by Diann Hunt
“Oh, don’t go there. Give the kid a break. If she doesn’t want to work she’ll tell you no.”
“Maybe.” Carly thought a little longer. “You’re right,” she said brightly. “It just might work. I’ll call her tonight.”
“Good.” Scott’s index finger tapped on his lips as he studied his computer screen. Whatever he was working on had his full attention.
Carly wondered if she should bring up the matter of the coffee shop being named after Ivy. She didn’t want to upset him. Maybe she’d just see if she could pull it out of him, get him to talk it over with her so she could offer Magnolia a shred of hope. It seemed Magnolia’s world was caught up in Ivy and that worried Carly.
“So I was talking to Magnolia last night,” she said, stuffing a file folder back in the cabinet. That was a smart thing to say. She talked to Magnolia every night.
“Um-hum,” Scott said, not so much as lifting a fleeting glance in her direction.
“She said something about you were supposed to call her.” Carly peeked at him over the top of another folder.
He turned toward her. “Did she tell you what it was about?”
Carly’s lashes dropped. She stared at her folder and tried to act nonchalant. “Oh, something about the coffee shop?”
He positively turned to stone.
“Scott, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing is wrong. I just think it shouldn’t be named for an individual, but rather the church as a whole.”
She could see his point, but she didn’t know what it would hurt to have Ivy’s name on it. Magnolia’s words played back in her mind, but she wouldn’t believe for a minute that Scott didn’t care about Ivy. If he felt her name shouldn’t be used on the coffee shop, he had a good reason.
“The congregation loved Ivy. It would make them happy to give her the honor—”
He stood. “People aren’t perfect, Carly. We shouldn’t idolize them.” With that he rose from his chair and stomped out of the room, leaving Carly utterly speechless.
Later that evening when Jake came over to Carly’s house, she decided to talk over the idea of Katelyn working at the spa with him first. They found their usual spot on the front porch swing and settled in with a bowl of popcorn.
“What’s on this popcorn?” Jake asked, studying a kernel potted with brown debris.
“Flaxseed,” Carly said, straightening her shoulders and lifting her chin. She knew he would be proud of her healthy take on life.
He wasn’t. He looked at her as though she was a scientific experiment—gone bad.
“What?” To say his reaction was disappointing was an understatement. “Well, I’m a fan of flaxseed as much as the next health person, but on popcorn?” He winced.
Carly brightened. “I’m very much into healthy eating.” Well, okay, that was a half truth, but she’d recently heard of the health benefits of flaxseed and decided to give it a try.
He flashed a heart-melting grin and winked. “That’s my girl.” His fingers wrapped around hers and gave her a squeeze.
My girl? Did that mean they were engaged? Going steady? Kid sister? What?
“I signed up at the gym today. Worked out for a couple of hours. It felt great to get back into my usual routine. Take care of your body and it will take care of you, I always say.” He grabbed a handful of popcorn and shoved it into his mouth.
Carly wondered where she’d gone wrong with her body but refused to think about it just now. “So where’s Katelyn tonight?”
He stiffened, which surprised her.
“She’s at home.” He shoveled in more popcorn.
“You know, Jake, you’re more than welcome to bring Katelyn over when you come here. She might prefer that to staying at home alone.”
“No offense, Carly, but you’ve never had children, so I think you’d better leave the parenting to me.”
His tone made her throat constrict. Was this their first fight? “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to overstep my boundary.”
Carly could feel the salt and butter on his fingers when he grabbed her hand again.
“No problem.” He sighed. “Katelyn and I have a lot of problems, and it’s just hard to talk about sometimes.”
Carly hesitated, wondering if she should bring up the work thing right now. Maybe she should clear it with Katelyn first to see if the girl even wanted the job. On the other hand, if she mentioned it to Katelyn and her dad didn’t want her to do it, what then? Carly decided to plunge ahead.
“Listen, Jake, I don’t know if this is something that might help, but we need someone to work at the spa from three thirty till five each day. Scott had mentioned maybe Katelyn would be a good fit. She likes the spa. It wouldn’t interfere with school since it’s after hours and it’s not long enough to interfere with her schoolwork. Might keep her occupied and out of trouble. What do you think?”
He was silent for a moment, and Carly wondered if she had done the right thing by bringing it up. Their night didn’t seem to be getting any better.
Jake rubbed his jaw, then looked at her with a grin. “I think that’s a great idea.”
Hope shot through her. “Really?”
“Yeah.” He sat taller in the swing. “She loves that kind of stuff, and she needs something to do. Plus, she could stand to earn some money.”
“If it works out and she likes it, we could probably fit her in on some Saturdays too.” Carly was feeling quite pleased with the whole thing. Especially as Jake put his arm back around her and cuddled her closer.
Her day was definitely improving. Carly just hoped Katelyn would be as happy with the idea as they were.
After Jake left, Carly went to bed and thought through the day. She couldn’t imagine why Scott would be so set against the coffeehouse being named after Ivy. Was it a matter of humility? Did he think Ivy wouldn’t want that? It would be so encouraging for Magnolia.
