“I guess so,” said Annie. “I think I took him by surprise. He’d got his head into the redevelopment mindset.”

“I don’t think he really wants Mari to sell. That’s why he’s been so grumpy about it. If he had the money, he’d probably keep it, maybe even live in it himself one day.”

“Why hasn’t he got any money?” asked Annie. “I thought architects were rolling in it.”

“Oh, I don’t think so. I think that only applies to people who design new towns and things like that. Don’t get me wrong, he’s not poor by any stretch of the imagination. But he paid to put Celeste through university so she didn’t come out with debts, and of course before that—though I only know because he confided in Maeve—I believe he was very generous with Celeste’s maintenance.”

“Really?” Annie was trying to sound nonchalant.

“Too generous, Maeve said. But you know what she’s like, she’d think anything more than three square meals a day and a new dress once a year is tantamount to spoiling. Celeste once told me that he paid for her and her mum to have a holiday abroad each year.”

“You’ve met Celeste?”

“Of course I have.”

“What’s she like?”

“Oh, she’s lovely; clever like her father, quite edgy in her dress sense. I’ve never met her mum, so I don’t know what she’s like, but Celeste has the same coloring as John. She’s got a lot of piercings. Esme was rather taken with the idea.” Gemma’s lips thinned into a straight line.

“I think you’ve got a few years yet before you need to worry about excessive piercings.” Annie laughed.

“Maeve offered to do Esme’s ears with her sheep tagger.” Gemma rolled her eyes. “Esme thinks it’s a marvelous idea.”

The more Annie learned about John, the more intriguing she found him. There was a deep sense of honor buried within those rugged good looks. She was curious to meet Celeste; she sounded wonderful, sassy, and passionate like her father. Annie could imagine them locking horns: two strong-willed personalities. What must it be like to be beloved by John Granger? Annie couldn’t deny that she’d like to find out.

Chapter 61

Gemma had left to pick up the kids, and Annie turned the sign round to Closed on the door. The rain clouds had finally wrung themselves dry and were scudding across the sky as if eager to reach their next destination before nightfall. She had just finished stacking the clean cups and saucers on top of the coffee machine when a knock on the window made her jump. It was John. Annie found herself looking forward to his visits with increasing eagerness and an equal level of disappointment on the days when he didn’t come.