muscle control of her hand and couldn’t release Henrietta’s—when Al stomped back in and began to gesture.
Tracy tried to wave him back. Al was glaring. Any moment the torrent of Russian would begin.
Henrietta smiled at Al, and the torrent of Russian began. Her torrent, both guttural and musical. In a moment Al was beaming, and the two were clustering and hissing consonants like old pals. Henrietta turned back when she and Al had finished.
“I promised him we’d move on so he can do his job. He’s a very nice man, you know.”
“I always thought so.” Knowing a cue when she heard one, Tracy headed toward the door.
“He suggested you begin English classes here.”
“The high school’s got that covered, but come fall we’re going to offer a monthly night of activities for all their ESL students, along with tutors. I thought it might be a nice way to teach a recreational vocabulary and have fun at the same time.”
Henrietta winked at Gladys. “She’s a keeper.”
Gladys was looking less like a mole in the sunlight now. “We think so.”
Henrietta stopped just outside the room where Al was already scrubbing walls. “So why haven’t you organized a fund-raiser to expand your nursery facilities?”
Gladys didn’t mince words. “Asking people for money when there’s so little to go around seems futile.”
“Not if you have a benefactor who’s willing to match dollar for dollar.”
Tracy and Gladys looked at each other.
“Yes, me,” Henrietta said. “And if you just reorganize your space, you won’t need to add on to the building. Do a usage assessment. You’ll need equipment, renovation, I’m sure. I suspect you need full-time personnel and some training for volunteers, too, but the cost shouldn’t be too bad.”
“You’ve already done so much,” Gladys said.
“Yes, and the town needs to shoulder the rest of the burden. But a little incentive is always welcome. And I know Tracy can organize something people will want to support. I bet she already has ideas.”
“I actually have an idea,” Gladys said. “Tracy got me thinking about it.”
Tracy, who had no ideas about anything except getting through the evening, was properly grateful. “Glad to help. Uh…what is it?”
“We have a Biggest Loser contest!” Gladys looked delighted with herself. “We organize teams based on how much weight needs to be lost. All the entry money goes to the center, with prizes for the winners. We have a nutrition consultant give classes and diet tips, special exercise programs, weekly weigh-ins. Anybody can be on a team.”
“You mean like the TV show?” Tracy had seen commercials.
“More teams, but yes.”
“I think it’s charming. Delightful!” Henrietta’s eyes were twinkling.
“Woody and I would both join in the fun,” Gladys said. “We need it.”
“It’s a wonderful summer activity,” Henrietta said.
“Summer? You mean, soon?” Tracy tried to imagine the work a new project was going to entail.
“Oh, don’t worry. You form a committee to help make all the plans. I’ll be on it myself,” Henrietta said.
“Long-distance from Rhode Island?”
Henrietta shook her head. “Oh, no. I suppose none of you know, do you? My house in Newport’s undergoing some serious restoration, so I’ve decided to stay in Florida for the summer.”
Tracy was just coming to grips with the fact that the darling of Palmetto Grove wanted to work hand in hand with her. So far she had made a good impression on Henrietta, but that could change. At least Palm Beach was on the other coast.
She smiled brightly. “Well, great. Palm Beach is definitely closer.”
“Oh, no, I’m going to be right here. I’ve decided to stay on my boat in your harbor. I hate the summer social whirl back home.” Henrietta put her hand on Tracy’s shoulder. “I just know that you and I are going to be friends. And I’ll be right on the spot. You can count on me.”
Wanda’s Wonderful Pies did a steady business all morning, and by three o’clock Wanda shooed Dana out the door. A few slices of this and that remained, but since the shop was closed on Sunday and Monday, Wanda wasn’t baking more. She told Dana to rest. The real work would come on Tuesday and Wednesday, when they prepared forty pies for the Statler reception.
Dana considered staying in town. Lizzie and Olivia were at a friend’s birthday party, and since Alice was playing bridge with friends, Dana had promised she would pick them up at six and bring them home for dinner. But with nothing to do except a little shopping, she drove home instead. Outside the front door, flowers drooped from