Poppy swept into the kitchen with a basket of blueberry muffins left over from breakfast. “Do you need me anymore, Aunt Ivy? Misty, Elena, and Sunny want to buy supplies for the reunion this morning. I’ll be back before the sorority sisters check out.”
“Go on, spend some time with your cousins,” Ivy replied.
The group was checking out today, except for Beth, who was staying over. After overhearing the conversation with Shelly, Ivy was having second thoughts about her.
Poppy put the muffins down on the center island where Bennett was reading the local news. “See you later.”
Ivy wiped her hands on a dish towel and turned to Bennett. “Fresh muffins, half price.”
“Don’t mind if I do. I ran a couple of extra miles this morning with Clark.” He tapped the Summer Beach community newspaper on the counter. “Did you see this article? The family reunion made the paper.”
Usually, Ivy would be pleased with the coverage, but a growing sense of unease gathered around her neck. “What does it say?”
Bennett began reading. “A combined family reunion will be held at the Seabreeze Inn, where relatives from the Bay and Reina families will gather from across the country. Carlotta and Sterling Bay are visiting from their around-the-world sailing voyage, and they will depart after the reunion.”
Ivy’s heart fell. What if someone—whoever Shelly had been talking about—saw this? Immediately, she stopped herself. No one would know about this unless they lived in Summer Beach.
Or were visiting. Shelly did say the person wanted to meet.
Bennett smoothed his hand over hers. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing.”
Bennett raised his brow. “Sure seems like something to me.”
Ivy shook her head, even though she knew she wasn’t very convincing. He could always tell when she was out of sorts. But she wasn’t ready to share this potentially explosive issue. At least, not until she spoke to Shelly and got some straight answers.
What sort of mess had her sister stumbled upon? Or could it simply be a mistake?
Instead, she said, “I’m a little on edge with everyone arriving for the reunion.”
Although Bennett looked doubtful, he acquiesced to her. That would give her time to pull the story out of Shelly and start damage control before the reunion was underway.
Bennett stretched. “Are you planning to move Diana into another room today?”
“As soon as I can. Shelly is coming to help while Mom looks after Daisy. We have a lot to do today after checkout.”
“Do you need some help?”
“It’s a lot of work to clean and change every room. Poppy will help when she returns, but Shelly will need to leave earlier.” She was still nursing Daisy, so she couldn’t be away from her baby too long. Bennett usually had a full schedule between his mayoral duties and his real estate business. “If you have time, I’d really appreciate it.”
Bennett swept his arms around her waist and kissed her cheek. “While camping downstairs has been fun, if it means moving back into our place, I’ll be there. I promised my sister I’d go to my nephew’s ball game. That shouldn’t take long. On the way back, I’ll pick up the supplies from Nailed It for those repairs you wanted. I’ll see you soon.”
By the time Shelly arrived, Poppy had returned and was checking out the departing guests. Ivy and Shelly climbed the stairs to start cleaning rooms. Ivy wanted to move Diana as soon as possible.
While Shelly swept the floor, Ivy polished the antique furniture with an orange oil formula Shelly had made.
“About your DNA test,” Ivy began.
“I don’t feel like talking about that,” Shelly mumbled.
“But I think we need to.” Ivy had replayed in her mind the conversation she’d overheard, and she needed to know more.
Shelly just shrugged, which incensed Ivy. Surely her sister realized the gravity of the situation. Or she’d decided to ignore it, which would only make it worse.
Holding the orange oil aloft, Ivy whirled around. Despite her concern for her sister’s condition, she couldn’t hold back. “Shelly, I know something has happened, and you need to tell me.”
Shelly clutched the broom and shifted uneasily. “I only did the tests for Daisy’s sake.”
“Is that really all you have to say?”
Shelly narrowed her eyes. “What exactly do you think you know?”
“I overheard your conversation with Beth.”
“You were listening?” Shelly’s question took on an accusatory tone.
“Not intentionally,” Ivy replied. “I had left the door in the library ajar for a little fresh air, and you sat down and spilled everything to Beth. I had no idea what you two were going to talk about.”
“That was you? I thought I heard something. Why were you listening to our conversation?”
“As if I could help it. What was I supposed to do? Inform you that I was listening? The point is, you’re in touch with someone who is purporting to be part of our family.”
A glum expression shrouded Shelly’s face. “The DNA doesn’t lie. Beth explained it all to me.”
A thought flashed through Ivy’s mind. This is what Beth did for a living—producing the Family Archives segments for television. “That’s why she’s staying, isn’t it? To film your meeting with this person.”
