Twenty-Three—Ivy
E
arly the next morning, Mama and Geneva picked us up in their rental car, which we loaded up with the necessities for a two-day getaway. Mia and my mother had become fast friends, which did not surprise me, because, well, Mia was Mia and the same thing had happened to me. Mia was a people magnet, genuinely nice, and any weirdness that had brought us together a month ago had only been weird until I moved into the pool house. One day. From then on, we’d simply become friends. But that was Mia. She was one of those people you couldn’t help but be attracted to: confident, funny, easy to trust. And she did not abuse those gifts. She came from hearty stock, so my experience had been the same with her family.
Even Bo, who was his own unique experience. A bit more work, but equally special.
But if it was true that I was becoming an honorary Sutton, it was just as true that Mia was fast becoming an honorary Talbot. In fact, because Mia had so admired the massive metal necklace my mother had worn to dinner, Bree had given it to her—which sort of baptized Mia into my family.
Mia made the trip fabulous. She knew all the lesser-known art galleries, the quiet restaurants, the off-the-path boutiques, and she even got us into a great day spa called Under Currents . Her friend, Joslyn Wu, worked there, and she was able to schedule us all at the same time. Massages, shampoos, manicures, pedicures. New extensions for Mia, and a haircut for me—albeit after much prodding from everyone. But I bit the bullet when Joslyn said,“Cutting your hair off is like starting your life over.” It was a good metaphor for me. I think I lost a good two pounds, but afterwards I wondered why I’d waited so long. I loved it! My shorter, tamed curls made my neck seem longer and framed my face in a way that made my eyes pop. This, of course, made it hard to resist the other thing Mama had been bugging me about my whole life—my eyebrows. Joslyn Wu completely transformed my look that afternoon, and when I walked out to meet the girls, Geneva started to cry, Mama’s mouth fell open, and Mia took a bunch of pictures. I giggled like a little girl and couldn’t remember the last time I’d done that.
After that we shopped, and something rather amazing happened. Either the measurements in California were different than the rest of the nation, or I had simply shrunk. I called Mia into the dressing room where I was trying on a handkerchief skirt with a funky hem.
“What? What’s the matter?” she said, alarmed when I pulled her into the little room.
“Is that me?” I said to her, our eyes meeting in the mirror.
“I love that skirt!” she said.
“It’s too big.”
“Okaaaay. And?”
I lifted my shirt and showed her the way the skirt hung loose around my waist.
“Oooohhhh…looks like I’d better see if they have a smaller one.” She walked out but stuck her head back in. “You’re hilarious,” she laughed.
When Mia came back a few minutes later, she had an armload of dresses and jeans in sizes I hadn’t seen since junior high. One blouse was even a Medium . When I walked out of that store with my new clothes and my new hair and a smile that was real down to my toes, I felt like I’d been christened by those folks on What Not to Wear .
Later, while Geneva took a nap, and Mia caught up with her friends who’d called from Europe to taunt her, Mama and I decided to walk to the beach. Mia said to stay on Ocean Avenue and she’d find us, so we set out on our own.
“Oh, I do love it here,” Bree said as we strolled.
“Me, too. Thanks, Mama. This was perfect.”
She squeezed my arm. “I’ve always loved Carmel,” she said. “But my very favorite time to be here is Christmas. You should see this town all dolled up for the holidays.”
I laughed. “When were you ever here at Christmastime?”
My mother looked at me coyly. “Sweetie, I meet your father here a few times a year. And more than once it’s been during the holidays.”
“What?” I stopped, feeling like I’d been punched. “ What? ”
“Oh, Ivy. Don’t look like that.”
“You’ve been here? At Christmas? And you never brought me?”
“Well…” Mama stammered. “It was time set aside just for your dad and me. You know we don’t get to see each other very often.”
“And before my wedding debacle, I saw him even less than that,” I said, suddenly more hurt and annoyed than I was prepared for.
“Hey!” she said, seeming surprised by my tone.
“Hey, what?”
“What is wrong with you, Ivy?”
“Nothing,” I said, staring straight ahead. “I don’t know. That just seems…”
“Now, you just hold on! You’re actually upset because I spent private time with your dad?”
“I don’t know,” I snapped. “I guess I am, Mama.” I looked at her. “Did you ever think, even once, that maybe I might have liked to come to a place like this with you?”
She chuckled. “Well, I’m sorry, Ivy; it just didn’t work out that way for us.”
“ Me , you mean . It didn’t work out that way for me . You seem to have done just fine.” I was upset, and again it surprised me how upset, and I couldn’t really explain it except to realize that when I was home in Georgia the idea of my parents had seldom crossed my mind. Daniel was here , and me and Mama…our life was there , and except for the occasional surprise—or wedding—that was our life. Except I guess it really wasn’t the same for my mother. Well, of course it wasn’t.”
“What is the matter with you, Ivy?”
“I don’t know. Nothing, I guess.”
Bree took hold of my arm and stepped in front of me. “Ivy Lee Talbot, you do not get to judge me. You haven’t lived my life.”
I stared at her. “Have you lived your life, Mama? Really? Hooking up with Daniel on, what? A quarterly basis? That’s your life? Please.” I turned away from her, but just as fast I turned back. “And by the way, if there is anyone who has earned the right to judge you, that would be me! Who do you think I am? Have you met me? I’m the girl you gave this life to. I’m the girl you decided didn’t need a decent dad—at least not as much as you needed your cross-country booty calls.”
My mother’s jaw hardened. “Don’t you dare talk to me like that!”
I shook my head. “I just don’t get you, Mama.”
“It’s complicated, Ivy. And it’s none of your business.”
“Well, that’s not true! You are my business, Mama! Your life touches mine. You and Daniel are my parents .”
“Keep your voice down! You’re causing a scene!”
“Do I look like I care, Mama? And it’s not that complicated. What exactly is complicated, Mama? That Dad is married to someone else? Has kids and a home and a life here? What’s complicated about that? Aside from you two sneaking around for my entire life.”
“I do not have to listen to this, Ivy Lee. I love your father.”
“So what, Mama?”
“And he loves me! We will be together. Soon .”
“Mama! How long are you gonna keep believing that fairytale? ”
“Stop it! Stop it right now! ” She fingered away the sudden tears that had pugnaciously appeared in her eyes. “I can’t believe you’re treating me this way,” she said. “And I came all this way to do something nice for you.”
“Oh, please! You came all this way to see him .”
“That is not true, Ivy. That’s just mean.”
“Then where were you all night?”
Her mouth dropped open, and she was caught. Then she was upset. “That is none of your business. I don’t answer to you, young lady.” She stared at me until her lip started to quiver. “I think we need a break, Ivy. I’ll see you later at the hotel.” And with that, Mama left me where I stood and crossed the street.