It had been a very, very long time, and she would be the first one to admit, she had no clue what one considered acceptable in today’s world. It did not matter, she thought. For whatever reason, she was having pizza with a man and his daughter, a little girl whom she just happened to think was adorable.
* * *
Ten minutes later, she was searching the parking lot for a spot. She had not actually dined inside Ollie’s since . . . ever!
As many pizzas as she had ordered throughout the years, she had never been inside. Amazing, she decided, after locating a parking slot between two large trucks. Turning off the ignition, she closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. This was her day of new beginnings. She wanted to live; she needed to find a new normal in her life and forget her old ways. If having pizza on a chilly autumn Saturday night with a man and his daughter was to be a part of her new normal, then it was time to accept these facts and do her best to live in the moment.
She tossed her keys in her purse and headed for the entrance. As soon as she stepped inside, the scent of fresh-baked bread, garlic, and something else she could not put a name to teased her senses. It was warm, maybe a bit too warm, she thought as she searched the tables for Daniel and Holly. Chatter from the diners, clinks of flatware, and an occasional burst of laughter livened up Ollie’s more than she had expected. Actually, she was not sure what she had expected, and reminded herself, again, that this was a new start for her.
“Ivy!” came a voice from her left. “Over here.”
She turned and saw Daniel and Holly seated beside an older couple on a long bench against the window. She gave a quick wave of acknowledgment and headed their way.
“I didn’t know Ollie’s drew in such a crowd,” she said to Daniel and Holly. Daniel stood up and pointed to his empty seat. “Please have a seat. They said it would be a few minutes.”
Ivy sat next to Holly. “Thanks. I love your boots,” Ivy said. And she did.
“Me too. Dad gave them to me for Christmas last year,” Holly said, stretching her black-tighted legs out so Ivy could get a full view of her boots.
“Well, all I can say is that’s a very cool gift, and I love the color.” She patted the little girl’s back. She was thin, but not so much that it alarmed her. Most likely, she was going to be tall, just like her father.
“Me too, but pink and purple are my faves. Not sure if they make pink or purple boots, but how cool would that be if they did?” Holly asked.
Daniel shook his head. “She likes boots. What can I say?”
Ivy nodded. “Of course she does. What girl doesn’t?” Small talk, but Ivy did not feel quite as awkward as she had at The Blackberry Café. Hard to believe that had only been a few hours ago. Which explained the reason why she was not that hungry.
“So what are your favorite toppings?” Holly asked.
“Good question.” She thought for a few seconds, and replied, “I like everything, minus anchovies, which I do like in a Caesar salad.... So whatever you choose, I’ll love.”
“As long as there are no anchovies?” Daniel added.
She felt a wash of color rise to her cheeks. Glad the place was a bit on the dim side, she nodded. “What about you?” she asked.
“Same. I like anything.”
The hostess called, “Greenwood, party of three,” and they all followed her to a booth at the back of the restaurant, near the kitchen door. In the old days, Ivy would have asked for a booth away from the kitchen, but now decided it was a good idea to have a bit of traffic coming and going. The last thing she needed was a cozy little corner. Though one could not get too cozy with a little girl in the picture. Why she was having these thoughts completely perplexed her.
Daniel and Holly sat on the side nearest to the kitchen, and Ivy faced them. A low-hanging light above their table reflected the golds and deep browns in Daniel’s hair. Sarah was right. He was good-looking in the extreme. She took a deep breath, then picked up the menu, hoping to hide the blush staining her cheeks. A warm glow flowed through her. Right at this very moment, she was content. No past. No future. Just the moment.
An older woman, tall and thin, with steel-gray hair styled in a pageboy, came to the table. “Hey, Daniel. Holly. What’s the occasion? I have not seen you two twice in one week since I do not know when.” She looked at Ivy while she said this.
“Luck,” Holly offered, and they all laughed.
“You want a few minutes to look at the menu tonight, or will it be the usual?” the woman asked.
