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in a loud voice, then motioned for Piper to precede him inside.
    A man emerged from the room beyond, ducking his head to walk beneath the low, exposed beams.
    “Don’t call her,” he murmured, shaking his head as he beckoned them inside. “She’s at the crucial stage.”
    “Of what?”
    “I don’t know, exactly, but she says it’s crucial.” He held out his hand, smiled at Piper. “I’m Harold Cranbrook, Ida’s husband. And you’re the lady who’s going to put the Bay on the map. Come on in.”
    “Piper Langley.” She shook his hand. “And I hope you’re right.”
    “Jason hasn’t steered us wrong yet.”
    As far as she could tell, everybody liked Jason. That would make it easier to work for him. She hoped.
    Piper glanced around. It was like walking into a doll’s house. Everything seemed so tiny. How did a man as large as Harold endure living among all this china, crystal and dolls?
    “Ida’s out on the deck. Is it too chilly for us to join her?”
    “Let’s go,” Piper agreed, relieved they’d be away from the fragile objects, at least for a little while. She eased left, leaving a wide gap between her leg and the tiny, blue china ladies perched atop a table, then blushed when Jason winked at her and followed suit on tiptoe.
    “Hey there! I didn’t hear you arrive. Come on out.” Ida slid open the patio door, then wrapped her tiny arms around Jason in a hug. She did the same to Piper. “I’m glad you could come, Miss Langley. Welcome to Serenity Bay.”
    “Thank you. It was sweet of you to invite me.”
    “Jason told me you used to live here. We only moved here two and a half years ago, so I didn’t know your grandparents, but I’ve heard a lot about Sara and Gordon Young from the old-timers on the Bay.” She basted the ribs, pushed a fork against the meat, then shook her head and closed the lid. “People used to talk about how he’d sail her around the coves in that cute little sailboat. What’s it called— Shalimar, that’s it. Such an unusual name.” Ida glanced at Jason, raised one eyebrow.
    “Papa said it sounded like a faraway place you’d escape to. That’s why he chose it.” Piper noticed some kind of undercurrent running between the mayor and his office helper. She decided to wait and see what it was about.
    “Piper uses Shalimar to get to work.” Jason’s gaze remained on the sizzling barbecue.
    “Only when it’s good weather,” she said.
    “Like today. I heard you’ve been talking to the guild.” Ida glanced at Jason as if she knew something. “So has Piper given you her report yet?”
    “What report?” Piper glanced back and forth, even checked Harold’s expression. “Did I miss something?”
    “Jason here is a bit obsessive when it comes to business in the Bay. Scratch that. He’s a lot obsessive. Not that he doesn’t have a good reason. Betrayal by your best friend is never nice.” Ida patted his shoulder as if he were six. “If my hunch is right, and it is, he’ll want to know exactly what you did this afternoon.”
    “But he already knows. I told him my plans this morning.” Piper accepted a seat on a wicker chair, then glanced at Jason. He was frowning at Ida. Piper didn’t blame him. Being betrayed by your best friend sounded horrible.
    Maybe that’s why he’d come to Serenity Bay, to prove to the powers at Expectations that he could handle more than one aspect of development. Maybe he hoped his work here would push him up their career ladder faster. Please, not another Baron.
    “I am not obsessive.”
    “Ha!” The tiny woman sat down, crossed her arms over her thin chest. “You like to pretend you aren’t, but you’re totally obsessed by the Bay’s future.” She looked at Piper. “Controlling, too.”
    “Stop badgering the boy, Ida. We elected him to be concerned about Serenity Bay. I’d say he’s doing his job perfectly.” Harold turned to Piper, lowering his voice. “They’re like two five-year-olds in a school yard.