Ivy felt the weight of Diana’s glare. Instinctively, she pressed her back against the kitchen countertop, but she had to deal with this new arrival. If this was the daughter, Ivy dreaded meeting the mother. Next to her, Bennett clutched her hand while Poppy lingered near the door as if ready to flee.
Diana drew herself up like a medieval ruler. “Must we tarry in the kitchen like servants? First, my flight was delayed for hours, and now this.”
“Easy,” Bennett whispered, squeezing Ivy’s hand. “Did you find a room for your cousin at the Seal Cove Inn?”
“It’s sold out.” Ivy had woken the proprietor at the other inn in town. But after the long last weekend of summer, the town would empty out. That’s why they had planned the reunion for next week.
“Well, you can certainly make room for me here. Simply move someone.” Diana flicked her hand as if disposing of a troublesome insect.
“It’s too late for that.” Ivy was horrified at Diana’s nonchalant attitude toward kicking a guest from their bed. “But we will find a place for you. And I’ve called my mom.”
Poppy intervened. “Let’s go to the parlor.” Holding the kitchen door for Diana, she mustered the courage to speak to their formidable relation. “I’m Poppy, another cousin. Would you care for a cup of tea or a glass of wine while we figure this out?”
Ivy gave Poppy a wan smile of encouragement.
“Tea? At this time of night?” Diana shot Poppy a withering look. “And I only drink wine with meals. However, you may offer me a digestif.”
“A what?” Poppy asked.
Diana arched a finely drawn eyebrow. “A liqueur or cordial would be appropriate.” She raised her eyes to the ceiling. “Have you all been raised like wolves?”
Ivy couldn’t resist. “More like coyotes. It’s Southern California.”
Poppy’s smile froze on her face. “Okay. How about brandy?”
Ivy wasn’t sure if Poppy was asking her or Diana. Beside her, Bennett coughed. She could tell he was trying not to laugh, so she edged an elbow into his ribs.
Diana gave a derisive sniff. “Cognac is my preference.”
Poppy’s eyes widened. “Almost the same thing, right?”
“I suppose I must spell it out,” Diana replied, pressing her fingers to her temples. “Only Cognac is from France, dear child.”
Turning to her stricken niece, Ivy struggled to maintain some semblance of cordiality. “I’ll see our cousin to the front parlor.” With a subtle lift of her chin, she added, “Would you bring her a glass of our finest French Cognac? It’s in the butler’s pantry.”
Thankfully, Poppy recovered, nodding as if she were a practiced connoisseur. They still had the brandy they’d used to make iced Brandy Alexanders for a pool party not long ago. Ice cream, brandy, and crème de cacao with a dash of nutmeg. All they could do was pass off brandy to Diana as French Cognac, though Ivy had her doubts. Still, a nightcap after the evening’s chaos and her cousin’s long trip was definitely in order.
As Ivy led Diana toward the parlor, she heard her mother call out from the front door.
“Diana, dear,” Carlotta cried, rushing toward her niece. With her face devoid of makeup and her hair in a braid, she wore a cotton robe over her pajamas. “What in the world are you doing here? The reunion isn’t until next week.”
“No, you’re wrong,” Diana said. “You clearly stated that it would begin tomorrow. Has Mother arrived?”
Carlotta laughed and hugged her niece. “I think I know the dates of the reunion I’m hosting. But I can understand the mix-up. And I’m glad you arrived early. That will give us much more time together. I hope your mother can join us.”
Ivy was certain of the dates she’d given Diana. Nevertheless, her mother gave an award-winning performance, Ivy thought with admiration. This is going to be a long week. While it wasn’t beginning the way she’d thought, maybe she’d learn something from her mother. Ivy arranged a smile on her face.
Behind Carlotta, Mitch ambled inside. He wore a faded T-shirt with the arms shorn off and a pair of wrinkled sleep shorts. His hair stuck up at even odder angles than usual.
“Thanks for bringing Mom over,” Ivy said to him as she stepped to one side and lowered her voice. “I know you have to be up early to open Java Beach.”
“You could hear the screaming over the phone from the living room. I couldn’t let Shelly deal with that.” Mitch ran a hand through his hair. “Why did your cousin come so early?”
Ivy turned up her palms. “Someone confused the dates.” Even though Diana didn’t impress her as a pleasant person, she must have had a long day of travel. For a woman of her age and temperament, it couldn’t have been pleasant.
Although she wasn’t that much older than Ivy.
And Ivy had no idea where to put her.
