Annie knew that if she ever wrote that line in her manuscript, Trish, her editor, would mark it heavily with blue pencil and write cliché in the margin. Then she blinked and wondered why she was thinking about her editor when John was waiting for a response.

“Lucy’s a curious kid with a vivid imagination, but she still has some growing up to do. She’s only fourteen; she’s not going to get everything right.”

He sighed. “Maybe I should have left her with her mother.”

That was a statement Annie didn’t want to touch. “She’s happy here, John.”

“Maybe for the wrong reasons. I don’t give her as much supervision as her mother did.”

After the mess that Lucy had been in last year, Annie hadn’t seen a single sign that John’s ex-wife was a parental guru with all the answers. At least no more than John—or any parent—could be in the world today. “Kids today don’t have it easy . . .”

“Lucy’s not just anybody’s kid. She’s mine. I’m responsible for her. I thought she got the message about not posting stuff that might hurt other people. I thought she was smarter than that. Now I can’t stop worrying about what’s going to happen next. And why the hell is she hanging out with a twenty-two-year-old boy, anyway? Even worse, why is he hanging out with her? Never mind. Please don’t answer those questions.”

Annie forced a small laugh and said, “I don’t think it’s ever smart to try to think like a teenager. Mostly because you’ll probably fail. Besides, she and Jonas weren’t alone, John. Maggie was with them.”

“Right. Another fourteen-year-old. And don’t forget the dog.”

Annie knew not to argue. She also knew it wasn’t the right time to share Kevin’s supposition that Lucy had told Jonas that the old, handwritten letters—the only proof he had that his mother probably had not killed his father—might have been faked. By Taylor.

“Can I see you in the morning?” John interrupted her thoughts. “Breakfast at the diner or something?”

“Sorry, but I have to pick up Donna. Kevin can’t take the time off work. My great archeological dig has left them stranded for help, but the Inn still needs to be finished. In case it’s allowed to open.”

“I didn’t hear that,” John said. “I’m sworn to uphold the law, remember? Which includes the part about stopping construction on the property. Which refers to all construction. By anyone. My father and your brother included.”

“Right! How silly of me. Kevin is not working on the Inn at all. Neither is Earl. I must be mistaken.”

“You’re a terrible liar.”

“It’s part of my charm.”