I offer Rose my hand to play with as Wanda Asks how I've been. "Busy," I tell her lightly. "But it didn't rain during the haying, thank heaven for small mercies."

Another woman joins us, and I nod to her. "I'm Jane." She isn't familiar, but I don't come out to the Abbey often.

I turn back to Wanda. "Is...everything all right at the Dormouse?" I know what people have been saying, but I'd rather hear about the remodeling from her.