Buy А Whisker

Chapter 16

When Liz came to pick up Avery at noon, she brought Charlotte with her. She also brought food—roast-beef sandwiches from McNamara’s. Since I had spent a big chunk of the morning priming the hutch, I was happy to see I didn’t have to figure out lunch. Avery was still working on the front window. “I’ll watch the store,” she said, “and the rest of you can go sit down and eat.”

Mac and I found a couple of small tables to push together, and then we carried over several chairs. Chairs were never a problem at the shop. It sometimes seemed as though they multiplied in the dark corners of the room.

Once we were all seated with sandwiches and tea—or coffee for Mac and me—Rose turned to Liz. “Tell us about the meeting last night.”

“It was just a lot of empty promises,” Liz said, making a dismissive gesture with one hand.

Charlotte nodded in agreement. “They seemed to have only two answers for any questions they were asked—we’re working on that and that’s something we’re still negotiating.”

“Do you think the project is dead?” Mr. P. asked.

“Yes,” Liz said, pulling the pickle out of her sandwich. “The only thing that’s left to do is order flowers and plan the wake. Jon West was talking about expropriation again. I don’t see how that’s going to happen.”

I didn’t say that maybe she was wrong. “What about you, Charlotte?” I asked instead.

“I’m not as certain as Liz is,” Charlotte said, playing with the teaspoon that was resting on her saucer. “Caroline was there. I talked to her for a minute.”

“I’m guessing Lily left the bakery to her,” I said, fishing an olive round from my sandwich and popping it in my mouth. “Did she say anything that made you think she might be willing to sell? Not that she’d be able to do that for a while.”

Charlotte shook her head. “No. But she didn’t say she’s not willing to sell, either. She is getting a lot of pressure from Jon West. At least that’s what she told me. You know that there are rumors someone with money has invested in the project?”

“I heard,” I said.

“Do you know who this mystery investor is?” Rose asked.

Charlotte picked up her tea. “All I can tell you is that I’ve heard the Wellington Group mentioned, but that could be just a rumor.”

“That’s somewhere to start,” Mr. P. said, glancing at Rose.

Rose leaned over and patted his arm. “Alfred will find something. Don’t worry.”

Mr. P. smiled back at her. He had the look of a love-struck teenager, and I had no doubt he would do whatever it took to justify Rose’s faith in him—which was not necessarily a good thing.

The conversation turned to other possibilities that had been floated over the years for development of the harbor front.

“You know what I don’t understand,” Liz said, shifting sideways in her seat. “What changed for Lily?”

“What do you mean, what changed?” I asked.

“Well, it must be close to five years ago now,” she said. “There was another plan for revitalizing the waterfront. It didn’t get as far as this one has, but I don’t remember Lily having any problem with that idea.”

I remembered Jess mentioning the other waterfront proposal. “Maybe that project was smaller,” I said.

Charlotte looked at Liz. “Are you talking about that development company out of Vermont?” she said.

Liz nodded over her teacup. “That’s the one.”

Charlotte shook her head. “Then no,” she said to me. “That plan for the harbor front was actually bigger than the North Landing project is. There was a problem with the development company. Their financing was a little too creative for some people. There was a lot of behind-the-scenes maneuvering, and suddenly the whole project was quashed.”

Liz brushed a few crumbs from the sleeve of her cashmere cardigan. “Lily definitely had no problem with that idea,” she said. She shrugged. “And there’s no reason to keep it a secret. The person doing what Charlotte so diplomatically called ‘behind-the-scenes maneuvering’ four years ago was me.”

“You, Elizabeth?” Charlotte said, her eyes widening with surprise.

“Why on earth would you do that?” Rose asked, her cup paused in midair.

“The Trinity Group were the main investors in that deal. I did a little digging into their finances,” she said. “Their portfolio was very shaky, not to mention they were being investigated by the IRS. They went bankrupt not long after.”

“Pyramid scheme,” Mac said quietly. “I remember the SEC investigation.”

“The whole thing was a house of cards,” Liz commented, looking around for the teapot.

“Maybe Lily just changed her mind about any kind of development,” Mr. P. said. “That kind of thing happens.”

Rose had gotten up to get the teapot, and she paused with it hovering over Liz’s cup. “Alfred, are you saying that women just change their minds on a whim?”

Mac caught my eye across the table, and the corners of his mouth twitched.

“Of course not,” Mr. P. said smoothly. “I’m saying that as some people mature, what’s important to them changes. Maybe that’s what happened to Lily.”

Rose smiled. “You could be right.” She turned to Charlotte. “Do you think you could sound out Caroline and see if she knows what changed Lily’s mind?”

“I can try,” Charlotte said. She folded her napkin and set it on her plate. “I just don’t want Caroline to feel like she’s getting the third degree. She’s Lily’s mother, remember.”

“You’re the most diplomatic person I know,” Rose said as she poured another cup of tea for Liz. “I know you can figure something out.”

