“Sidra says she thinks it’s because Norah has that fabulous vacation house here and she’s exhausted and wants a bit of a break. So she’s going to tape the last show of the season here, and then she’s going to turn off the phone and lock herself in her twenty-two-room mansion by the sea for a period of silent rest and recuperation.”

“She’s got millions of dollars and dozens of assistants who do everything for her, including walking the dog and running her bath. How can she be exhausted?” asked Pam.

“It’s the constant pressure to perform. I’m sure it’s terribly stressful,” said Rachel. “She needs time and space to get in touch with her authentic self.”

“Just turning off the phone sounds wonderful,” said Lucy. “With twenty-two rooms, do you think she’d have one little room for me?”

“I doubt it,” said Sue, grinning wickedly. “But Sidra says we can all have free tickets to the taping.”

“Aren’t they always free?” asked Pam.

“Don’t quibble,” admonished Sue. “Just think, you get to see the show live without having the expense and trouble of traveling to New York.”

“Wow,” Pam said cynically. “Can’t wait.”

As it happened, Pam didn’t have long to wait. In a matter of days a crew of workmen arrived and began constructing a temporary enclosure on the Queen Victoria Inn’s spacious outside deck overlooking the cove. A stage with a seating area for guests was placed in front of large glass windows that provided a fabulous view of pine trees and a scattering of houses with steeply pitched roofs, and a glimpse of the harbor, where a few boats bobbed in the choppy waves, newly freed from the ice, which had melted only a few weeks ago. Heavy-duty power lines were installed for cameras and lights, and propane heaters and theater seats were added for the comfort of the audience.

Lucy covered the entire process for the Pennysaver, which got only a few letters demanding to know why Norah hadn’t used local workmen instead of sending her own crew of carpenters. Most Tinker’s Cove residents were caught up in the excitement, eagerly awaiting the glamorous TV star’s arrival and looking forward to seeing the show live in their very own hometown. The free tickets quickly became a hot commodity, and those lucky enough to hold them got cash offers from people who wanted to see the show, but few gave in to the temptation to sell, refusing even fifty and a hundred dollars per ticket.

When the big day finally came, Lucy and her friends were seated in the very first row.

“It pays to have connections,” said Sue. “I’m sure Sidra got these seats for us.”