Christina cleared her throat. “I’m here, Oscar, Mr. Bittlesman, on behalf of the four of us who run businesses on Straight Wharf. I know you’ve lived on the island for a few years, so I’m sure you know how the time of year affects our businesses. We make most of our money in the summer months. And during Christmas. We don’t make a large income from our shops, just barely enough to keep going, actually.” She reached into her handsome briefcase and brought out a folder. Leaning forward, she set it on his desk. “These are my tax statements for the past two years. I also brought the figures for Mimi’s Seaside Souvenirs. You can see that we can barely cover utilities and also make a small salary. If you raise the rent on the sheds, we’ll have to go out of business.”

She paused. She had done the best she could, and she thought she had spoken succinctly and calmly, even though beneath her business suit, her heart was dancing the flamenco.

Oscar flipped through her folder. Then he shrugged.

“I have business expenses, also,” Oscar said. “I am, after all, a businessman. Have you ever thought that perhaps your businesses per se aren’t worth the trouble of running? I’m not to blame for that. I’m sure that if you four close shop, our firm will be able to find other people, with more attractive products, to take over.”

Christina took a deep breath. She’d written out this little speech the night before and memorized it.

“Oscar, what possible good could you achieve if you get rid of us? Maybe you could make ten percent more with other merchants. But Nantucket has always been about community. We know we’re isolated here thirty miles offshore. So we help each other. We don’t want to get rich at the expense of our neighbors.”

“Miss Antonioni.”

She ignored his interruption. She was determined to say her piece. “And have you ever been in any of the shops? Did you ever personally come into Christina’s Toy Shop to choose a toy for Wink? Have you ever bought an anemometer? Part of living on the island is preparing for gale-force winds. Have you ever bought a kite and taken Wink to fly it on the beach? And how charming would it be if you wore a sweatshirt with Santa riding a whale on it on Christmas Day? You could have so much more fun doing any of those things than sitting here barricaded in your house.”

“Miss Antonioni.” Oscar’s words were a warning.