“Give us a few minutes, Geraldine,” Daniel said, adding, “Since we have a guest tonight.”
“Sure thing, you just wave your hand when you’re ready to order. You want a draft beer now, while you look over the menu?”
“Not tonight, we’ll each have a Sprite. Ivy?”
“Sprite is fine for me, too.”
When she had poured her alcohol down the drain, she was sure she would have some kind of craving. Luckily, she had not, nor had she missed it. In fact, the thought of it made her sick. To think that she had spent all these years in a drunken stupor amazed her. Unsure if her health had been affected, she made a mental note to go see her doctor for a full checkup. Her father, as always, had been right. She was still young, and she did have a future. Though she seriously doubted she would ever have more children, she did want to live out the rest of her days clearheaded, without the lingering aftereffects of alcohol.
“Then three Sprites it is,” Geraldine said.
“She’s the owner,” Daniel explained. “Ollie’s wife.”
Ivy nodded. “I’ve never been here, can you believe it? I have ordered delivery from them numerous times over the years, but tonight’s my first visit.” She needed Daniel to know this for some reason that she herself was not even sure of. Maybe she wanted him to know she had no memories of being here with anyone from her past?
“Wow, that’s really super weird, Ivy. Everyone who lives in Pine City has been to Ollie’s,” Holly informed her.
“Well, I agree that it’s high time I had the pleasure, and, voilà, here I am,” Ivy said. “I know they have the best pizza ever.”
Geraldine brought three tall glasses of ice with three cold cans of Sprite. “Y’all ready to order?”
“Ivy? You choose,” Daniel said.
“Let’s have what Holly usually has. I’d like to be surprised.”
“Good choice,” Geraldine said. “The kid’s got good taste.”
“Thanks,” Ivy said. She pulled the metal top of the can back. A slight fizzing sound bubbled up; then ice crackled as she filled the glass with soda.
“So what’s your job, Ivy, or do you even have one? I am going to be a singer, but I guess you already know that,” Holly said, her words bursting with enthusiasm.
Leave it to a child to cut through the flesh and go straight for the bone, Ivy thought. She would have asked the same question at her age. “That’s a good question. I went to college, Duke, where I majored in business. I worked for my father until a few years ago.” Was that even an answer? She did not think so, but it was all she was willing to share at this point. She could not speak about the plane crash, especially now that she knew that Daniel had lost his wife in the very crash that took her family from her. Though she knew she was being unrealistic, she felt responsible for his loss. Silly, but true.
“Holly, I think Ivy would rather talk about something besides work. Am I right?” Daniel asked her.
“No, it’s fine. Really.” She was not being 100 percent truthful. It was not fine. She cleared her throat. “I worked for an airline many years ago.” There. It was out in the open.
“Cool,” Holly said, then apparently remembered what her dad told her earlier about her mother. “I mean, not cool. You know cool, like you could travel, cool,” Holly said, trying to dig herself out of the verbal hole, but the more she said, the deeper she fell into the darkness of her words.
Ivy knew it was up to her to make this right. Honesty was always
the best policy. “I did not travel much. And it was a cool job for a while. I enjoyed my work, loved the freedom I had, and bringing home a paycheck was nice, too.” Lame as ever, but she had never rehearsed how she would explain her circumstances to a stranger if asked. She did not want to burden Holly with any more thoughts of sadness.
In order to change the subject, she asked, “So tell me about this annual Christmas musical? How in the world did you get involved in such a big project?” During lunch, Sarah had explained to her just how big a deal The Upside’s Christmas musical was.
Holly looked at her dad. “I don’t think I’m going to be allowed to sing this year.”
Ivy raised her brow, trying to hide her confusion from Holly. “Why is that?” she asked. Was there more to this father-and-daughter team that she did not know? Were they ill? She hoped not. She could not handle another tragedy happening to those she cared about. Though it had only been a day, Ivy felt as though Daniel and his daughter were in her life for a reason.
Maybe Holly getting lost was meant to be?
