I remembered Jess mentioning the other waterfront proposal. “Maybe that project was smaller,” I said.
Charlotte looked at Liz. “Are you talking about that development company out of Vermont?” she said.
Liz nodded over her teacup. “That’s the one.”
Charlotte shook her head. “Then no,” she said to me. “That plan for the harbor front was actually bigger than the North Landing project is. There was a problem with the development company. Their financing was a little too creative for some people. There was a lot of behind-the-scenes maneuvering, and suddenly the whole project was quashed.”
Liz brushed a few crumbs from the sleeve of her cashmere cardigan. “Lily definitely had no problem with that idea,” she said. She shrugged. “And there’s no reason to keep it a secret. The person doing what Charlotte so diplomatically called ‘behind-the-scenes maneuvering’ four years ago was me.”
“You, Elizabeth?” Charlotte said, her eyes widening with surprise.
“Why on earth would you do that?” Rose asked, her cup paused in midair.
“The Trinity Group were the main investors in that deal. I did a little digging into their finances,” she said. “Their portfolio was very shaky, not to mention they were being investigated by the IRS. They went bankrupt not long after.”
“Pyramid scheme,” Mac said quietly. “I remember the SEC investigation.”
“The whole thing was a house of cards,” Liz commented, looking around for the teapot.
“Maybe Lily just changed her mind about any kind of development,” Mr. P. said. “That kind of thing happens.”
Rose had gotten up to get the teapot, and she paused with it hovering over Liz’s cup. “Alfred, are you saying that women just change their minds on a whim?”
Mac caught my eye across the table, and the corners of his mouth twitched.
“Of course not,” Mr. P. said smoothly. “I’m saying that as some people mature, what’s important to them changes. Maybe that’s what happened to Lily.”
Rose smiled. “You could be right.” She turned to Charlotte. “Do you think you could sound out Caroline and see if she knows what changed Lily’s mind?”
“I can try,” Charlotte said. She folded her napkin and set it on her plate. “I just don’t want Caroline to feel like she’s getting the third degree. She’s Lily’s mother, remember.”
“You’re the most diplomatic person I know,” Rose said as she poured another cup of tea for Liz. “I know you can figure something out.”
“Are you going to give her a trowel along with that line, Rose?” Liz asked.
Charlotte turned her head to look at her friend. “Liz, what on earth are you talking about?”
“Rose is laying it on a little thick,” Liz said.
“Are you trying to tell me I’m not diplomatic?” Charlotte said. Her hackles were up.
Liz waved the question away with one hand. “Heavens, no. You’re far more diplomatic than I am.”
“Everyone’s more diplomatic than you are,” Rose retorted.
Avery burst into the room then. Her hair looked like something Elvis might have dragged around the parking lot. There was a smudge of dirt, or maybe it was makeup, on one cheek and a huge smile on her face.
“The window’s done, and you have to see it!” she exclaimed.
I got to my feet. “Okay, then. Let’s go.”
I took a step toward the shop doors, and Avery put up both hands to stop me.
“No,” she said. “You have to go around and see it from the front to get the full effect.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” Rose said. “I can’t wait to see what you’ve done.” She patted Avery on the cheek and started for the back door.
“Kiddo, do you know how cold it is outside?” Liz asked.
Avery’s face fell.
Mr. P. got to his feet. “A little cold can be very invigorating,” he said.
Mac smiled as he stood up as well. “Yes, it can, Alfred,” he said.
Liz pushed back her chair. “I like to be invigorated as much as the next guy.” She smiled at her granddaughter. “Let’s go.”
We all cut through the parking lot and went to stand on the sidewalk in front of the store.
“Oh. My” was the only thing I could think of to say.
“I like it,” Rose proclaimed. “Do you think Avery could do an Aerosmith window?”
Liz had her arms folded across her chest. “You’re not going to remind us about the time Steven Tyler’s mouth had two tongues and yours didn’t have any—are you?”
“You’re just jealous,” Rose said with a saucy grin.
Alfred looked puzzled. “You dated Steven Tyler, Rosie?” he asked.
“It was just a fling, dear,” she said, patting his arm.
Avery had faithfully re-created all four of the members of KISS down to Paul Stanley’s Starchild makeup and—heaven help us—his chest hair. She’d stenciled A KISS IS STILL A KISS on the window in red letters.
Mac turned to look at me. He didn’t even try to stifle a grin.
“Don’t you dare say the word ‘interesting,’” I hissed.
“I like it,” he said.
“She managed to connect a metal band, Casablanca and Valentine’s Day,” I said. “I like it, too.” There wouldn’t be another Valentine’s-themed window like it anywhere in town.
“Can we go back inside?” Liz said. “My girls are freezing.”
“I’m all right,” Rose said as we made our way up to the front door.
“I wasn’t talking about you,” Liz said, pointedly crossing her arms over her chest.
Rose rolled her eyes as she figured out Liz’s meaning. “Oh, for heaven’s sake,” she said.
Avery was waiting for us in the shop, too twitchy to stand still.
“Sweetie pie, you did a wonderful job,” Rose exclaimed, wrapping her in a hug. “You make me want to run off and become a groupie.” She turned and smiled at Mr. P. “Not that I’m going to.”
“Charlotte helped a lot,” Avery said. “She did the Paul guy’s chest hair, and she styled all the wigs.”
Rose turned her smile on Charlotte. “Good job,” she said, eyes twinkling.
“Absolutely,” Liz said. One eyebrow went up and she gave Charlotte a sly smile. “Nice work with the chest hair.”
“What about me, Nonna?” Avery asked. “Do you really like it?”
“It’s fantastic,” Liz said.
Avery threw her arms around her grandmother. “Do you mean it?”
“Of course I mean it,” Liz said. “Would I lie to you?”
“Uh, yeah,” Avery said. “You said you liked the smoothie I made for you yesterday and then I caught you pouring it down the sink.”
Liz kissed the top of Avery’s head. “Smoothies have fruit and yogurt, ice cream even. They do not have kale. Kale is not something we’re supposed to drink.”
“It’s going to get people’s attention,” Mac said. He gave her a fist bump.
Avery looked at me. “Do you like it, Sarah?” she asked.
“Yes, I do,” I said. “You did a great job.”
I glanced at Charlotte. “You too.”
Rose was standing beside me, and I put my arm around her shoulders. “You know what this calls for?” I said.
“Cake!” Avery, Mr. P. and Liz said at the same time.
I raised my eyebrows and looked down at Rose. “Tomorrow’s moving day, but maybe after that you could christen the oven in your new apartment.”
Rose clasped her hands together. “What a wonderful idea.” She linked her arm through Avery’s and started for the storeroom. “What do you think we should make?” I heard her say. “Lemon chiffon or maybe angel food with fruit and whipped cream?”
“I’ll go clean up,” Charlotte said.
I smiled at her. “Thanks.”
“I’m going to see what I can find out about this Wellington Group,” Mr. P. said.