“Ye gods! I thought it was just us and the Laceys.”
“I asked both families that have moved in the Bailey place.” She glanced across.
“They’re new, and they don’t know a soul in this part of town. I thought we’d get them acquainted. Their names are Brown and Frazetti.”
“I know. Already met the Frazetti kids. Twins.” She nodded. “What about the Brown girl? Have you seen her?”
“Didn’t know there was one.”
“She’s sixteen,” his mother smiled. “Blue eyes and the prettiest red hair I ever saw. If you aren’t in love with her by nine o’clock tonight, I’ll lose a bet.”
“Phooie,” he said.
“Wait till you see her! Name’s Rachel.” Ted looked, also, at the neighboring house. For a year and a half after X-day, it had been occupied by people billeted by town authorities. Then it had been roughly remodeled inside as a double house and occupied by two families. After one winter, they had moved again. The present occupants had arrived recently.
“I wonder what happened to Beau,” he said.
She stopped in the screen door, holding the coffee pitcher and the glasses. “I doubt if we ever find out now!” She thought of her visit with her sister. “Though you can’t tell, can you?”