Chapter 31
“It’s the happiest I have seen her since the accident,” George explained to Margaret. “That child’s visit had a positive effect on her. I think it’s what’s brought about this new change in her.”
“I’m happy to hear that. As we both know, I have stood in her shoes, and it’s the most horrifying news a parent will ever hear, but we have to live our lives. I know Mark would have wanted me to move on,” Margaret explained.
They’d had this same conversation many times, and each time, George saw the hurt and loss etched in Margaret’s face. At sixty-five, she was a very attractive woman, but there was a sadness about her that he knew would never go away. He saw this in Ivy, too; each time, his heart broke a little bit more for her. And for Margaret. While he’d lost his wife and two grandchildren, he had not lost a child, and that was the worst loss possible.
“You know I hate what you’ve had to go through,” George offered. “I wish I could make all the negativity in your life disappear, but I am a realist.”
Margaret smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “Yes, you are, and I, for one, am glad. I do not know where I would be if not for you.”
After all the years he’d been with Margaret, he had the grace to blush when she complimented him. “You’d be just fine without me, we both know better.”
“Who would possibly make beef Wellington for me, and on a Saturday night?” Margaret took a sip of the wine she had brought over.
“I’m sure there’s more than one willing gentleman out there who would not mind giving you a go,” George said, then laughed. “Oh, that does not sound very nice, does it? You know what I meant.”
“I do.”
More than once, he’d wanted to ask Margaret to move in with him. Now that he was moving to his new home at The Upside, he wondered if she would give in if he were to ask her to marry him? He adored her, and he knew the feeling was mutual. They shared most of their lives together. Why not share them under the same roof? He had not told her about selling his house or the airline. This was part of the reason he’d invited her over tonight. Normally, he would take her out to a special restaurant of her choosing. She loved The Willows, and he did, too, but he did not want to frequent a place he owned too often, because he did not want his manager to feel as though he were checking up on him. Margaret had agreed when he’d explained this to her.
Margaret knew him better than anyone, even more than Elizabeth had. He was in love with her, and he knew that the feelings were reciprocated. When he asked her to be his wife, he wanted it to be special. Not in his kitchen, sitting at the old parlor table. A plan began to take shape. He smiled.
“Why the big smile?” Margaret asked. “You look like you’re up to something. Did you take the Corvette on a wild drive across the parkway today? Are the police going to keep my little red ’vette on their radar now? If so, I will have to tell them you’re the speed demon, not I.”
George shook his head and laughed. “No worries there. I had the oil changed, went to the supermarket, and here I am.”
“I hope so,” Margaret said, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“I do have something I would like to share with you,” he said. “Would you like another glass of wine first?” he asked, reaching for the bottle. She nodded, and he poured them each another glass.
“What’s the big mystery? I know that look. You have something up your sleeve,” Margaret stated.
George cleared his throat, took a sip of wine. “I have decided to sell Macintosh Air. I have had a buyer interested for a few months. I’m not sure how much longer they’ll be interested, so they made me an offer, and I accepted.”
Apparently, she was surprised, as all she could do was nod.
“And I’m going to put this place on the market. It’s too big for a single guy. Ivy has no interest in the place. She told me it would be the perfect home for a family starting a new life. I agree with her. You know my house at The Upside has been move-in ready for quite some time. I have decided now is the time.” George sighed. “What do you think?” He wanted her opinion, valued it very much. If all went according to plan, she would be sharing his home, too.
“I think it’s high time. You have the restaurants, The Upside, and The Bright Side is breaking ground. You love this area, and your ‘retirement’ home is an architectural dream. I’m with you all the way.” Margaret held her glass high in the air. “Let’s make a toast.”
He clinked his glass to hers.
“To the brightest, biggest, and best holiday season ever!” Margaret said, then added, “And it’s about time you moved on. I mean this in a positive way.”
“Of course you do, I know that. I have enough to occupy me, that’s for sure. I am not going to mind getting rid of that airline. Maybe I should have done it years ago. It might have helped Ivy to move forward.”
