Then Charles’s face broke into a grin, and Olivia realised that he’d been joking the whole time.
‘Oh, come now,’ he said. ‘We all know the answer, don’t we?’ He turned to Lillian. ‘Who could possibly be better than you, darling? And not only that – the two of us could collaborate on the design for the space!’
Lillian’s face broke into a beaming smile. ‘I’m having so many ideas for what we could do! The films we could make, the screenings we could put on – of course we’d have to have a Local Film Group, where movie nuts could talk all day about films . . .’
Behind Olivia, Camilla let out an excited yelp at all the movie talk.
The sound made Lillian turn around with a quick smile. ‘Camilla, I assume you’re in? I don’t think I could do this without a helper.’
‘Yes!’ Camilla almost knocked Olivia over as she barged past to clutch hands with Lillian. Suddenly, words were spilling out of her, breaking through all the shyness that had held her silent until then. ‘I have been so desperate for a place where I could be creative with structure!’
Lillian nodded firmly. ‘I want to hear all of your ideas. Come find a quiet corner with me, and we’ll brainstorm.’
She started to pull Camilla away . . . then paused to pull out the cellphone from her handbag. ‘I just have to call someone first . . .’
She’s calling Harker to turn down his offer, Olivia realised, with a bittersweet pang. She knew exactly how that kind of phone call went.
Where was Jackson right now? And how long would it be before they were really together again, for more than a scattered week here or there?
Olivia sighed.
She hated that Lillian had to turn down this opportunity . . . but a talented filmmaker like Lillian would always get new opportunities in the future. Olivia was sure of that.
As her bio-dad turned back to receive the congratulations of the crowd, Olivia felt a familiar hand curve around her arm. Ivy stood behind her, holding hands with Brendan and beaming.
‘We heard it all,’ Ivy said. ‘Everyone’s making incredible plans for the future, huh?’
‘Including my dad and Aunt Carla,’ Brendan said, and shook his head in wonder. ‘And we’re not moving to Pine Wood.’
‘I’m so glad!’ Olivia reached out to grab his free hand and Ivy’s at the same time. ‘Well, we all knew this exhibit would be a hit, didn’t we?’
‘Always,’ Ivy said. ‘But I have to say, as much as I admire Dad . . .’ She shook her head, grinning. ‘Even I wasn’t expecting such a fabulous outcome!’
‘How could you not, when we were both involved?’ Beaming, Olivia released Brendan’s hand to wrap him and her sister in a group hug. Together, they’d found a way to keep everyone they loved exactly where they belonged . . . here in Franklin Grove, with them.
And now that everything was all settled . . .
‘It’s time to solve a new mystery,’ Olivia whispered to her twin. ‘Because I can’t wait another minute to start looking for those vintage fashions hidden somewhere in this museum!’
Ivy laughed. Brendan groaned. But there was no question in Olivia’s mind that they would find the hidden fashions together . . . because when she was with her twin sister, nothing was impossible.