“Great,” Angie said, not even trying to smile.

Harriet cocked her head and sent Angie a sidelong glance. “I can’t figure you out, Angie.”

“No surprise there,” Angie said. “I’m not much good at that myself.” The door swung open and she forced her expression back to neutral as John Grant came in and walked directly across the room toward them.

“John, darlin’,” said Harriet, holding out her right hand. “Come and set with us. Where’s Caroline?”

“I’m not sure, exactly. We were at a party over on Slow Down Lane—”

“Oh, did Rob and Kai buy the Reynoldses’ place? Isn’t that the sweetest little house? They’ll be happy there, wait and see.”

“They seem pleased with it.” John had not yet met Angie’s eye, which was beginning to irritate her. “Caroline had just gone off to the store with Kai and Rivera when I got your message. I’m sure she’ll be here shortly.”

Then he did look at Angie, though the expression he showed her was baffling. Regret, and distress, and a kind of unhappy resolve. He had looked like this the afternoon he introduced her to his grandfather Grant.

“I’m sure she will,” Harriet echoed, but her tone had gone very flat. A doctor was coming toward them, a woman in her forties, small and neat and solemn.

“Dr. Landry,” said Harriet, a smile faltering on her face, “you look like your dog just died. Is Tab back there giving you a hard time?”

They were all standing now, the three of them in a quarter circle around the doctor, whose attention was focused on Harriet. She said, “Tab’s ankle is what brought him in, but I’m afraid it’s more than that just now. He had a minor cardiac event while I was examining him, Harriet. He’s not in danger of his life—”

“A heart attack?” Harriet said, flatly. “You’re saying Tab’s had a heart attack?”

“A minor heart attack,” said the doctor. “Doesn’t look like there’s any serious damage to the heart muscle, but we have to run some tests—”

Harriet pressed her fist against her mouth and shook her head, held up a hand to stop the flow of words.

“Now listen, Harriet,” said the doctor, “we’ve got a cardiologist coming in to have a look at him. Right now he’s asking for you. I’ll take you back to him.”

Harriet had gone very still and pale, though her eyes were abnormally bright. She nodded and then turned to John.

“Don’t call anybody, just yet. I couldn’t cope with the boys just now and I want to tell them first, in my own way. Whatever there is to know, they should hear it first, and from me.”

“Anything you need,” John said. “Anything at all.”