She and Kristin had barely exchanged a few words. As she examined herself in the mirror before heading downstairs, she wondered how things would go tonight. Caitlin and Josephine would steal the show. She and Jane could blend into the background—and hopefully work a busy cash register.

“Are you ready, babe?” she called. Jane was still in the bedroom trying to decide what to wear. Always a futile exercise in drama, because she always ended up choosing the same jeans and glittery shirt she wore for every other evening event.

“Coming.”

“I’m heading down,” Annie yelled, knowing it would be at least another ten minutes before Jane was ready. She descended the stairs to the shop and remembered the previous time they’d had a Caitlin James event. It had set some things in motion that perhaps had been unavoidable. When she opened the door, they were all there already: Mia and Taylor arranging nibbles on plates, Lou helping them. Sheryl deep in conversation with Caitlin. Kristin behind the counter of the coffee shop, looking as though she was inspecting it after a long absence.

“Hey Annie.” Josephine was the first one to spot her. She was going to sing tonight, an activity that had not been advertised so as not to draw a crowd that would ultimately not be that interested in buying the book, and Annie was looking forward to it. All the ingredients for an amazing evening were present. There was only one thing that stood in the way. The awkwardness between her and Kristin—and Sheryl for that matter.

Annie had talked to Jane about it and asked whether she should sit with them in advance to tell them it was all in the past and she had come back to her senses, but they’d both concluded that conversation would be more awkward than anything else.

“Hi, Jo. Ready for your big night?” Annie asked.

“Bit nervous, I must say.”

“It’s a celebration. You should try to enjoy it.” Annie chuckled inwardly at her words, because she had spoken the very same ones to Jane many a time. She knew that nothing she said could really change what was going on inside Jo—or Jane.

Josephine shrugged. “I’ve got Caitlin by my side. Not a whole lot can go wrong. And she might be more experienced at reading aloud from a book, but I’m a much better singer than her, believe me.” A smile appeared on Jo’s face.

Annie could tell she had this under control. Perhaps it was a side effect of being a performer. She looked a million times more relaxed than Jane did before any party, let alone one of her book launches.

“I believe you.”

“Jo, honey? Can we steal you for a sec?” Caitlin called from where she was chatting with Sheryl.