The smile glides right off of the boy’s face as his mouth rounds out.
“I do know that.” He looks from Everett to Noah. “I’m not in any kind of trouble, am I?”
Evie giggles at the thought as she pulls him in close. “Not yet. But don’t worry, Dad.” She winks over at her father. “We’re working on it.” She yanks Conner off as they head for the dessert table where I’ve laid out a few new sweet treats. Sofia’s Sweet Shop really did motivate me to step up my pastry game.
“Don’t let it get under your skin, Everett,” I tell him. “Evie is just trying to get a rise out of you. She’s sixteen. It’s her job.”
“I don’t trust the boy. Did you see that look in his eyes?”
“Yes,” Noah says. “It’s called fear, and he happened to be looking at you. Give the kid a break.”
“I’m not giving anyone who thinks they’re dating my daughter a break. And Saint? Really? I can tell you right now that kid is no saint. I don’t care what his legal documents say.”
Mom claps the room to attention, and the conversations all around us quiet down.
Carlotta lifts her dress a notch and does an odd little hop from foot to foot as she runs our way.
“You’re never gonna believe the big surprise, Lot.”
“I don’t like surprises,” I say as I narrow my eyes over hers. “Does this have something to do with that secret Cat and Connie are in on? The one that Flo hinted at?”
Her eyes grow wide. “Why yes, it does,” she answers mechanically, and I don’t believe her one bit.
“What’s happening?”
“I can’t tell ya, or it wouldn’t be a surprise.”
“Attention one and all!” my mother calls out as Wiley stands next to her looking like Noah with a sprinkling of gray hair.
Greer, Winslow, Lea, and Thirteen float this way, and I quickly let Noah and Everett in on the fact before picking up their hands so they can listen in.
“What is this about, Lottie?” Greer looks resplendent with her dark hair billowing behind her like a dark and stormy night.
“I don’t know,” I whisper. “But I’m sure it’s nothing. They’re probably just announcing their latest literary acquisition to Wiley Rose Publishing—namely Carlotta.”
Winslow shakes his ghostly head. “I don’t know, Lottie. I’ve heard odd rumblings these last few days of things I’d rather not repeat.”
Cormack and Cressida quickly strut their way over, each one in a fitted black dress that makes them look impossibly thin.
Cormack glances down to where Noah and I are holding hands—then to my other hand, which happens to be conjoined with Everett’s.
“You just think you have it all, don’t you, Linda? Solving cases, stealing men?”
Carlotta gurgles out a laugh. “That’s because she does. She’s got both of your men hog-tied to her stomach and a mini me of one of them tucked inside it. I hate to break it to you, girls, but you’re wasting your time sniffing around these two. Why don’t you both scat? Neither one of you is welcome at this here inn.”
Cormack and Cressida exchange a glance before breaking out into cackles.
“Oh, old Clarissa.” Cressida shakes her head. “It must hurt to go through life as such a simpleton.”
Carlotta lunges at her, but Noah catches her with his good arm.
“And now”—my mother waves us all her way—“Wiley and I would like to invite the newest member of Wiley Rose Publishing into the fold. Carlotta Sawyer, come on down so we can give you a proper welcome!”
The room breaks out into a polite applause, and I turn to Greer and the gang and whisper an I told you so.
Wiley clears his throat. “We’re proud to announce that Wiley Rose Publishing will be expanding to include yet another best-seller next month by our newest official author, Carlotta Sawyer. While Miranda pens the romantic fiction, Carlotta will fill in the void for our nonfiction department.” He takes a breath as he nods to my mother.
“And well”—Mom gives a nervous giggle—“I guess all good things must come to an end.” She presses her fingers to the tip of her nose and sobs silently for a few seconds.
Both Lainey and Meg shoot me a worried glance, and I shrug because I have no idea what’s making our mother so emotional.
And then it hits me. “I think she’s about to break up with Wiley.” I do a little hop, suddenly unable to hold back my elation. Even Noah admits his father is a two-timing thief that can’t be trusted.
Mom nods to the crowd. “In order to further our publishing efforts, both Wiley and I have decided to make a significant change in my life—our lives.” She shrugs before girding herself as if she were about to face a firing squad. “I’ve sold the B&B!”
The four ghosts among us all groan in unison.
A horrible gasp circles the room, and soon my sisters and I have stormed the front of the conservatory, demanding answers.
“Mother,” I snip. “This is not funny. Please tell us you’re kidding.”
“Yeah,” Lainey growls. “Take it back.”
Meg’s nostrils flare as she looks to Wiley as if she were about to ram him.
“Make it stop, Miranda.” Wiley stands behind my mother like the coward he is. “I think the younger one is about to charge me.”
“She won’t have to,” Noah says as both he and Everett step this way. “I’ll do it for her. What are you thinking? How could you manipulate this woman into selling off her most prized possession? And where are the two of you going to live?”
“No, no.” Mom shakes her head. “Wiley made me see that the B&B was just a thing. An obstacle, if you will, to what can truly make us happy—the publishing business. And don’t any of you worry. We’re still going to be living right here at the B&B. I’ve already worked it all out with the new owners.”
“What new owners?” Meg shoots them both the stink eye.
Mom’s shoulders creep up to her ears.
“Mom?” My voice hikes a notch because I have a feeling I won’t like this one bit.
Cormack and Cressida step between us and wave.
“Of course, we’ll have to change the dreadful carpet.” Cressida looks as if she’s ready to retch.
Cormack nods. “And the exterior will need a total facelift. I’m thinking modern contemporary. Goodbye, pillars. Hello, clean lines.” The two of them dart off toward the dessert table.
“No.” The word strums from me deep and guttural as if I were trying to stave off an attack, but it’s too late, the financial assault has already taken place.
“Yes.” Mom nods, wide-eyed. “I needed the money.”
Everett takes a breath. “I would have lent it to you, interest-free. Heck, I would have given it to you to avoid this catastrophe.”
“Oh, that’s very generous.” Mom brushes it off. “But it’s no catastrophe. Wiley and I can now focus on doing exactly what we love—writing and selling books.”
Meg rolls her eyes. “You already do that, Mother. Where is the money going?”
“Dad?” Noah insists.