Ivy could not help but laugh. “I don’t know, I just reunited with Ms. Anderson. We did not stay in touch after high school. Why do you believe Sarah . . . Ms. Anderson . . . likes your father?”
“This is so gross, but Jen, that’s Roxie’s mom, said every woman in town thinks my dad’s hot. I could just kinda tell because Ms. Anderson was acting goofy at lunch, like some of the fifth-grade girls do when they have boyfriends. Plus, she’s always offering to help tutor me in math. At my house. It’s okay, though. My dad needs a girlfriend. He’s never dated since my mom died.”
Ivy stopped so abruptly that Holly bumped into her. “I’m sorry. I’m a klutz.”
“Trust me, I know klutz. I have three left feet.” Ivy picked up the red barrette and headband. “Do you like these?” she asked.
“They’re very pretty. I was thinking they would look nice in my hair for the Christmas musical, but Dad’s pretty much set against me singing. I do not know why. He does not like music or noise. And he folds his socks really straight. Don’t you think that’s weird? Did you ever have a boyfriend who folded socks? I thought all boys were slobs, truly, but my dad is the neatest person I know.”
Ivy burst out laughing. “I can’t say I’ve ever had a boyfriend who folded socks.” She thought of John, and his huge drawer of socks. They were thrown in a pile and picked out according to color.
“So how come you don’t have a boyfriend? You’re incredibly pretty and nice,” Holly asked in her wide-eyed, innocent way as she walked to the end of the aisle, touching knickknacks along the way.
Ivy decided to tell the truth. There was no getting around it. Sooner or later, she would have to talk about the loss of her family with people, maybe even strangers. It was incredibly sad, but in her heart, she knew she had to start remembering the good times she had shared with John.
Swallowing the sob that rose in her throat, she said, “I was married once. My husband died. It was a very long time ago.”
Holly turned to her, and before Ivy knew what was happening, the little girl embraced her. “I’m sorry, Ivy. I didn’t know. Was he, like, sick or something?”
While Ivy knew she needed to force herself to speak about John’s death, she wasn’t sure if now was a suitable time to reveal the complete cause of her loss. She did not want to burden Holly with more grief, since she had lost her mother, too. Keeping in mind her age, she said, “No, he wasn’t sick. He was in an accident.”
“Like my mom. Dad said she died a very sudden and tragic death. I hate those words. It’s . . . I do not know, kind of scary, I think. He hasn’t ever told me the details. He thinks I’m too young. I really can’t remember her, but I do have a picture. I look like her,” Holly said.
“She must have been a beautiful woman, then,” Ivy said, and she meant it.
“She was pretty. Dad says I have her hair and eyes,” Holly offered very casually as though she were discussing a stranger.
“Speaking of, it’s about time we headed back to meet your dad. I think we have gone over our twenty-minute time limit.”
As they made their way out of Baubles, Ivy planned to return and get the sparkly red barrette with headband for Holly.
Why? Just because she could.
Chapter 24
Daniel had not planned on having this talk with Sarah Anderson in a parking lot, but, as she had said, there was no time like the present. “This is a bit awkward.” He jammed his hands in his pockets, feeling like a schoolboy asking the most popular girl in school if she would go with him to senior prom. And worse, he knew Sarah had no clue what he was about to spurt out. “Listen, this is not easy for me to say, so I’m just going to say what I have to say. I’m really trying to focus on Holly now. She’s a great kid, as you know, a little snarky, but what kid isn’t?”
This was not coming out as easily as he’d thought. Sarah had stars in her eyes, no doubt about it, and he hated to, but he had to extinguish them. “I’m not really open to us—you and me—being anything more than friends.” He felt like a total jerk, but it was necessary. “If I have assumed more, I feel like a major idiot.”
The look on Sarah’s face was enough. He did not need to hear the words.
Obviously, his words had taken her by surprise.
“No, no . . . I thought we . . . well . . .” Sarah took a minute to gather herself. “We can be friends. I’m good with that. Really. Maybe I have been too persistent with my offer to tutor Holly, too. She’s made drastic improvements. Her latest test score shows me that she’s really putting in an extra effort in a subject she dislikes and has trouble grasping.”
