Vi Agra Falls by Mary Daheim

Swanson move out while we were gone?”
    Judith nodded. “Over the weekend. I guess she had to be out of the house by August first.”
    â€œI hate to see her go,” Naomi said with feeling. “Mrs. Swanson was like an anchor in this neighborhood, always the calm in the eye of any storm. I’ll certainly miss seeing her working in the garden across the cul-de-sac.”
    â€œI know,” Judith agreed. “I see you got the Busses’ invitation.”
    â€œYes.” Naomi looked at Joe. “I realize that you were married to her, but I’ll be blunt. Hamish and I are concerned about what she and that muscle-bound husband of hers are up to.” She waved the invitation. “Is there going to be some kind of dreadful announcement that comes along with the free food and drink?”
    â€œIt’s possible,” Joe admitted in his mellow voice. “Judith figures they’re going to add on to their own house.”
    Naomi frowned. “That could be a nuisance, especially for your B&B. I wonder if they’ll move out while the construction is under way.”
    â€œThat’d be the only good part,” Judith murmured.
    â€œTrue,” Naomi agreed. “I’m not crazy about the kind of people that show up there at all hours, either.”
    Judith stared at Naomi. “Such as…who? When?”
    â€œHam was up late last night unpacking and getting organized for work today,” Naomi explained. “About 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 was…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 didn’t get a good look at the car or the driver, let alone the license plates.”
    â€œCould Ham describe the man?” Judith asked.
    Naomi frowned. “Not 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.”
    Joe held up his hands. “Hold it. No offense, Naomi, but you and Rochelle and Arlene and,” he added, glancing at Judith, “my 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?”
    Naomi looked embarrassed. Judith, however, was annoyed. “You don’t need to defend yourself, Joe,” she declared. “Or to defend Herself.”
    Naomi bit her lip. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble.” She looked away from both Flynns. “Jeanne Ericson feels the same way.”
    â€œWomen,” Joe muttered. “I’m going upstairs to change.”
    As he went through the hall to the back stairs, Naomi heaved a heavy sigh. “I had no intention of upsetting your husband, Judith.”
    â€œI know,” Judith responded kindly. “But Joe does feel guilty. He somehow feels responsible for Vivian. Or Vi, as she wants to be called these days. Don’t you remember when he got her to join AA, but she flunked out? He even went to meetings with her.”
    â€œYes, I do.” Naomi put a hand on Judith’s arm. “I’d better go before I make an utter fool of myself. It might turn out to be a lovely neighborhood party. I hope,” she added softly, “it’s kosher.”
    â€œI do, too,” Judith agreed. “In every way.”
    Â 
    A re you nuts?” 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. “Why would we come to your neighborhood get-together Monday? We