by this connection that Darla had. “Do you write often?”
“Every week now. Not so much when our children were young.” Darla’s voice faded away on that thought.
Ivy sliced off the end of the bread and gave Darla the next slice. Steam rose from it. “As for Mitch and Shelly, you can be an important part of their children’s lives. I loved having my grandmother live nearby. She taught me so many things. In fact, this is her bread recipe. She taught me how to make it when I was about twelve years old.”
“I could teach a child a thing or two. Good things,” Darla added quickly. “Like fishing or skimming rocks.”
“Things you did with your son, right?”
Darla glanced at a photo of a young boy on the wall and nodded. Tears rimmed her eyes. “I know Mitch loves Shelly. I suppose I hadn’t thought too far ahead.” A whisper of a smile crossed her face. “Imagine. Me, a grandmother. Hearing about my friends’ grandchildren…” She stopped and shook her head.
“I’ll bet that’s hard,” Ivy said softly. None of them—Shelly, Ivy, or Darla—were going anywhere other than Summer Beach. Ivy couldn’t imagine selling the inn. So, they had to learn how to get along. “Soon, you’ll have something to add to that conversation.”
“I will, won’t I?” Darla bit into the banana nut bread. “I think this is your best effort so far,” she said with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Ivy was relieved over Darla’s change of heart. Yet she wasn’t finished. “Now, about Charlie and this marriage wagering that he’s been encouraging. What do you think it would take for him to call it off? That might be making Mitch nervous. What do you think?”
“Charlie likes to have fun and make a little bit on the side. I didn’t think there was much harm in that. But I can see your point. You think that might cause Mitch to get cold feet?”
“I couldn’t say.” She hoped that Darla could connect the dots between that and the potential for grandchildren. “But it can’t be helpful, especially right under Mitch’s nose at Java Beach.” She hesitated. “I don’t suppose you’d have any influence over Charlie, would you?”
“Well, I should say I do. His wife Charity, rest her poor soul, was my best friend. If it weren’t for me, she might’ve left him years ago. After Charity died, I cooked and cleaned for that man. Not that I wanted anything from him, mind you. Don’t listen to what anyone else has to say about my motives. They were pure, I tell you.” She rolled her eyes. “Old gossip mongers.”
Ivy rested her chin on her hand. “So, what shall we do about them and Charlie?”
“I’ll take care of my friends. Now, about Charlie… I hardly think he’d do this except for the fact that he lost a little money at the horse races not long ago.”
“Does Charlie do anything?”
“He has a small pension, that’s all.”
Ivy thought quickly. “I might have a way for him to make a little cash on the side—as long as he stops taking bets on our weddings. That’s against the law, and I’d hate to see him suffer the consequences. Chief Clarkson can be mighty tough.”
“You don’t think the chief would arrest Charlie, do you?”
“I’m just saying it’s a possibility, especially since he’s taking bets on what the mayor is doing. Bennett is a city official, and well, it could be serious.” Ivy held her breath and waited. She had no idea if that mattered, but she’d try anything.
“Oh, dear. I hadn’t thought of it that way.” Worry lines creased Darla’s face. “I should call him right away and warn him. Still, I don’t know how he’ll respond.”
“Ask him to come over. Maybe he’d like a loaf of bread.” Ivy tapped the other loaf.
A smile grew on Darla’s face, and she marched into the kitchen and plucked the receiver from the harvest gold wall phone. She dialed the number on the rotary dial—which seemed to take achingly forever. She cradled the phone between her ear and her shoulder and tapped her foot.
Ivy could hardly stand the wait.
Darla’s eyes brightened when he answered. “Charlie, get over here,” Darla said in a gruff voice. “I need to talk to you about something important.” Switching to sweetness, she added, “And I have some warm banana nut bread right out of the oven for you.”
Darla listened for a moment, then held up a finger to Ivy. “Forget that. I need you to get here