Brendan looked close to losing his appetizers. ‘Vampire kryptonite!’ he said, wiping a layer of sweat off his forehead. ‘Are they trying to kill us?’ Ivy knew her boyfriend was exaggerating. A small taste of garlic would hardly be enough to poison them, but it was enough to make them feel deathly ill.
‘I know,’ said Ivy, pulling her sister and Brendan into a huddle. ‘Consider this Garlic-CON 5! This is not a drill, people! Brendan, you find a baguette.’ She pointed to the pantry. ‘And I’ll grab the butter. We’ll make some fake garlic bread and pass that round the vampires.’
‘Olivia can pass out the real garlic bread to anyone who can eat it,’ suggested Brendan, sucking in his breath.
Olivia hesitated. ‘Do you really think that will work?’
Ivy looked deadly serious. ‘Brendan can use diversion tactics to provide cover if either of us needs it.’
‘Diversion tactics?’ Now Brendan was the one who was less than gung-ho.
Ivy sighed. ‘OK, so I know the plan may be a bit sketchy, but it’s the best I could come up with on such short notice. I’m not a mastermind.’
Olivia grinned. ‘Are you sure about that?’
At that moment they heard the girls’ grandmother calling for them. It sounded urgent.
‘Right,’ said Ivy, placing her hand in the centre of their human triangle. ‘Are we in or are we out?’
‘I’m in.’ Olivia put her hand over her sister’s. ‘I’m in.’ Brendan placed his large hand on top. ‘Great, Operation Garlic Bread is a go! Now, break!’ They tossed their hands in the air. Ivy and Brendan hurried to retrieve the supplies. Brendan sliced the flaky baguette while Ivy buttered. Olivia arranged the fake garlic bread neatly on a tray and, in hardly any time at all, they had created a non-toxic dish that looked exactly the same as Aunt Rebecca’s famous-but-lethal garlic bread. The trio hustled outside, ready to serve.
‘Aunt Rebecca, you’ve worked so hard,’ Olivia exclaimed, a little too loudly, to give Ivy and Brendan their cue. ‘Please, let us!’ Olivia scooped up the tray of real garlic bread and began circling the table. As usual, Horatio couldn’t resist getting in on the table-waiting, too. He passed out napkins and wiped up stray crumbs.
Her aunt enthusiastically took two pieces for her plate. ‘Charles, please help yourself!’
Charles pulled at his collar. Brendan went into a fit of coughing. Oh no, quick! Ivy darted forwards with her platter of harmless bread, while Olivia moved down the table to her parents, the Abbotts.
‘Olivia, will you go ahead and serve the Count and Countess first?’ Aunt Rebecca called. Ivy froze. Her sister didn’t seem to know what to do.
Brendan jumped to the rescue. ‘Pardon me, Rebecca, I was wondering . . .’ He scratched his head. ‘Do you know how to do any country dances? See, I’ve always wanted to try. Could you show me?’
Aunt Rebecca looked Brendan up and down, as he stood in his black, rail-straight jeans and burgundy button-down shirt. ‘Really?’ she asked.
Ivy fought back the laughter bubbling up in her throat. That was the first idea that came to Brendan? Country dancing?
Brendan’s eyes flitted to Ivy as she served the plain bread to her grandparents. Mission accomplished. ‘Oh, never mind.’ He tried to back away, but Aunt Rebecca caught his wrist.
‘Don’t be silly!’ she said, slapping her knee. ‘I think it’s a great idea.’ Once upon a time, Aunt Rebecca had thought Brendan was a no-good teenage yob. Now, she’d clearly changed her mind.
Brendan fidgeted. ‘We don’t even have music, so it’s OK. I’ll just sit down.’
Ivy gave Brendan a wicked grin. ‘I think I saw a guitar in the house.’
‘I’ll get it,’ offered Ivy’s father.
Brendan shot Ivy a ‘Help me’ look, but all she could do was snigger. She loved Brendan, but this was going to be fun!
Mr Vega returned with the guitar. ‘It’s been a while, but I think I remember how to play.’ He strummed a chord and, to Ivy’s surprise, it actually sounded good. Olivia clapped as Mr Vega began to pick out a lively country tune, filling the air with music and laughter.
Aunt Rebecca and Brendan stood facing each other. ‘Take my waist,’ she said. ‘And now my hand.’ The two stood as if ready to waltz. Brendan looked like he would rather have eaten an entire clove of garlic. ‘Two steps back. One step to the side. Two steps back and do-si-do.’ Aunt Rebecca locked elbows with Brendan and together they skipped in a circle.
Ivy gave Olivia a thumbs-up. One mission down: one mission to go. Ivy just wasn’t sure her boyfriend would ever forgive her.
Olivia skipped one of her checkers over Brendan’s, taking it off the board. Olivia had already captured half of Brendan’s pieces. She and Brendan were playing a game at the living-room table in Aunt Rebecca’s house while Ivy had a quick riding lesson outside. Olivia spotted Ivy riding by, holding on to the saddle with a death grip. At least she was trying!
‘Hey . . .’ Olivia watched Brendan make his move on the board. ‘Do you know what’s been up with Ivy lately?’ Olivia felt weird going to Ivy’s boyfriend for information, but she had to get to the bottom of this! ‘She’s seemed distracted and yesterday she was on the VVV and wouldn’t let me see what she was doing. That’s a serious violation of Twin Code 101!’
Brendan squirmed in his seat. ‘I have no idea what you’re talking about.’ His voice cracked and he cleared his throat. ‘I mean, she seems fine to me at least.’ Olivia wasn’t so sure, but before she could say as much, Brendan switched subjects. ‘While we’re talking about Ivy, though, I was wondering if you could maybe tell me what her favourite flower is. If you know it.’