“Sassy, I’m desolate, absolutely desolate.” She stopped to see if her choice of words and quivering tone had the desired effect, so I tried to look interested, concerned, even.
When she decided I passed muster, her tone swung from quivering to highly confidential.
“I need your help. You must speak to Augusta on my behalf.”
“Listen, Rowena. I know Miss Augusta was fired up at the reception, but I don’t think it’ll soothe her one bit if I do your apologizing for you—”
“Apologize? Why would I apologize? If anyone should be asking for forgiveness, it’s Augusta. She caused a scene. That’s the entire problem in a nutshell.”
I rubbed my temples. Why was it always so difficult to follow Rowena’s train of thought?
“There’s no way I can make Augusta apologize to you.”
Rowena looked to heaven, her eyes filled with disbelief. She pushed the idea away with a flap of her hand.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Augusta wouldn’t say she was sorry to the Lord himself, never mind that she’d just stepped on His big toe. No. I want you to make her stop panicking the boys.”
“Boys?”
“Delia’s nephews.” Now her tone moved to impatient. “They got all squirmy after Augusta’s ridiculous outburst at the church hall. I’m afraid they’re going to back out on the real estate deal I’ve been negotiating with Tighe Kostos. I’m telling you, Sassy, I need this commission. It’s life or death for me. And Augusta has frightened those boys half out of whatever limited wits they may have. Augusta has them paralyzed by indecision, afraid of what she’ll do to them if they sell the island to the resort company.”
I chuckled to myself, knowing the nephews were out of the inheritance picture. Still, I played along. “What makes you think Miss Augusta would listen to me on a matter of such personal significance?”
“Oh, everyone knows Augusta has a soft spot for you and Bridgy, just like Delia did. You two are a younger version of them. Heck, you’ll be them in forty, fifty years.”
Much as I loved Miss Delia and Miss Augusta, I blanched at the thought of them as role models. Replicating their waning years wasn’t a life goal for me. Still, I let that all slide.
“Rowena, take my advice. Give Miss Augusta a few days to recover. Miss Delia’s death was sudden and tragic. Takes some getting used to. You might find Augusta more agreeable a few weeks from now.”
“Weeks? We barely have days.” She leaned closer, practically whispering in my ear. “Kostos told me his job is in jeopardy. If he doesn’t close this deal, good-bye high six-figure salary for him and a hefty commission for me.”
I was starting to feel the kind of power that comes with knowing more than the other players in the game. Before it went to my head, I tried changing the topic, as an easier way to resist Rowena’s pressure to help her betray Delia’s wishes.
“Bridgy and I went to the hospital to visit Miguel. Afterward, we stopped to see Mr. Smallwood.”
Her chin dropped, but I hurried on, pretending not to see how surprised she was. “Poor man is really foggy brained. He doesn’t remember his accident at all. Seeing him reminded me that Bridgy said you have quite a bit of his fishing line jewelry in the Emporium. I’m thinking of buying a few pieces for my mom.”
Always the salesperson, Rowena said, “You won’t believe the selection I have. You could send shell jewelry to your mother for any occasion or no occasion at all for years to come. Do you want to walk back with me and take a look?”