Carlotta guided Diana into the parlor. “When is your mother arriving?”
“I thought she would be here with Robert. Mom barely speaks to me,” Diana replied, her voice edged with indignation. She heaved a burdened sigh. “My flight was delayed, and I had to fend for myself at the airport. I couldn’t find a single porter.”
“How long has it been since you’ve flown?” Ivy asked. She hadn’t seen many porters at domestic airports in years.
“Commercial or private?” Diana shot back.
“I’ve been trying to reach you for a long time,” Carlotta intervened softly.
Diana dipped her head slightly. “I am terribly busy.” Raising her chin, she shot a look at Ivy. “You told me I would have an ocean suite.”
“And you will,” Ivy said. “But not tonight.” She pressed a hand to her pounding heart. No wonder her mother and this side of the family had been estranged for so long. How could her mother want to rekindle a relationship with such people?
While Carlotta and Diana settled in the parlor and talked, Poppy appeared beside her. “Need a nightcap?” She held a tray filled with several vintage brandy snifters. The crystal was old, even if the brandy wasn’t.
Ivy shook her head. “It’s late, and I have to figure out where to put Diana.” It was past midnight now, and even the attic rooms were occupied by the sorority sisters.
Carlotta rose and approached Ivy. “Diana needs rest, mija. Is there a room for her?”
“I don’t suppose we can put her on the couch.”
“No, dear.” Carlotta looked back at her niece, whose proud head was drooping with weariness. “I would give her my futon at Shelly’s, but I fear she wouldn’t be comfortable. And it’s too late to call on Forrest or Flint. Are you sure every room is taken? It’s only until the morning.”
Ivy twisted her lips to one side. She could think of only one alternative, but she didn’t like it.
As if reading her mind, Bennett leaned in. “Let’s give her our apartment. I’ll help you change the sheets.”
Ivy shook her head. “I can’t kick you out of your home.”
“It’s our home, and I think it’s the only logical option given the time.”
Carlotta smiled and hugged Bennett. “That’s so generous. Thank you, my dear. I tell everyone you’re like a son to me.”
For a split second, Ivy almost wished he’d refused. “And where will we go?”
Poppy piped up. “Take my room. It’s a little messy, but I can stay with Sunny. We’ll bunk together anyway when the cousins arrive.”
Ivy smiled at the offer. “I appreciate that, but I hate to dislodge you.”
Bennett held up his palms. “How about the lower level? We’ll be fine there until Paige opens the bookshop in the morning. I have a couple of brand new sleeping bags in the garage.”
Ivy had to laugh at the absurdity of the idea. “Camping in my own house?”
Bennett slid his arm around her shoulder. “Think of it as practice for the great outdoors.”
With a nod, she relented. “At least we’ll be together.” Thank heavens for Bennett and his go-with-the-flow attitude. At least they wouldn’t be there long.
Working together, Ivy and Bennett tidied their unit and changed the sheets. She packed a small bag of toiletries and clothes, and Bennett did the same. They could dress in Poppy’s room in the morning.
As they led Diana up the stairs, she continued complaining.
“I can’t understand why you wouldn’t have an elevator here.” Diana slowed to spare her breath.
“This is a simple beach inn,” Ivy told her, hefting her cousin’s carry-on bag. Bennett had taken the heavier suitcases.
Diana huffed up the stairs, her turban slightly askew from the exertion. “It appears this was once a grand place. You’ve let it go.”
Ivy reached the top of the stairs. “Excuse me?”
“It’s under renovation,” Bennett said quickly.
Ever the diplomat, Ivy thought. She appreciated that, because if it was up to her, she would put Diana on the couch. Immediately, she banished the thought. Was she becoming more like Shelly?
“It certainly needs work.” Diana stepped into the apartment and glanced around. “The help usually lives over the garage. Not what I would call the best room in the house.”
“That’s right. It was the chauffeur’s quarters.” It was past two in the morning, and Ivy had reached her breaking point. Summoning a dose of faux cheerfulness, she showed her cousin to the bedroom. “I’m sure you’ll be comfortable here. Ta-ta.”
With as much flounce as she could muster, Ivy hooked her arm through Bennett’s and steered him through the door.
Ivy was pacing the lower level when Bennett’s footsteps sounded on the stairway.
As he cleared the last step, he dropped a pair of sleeping bags on the floor and grinned. “Ta-ta? First time I’ve ever heard you use that term.”
Ivy folded her arms, feeling a little guilty about her reaction to her cousin. “I’m really trying, but even I have a little ta-ta in me.”
