He got up and went to the bathroom to shower, and Emma bit her lip tearily. She was distraught, so she did the only thing she could think of.

She called her mother and cried.

“You did what I said and you kept Hunter John away from the Fourth of July celebration. That was good,” Ariel told her. “Your mistake was in bringing Sydney up with Hunter John this morning.”

“But you said to make him compare us,” Emma said, lying in bed and hugging a pillow after Hunter John had gone to work. “How can I do that without bringing her up?”

“You’re not paying attention, sugar. I set that up so he could compare Sydney to you when Sydney was serving and you were the hostess. Just that once. Don’t keep doing it, for heaven’s sake.”

Emma’s head was spinning. She’d never doubted her mother’s considerable knowledge in the ways of men, but this seemed so complicated. How could she keep this up? At some point, Hunter John was going to suspect something.

“You haven’t let Hunter John anywhere near Sydney since he went to see her at the White Door, have you? That was another big mistake.”

“No, Mama. But I can’t keep track of him all the time. When do I trust him? When do I know?”

“Men are the most untrustworthy creatures on God’s green earth,” Ariel said. “This is entirely up to you. You have to work to keep him. Buy something new and skimpy, just for him. Surprise him.”

“Yes, Mama.”

“Clark women don’t lose their men. We keep them happy.”

“Yes, Mama.”

“Where is Bay?” Sydney asked, walking into the kitchen on the first Monday since the Fourth of July. It was her day off. “I thought she was helping you.”

“She was, but she heard a plane overhead and ran out to the garden. Happens every time.”

Sydney laughed. “I don’t understand it. She was never this crazy about planes before.”

Claire was at the kitchen island making chocolate cupcakes for the Havershams, who lived four doors down. They were hosting their grandson’s pirate-themed tenth birthday. Instead of a cake, they wanted six dozen cupcakes with something baked inside, a child-size ring or a coin or a charm. Claire had made candy strips from thin shoots of angelica from the garden and was going to make a tiny X on the frosting of each cupcake, like the sign on a treasure map; then she was going to put tiny cards on toothpicks with riddles as to what was buried within.

Sydney watched Claire with the frosting. “So when is this gig?”

“The Havershams’ birthday party? Tomorrow.”

“I’ll be glad to take off work to help you.”

Claire smiled, touched by Sydney’s offer. “I’ve got this one covered. Thanks.”