."

"It's nice meeting you, too," I said, with a sly glance at him. He'd had his hair trimmed, and I noticed he was wearing a white dress shirt and long pants. I didn't think he'd ever gotten that spiffed up for a woman before. Mattie was easily his height and just as trim. Her silver hair was cut short and layered in a windblown mop. She wore a white silk shirt, gray slacks, and stylish low-heeled shoes. The jewelry she wore-matching earrings and a bracelet-were custom-made, hammered silver and amethysts.

She regarded me with intelligent gray eyes. "I was afraid he might be away so I called from Carmel when I arrived there last night. I'm taking my time, stopping to see friends as I travel down the coast."

"Is this business or pleasure?"

"A little bit of both. I'm delivering some paintings to a gallery in San Diego. I could've crated them for shipping, but I needed a break."

"You were on the cruise Henry took?"

"Yes, but I'm afraid that was work. This is my time off."

"Mattie teaches drawing and painting, and she lectures on art. Nell took her watercolor class and ended up doing quite well."

"Better than Lewis," Mattie said, with a smile. "I felt so bad for j him. I've never seen anyone quite so enthusiastic."

"He was flirting," Henry said reprovingly before turning to me. "Why don't you join us? We were just about to sit down and have a glass of iced tea."

"I better pass on that, thanks. I've got some reading to do and then I thought I'd sneak in a run. My schedule's been horsed up and I owe myself one."

"What about supper? We're heading up to Rosie's at six."