“What? No. Beth can’t get a flight. Or maybe she just likes Summer Beach and wants to stay longer. She offered to film the reunion for us. I told her I would pay her, but she wouldn’t hear of it.”
Ivy put her cleaning supplies on the bureau. “Think about that, Shelly. Why do you think that might be? You’re the savvy New Yorker here.” She folded her arms. “Don’t be so naïve. Beth smells a story.”
Shelly looked away and sighed.
“So, let’s hear it.”
Her sister slid a side-eyed look at her. “You just said you already heard it.”
Exasperated, Ivy threw up her hands. “I couldn’t hear everything.” She glared at her sister as she rubbed her shoulder, which was still sore from her fall. Finally, she took the broom from Shelly and sat on the bench at the end of the bed. “Will you start from the beginning?”
Blinking, Shelly bowed her head. When she spoke, her voice was barely above a whisper. “I wish we’d never had that test done.”
“Look, I know you’re miserable over this. But I can’t help if you don’t tell me. And this secret is tearing you up inside. I can see it on your face, Shells.”
When her sister didn’t reply, Ivy hesitated. She’d thought about this last night, so she’d hardly had any sleep. She had to ask the question, although the answer might forever change her feelings. Yet, sooner or later, the truth would come out.
Drawing a deep breath, Ivy uttered the words she dreaded, “Do you think it was Dad?”
Shelly shook her head.
Ivy breathed out. But she wasn’t finished. “Not Mom?”
“No.”
“Then we don’t have an unknown sibling floating around out there?”
“Not us…”
“Then, who?”
Inching her way toward Ivy, Shelly tugged a strand of hair from her bun and twirled it around her finger. “I don’t know how to explain it. I really don’t understand all that DNA stuff. I mean, there’s a chance, I guess, but it’s probably slim.”
Trying to stay calm for Shelly’s sake, Ivy gestured for her sister to join her on the bench. “Just try your best.”
Shelly perched on the edge as if poised to flee. “Not long after I set up the profile on the ancestor website, I got an email. From a woman who says she’s related to us. She’s been doing research.”
Ivy pressed a hand against her forehead. This wasn’t just a theory; there was a real person out there. “Where does she live?”
Shelly raked her teeth over her lower lip. “On Crown Island.”
“That’s awfully close.”
Ivy and Shelly exchanged sober looks, and Shelly nodded.
Crown Island was a short ferry away. As Ivy tried to piece together the puzzle, she leaned forward, her elbows on her knees in thought. “So, was it our grandpa? Or Grams?”
“I’m not sure what happened.” Shelly pressed her hands against her face. “Beth asked her team to trace the family.”
“Mom needs to know about this.”
Shelly darted a look toward Ivy. “So, how are you going to tell her?”
“Me? You’re the one who discovered this.”
“I can’t, not by myself,” Shelly said in a small voice. “I feel so conflicted over this.”
Ivy’s heart went out to her sister, and she took her hand. “We can tell her together.”
Shelly wrapped her arms around her torso. “Honestly, I’m a little scared.”
“If it’s the truth, then we need to.”
“That’s worse. I can’t hurt her now. This is supposed to be a happy reunion for her.”
“It still can be.” Between this news and Aunt Maya, Ivy feared her mother might be facing more than she’d planned. “When will Beth have more details?”
“I don’t know,” Shelly said. “Maybe we can wait until after the reunion.”
“That might work. This new information is sure to be a shock. Still, Mom might welcome the truth.”
This was the last thing Ivy wanted to deal with during the reunion. She was trying to see both sides, but it wasn’t easy. A part of her still wanted to have it out with her sister. After all, she’d warned her, hadn’t she?
Her face scrunched with worry, Shelly rocked back and forth. “About this new person—I have no idea what she’s like.”
“By person, you mean relative. We might as well call her that.” Ivy sighed. “We should meet her first.”
Shelly nodded reluctantly. “Do you think Mom will accept her?”
“I have no idea.” But their mother had a strong sense of fairness. “What if this new relative is after something from us?”
“You mean money?”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” Ivy replied. The thought of that settled heavily on her shoulders.
“I’m really sorry,” Shelly said, wiping a tear from her eye. “I never dreamed anything like this would happen.”
Seeing her sister’s distress, Ivy reached out to embrace Shelly. For better or worse, they shared a bond. She stroked Shelly’s mussed hair, soothing her. “I’m sorry for what I said. You couldn’t have known about this. But I promise we’ll get through this together.”
As for how they would tell their mother, Ivy had no idea. At least their father would be arriving soon.
Ivy and Shelly finished cleaning the upstairs guest rooms, including the master bedroom that Paige had stayed in these last few months. They gathered sheets and trudged downstairs to deposit them in the laundry room. Ivy had a part-time worker who did the laundry twice a week, and she would be in shortly.
