Yet seeing this picture brought up an old, dusty paranoia from Claire’s mind. It was a nagging feeling, an intrusive thought that never gave her rest. It poked and prodded, over and over: what if Becca had survived?

Her body was never found, though neither was Claire’s mother’s. The terrain was so treacherous that rescuers had to stop searching for their own safety. It, along with a strange feeling in her chest, left just enough of a seed of doubt in Claire’s mind, though.

When was this picture taken? She flipped it over again, desperate to find a date, but there was nothing. Becca looked different. Healthier. Happy, even. She was holding the baby in her arms and half smiling in her cool way.

Still dumbfounded, Claire reached for the letter.

“Do you remember me? I would like to meet again. I will be at Mountain Lake on January 2nd at dusk. The dock near the parking lot. I hope to see you there.”

She read the letter three times before realizing that the date had already passed. She’d completely missed it!

Why hadn’t she had her mail forwarded to the hotel? Probably because Gigi would’ve thrown it right in the trash.

Her stomach dropped. Apparently, whoever this guy was, he knew where she lived. How could he know where she lived? Claire barely knew it herself!

There was a noise outside, and she nearly jumped off of the couch.

Even the most level-headed person can feel like the earth is splitting beneath their feet with the right mix of fear and bizarre occurrences. Claire could only take so much.

She grabbed her purse and bolted, running from the cracks in her world that threatened to swallow her whole.

Chapter Six

The January air was brisk, and it was another magnificent day on Westcott Bay. Margie stepped outside, her thick coat wrapped tightly around her, a hot mug of coffee in her hands. It was her second cup of the day – she knew that she shouldn’t, but she was out of hot chocolate and needed something with heft.

She’d finally finished cleaning the house after having all of the kids over for Christmas. It was a grand, marvelous affair. Margie’s eggnog was a hit, as were all of the new recipes she’d debuted – the sesame shrimp pastry puffs, the crab fettuccine, and even the squash and caramelized onion tart.

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, so much so that no fights broke out – not even a single argument! Margie was glad for that, of course. In a way it made her sad, because it showed how much all of the kids had grown up.

With her two daughters married off, though, she was hopeful there would soon be a new generation of troublemakers coming her way.

“Psst!”