“Hey, Annie,” Jonas said as the men jostled their way into the kitchen, raising the bed over their heads, “John and Lucy are here. And the dog. They’re outside talking to a girl who wants to see you.”

“Who?” Annie didn’t want to be distracted.

Jonas shrugged and only said, “Don’t know. But she looks cool.”

Kevin laughed, and they paraded past the caterers, their bounty held high.

Annie marveled at how much Jonas had changed, how his shyness had abated now that he’d come to terms with his mother, now that he could look forward to summer and to getting his career off to a good start. Annie felt a little sad for Taylor, but glad for her that she’d moved on. Taylor had already sent a post card from Hawaii, but hadn’t written “Wish you were here.” As for Kevin, Annie could only hope that, in time, he would find happiness again.

She excused herself from the caterers and went out to the yard.

She saw John and Lucy talking to someone whose back was toward her. Restless, of course, was the first one to spot Annie. He bounced toward her and leaped onto her white jeans and red-and-white-striped jersey top.

“Stop!” Annie cried. “Please! I love you, but get down!”

John and Lucy simultaneously called off the dog; the person they’d been talking with turned around.

“Oh!” Annie cried. “You’re here!” It was Francine—beautiful, and so grown-up—all the way from Minnesota. She was holding Bella, the dark-haired, dark-eyed child who was no longer a baby but a real little girl. Annie began to cry; so did Francine.

“I’m here to work for the summer,” Francine said. “If you’ll have me.”

“Of course! Your room is almost ready. In fact, your bed just walked by.” Annie knew it would give her comfort to know that the bed was for either Francine or Bella.

“John told me about your mom, Annie. I’m so sorry.”

“So am I. But this is a day to celebrate. Not only the Inn, but especially now because you’re home.” They hugged and cried, and Restless danced at their feet until John said, “Hey, break it up, okay? I want to kiss my fiancée.”

Francine’s eyes darted from John back to Annie. “Did I hear him right?”

“You did. We don’t know when yet, but you’re invited. In fact, would you like to be a bridesmaid?”

“I’m going to be the maid of honor,” Lucy interjected, in case anyone had forgotten she was there.

“Absolutely,” Francine said, then added, “I’m so happy for you!” They hugged again, and Restless danced some more, but Bella grew, well, restless, and wanted to get down.

“Lucy?” John asked. “How about if you take the dog down to the beach? So these ladies can go inside and see Gramma.”

The next hour passed so quickly Annie felt as if she were in a trance. And then the guests started to arrive. By two o’clock it seemed that half the Vineyard population was there, all of whom were thrilled with, as Earl described it, “what they’ve done with the old place.”