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jumping the creek that divided the beach to the right. That creek with its bubbling water provided hours of entertainment for kids in the summer months.
    But Lila stayed near Annie’s mother. Annie knew that Lila wasn’t as adventurous as she was. It was frustrating at times, always trying to push her to do something. Lila liked to have fun, but there was a hesitation before she knew exactly what was expected of her. Mom told her that Lila had a difficult life and that that changes a person. So Annie made up her mind not to get impatient, but it sure was hard.
    Finally, Dad whistled for them to come back, and David and Annie raced each other up to the bluff where her parents and Lila stood.
    Mom patted her arms with her gloved hands. “Goodness, it’s cold.”
    â€œLet’s go.” Dad turned and walked with his long stride towards the cottage.
    â€œI’m hungry,” David announced.
    â€œThat’s good,” Dad said. “We’ve been invited to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson’s house for lunch.”
    The Johnson home was only a minute’s drive from the cottage. The kids could race through the fields and woods and get there faster than a car. But they were chilled by now, and it was a relief to crawl into the plush, padded back seats of the Ford.
    They returned to the main road, turned left, drove around two turns, and pulled into the Johnsons’ tree-lined driveway, passing an open gate. The trees formed a canopy over the laneway, so it was quiet and peaceful, and the air was still, a complete opposite from how it was at the beach.
    An emerald-green shingled house with white shutters and a gabled roof came into view. It was surrounded on all sides with glorious trees dotted around the property, but also an enormous yard of grass and shrubbery. A very large rock perfect for sitting on poked out of the ground to the right of the house. There was a pathway lined with pine trees from the front door that went down to the main road, but it looked like no one used it. Instead the car pulled up to the back of the house, under yet another tree. The backyard disappeared into the woods. It was as if the house was all alone in the world, yet it felt protected and safe.
    Joe and Eunie Johnson hurried down the back steps to greet them, as if impatient for their company to arrive. They were a little older than Annie’s parents and always friendly. Joe was a round man with hair so fine it seemed to float over his head. Eunie was even rounder and a lot shorter than Joe. Forever in a hurry and out of breath, her face was always flushed.
    Eunie rushed towards them and herded them towards the house amid the hellos and introductions and hand shaking. Annie noticed how happy Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were to meet Lila. Mrs. Johnson held Lila’s hand in hers and kept patting it. Lila smiled up at her.
    â€œMay I show Lila the house?” Annie asked.
    â€œYes, indeed,” Eunie said. “I’ll get our lunch ready.”
    So while the adults stayed and chatted, Annie and David took Lila around. Annie loved the Johnson house; it had the same feeling as home. The back porch was clean and organized, and the kitchen was the first room you entered. It had patterned wallpaper on the walls, and the wooden floors and mouldings were a deep mahogany colour.
    There were lower cupboards on the left wall and frilly curtains on the window above the sink. A pantry revealed a table, a sideboard, and shelves on every wall filled with dishes, glasses, jars, and such. Bins of flour and sugar were on the floor.
    The best part was the little door in the wall facing the back porch. It was beside the kitchen table and used for storage. Annie thought it was a wonderful place to hide. And there was a square in the floor that lifted up so Mr. Johnson could go down in the cellar.
    The inside of the house was like a circle. You could go through the right doorway and into the parlour, with a big bedroom off of that,