“Before we explore that question, could I interest you in a cup of coffee?” asked Ian. “I just finished a meeting at the Community Center about the Harvest on the Harbor celebration, and I could use a cup. You can tell me what happened along the way, if you’d like. I was given these hearty ears for a purpose.”
Annie saw the wisdom of sharing the upsetting details before entering The Cup & Saucer. She moved away from the building where John, always a pleasant though slightly formal friend to her, in a moment had put up walls thicker than any New England fortress. Glancing back at the door of the bank and then around her to assure herself they were alone on the sidewalk, Annie described her experience with the Palmers to Ian.
“Sounds like your morning took a deeper plunge than the Excalibur,” said Ian, referring to the highest roller coaster in Maine and all of northern New England. “I’ve known John and Gwen all my life. Gwen has never behaved in that way, as far as I know.”
“Obviously, I haven’t known her very long, but I thought we had become good friends. She’s always enthusiastic whether encouraging me with my crochet or helping with my mysteries.” Annie paused to aim a distracted smile at a Stony Point couple walking past them, fingers entwined, laughing at some private joke. She lowered her voice to continue. “Gwen lives and breathes for community. What could I have done that she would run from me?”
“Annie, if you hadn’t told me about your visit to the bank, I’d be certain you weren’t involved in any way with Gwen’s emotional state,” Ian said. “As it is, I’m completely perplexed. But, no matter how tempting it might be, trying to force the Palmers to communicate with you right now would be futile, in my opinion.” Ian took one last step and then stood still. They had arrived at the diner.
“Ian, I know you’re right. I learned that the hard way during LeeAnn’s teenage years. Doesn’t make it any easier, mind you,” Annie said ruefully, lifting a hand to tidy her hair before going inside. “After thinking through all the contact I’ve had with Gwen or John over the last couple of weeks, I know I haven’t done anything to offend them. At least my heart can rest on that fact.”
“Good. Then my suggestion would be to come up with a nice distraction.” Ian reached out an arm to open the door. “I even have an idea for one.” Pulling open the door, he smiled into Annie’s green eyes, pleased to see some of the worry clouds drift out of them.
“Does it involve recruiting me for the Harvest on the Harbor committee?” Annie guessed. “Need another pumpkin carver?”
“Hey, I like that idea, the first one. I’m not completely comfortable with the idea of you and large carving knives. I heard about what you did to those window screens last spring.” Ian gestured toward an empty booth. Peggy hurried over to them as soon as they were settled.
“Hi, Annie. Mr. Mayor. What can I get for you?”
“Tea for me, Peggy.” Peggy waited, but Annie added nothing more to her order.
“Is that all?” Peggy peered down at her friend. “Annie, you’re going to shrivel up lighter than one of those tumbleweeds from your home state, and we’ll have to hang lobster traps over your shoulders to keep you from being blown into the sea!”
“Now there’s a New England fashion statement for me!” Annie said. She gave Peggy what she hoped was a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry. As soon as I’m hungry I promise to eat enough to keep me grounded.” Never mind that she expected that her appetite would be slow to arrive after this morning.
“You’d better,” Peggy grumbled, and then shifted her eyes to Ian. “Mr. Mayor, you’d best not disappoint me.”
“How about coffee and a tuna salad on rye?” answered Ian.
“With lettuce and tomato. It’ll do.” Peggy gave a short nod. “Cook just pulled a huge apple-cranberry crumble from the oven. Should I get you some for dessert?” Peggy’s look dared the mayor to decline her offer.
“I have a long afternoon of work, and it would be a shame to tackle it without apple-cranberry crumble.”
“Wise man, our mayor. Be right back with your drinks.” Peggy left the table to hurry to a booth where a man in a chambray work shirt was waving his coffee cup at her.
As soon as she turned around, Annie leaned forward and wagged a finger at Ian. “I’ll have you know window screening is a very temperamental material compared to pumpkins.”
Ian caught Annie’s hand as it moved in front of him and gently turned it over between his two hands. He brushed a thumb over the faint white line that ran vertically from the middle of Annie’s wrist to the bottom of the palm. “Where did this scar come from?” He kept his voice low.