“Excuse me.”
She stood on a wide stone terrace overlooking the lake.
Maybe fifty.
Perfect blond bob.
White linen pants.
Dark sunglasses despite the early hour.
Her house was enormous compared with ours.
Three levels.
Glass balconies.
Landscaped gardens.
A private dock that looked large enough to receive diplomatic visitors.
I smiled.
“Morning.”
She did not return it.
“Are you the new owner?”
“I’m Claire Bennett.”
“I know who you are.”
That was a strange response.
She looked toward Lily.
“And that’s your daughter?”
“Yes.”
Vanessa removed her sunglasses.
“You should probably explain the shoreline rules to her before she gets used to doing that.”
I frowned.
“Doing what?”
“Using the water from here.”
I actually looked behind myself.
Evermere Lake remained where lakes generally remain.
“Sorry?”
Vanessa pointed toward the narrow strip of shore between our properties.
“That access belongs to my parcel.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
Her eyebrows lifted slightly.
“You’ve been here one night.”
“My father owned this house for thirty-two years.”
“And spent most of those years respecting the arrangement.”
“What arrangement?”
Vanessa sighed as though I was forcing her to explain gravity.
“The original lots along Cedarbrook Shore were drawn differently from the way people assume from looking at the houses. The legal lake access for your property is farther east.”
“Where?”
“There used to be a shared path.”
“Used to be?”
“The vegetation has grown over.”
I looked at the little wooden dock extending directly from my backyard.
“My father built that dock.”
“Yes.”
“Then why would he build it on your property?”
Vanessa smiled.
“You would have to ask him.”
The cruelty of the sentence was subtle.
Dad was dead.
She knew it.
I felt my jaw tighten.
Vanessa continued:
“I’m not trying to create trouble, Claire. I just prefer boundaries to be clear.”
“So do I.”
“Good.”
“Then I’ll check the deed.”
Her smile thinned.
“I suggest you do.”
She walked back toward her house.
