Laura refused—refused!—to look through the windows of her bedroom. Not only because these windows didn’t offer much of a view of the pool, but because she didn’t want to be that nosy, creepy neighbor who spied. Instead, she gathered clean clothes and went across the hall to the bathroom. She would take a long, leisurely shower. She wouldn’t give another thought to Cassidy Anderson and the super-thin, super-blond model who was lounging naked in her pool.

“So I peeked,” she murmured as she closed the bathroom door.

Just a little. Just enough to make her roll her eyes and turn away. Seriously, what’s with women stripping naked in Cassidy’s pool? She, herself, was guilty of that too.

But at least I was alone.

Her leisurely shower took twenty minutes, which was quite lengthy for her. After dressing and donning flip-flops, she found her mother in her usual spot—the recliner.

“Don’t you get tired of watching TV?”

“What else should I do, Laura Sue? You barely let me in the kitchen anymore.”

“It’s going to be a nice evening. How about we eat out on the patio?”

“What do you have planned?”

“Steaks—ribeye. Baked potato. A salad.”

“Sounds wonderful. Frankie used to make us a steak once a week.”

“You should have told me. I just yesterday found the stash of steaks in the freezer.”

Her mother struggled to her feet and Laura went over to help her. “Thank you. I get stiff when I sit for too long.”

“We need to start walking in the mornings before it gets too hot.” Her mother was about to protest and Laura held up a hand. “Just around the block. You can take your cane and hold on to me with your other hand.”

“Oh, Laura, I don’t know. Planting flowers with you the other week about did me in.”

“But it was fun to get out and do something, wasn’t it?”

“Yes, it was. But you shouldn’t worry about me. I enjoy my TV.” She gripped her walker with both hands and took a couple of shuffling steps. “I noticed that you haven’t been holed up in your writing room this week.”

“I’m taking your advice,” she said. “No writing. Taking a break.”

“Having access to a pool must have helped spur you,” her mother said with a smile.

“Yes. And speaking of that, I thought maybe you might want to give it a try.”

“The pool? You know I can’t swim, Laura Sue.”

“Just get in the shallow end, float around, move your legs. I’ve been doing some research. Water exercises are the best thing for you. I’m sure Cassidy wouldn’t mind.”

“Oh…I don’t know. I’ve never been very comfortable around water.”

“Let’s try it next week,” Laura pushed. “I’ll hold on to you the whole time. What do you say?”

“What would I wear?”