Page 24 of A Wolfe in the Woods

Her voice wobbled a bit. The darkness of the road allowed me to catch her solemn expression, reflected in the glass.

She sniffed, then shook her head, her eyes flickering to me before they lowered. Was that embarrassment? If so, I didn’t want to add to it. I just kept my eyes on the road.

“Sorry,” she said, faking a quick smile. “I didn’t mean to, um, to lay that on you. I just haven’t been back to Everwick in a long time. I didn’t expect…well, anyway. Thanks for the ride back.”

I didn’t say anything. Just gave a small nod.

Then I reached over and turned on the radio, keeping the volume low. The rest of the ride passed quietly. Not like before. Not tense or sharp. Just…quiet. Calm, even.

And that was enough.

CHAPTER 8

BLANCHETTE

The cabin was dim and quiet when I stepped inside, the summer air warm that evening. I set the—now soggy—grocery bag on the small wooden table by the kitchenette.

Moving mindlessly, I began to put things away, throwing out the tub of completely melted ice cream, trying to salvage what I could, rinsing off sticky berries. I folded the receipt and tucked it into my purse. My body felt heavy, like the weight of the day had settled deep.

In the bathroom, I flicked on the light and stared at my reflection. My mascara had smudged faintly below my eyes, and my cheeks were pale. I grabbed a tissue and dabbed gently, trying not to look too closely at the sadness that still lingered on my face. I didn’t want to admit how hard it had been to sit in that garden. To see the trellis still blooming. To feel everything I hadn’t felt at the funeral. Until now.

And then there was Jonathan.

I wasn’t sure what to make of him…or that odd moment we’d shared. Something in it had caught me off guard. Not just the touch, but what it had awakened. Like a light switch had suddenly been turned on. And maybe, just maybe, somethinghad flickered behind his eyes too. Or maybe I was just imagining it.

I let out a breath and flicked off the light.Enough.

In my room, I sat down on the edge of the bed, letting my shoes slip off and curling my legs beneath me. I leaned back on my hands and stared at the ceiling, letting the quiet settle around me. Letting myself finally breathe. It was so still that I found myself wondering if I’d ever really heardnothingbefore. It had been like this last night too, but somehow it still felt unfamiliar. Graymore was never this quiet.

Then…I heard something.

A light scuff outside. Footsteps?

My heart ticked up. The sound of gravel shifting, then…

Three short raps came on the front door. Firm but not loud. Still, it made me jump.

I stood, padding carefully across the floor. The porch light illuminated a shape in the window behind the drawn curtain. Someone tall, eerily still, too narrow to be human. My heart kicked. I hesitated a second before I opened the door.

It was just May, standing with her cane in hand, with a weathered calm face.

My mind’s playing tricks on me,I thought.I’m starting to see things.

She loosely folded her arms over her chest, that half-knowing, half-amused smile tugging at her crooked mouth. “Evenin’,” she said. “Didn’t mean to startle ya.”

“Oh, you didn’t,” I lied nervously, my hand still clenched on the doorknob.

For a second, May tilted her head, facing me just a little too directly for someone who couldn’t see. Her cloudy eyes didn’t move, but somehow it felt like she was looking straight through me.

“Join us for supper?” she asked, voice warm, curious. “Got a roast in the oven, potatoes too. Smells real nice.”

“Oh,” I said, glancing back over my shoulder like I was checking if I had anything more important to do. Frankly, I had hada dayand was in no mood to be in anyone’s company. I started to politely decline the invite: “That’s sweet, but I’ve had a long day and I’m a bit worn?—”

She raised a hand before I could finish. “Ya need to eat, sugar.” Her tone changed. Still warm, but firmer now. “Especially if your energy’s low. Ya owe us nothin’ but your presence. No obligation to talk or people-please. I’m sure ya do enough of that already at work.”

I bit my lip. “I don’t know…”

She gave a pause, then added, “Come peek. If it looks good but you’re still not up for company…take it back here. We won’t be offended.”