anyone. We simply ask that the pool area be quiet after eleven at night so that other guests can sleep.” Mrs. Mehta was the only other new guest, so Ivy was glad to have this party here.
A few long-term guests were still in residence at the inn after a fire had ravaged their homes on the ridgetop overlooking the town, such as Imani Jones, the local attorney-turned-flower-vendor, and her son, Jamir, who was studying pre-med. Their home had been rebuilt and would be ready as soon as the interior was finished.
Another guest, Gilda, wrote for magazines. She didn’t seem to be in a hurry to go anywhere. She’d told Ivy that she and Pixie, her Chihuahua, liked the ease of living at the inn. And although Bennett’s house had been repaired, he’d leased it to a family and decided to remain in the old chauffeur’s apartment above the garages behind the house. Ivy had been glad to see him stay.
“First thing we’re going to do is dive into the pool,” Rachel said. “It looked gorgeous in the website photos.”
“Julia Morgan designed it,” Ivy explained. “She was the architect who designed Hearst Castle on the northern coast of California.”
“That’s so cool,” Carrie said, speaking up again. “I’ve read about her. I’m going to be an architect, too. Starting in September.” She did a little happy dance.
“We’re all graduating in June,” Rachel said. “I’m the only one not going on to graduate school right away. My cousin Carrie will design our homes, Belinda will clean up the ocean, and Giselle will handle our taxes. I might catch up in another year or two.” She blushed slightly.
“After the baby,” one of her friends said before clapping her hand over her mouth.
Rachel sighed. “I just found out. My boyfriend Topper and I were both going to law school. We hadn’t planned it this way, but now we’ll have to get married sooner…” Her voice trailed off, and a flush gathered in her cheeks. “Before, I was only worried about the wedding. Now, that’s the least of my concerns.”
“Except that her mom is such a perfectionist,” Carrie interjected.
Rachel nodded. “At this point, a wedding seems almost irrelevant,” she said, lowering her voice almost to a whisper. “I’m scared to death. I don’t know if I’m ready to be a mother. What if I’m terrible at it?”
Ivy remembered her early, angst-filled years of motherhood. “Your love is what matters most.” She smiled at the nervous young woman. “Maybe you’d like to go to the local day spa for a massage while you’re here.”
Rachel’s eyes lit with relief. “I’d love that. The others want to go to Spirits & Vine tomorrow, but I’d rather do something else. Just the thought of smelling alcohol in a bar—even a very nice one—turns my stomach.” Paling at the idea, Rachel pressed a hand against her abdomen. “I almost didn’t come at all, but they insisted.”
“Under the circumstances, this is a low-key version of what we’d originally planned,” Carrie added. “We all sneaked out of town to do this.”
Ivy withdrew a card from the desk and handed it to Rachel. “Here’s the number to the spa. Let me know if you want me to call for appointments.”
“Thanks,” Rachel said, tucking the card into her pocket. “I’d like that.”
Ivy showed the young women to their rooms. They were about Sunny’s age, and Ivy couldn’t help smiling at their constant chatter. And why not? They were on the brink of exciting, life-changing adventures.
Ivy remembered how exciting those years had been—when anything and everything seemed possible. Life could change in a moment—like when she’d decided to move to Boston for school or when she’d met Jeremy in a coffee shop.
As Ivy closed the door behind Rachel, she made a note to put another lined trash bin in her room near the bed. The young woman looked queasy, and Ivy thought she might be suffering from morning sickness. She’d also bring a basket of ginger ale and peppermint tea, along with plain saltine crackers, to the room.
During this past year, Ivy had learned that little touches could make guests more comfortable, and she enjoyed doing it. She’d spent her adult life taking care of her family, so this role came naturally to her. Except for her painting, she hadn’t trained for much else.
At college, she’d studied art history. She might have gone to work for a museum or an auction house when she was young, but she and Jeremy had started their family right away.