“Karen, it said the terrace was closed because the supports were unsafe.”
She looked toward the house.
“I didn’t think you’d actually let us go up there if it was dangerous.”
I couldn’t believe her reasoning.
“I told you not to come.”
Sophie had followed me.
“Karen, you told us Evelyn was expecting us.”
Karen pressed her lips together.
“Can we discuss this privately?”
“No,” Sophie said. “You brought us here. We deserve to know what happened.”
Several guests turned toward us.
Karen finally admitted she’d never received permission.
The silence that followed was worse than shouting.
One man shook his head.
“I wouldn’t have brought my wife here if I’d known.”
Another woman said, “You should’ve told us the truth.”
Karen looked suddenly smaller.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured.
But she was looking at her guests, not me.
After the responders finished checking the situation, they told me to keep the terrace closed and have the structure professionally assessed before anyone used it again.
