“Oh, hush now,” Mari admonished. “Annie will think we’re a couple of old hags.”

“Well, anyway,” said Annie, trying to steer the conversation away from cocks by candlelight. “I can assure you, I am in no way abusing your trust. I really hope this doesn’t make you change your mind about letting me stay.”

“Oh, tut tut. Not at all,” Mari said. “My nephew is being overprotective as usual, thinks I’m made of glass; a china prude, he’d have me cast as. Well, I can tell you, I am none of the above. You stay, my girl, and put those plans of yours into action. I’d like to see the Nook be an active part of the community again.”

“The local historical society isn’t best pleased,” said Annie.

“Ah, young Emily. She is a marvelous woman, full of passion! She’s not angry with you, dear, she just wants the Bay to keep the Nook. We’re all on the same team when you come down to it. Perhaps you are the person to unite us. Have you had any thoughts on a name yet?”

“I’ve been knocking around the Saltwater Café in my head,” said Annie. “I thought, keep it simple. I’ve run it by a few people, and they seem to like it.”

“It’s the perfect name,” said Mari.

Annie ended the phone call feeling dizzy with relief. She hadn’t realized quite how emotionally invested she was in the Nook until she was faced with losing it. She vowed never to take this new life for granted.

Chapter 39

After realizing that, in the awkward chaos that had brought the book club to an early close, they hadn’t chosen a new book, Annie messaged the group with a suggestion of Lady Audley’s Secret by Elizabeth Braddon. She had come across a copy in Mari’s bookcase and thought it would be nice—since they were all women—to read a Victorian novel written by a female author. Within moments her phone began to ping with responses.