The Postman Always Purls Twice by Anne Canadeo

suggestions, or just thinking out loud. “I’m sure you’ll think of something. Ask for an autograph?”
    â€œGood plan. Promise you’ll give me a poke if I just stand there and babble . . . or maybe drool on myself, struck dumb.” Suzanne’s anxious scenario made Lucy laugh.
    They’d quickly driven through the Marshes, a comfortable family neighborhood near the beach where Lucy and Matt lived. Suzanne knew all the back roads and drove a maze of streets to finally emerge on the Beach Road, which swung past the Plum Harbor Country Club and an affluent waterfront neighborhood, where stately old houses and large estates stood hidden behind tall trees, brick walls, and wrought iron gates. Lucy had only been inside one of these homes since moving to the area, the Lassiter estate, where she and her friends had attended both a wedding and a funeral within a week. She wondered if Suzanne was also remembering those strange events. She glanced at her driver, who seemed totally swept up in today’s adventure.
    â€œWhere are we going?” Lucy asked, gazing around. “Downton Abbey?”
    â€œWe’ll definitely be in the neighborhood. But the house they rented for the movie is very modern. Looks like an off-kilter layer cake, with loads of windows and balconies. I have a feeling Trina Hardwick’s character gets pushed off one. So Heath’s character can be free to marry Jennifer’s,” Suzanne speculated.
    â€œAre you sure you aren’t just wishing that would happen, so he’ll be free to be with you?” Lucy teased her.
    â€œDo you think so, Dr. Freud?” Suzanne replied. “You should have been a shrink, Lucy. Except, from what Dana says, it’s not as easy at it looks.”
    â€œNothing is. Not even being a famous movie star. I wouldn’t want to live like Jennifer Todd, flanked by bodyguards every time I walked down the street.”
    â€œHow about having some creep whining at you from the shadows? Jennifer . . . please . . . I love you! ” Suzanne imitated the fan who had called out Monday night at Maggie’s shop, making Lucy laugh.
    â€œSuzanne, stop . . .” Lucy warned between laughs. “It’s not funny. And that wasn’t even what he said, was it?”
    â€œThat’s what he meant. But you’re right, it was more like , ‘Jennifer, you came back . . . We can be together now . . . Even though I’m crazy as a loon.’ ”
    Lucy still couldn’t help laughing at Suzanne’s silly voice. “Suzanne, it’s sad. That guy is in pain. He was really troubled.”
    Suzanne nodded, looking serious again. “Very true. I shouldn’t make fun. It’s just that entire situation was like a scene from a low-budget slasher flick. You know that kind of movie that’s supposed to scare you to death, but it’s so badly done you end up laughing?”
    Lucy scared easily. She’d never seen a slasher movie, low budget or otherwise. She could barely watch a trailer for a scary movie without ducking under her seat.
    â€œIt was a bit absurd,” she acknowledged. “But I’m just realizing now, when you think about what the fan said, it sounds like he knew Jennifer at some point. Maybe they dated in high school?”
    â€œGood point. At that stage of the game, you can really inflict some psychic damage. Even if you don’t intend to. Sometimes I still think about this kid who broke up with me over the PA. It was in between ‘The Star-Spangled-Banner’ and the daily announcements.”
    â€œOver the school loudspeaker? You’re kidding, right?”
    â€œI wish. Talk about high school humiliation.” Suzanne shook her head, then raised her chin a notch. “That guy would be eating his heart out if we met again . . . if I hadn’t run him over with my mom’s