I whistled softly. The decorators had bought big time into the ‘open-concept’ idea I kept hearing about on HGTV. Blackwalnut Hall reminded me of a ski lodge I’d once visited in Vail, Colorado.
But what really took my breath away was the fish tank. Nestled in the curve of the staircase, it consisted of a cylinder at least ten feet in diameter and perhaps twice as tall, embellished at the base with elaborate wrought-iron scroll work. Outside of the National Aquarium in Baltimore and some kook in his garage on the Discovery Channel, I had never seen a fish tank so huge. Surrounding the tank were two semi-circular, highly polished walnut benches. A gentleman sat on one of them, his back to me, staring into the crystal-clear water where yellow tangs, electric-blue damsels, orange-and-white clownfish (hello Nemo!), a couple of angelfish and – I squinted – yes, even a lionfish now swam. I stepped forward for a closer look. ‘Was that a…?’ I started to ask the seated gentleman, but I was interrupted.
‘May I help you?’ someone loudly inquired.
‘Sorry,’ I said, turning toward the woman behind the reception desk. ‘I was mesmerized by the fish tank, I’m afraid.’
‘It happens to everyone the first time they see it. Spectacular, isn’t it?’
I had to agree. ‘It knocked my eyes out. I’m here to meet Nadine Gray,’ I told her.
The woman consulted a computer screen on the desk in front of her. ‘Right. Mrs Gray called ahead and told us to expect you, Mrs Ives. Would you mind signing in?’
On the highly polished walnut counter an iPad-like device was mounted on a swivel stand. She turned the screen in my direction, and I used the stylus she provided to scrawl a signature in the box after my name. ‘Thanks,’ I told her. ‘I think I’ll wait over by the fish.’
I settled down on one of the benches and stared into the tank, half expecting a shark or a killer whale to make an appearance. As if it knew what I was thinking, an eel poked his snake-like head out from behind a sea fan and bared its teeth at me.
‘Zen-like, isn’t it?’ a nearby voice rasped. It belonged to the gentleman I’d noticed earlier. In his mid-seventies, I guessed, dressed in a blue, button-down oxford cloth shirt neatly tucked into a pair of khaki shorts, and secured with a Smathers & Branson needlepoint belt with elephants and martini glasses stitched into it. White socks stuck out of the toes of his sandals.
‘It is,’ I agreed. ‘I could watch sea grass undulate for hours.’
‘They cleaned it the other day,’ the old man advised me.
I figured he meant the tank. ‘Oh, yes?’
He nodded, raising one of the grizzled, fly-away eyebrows that shaded his eyes like awnings. ‘Sent two divers down. Masks, fins and all. Extraordinary.’ After a moment he added, ‘But everything about this place is extraordinary.’
‘It’s my first visit,’ I told him.
His gray eyes fixed on me and moved slowly up and down. ‘Checking out one of the town homes, I imagine?’
‘Let’s just say I’m casing the joint.’
‘Well, you’d better hurry, young lady, because from what I hear they’re selling like hotcakes.’
Young lady. Nobody’d called me that since George Bush was president. The first one. I was a grandmother three times over. ‘I’ll give it some thought,’ I said with a smile before turning back to my in-depth study of the fish.
‘I see you’ve already met Colonel Greene,’ Naddie chirped from behind me a few stress-free minutes later.
I swiveled on the bench, smiled, and patted the empty space next to me. ‘The colonel and I have been discussing aquaculture.’ It didn’t surprise me to find out that the man was a veteran. His ‘high and tight’ buzzcut was a dead giveaway.
‘Get a room!’ boomed the colonel, making me jump.
I followed his gaze. A pair of mature gouramis floated by engaged in a lip lock.
Naddie leaned forward, addressing our companion. ‘They’re not kissing,’ she explained gently. ‘They’re having a discussion over territory.’
He considered her with steel-gray eyes. ‘Humph.’
I imagined the colonel wasn’t used to being contradicted.
After introducing us formally – Hannah, Nate, Nate, Hannah – Naddie sat down between Nate and me and asked, ‘How’s Sally, Colonel?’
‘Took off in the golf cart after lunch and I haven’t seen her since. Damn fool game, if you ask me.’
‘Golf?’ I was surprised since an article in the local newspaper had mentioned that construction of the Calvert Colony club house and a nine-hole golf course was on hold pending Anne Arundel County approval of the developer’s plans for sediment containment in Blackwalnut Creek.
‘Bingo,’ he barked. ‘Every Wednesday at one-thirty. The woman is insane.’
Thinking about the spa’s deep pockets, I said, ‘I imagine there are some excellent prizes.’
‘Oh, sure. Bottles of wine, movie tickets, Macy’s gift certificates…’ Nate paused to draw breath. ‘Last week she won a Brazilian wax job. Now what in hell is Sally going to do with that, I ask you?’
Next to me Naddie snorted, and I realized she was stifling a laugh. ‘Be nice, Nate,’ she scolded gently after she had sufficiently recovered. ‘The grand prize this week is a Circle Line River Cruise for two. You have to admit that would be pretty cool.’
The colonel shrugged. ‘Not much of a cruise man, myself.’
‘I’ll go with Sally, then,’ I teased. ‘I love to cruise.’
Colonel Greene suddenly shifted on the bench and braced an arm against the seat, preparing to stand. ‘Where are my manners? Would you like a tour, Miss? Miss… Sorry. I’ve already forgotten your name.’
‘It’s Hannah,’ I said. ‘Hannah Ives. I would…’ I started to say, but Naddie interrupted, raising a hand. ‘No need, Nate. I’m planning to take Hannah around.’
Colonel Greene had the good manners to look crestfallen. Then he winked michievously. ‘Just when I was about to invite Hannah up to look at my etchings.’ He jabbed a finger ceiling-ward, in the direction of the mezzanine. ‘My apartment’s up there. Second floor. Wife and I were going to buy into one of the town homes like Naddie here, but when Adele passed I thought the apartment was a better idea.’ He waggled his extraordinary eyebrows. ‘I’d be happy to show it to you.’
Naddie and I stood, and she looped her arm through mine. ‘Behave yourself, Colonel,’ she chided cheerfully. ‘Hannah’s a married woman.’
He grinned. ‘Can’t blame an old guy for trying.’
‘Come on, Hannah, let’s get the keys.’
‘Old guys rule,’ the colonel said, giving me a big thumbs up. When I caught sight of him again a few minutes later, he stood ramrod straight next to the fireplace, flirting with a well-dressed woman more his own age.
Naddie collected the keys from the receptionist and steered me toward the staircase, giving the lecherous Colonel Greene wide berth. ‘We have model apartments set up to show perspective residents, so there’s no need to bother Nate.’
I grinned. ‘He didn’t sound bothered to me.’ I paused as a thought occurred to me. ‘If Adele is his late wife, who is Sally?’
‘His girlfriend,’ Naddie said. ‘One of several, actually. Stairs, or would you prefer the elevator?’
‘Stairs, I think,’ I said, aiming myself in that direction.
Naddie paused, resting one hand on the crystal globe that capped the newel post. ‘You have to watch out for Nate. He tried it on with me, too. Don’t know why he thinks I’m going to fall quivering at the feet of some superannuated dude who refers both to himself and to his, how shall I put this, “equipment,” as Easy Rider.’
I stared at my friend for a moment, thinking I’d misheard. Then I started to giggle.
‘He fancies himself as Peter Fonda.’ She tossed the words over her shoulder as she headed upstairs. ‘As if.’