The summer sun was setting as Ivy walked along the beach with her mother. Golden rays washed the sky with watercolor strokes of orange and purple. Ivy paused to slip off her sandals, enjoying the warmth of the sun-warmed sand and the cool rush of seawater.
“What was it you wanted to talk about?” Ivy asked, curious why her mother had asked to speak to her. Alone, she’d emphasized. Ivy caught a fold of her full cotton skirt in one hand, holding it as they strolled.
Alone“It’s about the reunion,” Carlotta began. “You’ve done so much already. I didn’t realize the inn would be so busy.”
“We’re full every summer now, so we expect that. And I want to do this for you and Dad. We all do.” Her parents would leave after the event to resume their sail around the world. Although she loved seeing the
