“Five Milk Street. It’s in town, just off Main Street, actually, although the streets are awfully curvy and not always well marked so it can be easy to miss. Do you know where the Maria Mitchell museum is? It’s on Vestal Street, just after my house—” You’re babbling! her IC—her Inner Christina—shrieked. Shut up!

Andy smiled. “I know where Milk Street is. I’ve been walking around the town a lot recently.”

“Oh. How nice.” Could you sound any more insipid?

“How about seven o’clock? Is that a good time for you?”

“Yes. Perfect. I’ll see you at seven tomorrow night.” Now go away, her IC thought, because I’m about to giggle like a schoolgirl. But don’t go away, because I want to stand here and just look at you. Obviously, her Inner Christina was as dazzled as she was.

“See you then.” With a wave, Andy opened the door and left the shop.

Chapter 3

“You have a date with Andy Bittlesman?” Harriet was about to pop a vein. “How did you manage that?”

The Shedders were gathered in Mimi’s eating lunch.

“Don’t sound so surprised,” Mimi told Harriet. “Christina’s not exactly a dog.”

“No, she is not,” Jacob seconded quietly.

“How did you meet him?” Harriet demanded. “Why did he come in your store? Why didn’t he come in mine? Mine is much more his class.”

“His class?” Mimi rolled her eyes. “Oh, please, Harriet. You’re a merchant. He’s a zillionaire.”

Christina took a bite of her turkey and cranberry sandwich and listened happily as her friends squabbled. Life was normal. Outside, the day was sunny. She’d done a good amount of business already today.

“He came in with his sister,” Christina explained. “Who, I might add, is a patronizing snob. She threw the presents we gave Wink at me and pretty much said her daughter’s too good to accept gifts from a peasant like me. This isn’t a real date. Andy’s trying to make up for his sister’s behavior.”

“Is he as handsome as he looks in the pictures?” Harriet demanded.

“What pictures?” Christina asked.

“You know, N Magazine and Mahon About Town. At art openings and the opera and so on.”

Christina took a sip of her bottled water. “I’ve never seen pictures of him. He’s handsome, I guess, and really nice. I don’t know why his sister is such a snot. Poor little Wink.”

“Poor little Wink?” Harriet almost elevated off her chair. “Her grandfather is Oscar Bittlesman! He’s hardly poor. Anyway, how can you even think of a kid when you have a date with Andy Bittlesman?” Harriet narrowed her glittering cat eyes. “Where is he picking you up? If he comes to your shop, maybe I can wait with you. I could meet him, too.”

“To try to steal him away from Christina?” Mimi laughed heartily. “Nice, Harriet.”