Chuckling, Bennett swept her into his arms. “I’m glad you do.”
She pushed back and planted a finger on his chest. “Are you patronizing me?”
“I wouldn’t dare,” he said, kissing her cheek.
“I’m trying to be a good host, but that woman is insufferable,” Ivy said, pressing a hand to her forehead. Her emotions crackled inside of her like a flame that had suddenly ignited. “I can’t believe Diana is related to us. If she’s like that, just imagine her mother. I have new respect for Mom now. No wonder she kept us away from them.”
“Diana certainly has a way about her.” Bennett nodded toward the camping gear. “But now, let’s get some rest.” Within moments, he’d arranged chair cushions on the floor and unfurled the sleeping bags. “Your suite awaits.”
A strange smell arose, and Ivy wrinkled her nose. “That’s a weird smell.” Together, they unzipped them and laid them flat so they could sleep together.
“This is new gear, although it’s been storage a while.” Bennett opened a couple of the high windows facing the beach.
The damp night air whisked through the openings, carrying with it the scent of the sea that usually instilled a sense of calm vitality in Ivy. But tonight, that would be more difficult. She pushed her hair from her forehead and sighed.
With a nod of understanding, Bennett took her hands. “We can pretend we’re camping on the beach under the stars. Come on, sweetheart. You’ll need rest to deal with your cousin tomorrow.”
That was true. Yet, Ivy realized this wasn’t all about her. “My mom will need a lot of support, too.”
“We both have a busy weekend ahead. Clark and I will help Paige move so you’ll have this room for the reunion.”
Ivy flicked her gaze toward the bookshelves that lined one side of the lower level where they’d relocated the older woman’s bookshop after the earthquake. “That’s a lot of work. What about Mitch?”
“The weekends are his busiest days. We’ll get some others to help out. Brother Rip said he’d bring a couple of young surfers from the beach and put them to work.”
Ivy nodded. “I’m going to miss having Paige here. It’s going to be quiet this winter without her here.”
“It’s best that she’s back in her shop.”
“Paige is excited, too. She’s ordered a fresh delivery of books.” Ivy shivered in the night breeze. Aside from her newly acquainted cousin, she had a lot on her mind. The sorority group was leaving at the end of the weekend.
Bennett peeled off his T-shirt. Lifting the top sleeping bag, he slid in. “You look cold. Join me?”
Still wearing her shorts and T-shirt, Ivy eased in beside him. “This wasn’t how I envisioned this evening ending.”
Bennett wrapped his arms around her. “Surprises are the norm at the Seabreeze Inn. In fact, I’d be surprised if it was any other way.”
“I work hard to make this place run smooth.” Ivy didn’t mean to sound defensive; she was just bone-tired. “Or as smooth as it can.”
“You handle the unexpected well.” He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed it. “And having excitement in our lives is good, even if it’s a little inconvenient. Isn’t this fun for a change?”
“I see your point.” Ivy processed this, then raised herself on one elbow. “Are you calling our existence dull?”
His eye glittered. “Don’t you want to get out and see more of the world?”
“Is this about our honeymoon trip?”
“Not specifically.”
“You know I’m tethered to the inn for a while.” Still, Ivy wished they could find the time soon. She would need it after the reunion.
Bennett enveloped her in his arms and kissed her. “Life has chapters, Ivy Bay. We’ll get around to it. But let’s not leave it until it’s too late.”
Her husband fell asleep quickly, though Ivy lay awake thinking about what he’d said. As important as the inn and the reunion were to her, she also had to make her marriage a priority. After all, they were happier together.
A piercing scream jolted Ivy awake, and for a moment, she’d forgotten where she was. A deep voice rose against the sound of the waves. She lifted herself on their makeshift bed.
Another scream peeled against the early morning calm.
Beside her, Bennett flung off the covers. “That must be Clark.” After grabbing his T-shirt and tugging it on, he sprinted up the stairs.
“Oh, my gosh. Diana.” Ivy scrubbed her hands over her face. Bennett would deal with her cousin, who must have opened the door to a large, imposing stranger. Or Clark might have tried the door. People did that in Summer Beach, especially friends.
Besides, Clark was the police chief.
Ivy groaned. The sun was barely up, and already she had problems. But for this, she needed help. She grappled for her phone. Though she hated to disturb her mother again, this was another emergency. She tapped her phone.
When her mother answered, her words tumbled out. “Mom, I know I probably woke you, but I think you should get over here.” Quickly, she told her what had happened.