“Are you going to give her a trowel along with that line, Rose?” Liz asked.

Charlotte turned her head to look at her friend. “Liz, what on earth are you talking about?”

“Rose is laying it on a little thick,” Liz said.

“Are you trying to tell me I’m not diplomatic?” Charlotte said. Her hackles were up.

Liz waved the question away with one hand. “Heavens, no. You’re far more diplomatic than I am.”

“Everyone’s more diplomatic than you are,” Rose retorted.

Avery burst into the room then. Her hair looked like something Elvis might have dragged around the parking lot. There was a smudge of dirt, or maybe it was makeup, on one cheek and a huge smile on her face.

“The window’s done, and you have to see it!” she exclaimed.

I got to my feet. “Okay, then. Let’s go.”

I took a step toward the shop doors, and Avery put up both hands to stop me.

“No,” she said. “You have to go around and see it from the front to get the full effect.”

“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Rose said. “I can’t wait to see what you’ve done.” She patted Avery on the cheek and started for the back door.

“Kiddo, do you know how cold it is outside?” Liz asked.

Avery’s face fell.

Mr. P. got to his feet. “A little cold can be very invigorating,” he said.

Mac smiled as he stood up as well. “Yes, it can, Alfred,” he said.

Liz pushed back her chair. “I like to be invigorated as much as the next guy.” She smiled at her granddaughter. “Let’s go.”

We all cut through the parking lot and went to stand on the sidewalk in front of the store.

“Oh. My” was the only thing I could think of to say.

“I like it,” Rose proclaimed. “Do you think Avery could do an Aerosmith window?”

Liz had her arms folded across her chest. “You’re not going to remind us about the time Steven Tyler’s mouth had two tongues and yours didn’t have any—are you?”

“You’re just jealous,” Rose said with a saucy grin.

Alfred looked puzzled. “You dated Steven Tyler, Rosie?” he asked.

“It was just a fling, dear,” she said, patting his arm.

Avery had faithfully re-created all four of the members of KISS down to Paul Stanley’s Starchild makeup and—heaven help us—his chest hair. She’d stenciled A KISS IS STILL A KISS on the window in red letters.

Mac turned to look at me. He didn’t even try to stifle a grin.

“Don’t you dare say the word ‘interesting,’” I hissed.

“I like it,” he said.

“She managed to connect a metal band, Casablanca and Valentine’s Day,” I said. “I like it, too.” There wouldn’t be another Valentine’s-themed window like it anywhere in town.

“Can we go back inside?” Liz said. “My girls are freezing.”

“I’m all right,” Rose said as we made our way up to the front door.

“I wasn’t talking about you,” Liz said, pointedly crossing her arms over her chest.

Rose rolled her eyes as she figured out Liz’s meaning. “Oh, for heaven’s sake,” she said.

Avery was waiting for us in the shop, too twitchy to stand still.

“Sweetie pie, you did a wonderful job,” Rose exclaimed, wrapping her in a hug. “You make me want to run off and become a groupie.” She turned and smiled at Mr. P. “Not that I’m going to.”

“Charlotte helped a lot,” Avery said. “She did the Paul guy’s chest hair, and she styled all the wigs.”

Rose turned her smile on Charlotte. “Good job,” she said, eyes twinkling.

“Absolutely,” Liz said. One eyebrow went up and she gave Charlotte a sly smile. “Nice work with the chest hair.”

“What about me, Nonna?” Avery asked. “Do you really like it?”

“It’s fantastic,” Liz said.

Avery threw her arms around her grandmother. “Do you mean it?”

“Of course I mean it,” Liz said. “Would I lie to you?”

“Uh, yeah,” Avery said. “You said you liked the smoothie I made for you yesterday and then I caught you pouring it down the sink.”

Liz kissed the top of Avery’s head. “Smoothies have fruit and yogurt, ice cream even. They do not have kale. Kale is not something we’re supposed to drink.”

“It’s going to get people’s attention,” Mac said. He gave her a fist bump.

Avery looked at me. “Do you like it, Sarah?” she asked.

“Yes, I do,” I said. “You did a great job.”

I glanced at Charlotte. “You too.”

Rose was standing beside me, and I put my arm around her shoulders. “You know what this calls for?” I said.

“Cake!” Avery, Mr. P. and Liz said at the same time.

I raised my eyebrows and looked down at Rose. “Tomorrow’s moving day, but maybe after that you could christen the oven in your new apartment.”

Rose clasped her hands together. “What a wonderful idea.” She linked her arm through Avery’s and started for the storeroom. “What do you think we should make?” I heard her say. “Lemon chiffon or maybe angel food with fruit and whipped cream?”

“I’ll go clean up,” Charlotte said.

I smiled at her. “Thanks.”

“I’m going to see what I can find out about this Wellington Group,” Mr. P. said.

The phone started to ring. “And I’m going to get that,” Mac said.

