to stage outdoor productions.
“Do you think Kai will stay in Summer Beach and help run the new theater?” Poppy asked.
“I can see your mind whirring,” Ivy said, chuckling. “Axe could probably use your help to market the kick-off event.”
“Kai told me she doubts she’ll go back on tour with the theater group.” Shelly folded her arms and leaned forward. “And she said that Carol Reston made a substantial donation to fund the new facility that Axe is building on his land. He started a nonprofit organization to run it.”
Poppy bounced a little on her stool. “Do you think Kai and Axe might get married?”
“I think it’s too soon to start that rumor,” Ivy said, wagging a finger at Poppy. “This town is too small for such talk.”
“Hey, Mom, I’m back,” Sunny called out as the back door banged. “Hey, Aunt Shelly, Poppy.”
“How was school?” Ivy asked automatically. Sunny wore a sky-blue top and faded jeans with flip-flops. With help from her cousin Poppy and Imani’s son Jamir, Sunny had made the transition from Boston to Summer Beach and the university in nearby San Diego.
Sunny dropped her backpack by the door. “Pretty good. I have to start studying for final exams soon.”
“Let me know if you need any help studying,” Poppy said. She slid off her stool and gathered the empty glasses. “Break time is over for me. I need to finish this marketing plan.”
“And I want to pick up my gardening boots and see Mitch,” Shelly said, stretching her arms overhead.
“Could you bring back some supplies for me from Nailed It?” Ivy asked. The hardware store was next to Java Beach. “Washers and screws, some sort of drain de-clogger, and a couple of other things.” Although solidly built, the old house was still a constant work-in-progress.
Shelly pushed back from the counter. “Sure, just tell me what you need.”
“I’ll have to make a list,” Ivy said.
Sunny placed her hands on her mother’s shoulders. “I have some time before I’m going out tonight. If you want to go with Aunt Shelly, I can watch the front desk and set up for tonight’s wine-and-tea event.”
Ivy swung around, surprised and pleased at Sunny’s offer. “Why, I’d appreciate that. That would be a huge help.”
Sunny grinned shyly. “I’m part of this team, too. I mean, as long as I’m here, right?”
“Yes, you are,” Ivy replied, hugging her. No longer spoiled and belligerent, Sunny had overcome the attitude of privilege that her father had instilled in her by lavishing money, cars, and gifts on her. Shelly and Poppy grinned and gave Sunny high-fives.
“You’re on,” Shelly said. “Let’s go, Ives. We can take the old Jeep. But I want to change first. That yellow sundress Mom gave us is calling my name.”
Ivy smiled. “Mitch will like that.”
As she watched Shelly race up the back stairs, Ivy thought about how much she would miss Shelly. After moving in with Mitch, Shelly would still come to work, but knowing her sister was sleeping at the other end of the hallway had given Ivy a feeling of comfort over the past year. Together, they had made it through a difficult period—Ivy with Jeremy’s death and Shelly with the end of her long relationship with Ezzra.
And now, here they were, together at the beginning of new chapters in their lives. Mitch and Bennett were essentially good men. Yet Ivy still sensed warning signs simmering just beneath the surface. Were they really the men that Ivy and Shelly thought they were?
And how could they ever be sure?
7
“I’ll meet you back at the Jeep,” Ivy said as Shelly pulled into a parking space on Main Street. While they could have walked to the village, carrying the vintage wedding dress would have been cumbersome.
“Sounds good. Then we can go to Java Beach and the hardware store.” After Shelly parked, she hurried to the shoe repair shop to pick up her gardening boots. The old soles had come loose.
While her sister did that, Ivy carried the dingy wedding dress, lace coat, and extra lace into the Laundry Basket, a dry cleaner and alterations shop. Everything needed to be freshened.
When she stepped inside, the fresh aroma of lavender and laundry detergent reminded her of her mother’s linen closet. A capable looking woman with steel-gray hair stood behind the counter.
“Welcome to the Laundry Basket. Laundry or dry cleaning for you today?”
“I’m not sure. Do you handle vintage clothes?” Ivy asked.
“Everything is vintage around here, including me. I’m Louise, and this is my shop. I’ll do my best