WHEN IVY AND Shelly arrived at their parents’ home, Honey greeted them at the door. “Here we all are, together at last. It’s so good to see you.” Tears of happiness glistened in her eyes. “I hear the two of you are sharing the house and opening it up to guests.”
“We are,” Ivy said, feeling good that she had positive news to share now. Yet her concern over their mother had escalated even more on the drive over. “Before we see Mom, do you have any idea what this closed meeting is about?”
“No more than you,” Honey said. Worry lines scored her usually smooth skin. “She’s been quite secretive.”
The three sisters sauntered inside, where their family was gathered in the main living area. The sliding pocket doors were pushed back, opening an entire wall to the outside. Many family members had spilled outside onto the patio where the late afternoon temperature was mild.
Ivy spotted Gabe talking to their brothers Flint and Forrest, while the young cousins milled about. She could see Angela and Tabitha, the twins’ wives, chatting in the kitchen. Poppy and her sisters Coral and Summer were catching up with Honey’s daughter Elena, who had driven from Los Angeles. She had short, sassy hair and a blue diamond twinkling in a nose piercing. At Elena’s side was an attractive man, and Ivy wondered who he was. Through the open doors, Ivy saw their brother Flint’s children, Skyler, Blue, Jewel, and Sierra, who were listening to music outside and talking.
Ivy glanced around, searching for their parents. She caught sight of her mother and father on the upper deck outside of their bedroom. They were holding hands and speaking softly to each other. Ivy watched as her father cradled her mother’s face, and she rested her head on his shoulder.
Ivy had seen this natural movement between her parents so many times in her life, but today, it filled her with emotion. She was pleased they were still together, though their easy companionship only reinforced her loneliness.
Beside her, Shelly watched them and sighed. “Can’t say we didn’t have good role models.”
“All these years and they’re still together,” Ivy said. “Now I realize how lucky they are.”
“It’s not just luck,” Honey said, following her gaze and slinging her arms over her sisters’ shoulders.
With their arms around each other, the three sisters watched their parents from below.
Ivy let out a sigh. Their parents kissed, then Sterling draped his arm across Carlotta’s shoulder. It might have been a romantic scene from a movie, or one of the great love affairs of all time. The song about Bogart and Bacall sprang to mind. “They’ve really had it all, haven’t they?”
“A great life,” Honey whispered.
Ivy had always thought that she and Jeremy would grow old together like her parents. She’d once looked forward to a time when she and her husband would have the freedom to travel together or putter about a garden. Not that they’d actually had a garden, but they might’ve bought a little country house. When Misty and Sunny were young, they’d talked about what they’d do after the girls had finished college.
Yet after the girls graduated, Jeremy no longer talked about the future. She was the only one talking—he would listen for a while and then change the subject. While she was dreaming of their future together, Jeremy had acted on his own dream.
Ivy pursed her lips. Now, she and Shelly were the beneficiaries of his dream, and she was determined to make it a success.
And she would. She was ready for a new phase in her life. In every way. She wondered what her daughters would think about the changes she was making. She’d left messages—Are you okay? Call me. Usually, she received only texts back. Fine, Mom. Busy. Call you later.
Sunny seldom did, though Misty made the effort.
Is that how their parents had felt about her and her sisters and brothers? A lump rose in her throat, and she swallowed against it. She desperately wanted her mother to be okay. Was that too much to ask? She resolved to spend as much time as she could with her mother. She and Shelly could work out a schedule so their parents wouldn’t be alone.
Ivy blinked back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes and turned to Honey. “What’s it like for you and Gabe now that Elena is on her own?”
“We miss her, but we’re happy that she’s living her dream in Los Angeles.” Honey’s eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled. Now almost fifty, she still had a youthful glow about her. “And we’re fortunate to live near the beach where we have many friends, so we’re not lonely. We didn’t know just how many friends we had until Gabe’s heart attack. Now, he has a second chance at life, and he’s living it doing exactly what he loves, though with more exercise and a better diet.”
Shelly nodded with enthusiasm. “Vegan burgers on the barbie, I heard.”
“That’s right,” Honey said. “As for me, my boutique keeps me busy, and we visit every few months to see Elena, check on Carlotta and Sterling, and get in some skiing at Lake Tahoe. Now that you’re living on the west coast, we’ll be seeing more of you both.”
“And who’s the guy with Elena?” Shelly asked.
“Her fiancé, Jake,” Honey said. “We like him a lot.”
Shelly looked intrigued. “How did they meet?”
“When the jewelry Elena designed and loaned to a celebrity friend—Penelope Plessen, the model—for the Academy Awards was stolen, an insurance claim was filed. Jake was the insurance investigator. Their relationship was adversarial at first because he thought Elena was involved in the theft. Imagine! But love finds a way.”
“I hope that’s true.” Shelly sounded wistful.
“So how is work on the house going?” Honey asked.
Ivy and Shelly exchanged a guarded look. Ivy was dying to tell their family about the paintings, but they had both been sworn to secrecy.
“We’ll be taking in guests soon at the Seabreeze Inn,” Ivy said.
“I love the name.” Honey beamed. “I’m so proud of you. You’re really turning around that dreadful situation. I’ve been awfully worried about you.”
“I’m getting my life back on track,” Ivy said. “Or rather, a different life this time.” She tucked her arm through Shelly’s. “It feels good to have a new home.”
“We’re going to rock that place.” Shelly grinned. “Wait until you see what we’ve done.”
Honey smiled. “If you don’t mind Elena’s old room, you’re both welcome in Sydney whenever you’d like.”
