Years of weathering and chipped paint vanished under several coats of glossy blue that added cheer to the front of Summer Scoop.
Lisa had bought wrought-iron bistro tables and chairs from an online auction site and was busy cleaning them up. “I bought them from a lady in Bar Harbor who is moving to live with her daughter in Canada.”
“They’re fantastic.” Emily watched with half an eye as Lizzy painstakingly added to the sand. “Did you talk to Doug about lowering the rent?”
“Yes. I said exactly what you said I should say and he agreed.”
“I thought he might.”
“I can’t thank you enough.” Lisa wiped her forehead on her forearm. “Finally, I feel as if there might be hope. Without you I think I would have given up.”
“You wouldn’t have.”
“I certainly wouldn’t have thought of all this. And I wouldn’t have been able to persuade everyone to help.”
“That was Ryan. He always says that islanders can be the most irritating people alive until you’re in need, and then they’re the best.”
“He’s right. And your friend Skylar is a talented artist.”
Emily glanced across to Skylar who was painting a puffin on the rock. “Yes. Her career is taking off. She has an exhibition in London in December.”
“Jewelry?”
“Among other things. She’s produced some stunning glass sculptures inspired by photos a colleague of Brittany’s sent her from Greece. Lily is an expert in Minoan ceramics, and Sky has been working with her. This new collection will be a modern take on ancient artifacts or something. The colors were inspired by Greek islands so lots of swirling blue and white. She’s calling it Ocean Blue.”
“Does she have a studio?”
“She rents space in another artist’s studio. He’s a glass artist.”
Her friend had confided that Richard hadn’t seemed pleased either with the amount of time Skylar was spending in the studio, or her growing success.
Emily wished they’d had more time to talk about that, but in between entertaining Lizzy and giving Summer Scoop a face-lift, there hadn’t been time to explore the personal.
They worked through the day, pausing just long enough to eat the pizzas Ryan ordered from the Ocean Club.
While Lisa supervised the children, Emily sat on one of the chairs next to Ryan.
“Why is it that whenever I see you there are a million people around?” He spoke in an undertone, and she glanced at the small crowd who were transforming Summer Scoop.
“They’re working miracles.”
“Leave Lizzy with Lisa, come back to my place and I’ll work some miracles of my own.”
She felt her cheeks warm. “I’m helping the community.”
“I’m a member of the community, too.” He pushed the pizza toward her. “And talking of that, an oceanfront cottage has come up at the Puffin Retirement Community.”
She paused, a slice of pizza in her hand. “Are you thinking about Agnes?”
“I’m not thinking about it—she is. She’s struggling to cope in Harbor House. The truth is the house is too big for her, and it’s hard for her to see her friends. She’s been thinking about next steps. She’s asked me to take her to see it on Monday.”
“Doesn’t Hilda already live there?”
“Yes. That’s part of the reason Gran wants to move. To be closer to her friends.”
“And you don’t want her to go? It upsets you that she is thinking of leaving the house. You feel you should be able to do something to keep her there.”
“She’s lived there most of her life.”