“Of course we can. People do it every day.”
“But if you were just a little bit encouraging,” she says. “I bet you could convince him not to sell.”
“Oh my goodness! You sound just as bad as his boss. I’m not going to lead Edward on.”
“But it’s not leading him on when you already like him. Just use your feminine wiles.”
“I don’t have feminine wiles. You inherited all of them.”
“I can’t believe you’re giving up on Bumble Cottage.” Annie stands up and hugs one of the pillars on the porch. “I love this place.”
“I do too. I don’t want to move. I’m just trying to be practical here.”
“And the most practical thing is for you to convince Edward to marry you.”
“That’s no plan at all. We’re just business acquaintances.”
“Don’t give me that!” says Annie. “Pepper saw you guys kiss.”
My mom turns to me, eyebrow raised. “Is this true?” she asks.
“Down at the cove,” Annie says sitting down on the porch right in front of me.
“Wedidn’tkiss,” I maintain.
“Are you saying Pepper made this up?” asks an indignant Annie.
“It might have looked like we were kissing,” I admit.
“How did it ‘look like’ you were kissing a mild acquaintance,” asks my mom.
“Fine—wealmostkissed. We got swept away by the scenery and nostalgia. And at the last minute, Edward backed away, okay?” It still stings that he didn’t kiss me. That in that momenthewas the reasonable one and I was not. “So I have no influence on the man. None whatsoever.”
My mom and sister go quiet.
After a few beats, Annie speaks up. “That doesn’t mean a thing. If he almost lost his head once, he’s certain to do it again. All you need to do is get alone with him in some romantic place.”
“No, no, no—I’m not seducing Edward. It’s laughable.”
“Let’s not call it ‘seduce,’” says my mom. “I’d call it ‘wooing.’”
“I’m not going to ‘seduce’ or ‘woo’ Edward.Oruse my nonexistent ‘feminine wiles.’”
“Obviously you have an abundance,” says Annie, hugging her knees and laughing, “if he almost kissed you in the middle of the day—andin public! I’m truly impressed.”
My mom is also laughing.
“Mom! Why are you encouraging this? We need a seriousplan. Why aren’t you more worried about this?”
“Oh sweetie! You worry too much.”
“Someoneneeds to worry around here,” I say, exasperated.
“Do you know why people my age sometimes look at young people with envy?”
“Because they regret the dumb mistakes they made in their youth and want a do-over,” I say.
“No.” My mom makes a face. “What a bleak outlook you have.” She refills my glass with Edward’s expensive wine before leaning back in her chair. “Elinor, I may have made a few foolish decisions that I survived by the grace of God. But I don’t regret my mistakes nearly as much as I regret the energy I wasted fretting about the future.”