“I’m already up with Daisy,” Carlotta said. “I can leave her with Shelly. Mitch has gone to Java Beach, so I’ll take one of the beach bikes and be right over.”
“Thanks, Mom. You’re the best. I realize just how good you are now. If Diana is like her mother, I can’t imagine how you and Nana dealt with Maya.”
“My sister was never easy, but she had her reasons. I’m sorry to learn Maya and Diana have problems, although I suspected as much.”
After Ivy hung up, she drew a long breath, steeling herself against the inevitable. In the thin morning light that filtered through the high open windows, she blinked. She’d never seen the room from this angle, and it was sort of interesting. She was only a few inches off the floor on the chair cushions they had pushed together. Next to this seating area that they used for book club meetings stood a vintage wooden bar where the former owners had hosted parties during Prohibition, safely hidden from prying eyes on this lower level. The bar had beautiful inlaid burl wood patterns.
What’s that? Brushing her messy hair from her face, she narrowed her eyes. A veneer end panel on the bar didn’t look quite right. It seemed oddly askew. Maybe Bennett had bumped against it while he was arranging the bedding.
But she had little time to investigate.
Ivy rose to her feet and stumbled from the tangled bedding. Angling her head, she stared at the bar again. The veneer piece on the end looked a little different, as if it had been added. And it was loose. She gave it a good bang, and it shifted back into place. She’d deal with that later.
Just as she reached the first step, a thud sounded behind her. With her hand on the banister, Ivy glanced back. The thin side panel had fallen off the end of the bar. On the inside of the panel, a charcoal sketch of a woman taunted her.
What on earth was that doing there?
Ivy backed up and looked closer. It was a simple sketch of a woman whose hair was swept from her face, earrings framing the oval shape. But it was the eyes that intrigued her. With a flash of sudden recognition, Ivy stumbled back, her heart racing.
Oddly, the eyes mirrored her own.
Shaking her head in disbelief, she brought it into the light and leaned it against one of Paige’s bookshelves before backing away.
Like the Mona Lisa, the eyes seemed to follow her every move.
Ivy pressed a hand to her forehead. Surely, she was imagining this. This piece and the subject looked more contemporary than the masterpieces she and Shelly had discovered earlier. The paper was simply tacked to the inside of a beautiful veneer panel. Although the artist was talented, the sketch was informal.
But what an odd place to store it, Ivy thought. As unnerving as this find was, she couldn’t examine it right now.
Tearing her attention from the strange discovery, she raced up the stairs to rescue Bennett and Clark from her cousin. As the kitchen door banged shut behind her, she could hear Diana ranting.
“This man barged into my suite. You must call the police.”
Ivy drew a breath to fortify herself. At this time of the morning, the smell of the ocean was thick on the foggy marine layer. Ivy charged up the stairs, huffing in the cool air. Bennett and Clark stood at the top just outside the door. Both were attired in T-shirts and jeans.
Bennett was trying to reason with her cousin. “Ma’am, this is Chief Clark Clarkson. He is the Summer Beach Chief of Police.”
Diana pulled the collar of a quilted satin robe to her throat. Her hair was in frightful disarray, and her robe was tied at a haphazard angle. “I need the real police, not some beach bum pretender.”
“Good morning, Diana,” Ivy said, wedging between Bennett and Clark. “Clark is the police chief. And my husband is the mayor of Summer Beach. They had plans this morning, but we forgot to tell him we’d given you our place. A silly mistake, right?”
Diana backed away from the door. “This is ridiculous. You have the temerity to call this a luxury beachside inn?”
“We never say that.” Ivy pressed her way inside. “We’re more of a shabby chic sort of place.”
“A what?”
Ivy stared at the woman, wondering where she’d gotten her unpleasant set of genes. With Diana’s abrasive attitude, she could ruin the reunion even before her mother arrived.
That is, if Aunt Maya arrived. She’d better, Ivy decided. Especially after putting up with her daughter.
Granted, they had gotten off to an unfortunate beginning, but Diana was unyielding and judgmental. Ivy was flummoxed—what had happened to this woman to make her so bitter and imperious?
With a flash of insight, Ivy understood. Her mother yearned to reunite with her sister to put right whatever had gone so desperately wrong between them. That might have trickled down to impact Diana. If Carlotta had the chance to be a true aunt to Diana, how differently Ivy’s cousin might have turned out.
At that, the lens through which Ivy viewed her aunt and her cousin tilted, and the chaotic situation shifted into focus. As compassion filled her heart, Ivy decided to try a more honest approach.