Her stepmother had hardly said a word through dinner. The whole thing seemed to weigh heavily upon Magnolia’s mind. What could it hurt for Scott to give in on this? He could be so stubborn sometimes.
She’d have to be the mediator. She was the only one who had their best interests at heart, and she couldn’t see a thing wrong with having the coffee shop named after Ivy. After all, Ivy had given a lot of her time and talents to the church. She loved coffee shops, so it seemed fitting and proper that the church would honor her in this way—to say nothing of Magnolia’s and Scott’s devotion to the church. What could Scott possibly have against the idea?
Her scrambled thoughts continued throughout the night, giving her a fitful sleep. She’d find a way to make this all work.
There wasn’t anything she wouldn’t do for Ivy.
fourteen
Scott threw off his covers and thumped out of bed, making Superman’s ears perk up. He’d spent the night thinking and had decided he might need to sell something as well as get a loan for the money Ivy had taken. With Carly’s disbursement check coming up, he had little to offer. She would definitely know something was wrong, and he’d have to explain.
How could Ivy do this to her best friend? She had to be desperate about something. Drugs? Wouldn’t he have known if she was involved in drugs? He couldn’t imagine it in a million years. But then, he couldn’t imagine her embezzling money from Carly either.
Pulling open his dresser drawer, he threw on some clothes and walked into the kitchen to start the coffee. Superman yawned and trotted happily along behind. There had to be a solution to all this. If only Scott could figure out what it was.
He picked up the phone to call Brian, then thought better of it. Though he could tell his brother almost anything, he wasn’t sure he could share this news about Ivy with anyone—even Brian. It made him feel he was betraying her, dishonoring her memory.
Once the coffee was ready, he poured himself a cup and sat at the table. One thing he knew—he could not let the teen coffeehouse be named after her. It wouldn’t be right. If word ever got out, it could put the c
hurch in an embarrassing situation, to say nothing of how it would hurt Magnolia and Carly to be reminded of what Ivy did every time they went to church.
His mind scrambled through the tangle of memories from before she’d died, searching for anything that might give him a clue into what was going on with her in those last days. She had been gone a lot. “Out with friends,” she had said. He never bothered to question her, but maybe he should have. If only he could question Carly without her getting suspicious.
None of it made sense.
And how could he stall Magnolia? She was on a mission, and he didn’t blame her really. If he didn’t know the truth, he would have considered it a real honor for Ivy too. Now, the whole thing gave him a headache.
Absently, his hand reached down to scratch Superman’s head. The dog leaned in to him, then finally sauntered off to his food and water bowls to help himself.
By the time he had finished off the last of his coffee, Scott had decided he would definitely sell something in addition to getting a loan. Between those two things he’d at least get some of the money returned to Carly. He’d have to take this one step at a time.
Hopefully, he wouldn’t trip.
“This is wonderful,” Rita said, biting into her cinnamon roll, then sipping on her coffee.
Carly stared at her, mouth gaping. “That’s just so wrong. How can you eat like that and stay skinny?”
Teeth still clenched on the roll, Rita shrugged, then tore off a bite. “It’s a gift.”
Carly blew out a frustrated sigh. “I still say God has favorites.”
“Hey, your muffin looks pretty good,” Rita said, pointing to Carly’s fat-free, no-taste muffin.
Carly looked upward. “Did you hear that, God? She fibbed, right here, as big as you please. She should get at least five pounds for that one, wouldn’t You say?”
“You’re awful,” Rita said with a playful tap on Carly’s arm. “I’m so glad we finally got a coffee shop in town.” She looked around the crowded room. “It’s definitely a hit.”
“It sure is,” Carly agreed. “I have to sneak over here to get my whipped cream.”
“Huh?”
“Never mind.”
“So how are things going with Jake?” Rita asked.
Carly brightened. “Going well. He actually liked the idea of Katelyn working for me. Let’s just hope she does.”
“I can’t imagine why she wouldn’t,” Rita said, finishing off the last of her cinnamon roll.
“He said he would have her call me today, so we’ll see what happens.” Carly took another drink. “I haven’t told you the latest.”
“Oh? What’s that?”
Carly proceeded to tell Rita about the pastor wanting to name the teen coffee shop after Ivy and that Scott didn’t seem in favor of it.
“How odd. Why wouldn’t he want that?” Rita asked.
Carly shrugged. “You know Scott. He downplays everything. Very humble, though I would think he would want that for Ivy. She was very involved in the church and everyone loved her.”
“Was she still teaching Sunday school when she died?” Rita asked.
Carly thought a moment. “You know, I think she gave that up about six months or so before that. She was overextended.”
“Yeah, she was in the choir.”
“Hmm, come to think of it, she dropped out of that too.” Carly hesitated. “I think her hormones were fighting back.”
Rita laughed. “I know how that can be. She sure had a beautiful voice.”
Carly looked into the distance. “I used to pretend I could sing like that. Every time I wail at home, Pinkie takes off as fast as her little legs can carry her.”
“Only you,” Rita said, shaking her head. “You know she was working on something special for Scott before she died.”