“Maybe during the offseason,” Ivy said. “We’re hoping for a busy summer.” She prayed that their mother was well. If not, she couldn’t venture far away. “We’d love you and Gabe to visit anytime as well.”
A few minutes later, their parents appeared at the top of the stairway. A murmur rippled across the room, and the three sisters traded worried glances.
Carlotta made her way down first, followed by Sterling. Their mother wore an off-the-shoulder ivory silk blouse paired with a flowing ivory skirt. Her dark hair was piled high on her head, and large hammered silver earrings and a matching necklace framed her still youthful face.
She looked and held herself like a beautiful Mayan queen.
If Mom is ill, she hides it well. Ivy braced herself for the worst.
“We’re glad you all came,” Sterling began. “Honey and Gabe, Flint and Tabitha, Forrest and Angela, Ivy and Shelly. Do you know this is the first time since you were children that you’ve all been together at the same time? And with almost all our grandchildren.”
Only my children are missing, Ivy thought. Neither of her daughters had felt it important enough to attend, even though Ivy had offered to pay for their flights.
Carlotta beamed up at her husband. Her face glimmered in the light. “This is the best birthday present ever,” she said. “And I’m glad I didn’t have to wait until I was on my deathbed to see you all gathered around.”
The room fell quiet, and Ivy could feel each family member preparing themselves for the announcement.
“I hope that won’t be for some time,” Carlotta said. “Even though several of you seem to think that we have one foot in the grave.”
Uneasy laughter followed.
Forrest spoke up. “It’s not that, Mom. Angela and I thought you and Dad should make plans to move in with us.”
“And we thought you’d be better off with us,” Flint said. “We don’t have stairs to navigate like Forrest and Angela do. At your age, that’s important.”
Ivy couldn’t help but wonder if her daughters would be willing to bear such responsibility someday. Not that she ever wanted to be in that position.
Carlotta held up her hand. “Sorry to disappoint you both, but we’re not going to take either of you up on your offer.”
“Mom, Dad, be reasonable,” Forrest said.
“We are,” Carlotta said. “That’s why we’ve decided to buy a larger boat and sail around the world instead.”
“Before we buy a motorhome to see the rest of it,” Sterling added, his eyes twinkling with delight.
Gasps rippled across the room.
Ivy blurted out, “Then you’re not dying?” She pressed a hand against her pounding chest.
“Dying?” Carlotta clutched her silver necklace. “Dios mio, no, mija. Not for years and years, we hope.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” Ivy said as relief washed over her. Her limbs were weak from the stress she’d carried all the way from Boston. Not dying.
“Sailing around the world is too dangerous,” Forrest said. “Anything could happen.”
“And anything could happen right here,” Sterling said. “All our lives, we’ve loved nothing more than traveling and finding artisans to help around the world. We’re going to follow our passion as long as we can. We’re leaving in a couple of months, and no, you can’t talk us out of it.”
“We wanted to have a big party to celebrate before we left,” Carlotta said. “We’re renting out the house to help fund our adventure. Anything you want, you’re welcome to have, because everything must go.”
“What about when you return?” Flint asked.
“We won’t need much in the motorhome after we return,” Sterling added. “We’ve approached each of you individually, and I must say, you’re a tight-lipped group. We’re pleased our children aren’t as greedy as when they were youngsters,” he added, chuckling.
The younger cousins exploded with laughter at that.
“Except for a few linens that Ivy took, the rest is up for grabs,” Carlotta said. “So we thought we’d have a drawing.”
“Whatever pieces you would like,” Sterling said. “Please write down your requests and drop them in the big Talavera vase tonight. If we have multiple requests, we’ll have a draw-off. The rest of it will go to auction before we leave. With all the youngsters out there, we hope to help furnish a few new apartments.”
“And the house?” Flint asked.
“We received a contract for a long-term lease, so that’s settled for now,” Sterling said.
Carlotta and Sterling clasped hands. “We love you all,” Sterling said, “but we’re going to continue living life on our own terms for as long as we can.”
As she gazed at her husband with love, Carlotta added, “When the time comes that we can’t, we’ve chosen a senior community not far from here that has a fabulous view of the ocean. All arrangements have been made, and we don’t want to hear another word about it—except congratulations that we’re not dying yet.” She cast a glance at Ivy and smiled.
“Oh, Mom, I’m so happy for you,” Ivy said, her eyes brimming with tears of joy. “You have no idea how worried we were.”
“You all worry too much,” her mother said as she hugged her. “It’s a waste of time, you’ll see.”
At once, Ivy felt six years old again and as vulnerable as a child. She clasped her arms around her mother. “It isn’t often that our parents run away from home. I’ll miss you, but I hope you’ll both have a wonderful time doing what you love.” Her parents deserved to follow their passions and have fun while they still could. And who better to emulate?
At that, the doorbell rang.
“Our guests are arriving now.” Carlotta flung her arms wide and hugged her three daughters. “Now where’s the champagne?” She motioned to a server they’d hired for the event. “I want to celebrate my birthday in style.”
The server brought a platter of champagne flutes to them. Just as Ivy was holding hers up to toast her parents, Bennett walked into the room looking more handsome than she’d ever imagined he could. And by his side was a younger blond woman.
All at once, the old memory from that summer so long ago that she’d pushed aside came roaring back.
Ivy blinked and froze in place as her heart shattered like crystal. She’d never thought to ask if Bennett might be seeing anyone.
She turned to ignore them. Then, on second thought, she whirled around.