Fernie came in with a box and began to sort out a variety of scarves in front of the window.
“What’s up?” asked Alice curiously.
Fernie tied one around her wrist and fluffed the bow. “I’m trying some new content,” she said. “Some loser creator copied my rainbow mugs. I figured it was time to bring scarves back.”
Penny appeared in the doorway, dressed in black pants and a white tank top that showed off her toned arms with their thin gold bracelets. “Is it necessary to film your little videos in the house? You know how I feel about that.”
Jenn came rushing in. “Fernie, listen to your aunt.”
Fernie took her time tying another scarf before she answered. “Dad said it wasn’t a problem.”
Jenn lowered her voice. “Please.”
Penny’s eyebrows raised a millimeter. “He wouldn’t. Don’t show off, Fernie. It looks like you think this place is something to brag aboutwhen it’s quite ordinary. Look at Sloane. She doesn’t bother with social media.”
“Why don’t you record on the patio?” suggested Jenn, gathering up the scarves. “These will look beautiful in the breeze.”
“Whatever.” Fernie snatched the scarves out of her mother’s hands and stomped out as Brayden’s loud whoops and a huge splash sounded in the distance.
Jenn gave Penny a nervous look. “Influencers,” she said.
“You’re enabling her desperate need for online attention.” Penny waved at Valerie. “At least Valerie isn’t putting our lives on display for the masses.”
Jenn’s jaw twitched. “I’ll talk to her.”
“Good.”
Jenn left and Penny turned to the yarn in Alice’s hands. “Learning to knit?” she asked. “I didn’t think you were ready to settle into a life of cats and crafts.”
Alice laughed. “Don’t threaten me with a good time.”
Penny waved that away and smiled at Valerie. “I see you got the box. That dress is perfect.”
“I love the clothes,” said Valerie, trying not to gush. “I was going to look for you to say thank you.”
“Keep whatever you want,” said Penny. “In fact, why don’t you come with me to the storage room now? You can look through the rest to see what you like. I have some accessories as well.”
Valerie tried to control her bliss.Accessories.That might mean bags, and Valerie would do a lot for quality leather goods. “Okay.”
They left Alice with her practice washcloth, and Valerie followed Penny through the house to her bedroom, which was a calming cucumber green with simple white beach-house furniture. A cloud of a duvet covered the hugest bed Valerie had ever seen. Penny opened the double doors of her walk-in closet and passed through to another, larger roomtucked behind a mirror.
Penny flipped on a switch. “These are some of the seasonal clothes I put aside.”
Valerie was speechless. The room was astounding and could have doubled as an appointment-only boutique. All the garments were placed so none of them touched, allowing for airflow and to prevent wrinkles, and were spotlit from above. The hangers matched. It smelled good, like bergamot.
“I like to keep my cottage clothes casual,” Penny said, pulling out a Dior New Woman–style full skirt with a matching sleeveless blouse. The clothes were almost all solid colors, with only a few stripes. There were no other patterns. “I wore this to one of Tracey Jefferies’s parties, and that’s as dressy as I get here.”
Valerie would give a lot to see Penny’s closet at home if this was her summer roughing-it-at-the-lake wardrobe. She spent a few happy minutes looking through crisp cotton dresses, when Penny said, “I’m so glad to see you’re settling in.”
“Thank you for making me feel welcome.”Eventually, but there was no point saying it. People had to do things in their own time.
“Of course.” Penny pulled out a deep-pink dress with cap sleeves and a boat neck. “Here, this is lovely. Take this.”
It was, and the loose style meant it would fit. “Thank you.”
“I’m glad to have a chance to talk. I should have said this earlier, but I assumed it would be obvious. John has pointed out that it isn’t.” She paused. “He’s so sorry to not be able to meet you, but he has to stay with the dogs.”
“You don’t bring them up north?”
