in this season,” Ivy said. Shelly had brought the neglected grounds back to life with trimming, fresh plantings, and a lot of care.
Shelly snipped a pale pink rose that was just unfurling from its bud. “Pink and white seem like sweet bride-to-be colors.”
Ivy smiled at her comment. “Is that what you plan on having?”
“Me? Oh, no.” Shelly twirled the flower she held. “I’d like to have the most exotic, fascinating arrangements this coast has ever seen.” She laughed as she tucked the shears into the back pocket of her worn jeans. “Though what I’ll probably do is clip flowers from the garden for our small affair. Large weddings come with a lot of headaches. Mitch and I don’t need any of that. It’s about the marriage, not the wedding.”
“Yes, but weddings are nice to look back on.” Ivy hesitated. She didn’t want to cause concern for Shelly, but she needed to plan, too. “Are you and Mitch still planning on getting married before Mom and Dad leave for their trip?”
“I’d like to.” Shelly handed the pink rose to Ivy. “Maybe I’m not as free-spirited as I pretend to be.” She drew a breath to say something else but hesitated.
“You’re exactly who you are, Shelly. Why try to be anything else? That’s exhausting.”
A thoughtful expression filled Shelly’s face. “That’s what Mitch says, too. But I’m ready for my real life to begin. I’ve waited years to sail into my sunrise.”
Ivy knew what she meant. Shelly wanted to start a family, and her former boyfriend in New York, Ezzra, had dangled a promise of a future together for years—without specifically committing. After numerous break-ups, he’d lure her back with another promise, though the future Shelly longed for never materialized.
Now, Ivy had her suspicions, though she might be treading on sensitive nerves. “What’s holding you back?”
Shelly fiddled with a long strand of chestnut hair that had escaped her messy topknot, twirling it around her finger. “Mitch might be having second thoughts.”
“Or maybe he needed time to adjust to the idea of marriage,” Ivy said, sliding her arm across Shelly’s shoulder and drawing her close. “What did he tell you?”
Shelly’s eyes glistened, and she blinked hard. “He doesn’t have to say anything. I know the signs. Ezrra painted them in vivid color for me. The truth is, I can’t drag a date out of Mitch. I gave him a choice of three, and one has already passed.”
Ivy tried to remain upbeat. “That might not mean what you think it does.”
“It’s pretty clear to me.” Shelly scrunched her eyebrows together. “I’m the one who proposed. Mitch got swept up with the idea, and now he’s had time to reconsider. If I’m honest with myself, I should have known he wasn’t ready. He’s a young, good-looking surfer and still has years to play around before settling down. And he could find someone a lot younger who doesn’t have a shelf-date nearing expiration.”
“That last part is hardly true.” Thirty-eight wasn’t necessarily too old, but Shelly’s age did increase her medical risk of pregnancy. Yet Mitch seemed as devoted as ever. What was Ivy missing?
Ivy brought the rose to her nose, inhaling as she thought. “Have you tried to talk about this?”
“We’re both avoiding the obvious.”
“You might be misinterpreting his actions,” Ivy said. “From what I’ve seen, Mitch is completely enamored with you. Maybe he simply wants to get to know you better. Or he wants to be spontaneous.”
Shelly pursed her lips. “It’s been a whole year. And I don’t see Bennett backing out on you. He knows what he wants. Maybe you two should get married before Mom and Dad leave.”
“Speaking of Mom, she asked us to come over tomorrow to pick up another load of housewares and clothing she wants to leave with us,” Ivy said, swiftly avoiding Shelly’s comment. Since they had both become engaged over the holidays, Ivy had been concerned about the competition that Shelly might feel. “Ask her what she thinks about Mitch.”
“Maybe I will.” Shelly drew fingers across her cheeks. “After I put these flowers in the guest rooms, I’ll head to Hidden Garden. Need anything?”
“Not a thing. Say hello to Leilani and Roy for me.” Ivy sent the owners business whenever she could. They had been kind enough to donate a tree to them for Christmas last year. “Our new guests are going for a swim soon, so I’ll put the flowers in their rooms then.”
“Thanks,” Shelly said. When she passed the tin of flowers, Ivy chuckled. “Wait a minute.