“We’re of modest means, Diana, but we do want to give you the best we’re capable of providing. My apologies for Chief Clark’s friendly intrusion. He’s a dear friend, and Summer Beach is the sort of town where neighbors tap on the door, and if it’s unlocked, they might walk in. May we start over today? My mother is on her way right now. The two of you can enjoy coffee and breakfast on the balcony overlooking the ocean. You’ll have a beautiful view. In fact, it’s my favorite place to greet a new day.”
Behind her, Clark added, “I’m sorry, ma’am. No harm was intended. May I welcome you to Summer Beach?”
As if struggling with how to react to kindness, Diana frowned at Ivy. “Since you’re married to the mayor, I suppose the matter is settled. I take light cream and two sugars in my coffee.”
“I’ll send Mom right up. She’ll want to hear all about how your mother is doing.”
As the rising sun tossed tendrils of pink across the sky, Ivy backed out and shut the door. While it was early for this type of encounter, it wasn’t the first time she’d had to calm an agitated guest. Still, her head was pounding, and every cell in her body was screaming to return to bed. But it was too late for that.
Clark gave her a thumbs-up, and Bennett put an arm around her. “Now who’s the diplomat?”
Exhaling her tension, she leaned her head against his shoulder. “It’s too early for this.”
“Still, you were impressive,” Bennett said with a grin. “Round one of the day goes to you.”
Ivy managed a smile. “Let’s hope the rest of the family tree bears sweeter fruit.”
As she descended the stairs with Bennett and Clark, Ivy saw the silhouette of her mother on Shelly’s bicycle. She wore a blue-and-white striped mariner top with white cotton pants and sneakers. Her hair was brushed into a ponytail, and she moved with youthful ease. That’s what sailing would do for you, Ivy figured.
Bennett waved to her, then turned to Ivy. “I’ll start the coffee.”
“Thanks. And I’ll make my sunrise omelets for Mom and Diana.” It was going to be a busy morning. Ivy hoped Diana hadn’t woken the sorority sisters. After last night, they needed to sleep in.
Carlotta swung off the bike and parked it by the kitchen door. After embracing Ivy, she nodded upstairs. “How is Diana?”
“Calmer, but I don’t know for how long. I’m sorry I called so early, but I thought she’d need you this morning. How about sunrise omelets for you two?” That’s what her mother called the sweet yellow pepper and avocado omelets she used to make when Ivy was young.
Carlotta turned into the brisk morning breeze off the water. “Thank you, mija. That sounds delicious—maybe a taste of her grandmother’s home will calm Diana. Do you need help?”
“I’ll manage. Your niece will want to see you.” Ivy smiled at the thought of an omelet recipe that had traveled through generations of her family. What other traditions, habits, and lore did they share? She touched her mother’s shoulder. “Was Diana always like this?”
“The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. When we were younger, I thought Maya’s attitude of superiority was merely because she was the oldest and the most fashionable. Part of it can be explained by her life experiences, but she has little reason to swan around like a queen now. And her daughter even less.”
“Without her turban, she does look like Cruella de Vil,” Ivy said, recalling what Shelly had called her. “I half expected to see a pack of Dalmatian puppies swarming around her.”
Carlotta laughed. “Now, that’s a funny visual. I’ll have to conjure that when Diana tries my patience.” She gazed up to the chauffeur’s apartment over the stairway. “Evidently, she and her mother don’t communicate well. Would you try to reach Maya again? I’m not having any luck.”
“Even if it takes another pound of tiramisu, I’ll talk to her.”
Carlotta smiled. “That was clever of you. However, I’m glad Diana came early. We need to talk, to heal the past. I’d like to have her on my side to help bring her mother back into my life.”
“I’m doing my best.”
“I see that.” Carlotta set her mouth into a determined line. “I believe almost anything is possible. The rest of it, we learn to accept.” She pressed a hand on Ivy’s arm. “I confess; I haven’t told you quite everything, but I will. Older generations were more apt to sweep aside issues that we accept and speak about today. We’ll talk later.”
Ivy watched her mother leave to see Diana. Maybe Shelly was right about skeletons in the closet. Before returning to the kitchen, she visited her sister’s garden to pluck the traditional fresh basil garnish for the omelets she’d promised.
Walking back, she spied Bennett and Clark inside the kitchen. They were talking and gesturing to the chauffeur’s apartment. So far, Bennett had been a good sport about Diana, but she wondered if his patience would last through the entire reunion.
For that matter, she hoped her patience would last, too.