Sarah was rambling, and it made Daniel feel like a jerk. “Good to hear. I know I’m hard on her, but I want her to succeed in all of her studies.”
“Well, then, it’s settled. I will not worry about tutoring Holly, and the other . . . We’re . . . friends, right?” She smiled, and offered her hand. She’s a true lady, he thought. And it made him wish that he did feel something for her, but it would be unfair to her.
He squeezed her hands. “Friends, Sarah. Truly. You know my daughter probably better than any female, and I want your relationship with her to remain as strong as it’s been. She adores you, you know?”
“The feeling is mutual,” Sarah added.
Daniel saw Holly and Ivy heading their way; their timing could not have been more perfect.
“Dad, I saw a really cool barrette and headband at Baubles. It’s red and sparkles like Dorothy’s shoes in The Wizard of Oz. It’d look great in my hair. For Christmas.” She radiated excitement. “Can I add that to my Christmas list?”
Daniel laughed. “I suppose you can. I hope she wasn’t any trouble?” he said to Ivy, who wore a huge smile. The haunted look in her eyes was still there, but there was something else that he had not seen during lunch. Peace? Joy? Contentment? He could not say. Whatever it was, he liked the change.
“She’s a doll, and we had a nice, though quick, trip up and down the aisles. I think Baubles has something for everyone,” Ivy told them. “I plan to return and do a bit of shopping myself.” Ivy winked at Holly. Daniel saw that and approved.
“So I need to get going, I have a million and one things to do,” Sarah said quickly. “Holly, I’ll see you on Monday. Ivy, call me later. We’ll plan another lunch.”
“Of course. Maybe we can make reservations for The Red Barn?”
“I’ll check my calendar and call you with a date,” Sarah replied. She fished through her purse for a pen and removed a business card from her wallet. “What’s your number?”
Daniel watched the two women interact. They were as different as night and day. Sarah: peppy, pretty in a girl-next-door way. Bright blue eyes, shiny brown hair cut at a sharp angle, enhancing her square jaw. He was sorry he did not have feelings for her. She was pure down to the core. Ivy, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. Woeful, maybe? He was not sure. Slender, with the lean body of an athlete, her honey-colored hair reached the middle of her back; and unlike Sarah’s, there was no style or shape to it. Just long and thick. Green eyes, and ivory skin untouched by time; he thought she was mysterious and wondered why he’d never run into her before. During lunch, she had talked about growing up and living in Pine City her entire life.
Knowing this about her made her even more intriguing. Where had she been hiding? He had not a single clue, but he was interested in finding out more about her, and maybe getting to know her in ways that he had not wanted to acknowledge wanting to know someone in a very long time.
“I’ll look forward to lunch,” Ivy said; then she gave Sarah a quick hug.
Sarah smiled. “Me too. See you Monday, Holly.” She waved and made her way hurriedly across the parking lot to her car.
Daniel returned her wave and felt bad about hurting her. “Holly, we’d best get going. You have more studying to do. Ivy, it was nice talking to you. Maybe we’ll run into each other again.” His eyes met hers.
“Promise you won’t forget New Year’s
Eve?” Holly asked Ivy.
“I promise. It was nice seeing you both,” Ivy said, and she, too, gave them a half wave and walked across the parking lot to her car. Daniel was surprised to see she drove an older-model Mercedes. He was not sure it suited her, but a car was a car. He watched as she opened the door and got inside.
“Dad? Earth to Dad?” Holly blurted out. “Is something wrong?”
Daniel pulled his eyes away from Ivy as she pulled out onto Main Street.
“I was thinking. I’m just fine,” he said, and meant it. “Let’s go home, and if you study for one hour, you can call Roxie.”
“Woo-hoo!” Holly shouted. “Thanks.”
“Sure thing, kid,” he said, and he yanked on her ponytail again.
