Much Ado About You

Annie dropped my hand, her expression turning blank, before she looked at Caro. “Is it too late to set up a stall?”

Surprised by her abruptness and more than sensing I’d said something out of turn, I shot a look at Roane. He squeezed my knee under the table, giving me quiet reassurance, but I knew all of his expressions well enough to know I had definitely said something wrong.

“What are you selling?” Roane asked her.

“Lizzie’s paintings.”

Caro’s eyes widened. “Oh, I’m not sure people shopping the market could afford those, Annie.”

“The wee ones.” Annie shrugged. “She won’t be charging near as much as she normally would.”

Roane frowned. “But they’ll be worth a fortune.”

“Aye, so?”

Lost, I blurted out, “Who’s Lizzie?”

“My wife.” Annie stared stonily at me.

Confused by her attitude, I asked, “Is she a famous painter?”

As if a switch had flipped inside of her, Annie grinned at me. “Aye. A bloody good one.”

“She’s famous in the art world, Evie,” Roane explained before smirking at Annie, “which is why it’s baffling she wants to sell her work at a wee village market, when she could make a fortune on those paintings.”

“We have enough money. So, we’re in?”

Roane sighed. “I’ll see what I can do to add you to the permits, and let you know.”

“You know where I am. Nice to meet you, Evie. Caroline Robson.” Annie stared pointedly at Caro before marching away.

Caro rolled her eyes. “I think I need to legally change my name just to get Annie off my back.”

“She’s not wrong.” Roane shrugged.

“I’m aware.” Caro rested her elbow on the table and cupped her cheek in her hand. “I’m just tired of people looking at me like I’m some kind of weak little girl.”

I reached across the bench and squeezed her wrist. “I don’t think that was Annie’s intention. I think she’s trying to remind you of who you really are.”

She gave me a sad smile. “Yes, you’re probably right.”

“What’s her story?” I settled back on the bench seat, gazing from Roane at my side to Caro across the table. “Annie’s, I mean. Why did she avoid my question about Maggie?”

The cousins exchanged an uncomfortable look before Roane explained, “Maggie’s Annie’s mum. She and Annie’s dad disowned Annie when she told them she was gay.”

Shock froze me to the spot.

Maggie had seemed like such a sweet soul.

“I don’t get it.”

“It’s hard to understand for anyone who isn’t a closed-minded, judgmental prig.” Caro sighed unhappily. “Annie’s father and my aunt Helena are among the few who shun Annie.”

“In this day and age?”

“Small-village mentality. We’re not as bad as some, but there’s still people round here old-fashioned and narrow-minded.” Roane’s tone was clipped with disdain. “Some who even patronize The Alnster Inn over The Anchor because Dex is black.”

Horrified, I could only gape as hot indignation choked me. “But . . . b-but,” I spluttered. “What bullshit! And Maggie . . . she seemed so nice.”

Caro’s expression was pained. “She is, Evie. But her husband is a controlling man and she . . . well, she let him drive Annie away and refused to speak to Annie publicly.”

“Probably for fear of the man. But that’s no excuse now. Horace Foster had a stroke a year ago and is now paralyzed, bedridden, and taken care of by a full-time nurse. Maggie could have a relationship with Annie if she wanted to.” Roane vibrated with disapproval. “He can’t stop her now. It’s up to her to make that move. A year passed and she still hasn’t? That’s not right.”

“I think it’s a little more complicated than that,” Caro suggested softly.

Roane grunted in answer, clearly disagreeing.

Perhaps Caro was right, but I had to agree with Roane. It was up to Maggie to bridge that distance with Annie after the way she’d allowed her to be treated.

A tension fell over the table at the quiet disagreement between the cousins.

So I blurted out my news. “Penny’s asked me to stay and run her store for three months.”

Roane’s head whipped around to look at me so fast, I could only imagine he got whiplash. “What?”

I stared into his warm eyes and felt a flutter of something I didn’t want to feel at his hopeful countenance. “It’s not a done deal,” I hurried to say, “I have to apply for a work visa. Penny’s got all that figured out and is going to try to push it through as quickly as possible. She thinks it’ll take two weeks, so she’s letting me stay a week longer free of charge. So no matter what happens, I’m here for another two weeks instead of just one. I need to postpone my flights home but that shouldn’t be a problem.”

“That’s wonderful.” Caro beamed from ear to ear. “I really hope they grant you the visa, Evie. I can’t imagine the summer here without you now.”