Swanson move out while we were gone?â
Judith nodded. âOver the weekend. I guess she had to be out of the house by August first.â
âI hate to see her go,â Naomi said with feeling. âMrs. Swanson was like an anchor in this neighborhood, always the calm in the eye of any storm. Iâll certainly miss seeing her working in the garden across the cul-de-sac.â
âI know,â Judith agreed. âI see you got the Bussesâ invitation.â
âYes.â Naomi looked at Joe. âI realize that you were married to her, but Iâll be blunt. Hamish and I are concerned about what she and that muscle-bound husband of hers are up to.â She waved the invitation. âIs there going to be some kind of dreadful announcement that comes along with the free food and drink?â
âItâs possible,â Joe admitted in his mellow voice. âJudith figures theyâre going to add on to their own house.â
Naomi frowned. âThat could be a nuisance, especially for your B&B. I wonder if theyâll move out while the construction is under way.â
âThatâd be the only good part,â Judith murmured.
âTrue,â Naomi agreed. âIâm not crazy about the kind of people that show up there at all hours, either.â
Judith stared at Naomi. âSuch asâ¦who? When?â
âHam was up late last night unpacking and getting organized for work today,â Naomi explained. âAbout one in the morning, a car pulled up in front of the Buss house. Nobody got out right away, and the house was dark. Ham wondered if someone wasâ¦you know, casing the joint, as they say. Finally a man got out and walked all around the house. The lights never went on as far as Ham could see, and after a few minutes the man came back and drove away. It seemed odd. Ham thought about callingthe police, but he decided against it. He didnât get a good look at the car or the driver, let alone the license plates.â
âCould Ham describe the man?â Judith asked.
Naomi frowned. âNot really. Medium height, probably older, ordinary clothes, some kind of cap. Ham said it was a sedan, dark color, probably. I hate to say it, but that house has been bad luck for years.â
Joe held up his hands. âHold it. No offense, Naomi, but you and Rochelle and Arlene and,â he added, glancing at Judith, âmy wife are all looking for trouble where there may not be any. Is this some kind of guilt trip on me for having made a big mistake thirty-odd years ago in marrying the wrong woman?â
Naomi looked embarrassed. Judith, however, was annoyed. âYou donât need to defend yourself, Joe,â she declared. âOr to defend Herself.â
Naomi bit her lip. âIâm sorry. I didnât mean to cause trouble.â She looked away from both Flynns. âJeanne Ericson feels the same way.â
âWomen,â Joe muttered. âIâm going upstairs to change.â
As he went through the hall to the back stairs, Naomi heaved a heavy sigh. âI had no intention of upsetting your husband, Judith.â
âI know,â Judith responded kindly. âBut Joe does feel guilty. He somehow feels responsible for Vivian. Or Vi, as she wants to be called these days. Donât you remember when he got her to join AA, but she flunked out? He even went to meetings with her.â
âYes, I do.â Naomi put a hand on Judithâs arm. âIâd better go before I make an utter fool of myself. It might turn out to be a lovely neighborhood party. I hope,â she added softly, âitâs kosher.â
âI do, too,â Judith agreed. âIn every way.â
Â
A re you nuts?â Renie demanded a couple of days later when she stopped at the B&B to drop off a couple of hard-boiled detective novels Bill was passing on to Joe. âWhy would we come to your neighborhood get-together Monday? We
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