Carly looked up. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I visited C. J.’s photography studio a couple of times and found Ivy there. C. J. told me it was a secret, but he was teaching her some photography techniques because she had a surprise for Scott.” Rita fingered the rim of her cup. “I don’t know what she was going to do or if she ever did it. I just know C. J. was trying to help her.”
“Funny, she never mentioned it to me. I thought I knew everything about Ivy.” Carly couldn’t help the disappointment that swelled inside her. They were the best of friends and for some reason Ivy hadn’t shared that with her. Maybe she’d never finished whatever it was.
First chance she got, she’d ask C. J. about it.
“Scott, did you hear me?” Carly was saying.
He finally glanced up from his work. “I’m sorry, were you talking to me?”
The frustration on her face said she was.
“It was nothing important.”
He immediately felt contrite. He didn’t know how he blocked people out like that when he was working, but he did. It was something he needed to work on—hadn’t Ivy told him so many times?
“Hi, Scott.” Melissa poked her head through the door. Scott and Carly both looked over. “You got time for lunch?” She smiled at him and then Carly.
“Caught me at a good time,” he said. “My stomach was growling.” He turned to Carly. “You want to go?”
Carly coughed. “Uh, no thanks. I have a lot to do here.” She shuffled papers around on her desk in an attempt to look busy. Scott knew she just didn’t want to go. Carly seemed to have something against Melissa, but he had no idea what. Women were just too hard to figure out sometimes.
“Okay, see you a little later.” Scott joined Melissa and they headed out the door. “Why don’t we take my car?”
“I thought you’d never ask,” Melissa said, eyes beaming. She looked at him as though he was a custom-made car, fresh from the factory, and she was the new owner. He wasn’t sure he liked it. Oh, there was no denying Melissa was pleasant to look at, but as far as he was concerned, she was a friend.
“Any place in particular?” he asked.
She pulled the seat belt across her chest and snapped it into place. The swerve of her mouth when she turned to him unnerved him a little. “I’ll go anywhere with you,” she said unabashedly.
Scott cleared his throat and started the engine. He didn’t even want to think about that.
While Melissa talked to him about her morning shopping, his mind wandered to Ivy and the embezzlement. He tried to dismiss it for now, though he didn’t know which was worse—thinking about that or listening to Melissa bash her ex-husband.
His thoughts were so consumed, he realized he shouldn’t have agreed to lunch with Melissa. He was poor company. Not that she noticed, though. She was too busy talking. The entire time. When he finally dropped her off and headed back into the office, he felt nothing but relief.
“So how was lunch?” Carly asked him when he walked into the room.
“Nothing to get excited about. I had a salad.”
“I wasn’t exactly referring to the food.”
Scott stopped and looked at Carly. “Oh, you mean with Melissa?”
He could feel her watching him but pretended not to notice. He walked over to his desk, rummaged through his top drawer, keeping her totally in suspense.
“I will hurt you if I have to.”
His hands stopped moving and he looked up with an ornery grin. “We had a nice time, Nosy.” He could almost hear her mind clicking. “Don’t order the invitations just yet.”
“So you’re not serious?”
“We’ve had a couple of dates, Carly. I’d hardly call that serious.”
“Well, you never know. Some people hit it off and marry a week later.”
He stared at her, mouth gaping.
“It’s been done. That’s all I’m saying.”
“I’m in no hurry.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” she said.
“Oh?” He studied her. “Speaking of which, how are things going with you and Jake? Looking at rings yet?”
She twinkled. “Not yet.”
<
br /> “But you’re hopeful?”
“Who knows?” She stretched out her hand and glanced at her naked ring finger. He thought he detected a longing in her expression. What was it with women and marriage?
He got up and put a file away. “Great. Things must be going pretty well with you two.”
For some reason, this conversation annoyed him. He was tired of talking about relationships and marriage and secrets.
“Time will tell.” She paused. “Oh, did I tell you I talked to Katelyn and she’s starting to work here today? So thanks for the suggestion.”
His footsteps padded toward the exit. “I hope I did the right thing in suggesting her.”
“Wait.”
Scott turned around.
“You can’t just make a statement like that and leave. What do you mean?”
“Nothing.” He waved his hand. “Forget it.”
By late afternoon, Carly had a headache. She had been thinking about Ivy all afternoon, wondering why she had kept her little surprise for Scott a secret. And then the thing with Scott and Melissa bugged her to no end. Something about that woman . . .
Carly rubbed her temples. Wait. She had invited Belinda Beason to come over Friday night for a cookout. She’d better ask Scott before he made plans with Melissa.
“It’s all the smells around here. It’s not good for you,” Magnolia said as she strolled up behind Carly.
“Hi, Magnolia.” She hated it when Magnolia caught her with a headache. She always gave her the same lecture.
“Your headache. It’s from the scents. I keep telling you.”
“You noticed that too?”
“Well, of course I did. The scents give me a headache.”
“No, I meant the part about you keep telling me—”
“What?”
“Never mind.”
“So did you talk to Scott?”
“About what?” She knew what Magnolia was getting at, but Carly was stalling. She had a feeling this headache was not going to go away anytime soon.
“Don’t you remember? You really should get on some supplements that will help you with your memory. I was referring to the teen coffeehouse being named after Ivy.”