* * *
The ride home was a blur. Daniel could not stop thinking about Ivy. It amazed him they’d never run into one another, but there was something else about her. Another version of her? Someone she reminded him of? Maybe a woman he’d passed on the street? Whatever it was, he could not get her out of his head.
Holly was seated at the table, immersed in her math book, writing numbers in her notebook. He really needed to back off with this math thing, but he had to focus on his long-term goal for his daughter, keep it front and center.
He did not want her to pursue a career in music.
Daniel spent the next half hour in his den, reworking one of the designs for his upcoming work on The Bright Side condo project. He was having trouble concentrating. His thoughts kept returning to Ivy.
She had definitely made an impression on him. Why her and not Sarah, who would welcome him into her life with open arms? He was not looking for a relationship. Holly’s future was uppermost in his life plan. Yes, he’d been with a few women since Laura’s death, but there had never been any deep emotional attachment to any of them. Something told him Ivy was not the kind of woman who’d involve herself in a physical relationship, just for the pleasure of it. No, she was the kind of woman who would love deeply and expect the same in return.
Chapter 25
Ivy found a parking spot right in front of Baubles. Before anyone else had the chance to scoop up that cute barrette and headband, she wanted to make sure it was still there, so she immediately headed for the store after lunch. Inside, she was greeted by a young woman. “Anything I can help you with, just let me know,” the salesperson said kindly.
“Thanks,” Ivy said. She knew what she was there for. She walked over to the display where the barrette and headband sparkled. Smiling, she took both off the rack. This was not a birthday gift for Holly, just a gift for the sake of giving. And it was still too soon for a Christmas gift. She would ask Sarah how to go about giving Holly the gift. She did not want to offend Daniel, who truly seemed to love and care for his daughter. Strict, yes, but Ivy’s opinion of him had been wrong. He was definitely not abusing his daughter. Holly was eleven and so in need of a female role model. Sure that Sarah filled this role, Ivy was anxious to find out what she and Daniel had discussed. Hopefully, he’d invited her out. This would be perfect for all three of them.
As she stepped away from the display rack, she spotted a large square of folded notebook paper on the floor. She picked it up, bringing it to the register with her. She put the items on the counter. “I found this on the floor,” she said, and slid the folded paper across the counter to the young girl.
The girl took the paper and opened it. Her facial expression went from mild interest to disbelief. “This is not good,” she said, and positioned the note so Ivy could read it.
Dear Mrs. Pellegrino:
I need to find out what happened to my mother. Dad does not allow me to talk about her. I am very afraid that he might have done something to her. Like killed her and put her body somewhere....
Stunned, Ivy took the paper and read it a second time. “I was just here with the girl who wrote this.”
“I remember.”
“I’ll take care of it. Let me pay for this,” she said as she picked up the note and put it in her purse. She quickly took care of her purchase and returned to her car.
Had Holly planned for someone other than Mrs. Pellegrino to find her note? If so, why didn’t she just give it to her when they had walked to Baubles earlier? Or she could have easily passed it to Sarah? Or did it simply fall out of her pocket? That aside, were the allegations actually true? Was Daniel Greenwood truly hiding his wife’s cause of death from Holly? Was he keeping his daughter from discovering what had really happened to her mother? Ivy did not have any answers, but she knew where to begin her search. Without giving it a second thought, she dialed Sarah’s cell phone number.
“Hello?”
“Sarah, it’s Ivy. I need to see you right away. Can you meet me? Your place, mine, anywhere that’s convenient.”
“I suppose I could. Is everything okay? Did something happen after I left?”
“Yes, and I need you to see something.”
“Then come over to the house, Mom’s old place on Hickory Lane.”
Ivy remembered the house from her many visits as a teenager. “I’m on my way.” She hung up and headed over. Ten minutes later, she drove through the newly installed security gates. Times are changing, she thought as she shut off the engine.
Sarah’s home looked the same as it had when they were in high school. Redbrick, black shutters, and white columns, it was a beautiful place. If she remembered correctly, it was filled with antiques and priceless art, likely the reason for the gates.
Sarah opened the door before Ivy could knock.
