Silence.

Then Donna said, “I’m sorry, Annie. But I need to see you.” Her voice had dropped an octave or two, as if this were serious.

“Is something wrong?”

After another pause, Donna said, “When I was on the cruise last year I took a class in estate planning. I’ve since received the final payment for my business, and it’s all going into a trust. I need to review it with you and Kevin first.”

“But surely a few days . . . ?” Annie held her fingers to her throat as if the gesture would dissolve the lump.

“No,” Donna said again. “My attorney is going out of the country for a while. I want to button this up before he goes. I’m sure you understand. So I’ll be on the noon boat on Saturday as planned. If no one can pick me up, I’ll take a taxi. Or the bus. You still have busses there, don’t you?”

So Annie told her someone would meet her at the boat, because what else could she say? After they rang off, she realized that Kevin had used the perfect word—formidable—to describe their mother. With a sigh of resignation, Annie sat for a moment, then looked back at her computer. But the inspiration was gone. Instead, she needed to find Kevin and tell him the news. There would always be tomorrow—or the next day—to get back to her manuscript. At least Murphy was around in case of writer’s block.

* * *

The Inn was quiet, except for the crinkle of paint-splattered tarps under Annie’s feet. She paused in the kitchen and surveyed the transformation; the only thing left to do was install the white porcelain tiles on the floor. Otherwise it looked complete: the lustrous counters, the stainless steel ten-burner gas stove, the Sub-Zero refrigerators (two). The cabinets were also in place, their gleaming white blending with the white marble countertops. The windows framed a perfect contrast of the thick green lawn, the whispery beige sand, the shimmering aqua water. The scene was breathtaking. If only it didn’t become an abandoned masterpiece.

Pushing down negative thoughts, she went into the great room. Though the floor-to-ceiling windows had been installed, the room hadn’t yet been painted. The blue slate fireplace was not complete; the wood floor wasn’t in place; there was so much left to do. And with the crew having been sent home until the state police gave them the all-clear, it was up to Earl and Kevin to race against the clock. And sneakily, at that.