Seabreeze Shores

Chapter 1-2

Or was she that out of touch now?

Still, Ivy knew the baby would be fine in their room for a while. Besides, that was their business, she reminded herself, although it was growing increasingly hard to grant them that. As she glanced at the kiddie pool again, her stomach tightened with concern for Shelly. She only wanted her sister to have all the care options available to her if she needed them.

A few minutes later, Mitch ducked through the tarp, a belt of tools on his hips. He was certainly industrious, and Ivy respected him for that. Still, between running the coffee shop and taking guests out on his boat to see dolphins and whales, Mitch didn’t have time for much beyond Shelly and his early morning surf. Expanding the house was an aggressive goal. She hoped he could finish before the baby arrived.

But a kiddie pool? Ivy still couldn’t wrap her head around that idea.

And that wasn’t all.

As new parents, Shelly and Mitch were underestimating the time an infant would demand. Ivy let out a sigh. She sure had. After Misty was born, she hadn’t picked up a paintbrush again until both girls had started school. Even then, she rarely found time. Only this year had she agreed to a special commission painting for a client.

No doubt about it, Shelly and Mitch had a lot to learn about having a baby and raising a child.

And keeping her opinion to herself? That would be her challenge.

Ivy swung through the kitchen with Shelly’s tray. “Here you go—your green tea and goodies.” She placed the tray on a worn surfboard perched atop bricks.

“I thought I’d have a new coffee table by now,” Shelly said, shaking her head. “But it’s all about priorities, right?” As she sipped her tea, the house seemed to shudder under the fervor of Mitch’s banging hammer, and she winced. “He worked late last night with his new blazing lights.”

“That’s awfully loud,” Ivy said, raising her voice. “Did you get any rest?”

Shelly yelled over the din. “Why do you think I need a nap?” She pressed a hand against her temple. “I really appreciate what he’s doing, but I feel a monster headache coming on.”

“We have a couple of vacant rooms at the inn,” Ivy said, speaking louder as the noise intensified. At least until guests arrived. Her heart was already racing, and she couldn’t imagine her sister having to deal with this every day.

Shelly chewed her lip. “How much sleep do newborns need?”

“A lot, if you’re lucky.” Ivy jerked a thumb over her shoulder. “But not with that going on.”

“I can’t take this anymore. Let’s get out of here.” Shelly took a sip of tea before pushing herself off the couch. “Mitch can pick me up later.” She rolled her snack into the napkin.

After Shelly told Mitch where they were going, Ivy helped her into the vintage Chevy that Bennett had restored for her. With the white convertible top down in the sun, Ivy punched a button for the heater to take off the chill.

Staring out the window at shorebirds skittering across the sand, Shelly quietly nibbled on her cheese and apples as Ivy drove. As they neared the inn, she broke her silence.

“Hey, Ives?”

“Yeah, Shells?”

“Thanks for rescuing me.” Shelly sniffed. “Marriage can be tough at times.”

“I know,” Ivy said, taking Shelly’s hand. “But Mitch really loves you.”

Shelly swallowed hard. “That goes both ways. Still, he’s driving me crazy building that room. I think he’s nervous about the baby, so he’s rechanneling his energy.”

“He’ll settle down after the little one arrives.” Ivy remembered how anxious Jeremy had been before Misty was born. “In the meantime, you’re welcome here anytime.”

She pulled into the car court behind the inn. After Shelly rested, Ivy would talk to her about the kiddie pool Mitch had carted home. Ivy shuddered again. Who knew where that banged-up thing had been?

Their niece met them at the rear kitchen door. Poppy had twisted her blond hair into a knot at the nape of her neck and wore a crisp white shirt with dark blue jeans, loafers, and discreet gold jewelry. She held a hand up to the sun’s waning rays over the beach. “That didn’t take long.”

Shelly twisted her lips to one side. “Mitch is working on the baby’s room. There’s a lot of hammering, and I’ve got to get some rest. I haven’t slept much in days.”

“What about the neighbors?” Poppy asked.

“On one side of us, they’re away for the winter. And on the other side is that drummer who’s been away on tour. The older man behind us says he just turns off his hearing aid.” Shelly turned up her palms. “I’m glad Mitch is doing this, but I wish he’d pick up the pace.”

“You can use my room,” Poppy said. “I have to set up the afternoon reception anyway.”

“Thanks,” Shelly said. “No need to mess up a guest room on my account.”

“Really, it’s no trouble,” Ivy said.

Shelly made a face, dismissing the offer. “Got a key on you?” She held out her hand while Poppy fished her key from a pocket of her jeans. Yawning, Shelly pocketed the key and pushed through the kitchen door. “Don’t wake me,” she called back.

Poppy scrunched her brow with concern. “Was it that bad over there?”

“Mitch means well, but he needs a crew to finish that room,” Ivy replied, resolving to talk to Bennett about this situation. “When you have a baby, the first month is a blur. Shelly and the little one will need their rest, no matter what time of the day or night it is. She’ll be up at night a lot.”

Poppy looked solemn. “I wish Grandma was here for Aunt Shelly.”

