Page 17 of No More Hiding

Hannah never questioned the fact Vivian could buy her home and she’d kept certain things private, which they understood.

Without her working, she had time to paint and do some other small projects, like tiles and landscaping. She’d hired Butler Construction to come in and update her master bath and kitchen since they’d built the house and then when the inside was done, she moved to the flowers outside.

Her grandparents had lived in a brownstone with very little yard and she’d always said when she was ready to settle into one place she’d have the land to garden.

She liked people even though she didn’t talk much about herself so she didn’t see herself living in the country.

The neighborhood she found was perfect. She had about half of an acre, there were houses next to her and across the street, but no one could see in the other’s windows.

There were no sidewalks but always people walking around, just not so close you could hear the conversations of the neighbors talking on their front porch.

She’d never been one to walk around the neighborhood. She didn’t have time. But that didn’t mean she didn’t enjoy being outside and waving to those that crossed her path.

She was on her hands and knees pulling the weeds in her flowerbeds when she heard barking and then, “Slow down. I’m supposed to be walking you, not the other way around.”

It was such a funny statement. She looked up and almost got knocked over by the puppy that was tugging its master.

“Whoa, aren’t you a cutie,” she said as her face got bathed by the energetic bundle of fur, knocking her wide brimmed hat right off her head.

“I’m so sorry. She’s new. Or I’m new at this and I guess I’m not doing so good at controlling her.”

She looked up into Brent’s blue eyes. “So we meet again.”

“Vivian. I didn’t know it was you. You were hidden under that straw hat.”

She stood up, brushing the dirt from the puppy’s paws off her legs, then reached for her hat that Brent had picked up to hand to her.

“I don’t like my face to burn,” she said. “And who is this?”

“This is Sammie. I got her yesterday. I’m trying to tire her out so that she sleeps better tonight. I’m three blocks from home and she is still pulling me.”

He lived in her neighborhood. Imagine that.

Of course the first time she’d seen him he had looked like he hadn’t left his house in a year so it would make sense she’d have no clue.

Then she reminded herself that she didn’t talk much to the neighbors either. She barely knew the names of the people right next door to her.

No, that was wrong. She knew the name of one of them but avoided her as much as she could because she was a busybody.

“She looks like she wants to relax now,” she said. The puppy was lying down on the grass panting. “And she might need water.”

Brent looked embarrassed. “I didn’t think to bring any. Though it’s not like I was going to carry a bowl around with me either.”

“Hang on,” she said.

She walked to the front porch and put her hat down, then went over to her garden hose, turned it on and brought it near Sammie, the puppy licking it as cold water ran out, then barking at it and licking some more.

“I can’t tell if she thinks it’s a toy that is rewarding her or not,” he said.

“It’s cute,” she said. Just like Sammie’s owner who was looking fairly flustered and hot himself. “Would you like something to drink?”

“What?” he asked.

“You’re sweating and it’s a hot day. Would you like some water?”

“I’m not sure I can drink it out of the hose as easily as my dog.”

She laughed. “That might be interesting to see but not what I had in mind. I’m a little more civilized myself than that.”