“Is that how you ended up living here?”
“Why shouldn’t I?” There was a flash of defiance in Sandy’s usually mild eyes. “My ancestors built this place. My family is buried out back there. No matter what my grandfather did, I’m a Morris as much as any of them. As much as Susan was.”
Annie put one hand on Sandy’s shoulder. “I think she’d like it, knowing that you’re here.”
Sandy smiled faintly and let out a slow breath. “I hope so. I love this house and that it’s been in our family for so long. It means a lot to me, too, to keep up those graves back there. They shouldn’t belong to strangers. They’re my people.”
“Of course they are.”
“But, um, I’d really rather you not say anything about what I told you, especially to the folks in town. It’s been a while back now, but I don’t want anyone to think any less of the Morrises because of what my grandfather did.”
“You don’t have to worry. I understand. And I’m glad you felt you could tell me about them.”
“I always thought—” Sandy dropped her eyes. “I mean, you seem like you’ve always been easy to talk to.”
“So does that mean you’ll accept my invitation?” Annie grinned. “I have a pie recipe that’s to die for.”
“I appreciate it, but really … I really prefer to stay at home.”
“But—”
“And I need to start getting dinner ready. Tom will be back before long.”
It was only the middle of the afternoon, but Annie took the hint and stood up. She was pleased, after all, that Sandy had felt she could share some of her family history. No need to overwhelm the woman in their first real conversation. Still, there was one thing she couldn’t help asking about.
“You said you had met Susan a couple of times. When was that?”
“When?” Sandy’s forehead wrinkled. “I don’t remember exactly. Once when I was in grade school. Once when I was grown up, nineteen or twenty or something. Why?”
“Was it here in Stony Point? That last time?”
Sandy nodded.
“Did you talk to her much?”
“Not really. I just came with Dad. His brother had invited him.”
“Did she seem … upset to you?”
“Upset? No. She was quiet but polite. She just seemed normal to me. Why?”
“I don’t know. It’s probably nothing.”
“What?”
Annie hesitated, but surely Sandy knew what had happened to Susan.
“You know Susan drowned, right?”
Sandy nodded, blank faced.
“It was right after her parents and her Aunt Kim died,” Annie said. “In August of 1989.”
There was a slight flicker of emotion in Sandy’s eyes, but again she answered only with a nod.
“That had to be a pretty hard time for her,” Annie added, still watching her face.
“It would be for anyone, wouldn’t it? But I couldn’t tell you about her then. The last time I saw her, her parents were still alive.”
“And her aunt?”
Again Sandy shrugged. “I don’t know if she was alive then or not. They didn’t mention her, and she wasn’t living here.”
“No, she was in New York. Susan lived with her while she went to school there.”
“OK,” Sandy nodded. “So what does this have to do with what you wanted to ask me?”
Annie took a deep breath. She’d just have to say it and get it over with.
“With all that happening to her, I’m just wondering if there’s any chance she might have taken her own life.”
“Susan?” Sandy considered for a minute. “No. No, I don’t think she’d do something like that. I mean, I guess just about anybody might think about it when they’re in hard times.” She shrugged. “Sometimes just making the pain stop can seem worth it.”
“But you said you didn’t really know her?”
“That’s true, but she was a Morris. She wouldn’t have killed herself. She would have figured out how to deal with whatever was going on in her life, no matter what it was.”
Annie squeezed Sandy’s arm. “I hope you’re right. I just … I feel bad that Susan and I drifted apart the way we did. I wish I had been there for her through everything. I feel like we could have been friends all our lives. Did I ever tell you why I’ve been looking for her?”
Sandy shook her head.
“I found her letters up in my grandmother’s attic. They reminded me of how much fun we had back when we were girls, and I wanted to know she was OK. I wanted to see if we could be friends again. She had been kind of lonely back then, and I wanted to make sure she wasn’t still.”