As she neared the laundry room, Diana appeared in the hallway. In an imperious tone, she said, “I’m glad I caught you, dear. I’m going shopping in the village. Please have my bedding changed and my room cleaned before I return. I’ll only be gone an hour, so see to it right away.” She took Ivy’s hand and pressed a folded bill into it.
Ivy was so shocked at her cousin’s actions that she was at a momentary loss for words.
Shelly laughed. “Diana, you’re actually bribing your cousin?” She looked at Ivy’s still outstretched hand. “If so, that will take more than a couple of dollars.”
“Well, I never—”
“No, I’m sure you haven’t,” Ivy said, cutting her off. She tucked the sheets under one arm. “We’re moving you to another room, Diana.”
“There’s no need for that. I’m perfectly happy in that suite. Although you should have an elevator. And there are clothes in the closets and bureau drawers that should be removed because I need the room.” She turned to leave.
“Those are my clothes,” Ivy said. “And my husband’s.”
“Be that as it may, they must still be moved for guests.”
Ivy’s patience was growing thin. “Our other guests have checked out, and we have a room in the house for you now.”
“Does it have an ocean view?”
Ivy wished she’d never mentioned that. “Yes.”
Diana considered this. “However, I do enjoy the balconies and the living room, so I will stay where I am. You can put Robert and his wife in that other room.”
“We have another room for them,” Ivy said, trying to remain calm.
Diana heaved a great sigh. “I am not moving.”
Ivy heard the taps of heels behind her.
“Why, Diana, your mother would be ashamed of you,” Carlotta said. She passed Daisy to Shelly, who quickly dropped her armload of sheets in the hallway. “Preferring the chauffeur’s quarters.” Carlotta laughed lightly and took Diana by the arm. “I promise I won’t let that get around. Come with me, and I’ll show you the room we have for you. Ivy, what was the number?”
Ivy quickly told her mother which room. “It’s Imani’s old suite.”
Before their mother steered Diana away, Shelly added, “And since we’re a shabby chic sort of place, we don’t offer that daily change of sheets you wanted. We’ll leave your tip on the dresser.”
Carlotta gave Diana a reproachful look. “You didn’t.”
“I would do that in any hotel,” Diana said, lifting her chin in defiance. “My maid changes my linens daily.”
“Ay-yi-yi,” Carlotta said, chastising her niece in a scathing string of Spanish.
Ivy nudged Shelly. “Let’s get out of here.”
She and Shelly, along with Daisy, hurried to the powder room off the ballroom. Ivy had found a vintage fainting couch downstairs and fashioned a white cotton slipcover to fit it. She’d added a few of her hand-painted pillows and a soft, rose-hued rug to brighten the space. With a chandelier, a parquet floor, and a mirrored vanity, it was a quiet, well-appointed spot for Shelly to tend to Daisy. Guests could use another bathroom on the other side of the ballroom.
Even Daisy squealed at Diana, and Shelly cooed to soothe her. “We’ll never let Cruella de Diana bother you, little one.”
Once Shelly was settled on the couch with Daisy cradled in her arms, she turned her face to Ivy. “I have something else to confess.”
Ivy pulled up a chair next to her. “What’s going on?”
“An email came through today from the woman I told you about.”
“The one that contacted you about a DNA match?”
“That’s right. She wants to meet. Even though Beth arranged the DNA service, and I know she’d like to film the meeting, it doesn’t feel right to me. I’m a little nervous.”
“Why is Beth so insistent?”
“I might have promised her an exclusive.”
“What?”
“I didn’t think it would amount to anything. It was the standard form her assistant sent over.”
“For what?”
“The DNA search.”
Something didn’t feel right to Ivy. “Is this why you did the search through her? To be on her show?”
“No, I swear to you. She made it sound so easy, saying her staff would take care of handling the tests for us. I thought she was sort of a friend. A professional friend, that is.”
“Also known as a client or acquaintance. Do you have the paper you signed?”
“It’s in my email.”
“Send it to me, and I’ll ask Imani.” Ivy drew a hand across her forehead. “We’ll deal with this issue when we have to, but for now, let’s act as if everything is fine. This reunion is supposed to be a fun, joyful occasion.”
Shelly smiled with relief. “You’re the best, Ives.”
“We’ll figure it out together.” As if this weren’t enough, Ivy still had to get their Aunt Maya here, and Diana was clearly not helping. Maybe Carlotta could make some headway today.
Ivy grinned at Shelly. “Once you’re finished with Daisy, let’s crank up the music and get this job done.”
One crisis at a time, she decided.