Resting her hands on top of the stack of paper, she asked, “Are you three houses past Windswept Court? A one-story?”

Nonplussed, I nodded. She was building up to something.

She widened her eyes, blinking like that would make her seem guileless. “You’re very brave to live there. I’d just be too creeped out.”

“What are you talking about?” Even as the words came out, I regretted them. This was exactly what Sandy hoped I’d say.

Fanning the papers out with idle fingers, she asked, “You know what happened to the guy who lived there before, don’t you? I mean, didn’t they have to disclose it or whatever?”

Elizabeth’s lips thinned, and her hands moved even more quickly, folding the papers with sharp creases and passing them to Sandy, where they were piling up.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said shortly, using a little extra force to sharpen my next pleat. She didn’t need to know we’d bought it from a young couple whose father had recently died.

“Well.” Sandy leaned forward, abandoning all pretense of doing work. “The old man who owned the house died right there in the bedroom.”

Before I could say anything, Elizabeth tapped the half-folded stack of stars. “People die everywhere, Sandy.”

“Not like this. They say he slipped and hit his head, there was blood everywhere, and he wasn’t found for three days. The carpet was ruined. I just couldn’t live in a house where something like that happened.”

“Oh please. I’m not afraid of the dead.” And my sharp retort not only shut Sandy up, it gave me a little thrill. This kind of low-stakes sparring made me feel like myself again.

While we’d been crafting and chatting, the president had been making the rounds, and she reached our table just as the three of us fell into an awkward silence. “I see we have a new member! I’m Michelle, president of the Bluebonnet Women’s Club.”

“Hi, I’m Kacy.” She was too far away for a handshake, so I gave a little wave.

“Welcome, Kacy. I’m glad you found us. If you need anything, I know these two will take care of you. We like to pair up old members and new members.” With a wave of her own, she moved on to the next table.

Elizabeth looked at me and smiled, but it was just a little too tight around the edges. Nice to know I was making friends so easily.

I had seven paper stars in front of me, and the stack of origami paper between us now seemed wildly optimistic. The two women next to me turned their chairs back around. One of them said, “Sandy probably knows.”

Sandy dropped the star she’d almost popped into shape and leaned forward. “I probably know what?”

“Whose kids stole that car.”