Chapter Twenty-Four
I stare up at Banover Place and wish so much we had more time with her.
“It feels like the end of an era,”
Ivy says, threading her arm with mine.
“And the start of something new.”
Anika does the same on my other side.
Behind us there are cameras and cranes and everything the crew needs for sweeping exterior shots. They’ve set up the interior shots as well, and we’re simply waiting for the owner to arrive with her daughters. We’ve been told they know nothing about the gift their mother is about to give them.
I’m excited, but there’s a bittersweetness to the day because in some way we started here as young girls, these sisters of mine. This was the place where we first spoke our dreams out loud and vowed to help each other achieve them. Those dreams changed over the years, but what never wavered is our love for each other.
That is what makes a family.
“I know,”
Ivy says, “but maybe we can sneak in one last time before they move in. I’ll make the PB&Js and Harper can bring the juice boxes and Ani can bring some of her mom’s chocolate chip cookies and we can sit in that room and talk about boys and the jobs we’re going to have.”
I chuckle at the thought because we really are at a crossroads. “We’re all starting something new.”
“We can talk about weddings,”
Ani corrected, “Because I intend to be invited to two of them soon. Ivy is set for this summer. Do you have a date?”
“Well, Reid technically hasn’t asked, but that’s because we agreed on giving it six months. We’re hoping by then the press around him will have died down.”
I don’t mention the press around me since it’s already beautifully dead. Britta’s been doing a mea culpa tour blaming everything on bad advice and a medication she’s taking that apparently caused her to blackmail two brothers for years. I try not to pay attention, but I do know her agency dropped her.
I also stay completely out of Ross Construction since I divested my stock. Lawyer drew up the paperwork to legally give it all to my mother. She tried to refuse and sent message after message about how I was abandoning her and the whole family. Apparently Paul is already fumbling.
I took that up with my new therapist. Dr. Logan Warner is a funny man. He’s one of those people you can tell has been through some stuff but managed to come out of it all with light and hope and love. I’m going to do the same. Starting with setting boundaries.
I got a new number because I’m not ready to deal with my mother yet. I will be one day, but I need space and time to heal. So we’re engaged to be engaged. Hopefully by then we’ll have a new place to live and steady jobs.
I also don’t want to take away from Heath and Ivy’s wedding. We’re going to be in production meetings for the next couple of months, but Anika and Luca want to talk about producing our show. We’re weighing our options, but I know which way we’ll probably go. “I’m thinking winter. I like a winter theme.”
“That sounds perfect,”
Ivy says and then her sweet smile turns a little ruthless. Her businesswoman smile.
“Now let’s talk about getting testimonials from both of you. We’re launching Emma soon, and I want to show off how perfect she is. She’s three for three in weddings in our family. Also, I ran my mom’s questionnaire through and guess who she matched with? Thomas. I think my mom is going to end up marrying CeCe’s driver. I’m going to have a British stepdad. I’m also pretty sure he once was a wheelman for the mob.”
Wouldn’t that be perfect?
“You should expect my mom to want to oversee all the catering,”
Anika says. “She was super upset that the palace wouldn’t let her serve mini corn dogs at our reception.”
Ivy practically vibrates. “Can she cater my whole wedding? I was thinking…now hear me out…”
“Food trucks,”
Ani and I say at the same time.
“Yes,”
Ivy agrees, and I swear she glows a little.
“Well, I’ll take Lydia then,”
I offer because I don’t want to leave a mom out. CeCe doesn’t cook, and Diane would order pizza. But Lydia will prepare a feast for the ages. “I want it to be us. Just my little family.”
“Your family is about to grow,”
Anika points out. “You know a crew feels like a family. We’ve gotten close to this one and we only worked together for a few months. What happens when you work with the same people for years at a time?”
I’ll get new friends and people to care about, but this group will always be my core.
“Our guest is three minutes out,”
Patrick informs us. He’s got his clipboard in hand and competently gets everyone where they’re supposed to be.
Except us, of course. Reid and Jeremiah are both in stylish suits, ready to show the new owners their gorgeous spaces. They’ll be the ones walking them through, explaining all of the finishing touches. I don’t have to film today but I wanted to be here to watch. “Where’s a good place for us to sit while you get your exteriors?”
Anika promised us we can watch the reactions through the many laptops set up to handle the more technical aspects of the production. I’m nervous. I hope they like it. I hope whoever walks in here will love this place as much as we do. I hope this is the start of a beautiful time for everyone who lives in this space I and my friends and loved ones put so much of ourselves in.
This. This is why I left. This feeling of love and hope for people I’ve never met is the reward of this job.
I thought I might regret walking away, but I know I won’t. Not ever. This is what I was born to do.
“You’re fine where you are. Though you really should have put on some blush, Ross,”
Patrick announces and suddenly Reid and Jeremiah are here.
And so is Heath. Luca appears next to Ani.
“Hey, guys,”
I say, happy but confused. “Aren’t we going to crowd the shot?”
“Yeah.”
Ivy is obviously with me on this one. She looks around. “If we’re all here, where are the new owners going to be? Harper’s right. We’re going to ruin the shot.”
I see a limo approaching, and the camera on the crane swoops in, getting the angle they need.
Ivy’s hand comes out, gripping my wrist. “Oh, you’re wrong, Patrick. I know that car. That’s CeCe’s car. I’ll tell her she can’t be here right now. Or maybe I’ll see if she’ll take me to lunch. I’m sorry for the confusion. She’s been weird lately. If I wasn’t certain this could never happen to CeCe Foust, I would say she’s having a midlife crisis.”
