Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The hearty aroma of freshly brewed coffee tickled Nora’s nose, rousing her from sleep. She opened her eyes to bright sunlight streaming through the window. Gram’s bed was empty. Nora pushed the blankets off her legs and got out of bed. She padded into the bathroom, brushed her teeth, washed her face, and drew a comb through her hair. Then, she put on some powder and lip gloss and slipped on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.
When she went into the kitchen, Gram was sitting solo at the table with a cup of coffee and her novel.
“Morning.”
Gram looked up from her book. “Good morning.”
“You the only one up?”
“Ivy just went out on the porch. I told her I’d join her after my coffee.”
Nora nodded and stretched her arms over her head. She moved to the coffeemaker and poured herself a mug, then took it outside to say good morning to Ivy.
The girl was at the table, bent over her journal, her pen moving a mile a minute, a glass of orange juice and her phone beside her.
“Whatcha doing?” Nora asked, taking a seat.
Ivy looked up. “Finishing the song I was writing.”
“It seems you’ve picked up the pace with your songwriting. Have you written more recently?”
Ivy shrugged.
“You seem to enjoy it.”
Ivy didn’t answer.
Nora wrapped her hands around her mug. “Are you okay?”
“Sure.” Ivy went back to writing a line, but then scratched it out.
“I wonder what time you and your dad are taking off today,” Nora said. “We probably have time for breakfast out like your dad suggested. That might be nice.”
“Oh, I’m not going home with him.”
Nora blinked. “What?”
“I thought about it all night, and I’m tired of making excuses for him.”
“What do you mean?”
Ivy rolled her eyes. “Never mind. You’ll just give me some mumbo jumbo about how I need to listen to him and do what he says.”
“What do you mean by ‘making excuses for him’?” Nora scooted her coffee out of the way and leaned into Ivy’s space to get her attention. “Tell me. I’ll try to help.”
“I didn’t give you the full story of why I ran away.”
Nora waited for her to divulge whatever was bothering her.
With a sigh, Ivy picked up her phone and opened one of her social media apps. She scrolled for a few seconds until she got to a video of a young guy. She turned the phone around for Nora to view it.
“Who’s that?”
“Alex Byron, lead singer of Phiz. A new pop band.”
Nora pursed her lips. “I don’t understand. What does this have to do with why you ran away?”
Ivy hit play on the video and slid the phone over to Nora.
“Tell me, who is the most influential person in your life?” the interviewer asked.
The young man leaned back in his chair with a smirk on his handsome face, and brushed his golden hair out of his eyes. “Definitely my producer, Blaze Ryman.”
“Really? Why’s that?” the interviewer asked.
“No matter what’s going on, he stops everything to help. He gives me the best advice. He’s like a father to me.”
The clip ended. Ivy reached over and snatched her phone.
“I saw it before I left home that night.” She clicked off the screen. “I ran away because I was angry that Dad puts so much effort into his musicians, but he’d rather send me away to camps and activities all summer.”
Nora could understand why that video would hit a nerve.
Ivy stared at her journal. “I’ve been trying to write music to win him over, but I shouldn’t have to do that.”
Nora’s heart sank for the girl. Didn’t Ivy enjoy songwriting? Was she truly only writing music to find common ground with Blaze?
“Why are you still writing music this morning, then?”
“I’m trying to reach him, to make him want me. Because he never has.”
Nora folded her hands, unable to drink her coffee under the weight of Ivy’s admission. “I think you need to tell your dad all this.”
Ivy’s mouth dropped open. “Are you kidding? No way.” She closed her journal. “Sorry I said anything. Let’s just drop it.”
“Why don’t you want to open up to your dad?”
“Because I don’t want him to have to try. I want our relationship to be as easy as it is with him and Alex Byron. So can we let it go, please?” She stood up. “Your coffee’s probably getting cold. And I’d love a cup. Let’s go inside.”
When they entered the kitchen, Gram had a look on her face that let Nora know she’d overheard their conversation through the screen door. She sent an empathetic nod over to Ivy as the girl poured herself a mug of coffee. Nora shook her head, having no idea what to do.
“Good morning,” Blaze said, coming into the kitchen in his wrinkled T-shirt and jeans from yesterday, his disheveled hair and thick stubble oddly attractive.
“Morning,” Nora said. “I was just going to make some more coffee. Would you like one?”
“I’m happy to make it,” he said, joining his daughter. “Don’t work on my account. Please, relax.” He gestured toward the table.
Nora lowered herself across from Gram.
“Hey, squirt,” he said, coming up beside Ivy and pouring himself a mug of coffee.
Ivy cut her eyes at him. “Squirt? Really?”
“I was just being funny. Did you wake up on the wrong side of the sofa?”
Ivy pouted and took her coffee to the table, as she mumbled, “He’s got jokes this morning.” She dipped her head and scrolled on her phone.
“I’d like to make good on my offer to take everyone out to breakfast,” he said, sitting next to Nora. “I’m thinking we could all go out, and then Ivy and I could head home after.”
Ivy looked up from her phone.
“You don’t have to rush off,” Gram said, giving Nora a wink. “You both drove all the way to Florida. Why don’t you two stay for a few days. We have plenty of room.”
Nora held her breath. If they stayed, she’d be in a terrible position. Didn’t Gram realize that? Not only would she be riding the professional line longer than expected, but their staying would infringe on Nora and Gram’s vacation. This trip had been Gram’s doing, and Nora wanted her to have every chance to enjoy it.
“I’m sure they need to get back to their lives, Gram,” Nora said.
But Ivy’s face lit up like a Christmas tree. “Please, Dad. Can we stay?”
“We don’t want to be an imposition,” Blaze said. “Ms. Jenkins is trying to have a vacation, and we’re in the way.”
“Your father is just being polite, which I do applaud,” Gram said. “We’d love to have a little excitement around here.”
Nora might have to assign Ivy to a new counselor next year to avoid any conflict of interest, but the look on the girl’s face and Gram’s insistence that they stay was making her question her resolve. Even if Ivy had a different school counselor, Nora would still be able to see her and offer advice if Ivy asked for it. And while they were at the cottage, they could be professional.
She cut in. “Blaze, could I talk to you out on the porch for a minute?”
Ivy’s eyes widened, and she sat straight up in her chair, but Nora offered her a look and discreetly shook her head to let the girl know she wouldn’t mention Ivy’s earlier admission to Blaze.
Blaze followed Nora. She shut the main door to keep their voices from filtering into the kitchen.
“This week could be an opportunity for you and Ivy to be together with nothing in the way. We’re here for two weeks. You can stay one and then my grandmother and I will still have a week to ourselves.”
Blaze cocked his head to the side. “You want your work to spill over into your vacation?”
“Helping the two of you doesn’t feel like work.”
He stared at her, looking as if he was trying to make up his mind. “If I say yes, you have to let me do something to say thank you. I’ll buy meals, take us out for excursions—whatever you want. I can also pay you for a portion of the rental. It’s the least I can do.”
“Well, Gram took care of the rental, so paying for the cottage is between you and her, but I’ll take you up on the rest.”
He broke into a smile. “Done.”
Just then, Ivy opened the door and poked out her head. “Are y’all done talking about stuff? I’m starving.”
“Let’s all get ready for breakfast,” Blaze said. “Ivy, do you have enough clothes for the week, or do we need to take you shopping?”
A plume of excitement visibly rose within Ivy. “We’re staying for a week ?”
“It looks like it.”
Ivy squealed and ran back inside.
“I guess it’s official,” Blaze said. “You can’t seem to get rid of us.”
As much as she told herself otherwise, Nora was perfectly fine with that.