Page 107 of A December to Remember
A cheer went up, followed by a stampede toward the bar. Maggie was dumbfounded. Vanessa gave her a smile. “You look thunderstruck.”
“I am. Did what I think just happened, actually happen?”
Vanessa laughed. “Yes, it did.”
“But how did you...?”
“Well, I won’t lie, it was a bit of a rush. Betty activated the phone tree as soon as she left Simone and Star in the shop.”
“The phone tree?”
“Yeah, you know; we each have a list with everyone’s phone numbers on it. In case of emergencies, the person at the top of the list calls the next person and they call the next and so on, until everyone on the list has been informed.”
“I feel like I need to join the Women’s Institute.”
“You really do. So anyway, Miss Radley set up an emergency Zoom, and we all jumped on and, well, you know the rest.”
“I had no idea about the covenant.”
“I’d assumed Augustus would have told you all, otherwise I would have mentioned it. It didn’t help that I wasn’t aware of your eviction notice.”
“In fairness to me, it’s not the sort of thing you want publicized. I have my pride.”
“Lot of good it did you. And anyway, it’s not public, it’s us, your friends, the people you and your kids have grown up with.”
“I had no idea the Rowan Thorp women were so well connected.”
“They’re like gangsters, but with cake and fundraisers instead of organized crime.”
Evette came over holding three sherry glasses. “To congratulate you and warm your cockles ahead of the solstice. It’s freezing out there.”
“Drinking before lunch?” Maggie raised an eyebrow.
“It’s a special day.” Evette shrugged.
“Were you in on this?” Maggie asked her sister-in-law.
“No, I simply did as I was told and got you here.”
“Wherearemy sisters? They’ve missed all the fun.”
“They’re getting everything ready for tonight. I think they wanted to take some of the pressure off you.”
Maggie felt a twinge of guilt. “I need to get over there. I’ve wallowed enough for one day.”
She swallowed her sadness about Joe and stored it in the way that all good women trying to balance a million things had done for centuries: repress now, take antacids later. There was much to be thankful for. She could keep her home, she could keep her business going, more than that, she was on her way toowningher home, something she would never have imagined possible. Of the many emotions vying for her attention in that moment, it was gratitude for the women of Rowan Thorp that bolstered and empowered her to forge ahead with the day.
48
Maggie was halfwayto the shop when she was intercepted by Gerry.
“Ah, good, glad I caught you. Don’t suppose you’ve tuned in toBird Brothertoday, have you?”
“To be honest, Gerry, I really haven’t had the time.”
“No, quite right, that’s what I thought. Thing is, I was just going back over last night’s footage—there’s a lot of activity at night—and I came across something that I think you ought to see.”
Gerry pulled out his iPad and angled it toward her. Intrigued, she leaned in. The clock at the bottom of the screen read 5:52 a.m. The picture was grainy, but she could make out the outlines of the trees and the decorations gently swinging in the breeze. A mouse scurried along a branch and out of sight. There was a rustling somewhere out of the camera’s range and then a face came into view. It was Joe. He was looking straight at the camera; the night vision made his eyes look strangely bright. Maggie’s heart gave a jolt.
