Eve: Well, these are just headshots. I have no idea if he can act. But yeah, he’s not as broody as Jake.

Maya: I’m never going to get Jake. Sigh. There’s not a natural Richard in this town.

Eve: Hey, here’s an idea. You know how the Stratford Festival did a whole bunch of gender-swapped Shakespeares a few seasons ago?

It was true. It turned out she and Maya had seen one of the same productions.

Eve: Why can’t “Richard” be a woman?

Maya: OH. MY. GOD. You are a genius.

Eve: What about Pearl? Or Eiko? I mean, you want a natural schemer, right? Or play it yourself.

Maya: COME BACK. WE NEED TO DISCUSS. Will you be assistant director?

She loved Maya, but she wasn’t about to get entangled in one of her bonkers plays. Also…

Eve: I won’t be in Moonflower Bay by the time the Anti-Festival rolls around.

Maya: Even though I’m the one who talked you into going and doing that stupid interview in person so you can get your dream job and leave me, I don’t like this answer.

Eve sort of didn’t, either. It left her with a strange hollowness inside. But honestly, she needed to calm down. It wasn’t like she was moving to Timbuktu.

Eve: I’ll come back and see it! I’ll lead the standing ovation!

Maya: No. Anti-Festival is for Moonflower Bayers only.

Well, that stung.

The next day she got a text from Pearl. Sawyer said I have to apologize for sabotaging your renovation. So I guess I apologize.

Eve chuckled. She was annoyed, but Pearl was funny.

Pearl: I only did it because I want you to stay.

Eve: Thanks, Pearl.

Pearl: Lucille did, too, you know. That’s why she left you the place.

Eve sighed. No one really knew why Lucille had done what she’d done. If she’d confided in Pearl, Pearl would have been all over Eve with that news early on.

More importantly, Pearl didn’t understand the complexities of the situation. Her life was pie and scheming and Fortnite. That wasn’t reality.

And then the pictures from Sawyer came. Got things going again. Read a bunch of people the riot act, and now they’re working overtime to make up for their “scheduling oversights.”

The pictures he sent made it look like the inn had undergone a jump forward in time.

Eve: It looks like the second floor is basically done?

Sawyer: Yep. All that’s left is baseboards.

Some more pics came through.

Sawyer: Third floor’s a little rougher. Bathroom guys are coming tomorrow. Flooring up there will take a little longer. They have another job in Bayshore—I checked, and they legit do. They’ve sworn they’ll be back within two weeks. I’m going to clear out the bits and pieces of junk up here so it’s all ready for them.