“You’ve been crying.” Ivy stated the obvious. “Has something happened to your mother?” Sarah’s mother continued to live with her, but Sarah had told Ivy that her mother was in and out of the hospital all the time. Each time her mother was admitted, Sarah was not sure if she would come home.
“Oh, Mom’s fine. She’s taking a nap now. I’m just a crybaby,” Sarah explained.
“Bull! You’re not a crybaby. Never have been. What happened?” Ivy asked. The entrance looked exactly as it had during her many visits as a teenager. The kitchen had been updated with new cabinets, granite countertops, and new appliances, but everything else felt familiar.
“You first. I’ll make some tea,” Sarah said, then proceeded to take glasses from the cupboard and fill them with ice.
“After lunch, I went back to that store, Baubles. Holly had admired a barrette set while we were looking around, and I decided to go back and buy it for her. They’re handmade, one of a kind, at least I did not see any others, so I find this piece of notebook paper on the floor and take it to the girl at the register. She read it, then gave it to me to read.” Ivy took the note out of her purse and handed it to Sarah.
Sarah filled the glasses with tea before taking the note. She scanned it; then her mouth moved, but no words were spoken.
“Speechless,” Ivy stated.
“I simply cannot believe this. It’s impossible.”
Ivy sat down at the large oak table, and Sarah sat across from her. “How do you know?”
Sarah took a drink of her tea, then said, “Ivy, I hate to bring up the past again, but I must. Holly’s mother, Laura, was killed in the same plane crash that your family was in. I can’t believe Daniel would keep something like that from her. And I can’t understand why Holly would write something like this. It’s not like her to be so . . . dramatic.”
Ivy felt as though she had been sucker punched.
“What?” Sarah asked. “You didn’t know?”
Ivy shook her head. “Of course not, why would I? I never met either of them until last night, when Holly knocked on my door.”
“I’m sorry, I just assumed. It was all over the news,” Sarah said apologetically. “The names of the passengers.”
“I was totally nonfunctional at the time,” Ivy reminded her.
“I’m sorry, Ivy. I’m not thinking straight,” Sarah said. Ivy did a quick calculation. Holly would have been around the same age a
s Elizabeth and James when her mother died. No wonder she craved female attention. Was her note just a way of gaining her father’s attention? Surely, the woman the letter was addressed to would contact Daniel Greenwood?
“Do you know this Mrs. Pellegrino?” Ivy asked.
“Sure, Jen Pellegrino, she’s Roxie’s mother. I do not know why Holly would do this, unless she’s really mad at Daniel.”
“Does she get along with him?”
“Pretty much. He’s very strict, and like any eleven-, almost twelve-year-old, Holly resents him for that alone, but that’s typical for her age. I’ll talk with her Monday. I’m sure the note is nothing more than an angry daughter trying to get even with her dad.”
Ivy hoped Sarah was right.
“Are you going to tell me why you were crying?” Ivy asked. “You were upset when I called.”
“If you must know, Daniel Greenwood just wanted to let me know that he was not interested in me and that we could only be friends, and that Holly really cared about me, and he wanted that to continue.” Sarah’s eyes filled with tears. “I’m not crying from the rejection—I was crying from the pure and utter humiliation! I think, no, thought Daniel was a nice guy, so I was interested. It wasn’t like I invited him for a sleepover. I’m not sure if I can ever look him in the face again. I was so mortified, I just stood there in the parking lot and agreed with him. I do not think I have ever been so embarrassed.”
At that very moment, Ivy decided for the second time that she did not like Daniel Greenwood, not even a little bit.
Chapter 26
Ivy did not want to put Sarah on the spot, so she said, “I’ll call Daniel myself and tell him about this note.”
“It’s really not your place,” Sarah said. “I’ll talk to Holly on Monday and set up a parent-teacher conference with Daniel. I’ll also have to alert the school’s counselor. It’s the normal protocol for something like this.”
“This did not happen at school, Sarah. Even I know you’re not responsible for what your students do when they’re out of the school’s jurisdiction. I was a student once, I remember. I know things have changed some since I was in elementary school, but I’m not that old.”
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