a dressing room. At the far end was a large trifold mirror with a round, raised fitting platform in front of it that had probably served for alterations. On either side, rows of mirrored closets and cedar shelves lined the perimeter. A chandelier sparkled overhead, casting a pretty glow over the room. Two vintage wingback chairs that Ivy had updated with marine-blue slipcovers sat to one side.
Shelly was admiring her mother’s silk scarves. “I remember Mom wearing every one of these. Around her hair or neck, sometimes tied to her purse or worn as a halter top or skirt.” She held a beautifully printed Italian silk scarf to her face. “I can still detect her perfume.” Shelly looked up. “I hope nothing happens to them on this trip.”
“I think they’ll be fine.” Though Ivy was trying to ease Shelly’s worries, she was concerned. “They’ve traveled the world. We shouldn’t worry. Besides, they seem so happy and excited,” she added, which was true. “They’re doing what they’ve always loved.”
Shelly sighed. “I guess we should be glad they can still can.”
“That’s right,” Ivy said. “Now, about all this.” She waved her hand. “I have plenty of open drawers and shelves in here for Mom’s things. Take what you want, or help yourself any time.”
“I’ll leave most of it in here. My closet is a little crowded. So is Mitch’s.”
Shelly knelt and began to fill the empty drawers. She shared her room with Poppy—and sometimes with Sunny when they needed another guest room, or Poppy was in Los Angeles visiting her marketing clients. Sunny stayed in one of the Sunset suites when she could.
Ivy was glad that Sunny had become flexible about that.
When Ivy had moved from Boston, she hadn’t brought many clothes because they were all wrong for Summer Beach. Sweaters and woolen skirts and slacks were too heavy for the mild climate. She gave away all but a few lightweight sweaters to a shelter before she moved.
Since she’d arrived in Summer Beach, she sometimes shopped at a local thrift store, and her mother had given her a few sundresses. Fortunately, she didn’t need much for beach living, as any extra money was earmarked for improvements at the inn.
After Bennett brought the rest of the suitcases and boxes upstairs and deposited them in the dressing room, he turned to Ivy. “See you at supper tonight.” He dropped another kiss on her cheek and left.
Ivy stepped to the window and pressed her fingers against the old, wavy glass panes. She watched him race to his SUV as raindrops dotted his shoulders. She really loved this man.
Just then, a raincloud passed over the sun, darkening the room. Ivy turned on the overhead chandelier and joined her sister.
Shelly rocked back on her heels. “We got lucky with these guys, didn’t we?”
“They’re the lucky ones.” Ivy nudged her sister, and they both laughed.
Ivy unzipped one of the suitcases and lifted out another stack of her mother’s silk scarves. She tucked them into an open drawer and ran her hand over the brilliant rainbow of colors. Shades of turquoise, coral, yellow, emerald, and sapphire gleamed under light cast through the chandelier’s sparkling crystal prisms. As she gazed at the silken colors, she realized she’d inherited her mother’s appreciation for color—now evident in her painting.
“Shoes on the shelves?” Shelly asked.
“That’s right,” Ivy replied. “And I’ll put the empty suitcases in the last closet.”
Shelly zipped a suitcase. “This one is ready to go.”
“I’ll get that.” Ivy stood and carried the empty suitcase to the farthest closet. Like the rest, this one was cedar lined. Even today, the faint aroma of sweet cedarwood wafted into the air whenever she opened a closet door.
Ivy lifted the case into the closet and pushed it toward the back wall.
“Here’s another one,” Shelly said, hefting an old tapestry bag.
“I’ll put it on top of the other one to save room.” While she still had space, Sunny had already filled another closet. Ivy took the case and shoved it on top of the first one. As she did, she suddenly lost her balance and stumbled against the luggage.
“Oh, geez!” Flailing, Ivy kept falling. At once, the closet’s rear wall gave way, and she crashed down onto the suitcases.
“Are you okay?” Shelly reached out to her. “Take my hand.”
Ivy was sprawled across the suitcases, which had tumbled through a cracked edge in the wall. “Something else to repair,” she muttered. “Can you get your phone and shine some light here? Some old nails must have popped