“I do not know about that. You made the airline a success, and I know after the crash, you worked harder to make it so. After all the lawsuits, and media coverage, you did not give up. I’ve always admired you for that,” Margaret said.
“That means a lot to hear you say that. I have often wondered if Ivy resented me for hanging on to the company. She seemed totally at ease when I told her I was selling out. It’s like a dark cloud hanging over all our shoulders, or at least that’s what I have begun to believe.
“She met Daniel Greenwood today. Apparently, his daughter is the star of the Christmas musical Carol Bishop and her cronies are working on. I have not heard her sing, but the talk is she will bring tears to your eyes.”
“Oh, George, that’s exciting! I don’t know him, but I see his work throughout The Upside. He’s very talented and dedicated. Do you think Ivy’s interested in him?”
“I hope so. He’s a fine man. A bit stiff, though. His wife was killed in that plane crash, too. I’m not sure if he’s told this to Ivy or if she’s shared her tragedy with him. My gut tells me those two are perfect for each other. It might take a bit of work on Daniel’s part, though. You know how guilty Ivy’s always felt. If he can get through to her, and help her ease some of that guilt, it would be a miracle.”
“It’s almost Christmastime. And miracles always happen during Christmas,” Margaret said.
With that, an idea began to really take shape, and George planned to make this holiday season one of his best ever.
Chapter 32
“That was one of the best pizzas I have had in . . . forever,” Ivy said to Holly. “It’s my new favorite, too.”
“Are you just saying that to be nice? Because if you are, you don’t have to. It’s cool if you don’t. Really,” Holly added as they waited for Geraldine to bring the check.
“I’m serious. Black olives, pepperoni, along with all that hot, gooey cheese. What’s not to like?” Ivy said, a huge grin on her face. She had not felt this at ease in a very long time. She knew this little girl was put in her life for a reason. She di
d not yet know what it was, but something told her that Holly would play a very important role in her future.
Daniel took the check from Geraldine and placed a few bills on the table. “Are you girls game for an ice cream?” He slid out of the booth. “All that salty stuff has me craving something sweet.”
“Dad! You never eat sweet stuff. I do not know what’s happening to you, but whatever it is, I am totally cool with it,” Holly said, her clear blue eyes twinkling as bright as a star.
“Ivy?”
This was certainly turning out to be a much better evening than she had anticipated. She could not remember the last time she had had ice cream. Yes, she suddenly recalled making banana splits for James and Elizabeth. Between them, they’d eaten the entire jar of maraschino cherries, and both wound up with stomachaches. Of course, she had allowed this, and felt horrible, but both had loved topping their banana splits with all those cherries. Tears filled her eyes, and she let them flow. She needed to remember her family, the happy times, and there were many.
“Are you all right?” Daniel asked as he steered her toward the exit.
Taking a deep breath, she nodded. She took a used tissue from her purse and blotted her eyes. “Memories,” she said in explanation.
Daniel did not ask her to elaborate, and she was grateful.
“Let’s get that ice cream,” Ivy said as they walked to their cars. “I’m assuming you want to go to Double Dips, unless there’s another ice-cream parlor in Pine City?” She had been housebound for so long, she really was not sure.
“Yep, that’s the place. Would you like to ride with us? I can bring you back to your car when we’re finished?” Daniel asked.
Ivy was surprised by the question. Did this mean he enjoyed being with her, or was he simply asking as a gesture of kindness? Or for Holly’s benefit?
“I would love to,” she said before she started overthinking the offer. “Lead the way.”
Daniel led her to an older-model pickup truck. It appeared to be a silver-gray color, but it was hard to tell with the sun down. He opened the passenger door, Holly jumped in, and Ivy hefted herself up, then sat next to Holly. A totally different view from this high off the ground. She liked it. Maybe she would buy a new SUV or a truck. She was due for a new vehicle. Something fun. Maybe this was why people drove these larger vehicles—they ruled the road and could see what was in front of them.
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