Annie sighed. She wondered if all writers had problems reining in their imaginations.
Turning to the task at hand, she went into the chef’s room, put on the gloves, then opened the door to the cabinet where Bella’s things were stored. She removed the play mat and the dolls and the Fisher-Price stove that Earl had bought last Christmas; she reached up, grabbed ajar of peanut butter, and baited the traps. Then she stooped and set them inside the cabinet. Dread snaked through her body, as rodents weren’t her favorite things. Quickly closing the door, she knew she should find a way to tape it shut so Bella couldn’t open it. And she should post a notice that Bella’s things had been moved to the reading room. Deciding to get a sheet of paper from the reception desk, she stood up. But Rose had returned. And she was standing in the way.
“He looks just like him,” Rose said. “I know it isn’t him, but he looks just like him. And I don’t know what to do.”
Annie quickly figured that the “he” referred to Rex, but whom he looked like remained a mystery. Though Annie no longer had the mental fortitude or, frankly, the interest to get involved, she knew that, as Rose’s landlord, she should probably try to help.
So she pulled off the disposable gloves, tucked her hair behind her ears, and asked, “Shall we have a cup of tea?”
But Rose shook her head. “I don’t want to see him, that’s all. If he’s going to spend time here at the Inn, I’ll go back to Maine.”
Annie leaned against the cabinet. She thought about Rose— a sweet woman, almost childlike. How many women her age (sixty-five? seventy?) who seemed to have few clothes and fewer belongings rented a room for the winter, played with a dollhouse, and collected rocks? Annie would have liked to help, but she really could not. Her list of priorities no longer had room for Rose—whom Annie would most likely never see again after her lease ended in May.
“I’m sorry you feel that way,” Annie said. “I love having you here. You’re a nice addition to the Inn. But Rex is my brother’s brother-in-law. In a sense, he’s family, so I’m afraid he might be around. It upsets me that he makes you uncomfortable. But even if I knew why, I don’t know how I could help.” She paused. “Are you sure you won’t have tea?”
But Rose shook her head and darted toward the great room and upstairs to her room, which, sadly, was the response Annie expected.
It wasn’t until she was headed down the hill back to her cottage that Annie realized she still didn’t know why Rex had been at the Inn.
But as with Rose’s decision to stay or go, Annie decided if it mattered, sooner or later she’d find out. Whether she wanted to or not.
* * *
Oddly, Annie’s reaction to the situation left her feeling lighter. She knew she needed to set healthy boundaries more often, to avoid getting too involved with tenants’ problems. It was against her nature, but ultimately would make her a better landlord. And she’d be able to save her energy for the people in her essential family.
She wondered if she should write that on a Post-it and stick it on her forehead: BRAIN SPACE RESERVED FOR ISLAND FAMILY ONLY.
Shaking off those thoughts, she knew that before forcing herself to go into the workshop to try and squeeze two weeks’ worth of soap preparation into four days now, she had to review her list of questions for Trish. The woman would expect Annie to be prepared and professional. Which would be easier to do if each time she thought about it, a flock of butterflies didn’t swarm inside her stomach.
She wished she knew what a blockbuster deal should include, and how other authors handled them. If only she had a Christmas angel like George Bailey had inIt’s a Wonderful Life. Then she could see what would happen to her and to those she loved if she took the deal or turned it down.
Most of all, Annie wished Kevin hadn’t knocked on her door at exactly five minutes before three.
“Can’t talk right now,” she told him quickly. “My editor’s about to call. I need to be on my game.”
His eyebrows elevated. “Anything wrong?”
She shook her head in a nervous way, the way that Rose had shaken hers. “I can’t get into it right now. But I promise I will if you scram. Right.Now.” She gently pushed against him, defying his instinct to remain where he was. “Honest, Kevin, this is important.”
“Maybe I’ll wait outside and listen at the door.”
“Kevin. Brother. Please. It’s business.” She pushed some more until he had one foot on her front porch and the other still in the living room. He was playing a game, but Annie was getting irritated.
“Just answer me one question. Please.”
Her phone rang.
“No!” she squealed as if he’d stepped on her toes. She gave another push, that one not so gentle. And she slammed the door after him.
Sucking in a long breath, she returned to the table, picked up her notepad, and scanned her questions. On the fourth ring, she picked up the phone just before it clicked to voice mail.
“It’s about time,” Trish said.
“Sorry. I was fending off my brother.”
Trish laughed. “I know what that can feel like. I have three of those.”
“Brothers?” How strange, Annie thought, that she’d been working with Trish all this time and hadn’t known she had siblings. They always seemed to have too many work-related topics to discuss.