Ivy wished the same, but she also understood that their parents had interests of their own. “She and Grandpa are having a wonderful time on a trip they’ve looked forward to for years. They call when they can, and they’ll be back soon enough. In the meantime, we’re here for Shelly, right?” Ivy rested an arm on Poppy’s shoulder. “That’s what family is all about. Sunny promised to help, too.”

“I should call Dad,” Poppy said, folding her arms. “I can’t understand why Mitch doesn’t want his help.”

“That’s his choice,” Ivy said. Her niece was mature beyond her years, probably because she and her four siblings had roamed the beach on their own as kids.

“But small towns are different,” Poppy insisted. “People here take offense if you don’t ask for help.” Her eyes lit with an idea. “I know Aunt Shelly doesn’t want us to plan a baby shower, but can’t we surprise her anyway? A lot of people in Summer Beach are asking me about that. They’re eager for a party. And she needs more baby stuff than she realizes. One of my friends had a shower last weekend. I couldn’t believe how much a baby needs.”

Ivy weighed this. Her wild-child sister didn’t want anything traditional. “We might upset her.”

“I think she’d get over it in a split second,” Poppy said, snapping her fingers.

Just then, two of their long-term guests strolled into the kitchen. “Get over what?” Imani asked. She wore a bright yellow cotton turtleneck paired with a full, floral skirt and held a bouquet of pink and yellow snapdragons in one arm. Her golden highlighted sisterlocks were wound into a thick crown.

“A baby shower,” Ivy replied, leaning against the counter.

“It’s about time,” Gilda said, sliding onto a stool at the long center island. Her short, spiky pink hair matched her backpack, out of which poked a furry little nose. A Chihuahua let out a sharp bark. “Even Pixie thinks so, don’t you, sweetie?”

“Put me down for flowers,” Imani said, reaching into a cupboard for a vase. “I assume you’ll have it here.”

“Plenty of space in the ballroom,” Gilda said, rubbing Pixie’s quivering neck and shoulders. “I’ve been dying to do calligraphy for the invitations. What’s the date?”

Poppy shot Ivy a look. “See what I mean?”

Ivy raised her palms. “If we do this, and I’m not saying we will, not a word to Shelly. It has to be a surprise. And nothing that seems too much like a baby shower.”

Imani laughed as she filled the vase with water. “I couldn’t imagine anything else for your sister. How about the nontraditional? Like birds of paradise and palms.”

“Guess that means no calligraphy,” Gilda said, ruffling her short pink hair with a sad look.

“I hope you weren’t set on doing that,” Ivy said.

“I suppose it’s just as well,” Gilda replied. “I’m on deadline for another magazine article anyway.”

“The flower stand is pretty slow this time of year,” Imani added. “I can help you plan whatever you think Shelly might like.”

“I appreciate that,” Ivy said, and she really did. “But I need to think about this. No cutesy baby games—Shelly would hate that.”

Poppy’s eyes widened. “But those are so much fun—”

Ivy cut in. “Do you want to deal with her hormonal wrath?”

“You have a point.” Imani chuckled. “Let us know what you decide.”

“I will,” Ivy said, feeling a little disappointed that Shelly didn’t want to commemorate the baby’s birth with a shower. She thought her sister might regret it later. “But we’re still on for the Roaring Twenties party for spa week. And you’re both invited.”

As Imani placed the snapdragons on the center island, she broke into a wide grin. “Costumes, I hope?”

“Absolutely,” Poppy said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “It will be a week to remember.”

“And I hope it’s a week to repeat,” Ivy added, admiring the flowers. They needed the new business at the inn.

After meeting guests who had gathered in the music room for the afternoon tea and wine hour, Ivy returned to the apartment she now shared with Bennett behind the main house. Shelly hadn’t come downstairs for the gathering, but Ivy wasn’t surprised.

“I’m back,” Ivy called out, collapsing on the sofa in front of a fire Bennett had built in the fireplace. For one person, the apartment was plenty spacious, but for two, it had become a little cramped. It was more than the space, though. They were both accustomed to having a place to themselves.

A persistent wintry chill seeped through the edges of the old windows. Built above garages, the apartment was originally meant for the chauffeur, who tended to the former owner’s collection of cars. Only Amelia Erickson’s cherry red Chevrolet convertible from the 1950s had survived.

Looking around the comfortable living room filled with vintage tapestry-covered furniture and vases of pink stock and English ivy from Shelly’s winter flower garden, Ivy thought about all she had to be thankful for.

Not so long ago, she’d been grappling with the death of her husband and his betrayal. She’d had to sell her flat in Boston’s Back Bay area and settle for a rented room in a professor’s home. When Jeremy secretly withdrew money from their retirement fund to buy this old beach house, Ivy was sure he’d never imagined she might be living here someday with her new husband.

Life certainly had the last karmic laugh on his actions, she mused. Not that she and Shelly hadn’t worked diligently to transform the property Jeremy bought as a tear-down for his new girlfriend.

Ivy kicked off her boots, stretched her toes toward the crackling fire, and ran a hand across the back of her stiff neck.

“Looks like you had a long day, sweetheart.” Bennett eased next to her and drew his hands across her shoulders, kneading the tension from her neck. “Sorry I couldn’t join you for the guest hour this afternoon. The city council meeting ran late with questions about a proposed new development. Did Nan let you know?”