“She’s not going to lunch with you.”
Heath has the biggest grin on his face. “She’s got some work to do. And you’re not going to screw up the shot.”
Anika looks at me, and there are tears in her eyes. “We are the shot, guys. I’m going to need you to look surprised about all the stuff we’re about to see.”
Reid is beside me, so I turn to him. Like I do all the time now. “What is happening? Do you know what’s happening?”
He nods and looks very emotional. “I do, but you should know I only found out toward the end. Why do you think we suddenly wanted a woman’s opinion on the furniture? We had Ivy pick furniture for one of the homes. I had to put a futon in my gorgeously designed house. Why on earth would we do that? Because this place…this stunning home is ours. All of ours.”
I’m still in shock when the limo stops and Thomas hops out, looking smart in his suit. He gives us a grin and then opens the door and the fabulous CeCe Foust emerges in all her glory. She’s gone all out, wearing a classic suit and a gorgeous Chanel jacket, a pair of Louboutins on her feet giving her height she does not need. She sweeps from the limo and shakes out her long, rose-gold hair. I have no idea how she gets the color, but it’s always perfect.
This woman will always be perfect.
“What did you do?” Ivy asks.
CeCe smiles, and for a moment I forget the cameras are on us. CeCe takes off her sunglasses and reaches out for Ivy’s hand.
“My dearest love, I did what any good mother does. What I could. George and I were not blessed with children, though we did try.
After he died, I put all of my attention into the business, and that rather changed one day over a decade ago when I went to a school to talk to high school girls about getting a STEM education and I found the three of you.
Ivy, of course, was the one I was closest to for years, but when she returned from San Francisco, I truly got to know Harper and Anika as well.
Because of you I’ve found a group of friends I never had before. Diane and I bicker from time to time and Lydia makes peace, but we take care of each other. And I realized this was what it means to have sisters. Harper…you said something to me a few months back. You called me one of the moms. I know you joke about it, but I realized how very much I wish I had daughters like you. And then I realized I don’t have to give birth to love you like daughters.
I can simply decide to and make it reality. So, daughters of mine, would you like to see your gifts?
You never have to worry about having a home. I’ve set up a trust that will pay the property taxes. The real gift is to myself.
To keep you close to me and Lydia and Diane. To keep my family together as it grows.”
Tears stream down my face. This is everything I ever wanted. Us together. The people I love safe and happy and secure. “CeCe, I…”
“Darling, we’re on camera. Do you not have waterproof mascara?”
CeCe leans in and pats my shoulder. “We’ll get a makeup artist for you.”
There she is. And I wouldn’t have her any other way.
“Come along, my loves,”
she bids us. “Diane and Lydia are inside with Lady Buttercup. Let’s do this thing and then we have reservations at Cipriani. We’ll celebrate. And I swear if they try to put us in the back, I shall force them to move the table. Nothing but the best for my girls.”
I stand there for a moment, completely floored that this is my life.
Reid smiles down at me and leans forward to kiss my forehead. “I would do it all over again. All of it just for this moment. I love you, Harper. The guys and I are going inside. You come in with your sisters when you’re ready.”
“She better be ready in two minutes because I have a shot lined up,”
Patrick says as he walks by.
“Don’t listen to him.”
Reid winks and steps back. “You take your time.”
The guys walk into the entrance to the house that will be…mine. Ours. I’m wrapping my head around the fact that we get to live here. Together.
I feel Ivy’s hand in mine and I take Anika’s, all of us looking up at the place where we started. “I can’t believe it.”
“I can’t believe Ani’s known for so long and didn’t tell,”
Ivy complains. “The crown did something to her brain.”
“It was hard. Especially when Harper was so freaked out about splitting the place,”
Anika admits.
“Well, I probably wouldn’t have been upset if I knew it was for me.”
I can be honest with myself.
“Guys, you won’t believe the futon I put in the game room.”
Ivy squeezes my hand and starts to lead us toward the stairs. “I was so jealous I told Heath we have to get one. I’ve got the coolest game room. We’re going to have so much fun.”
“Then we should get started,”
Ani says with a smile as she walks through the door.
“Yes, because I’m ready for lunch.”
Ivy follows her
I stare at the door for a moment, thinking about what is waiting for me in this house I renovated. It’s filled with history, but more importantly, with people I love. Warmth and affection wait behind those doors. All the love in the world waits for me.
The next part of the history of Banover Place will be written by us.
“Hey, you coming?” Ani asks.
“She’s having a moment.”
Ivy smiles my way.
I’m having the best moment, and it’s time to share it.
I walk up the steps and join my family.
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She’s a high-tech boss who lost it all…
Ivy Jensen was the darling of the tech world, right up until her company fell apart completely after she trusted the wrong person. Her reputation in tatters, she finds herself back in the tiny apartment she grew up in, living with her mom. When a group of angel investors offer her a meeting, she knows she has to come up with the new big idea or her career is over.
He’s an up and coming coder…
Heath Marino has always been fascinated with writing code. He’s worked on a dozen games and apps and is considered one of the industry’s more eccentric talents. But now he’s back in New York to spend time with his grandmother. She was known as one of the city’s greatest matchmakers, and he wants to know why. Surely there’s some kind of code in his grandmother’s methods, and he’s going to find them.
When Ivy meets Heath it’s instant attraction, but she’s got a career to get back to and he just might be her on-ramp. It could be a perfect partnership or absolute heartbreak.
* * * *