Only Liz and I were left, standing just inside the door. “Thank you, Sarah,” she said.

“For what?” I asked.

“For letting Avery fill your front window with four aging rock and rollers, or at least a reasonable facsimile of them.”

I looked over at the window. “I like it. I’m not just saying that. She did a good job. It’ll get people talking. It’ll bring in business.”

“I’m so glad you came home,” Liz said.

I smiled. “Me too.”

I was right about the window. Another ski tour on the way out of town after lunch stopped when someone on the bus spotted the “band” in the window. Forty-two people piled out and stood on the sidewalk to check out the band. The tour guide, a man in his twenties wearing a navy ski jacket and a knit Red Sox hat, came inside.

“Your window display’s fantastic,” he said.

“Thank you,” I said. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Avery by the cash register, grinning and looking like she was about to come out of her skin with excitement.

A middle-aged woman opened the door and poked her head inside. “Can we take a look around?”

“Of course,” I said.

“Did you do the band?” she asked, walking over so she could see the display from the back.

I shook my head. “Two of my staff did.” More people were coming in behind her.

The woman took a couple of steps closer to me. “I did them, you know,” she confided. “Well, two of them.” She turned down the waistband of the gray spandex pants she was wearing. KISS was tattooed on her left hip.

“Good for you” probably wasn’t the most appropriate answer, but it was the only thing I could think of to say.

We ended up doing more business than we’d done in the store in the entire month of January.

Avery stayed to help, eating up the compliments on her work and answering questions with enthusiasm and maturity.

It was a few minutes after closing time when the bus pulled out of our parking lot.

“I can’t believe they all liked the window,” Avery said with a satisfied smile, leaning against the cash counter.

“I told you that you’d done a good job,” I said.

“I’ll get the vacuum and start cleaning up,” she said, pushing herself upright.

I walked over to Charlotte, who was straightening up a display of wineglasses and charms.

“Thank you for helping Avery,” I said. “She’s so excited.”

“I didn’t really do much.” Charlotte smiled. “Avery did most of the work.”

I leaned over and kissed her cheek. “You always say that,” I said. “And you’re always wrong.”

Mac came in from the storeroom. “What time are we starting in the morning?” he asked.

Sunday was moving day for Rose, the only day we were all free to help her.

“Eight thirty,” I said. “Do you want me to pick you up?”

He shook his head. “Thanks. I don’t mind walking.”

I looked at Charlotte. “I could pick you up,” I said.

She nodded. “If it’s not too much trouble. I’m bringing a thermos of hot chocolate and some muffins so we can take a break after a couple of hours.”

“I’m borrowing Glenn McNamara’s cube truck,” I said. “That way we should be able to move the big stuff in just one load.”

I’d tried to rent the truck from Glenn, but he wouldn’t hear of it. “Just put some gas in it, Sarah,” he’d told me. “And we’ll be square.”

“What are you going to do with the SUV?” Mac asked, reaching for the bottle of hand sanitizer we kept by the cash register.

“Leave it in Glenn’s parking lot. That way we can back the truck close to the steps at the house,” I said.

“Do you want me to drive it?” he said. “We could put a lot of the small things in the back.”

I nodded. “That’s a good idea. Could you drop me at Glenn’s? It’s faster than if I walk over there.”

“Sure,” he said. “In that case, is eight o’clock too early?”

I shook my head. “Not for me.”

Charlotte came downstairs in her coat and boots.

“I’ll see you in the morning,” I said.

She nodded. “I’ll be ready.”

Avery pulled on her hat, a purple monkey with ears and tufts of black hair. “Yeah, don’t worry, Sarah. I’ll make sure to drag Nonna out of bed in time.”

Liz made a face at her. “I’m not drinking anything with kale in it,” she said as the three of them went out the door.

Rose was winding Mr. P.’s scarf around his neck. “Rose, would you two like a ride?” I asked.

“No, thank you, dear,” she said. “It’s not that cold. We’re going to walk.”

I turned to Mac, who was pulling on his parka. “What about you? Could I drop you somewhere?”

He smiled. “Thanks, but I think I’ll walk. Rose is right. It’s really not that cold.” He fished his gloves out of his pocket. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

I nodded.

Rose and Mr. P. were ready to go, so the three of them set off down the sidewalk together. I locked the door behind them and walked around shutting off the lights. I found Elvis upstairs, sitting on my desk chair. “That’s not your chair,” I said.

He blinked at me and then lay down on the seat.

“Still not yours,” I said, reaching for my coat.

He looked down at the fabric seat and then up at me as if to say, I’m sitting here and you’re not.

In the back of my mind all day I’d been trying to figure out what to do about Vince. I understood his impulse to protect Asia. But it wouldn’t do her any good if he went to jail for something he didn’t do. And if she’d had anything to do with Lily’s death, it needed to be dealt with, not hidden, as painful as that would be.

“I’m going down to Sam’s,” I said.