Gemma moved a couple of chairs for Sally to steer her chair through the gap. “I would come, but I’m working,” said Sally. “Much to Susan’s disgust. Halloween is weirdly a big deal to her. To me it’s more about shooing underage drunks out of the lobby before they egg the place.”

“Oh, hey, I forgot to say.” Gemma was holding the door open, and the cold wind was rattling the pictures in their frames. “Can we do a book club on Tuesday next week? I know it’s only a week’s gap, but I’ve almost finished Lady Audley’s Secret and I love our meetings. And then Wednesday is bonfire night! So I’ll get to see you all two nights in a row.”

She must have seen Annie’s blank expression.

“Oh,” said Gemma awkwardly. “You didn’t know. Not to worry, Annie, there’s no pressure, I’m sure someone else can rustle something up . . .”

Oh, for goodness sake! Annie thought. What now? Is Saltwater Nook the bloody party capital of Willow Bay? She would have to tap back into Mari’s almanac.

“What sort of thing are we talking?” asked Annie.

“It’s normally John’s baby, to be honest,” Maeve replied. “Mari took a back seat a few years ago. John and Paul usually set up some fireworks along the beach. Nothing fancy. Just a bit of fun.”

Annie became flustered; she felt her cheeks flush despite her best efforts to act casual. She had never considered that John and Paul would know each other. Of course they bloody would in such a tiny village! She chastised herself.

“Well,” Annie said, “Let’s get past Halloween first, shall we? But, yes, if everyone else is in agreement, we can do an extra book club next Tuesday, and I’ll find out if John and Paul have something up their sleeves.” Her cheeks were burning. Gemma cast her a sly smile, and Annie rather wished the whole town didn’t know she’d slept over at the window cleaner’s.

Chapter 49

The following night Annie was just starting to drift into that halfway between wake and sleep when a text came through to her phone.

Good evening Ms. Sharpe! I hope you don’t mind, I got your number from my aunt. It’s John by the way. I left rather abruptly the other day. If you’d like some help with Halloween from a grumpy forty-something man, then I’d be glad to apply for the role. J.G.

A little firework of excitement whizzed around in her stomach. Annie chastised herself and read the text again. She would like some help, especially from someone who knew how Halloweens at Willow Bay usually went. And it might be good for him to be reminded that Saltwater Nook was an important part of the community.

She typed and deleted several messages before she found a tone that was right.