Knitmare on Beech Street by Peggy Ehrhart

Author:Peggy Ehrhart [Ehrhart, Peggy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kensington Books
Published: 2023-09-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 14

Win Colley wasn’t expecting them, but she stepped out onto her porch just as Bettina switched off her ignition.

“Hello!” she called eagerly, waving and running toward the car. “I happened to be at the window,” she added once Pamela and Bettina had joined her on the sidewalk, “and I saw you pull up. There have been comings and goings next door. I was wondering if you knew.”

“Actually”—Bettina laughed—“one of those comings and goings was us.”

“Oh!” Win’s bright eyes and sudden head-twitch brought to mind a startled bird. “I must have been busy inside. I only noticed . . . in fact, I met—” She paused, then seized Bettina’s arm with one hand and Pamela’s with the other. “Come inside! Come inside! No reason to stand around talking on the sidewalk.

“Anyway,” she said once she’d settled them amidst the needlepoint pillows on the sofa in her pleasant living room and they had refused her offer of coffee, “I did meet your husband, Pamela. So handsome!”

Pamela felt her mouth open, but the sudden confused whirl in her brain refused to coalesce into words, so she closed it again. What on earth was the woman talking about? Perhaps, a voice in her brain suggested once the whirling had stopped, since Win believes there are ghosts haunting the Voorhees House, she also believes that Michael Paterson has for some reason reached out to her from beyond the grave.

When Win spoke again, it was to say, “You hadn’t mentioned that he was doing work next door. Pete Paterson, Pamela Paterson. I made the connection right away.”

Bettina responded first, with a delighted, protracted giggle. “Pete Paterson isn’t Pamela’s husband,” she explained once she had calmed down. “He just has the same last name. Lots of people are named ‘Paterson.’ ”

“It’s just a coincidence,” Pamela felt compelled to add. “I’m actually a . . .” Her voice trailed off, and she started over. “I lost my husband several years ago.”

“I’m so sorry!” Win had been perched on the edge of the comfortable armchair that faced the window, as if ready to take flight at any moment. And take flight she did, hopping up, perching next to Pamela on the sofa, and grabbing her hand. “But you know him, this other Paterson,” she chirped, focusing attentively on Pamela’s face. “I mean, it sounds like you know him. So perhaps the two of you will end up together, like fate, since you both already have the same last name.”

The confused whirling had returned, and Pamela was once again speechless—and probably blushing too, she thought, though with her olive skin a blush seldom showed. She raised her free hand to her cheek and soothed it with the coolness of her palm.

Bettina seemed to sense her friend’s discomfort. “A squatter has been living in the attic next door,” she announced, causing Win to drop Pamela’s hand and stare at Bettina instead.

“Yes.” Bettina nodded, setting her silver and jade earrings atremble. “Pete Paterson—the other Paterson—showed us when we were here yesterday. There’s a sleeping bag up there, and a pillow, the remains of meals .

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