Chapter Fifteen
The next morning, Ivy found herself waking to a grey dawn.
Fox Bay felt fresh, rinsed clean by a night of sea mist and frost. She stretched, wriggling in the bed, and the memory of Trip’s fingers brushing her cheek came flooding back.
She pushed it away and went to get ready but, when she was in the shower, his gaze under the fairy lights flashed into her mind and she blushed from head to toe.
It was nothing, she told herself as she massaged shampoo into her hair. Nothing. So why was she grinning like an idiot?
‘You look very cheerful, love,’ her mum said in the kitchen, wrapping sandwiches for Liv’s lunch. ‘Did you have an artistic breakthrough in the night?’
‘Oh that,’ said Ivy, pouring a glass of juice, feeling herself going pink once again. ‘No, sadly inspiration didn’t strike.’
Her mum squinted at her. ‘Well, something has changed. You’re positively glowing.’
Ivy flushed deeper. ‘Maybe the Winter Wonderland magic is getting to me after all.’
‘Hmm.’ Her mum thrust one of the foil-wrapped bundles at her. ‘I hope so. You always loved it as a kid. Now, remember to have lunch. I’m worried you’re being run ragged down there between the shop and the show.’
Ivy found herself smiling again as she gave the car its customary warm-up, repeatedly turning the ignition and praying the engine co-operated.
She switched on the radio and when a cheesy ballad came on, she didn’t turn it off in disgust. She even found herself humming cheerfully along.
All she could see, as the darkened houses flashed by, was Trip, looking down at her as the lights flared into life, his expression serious and questioning.
She shivered happily. Suddenly she couldn’t wait to see him, irrepressible good humour, endless chatter and all.
Ivy parked down one of the cobbled side streets. She headed to Fin’s bakery and carefully selected the fluffiest, butteriest-looking croissant for Trip and then chose some more pastries for Brooke, Josie and herself. She was in such a good mood she even bought Pushkin a cat biscuit.
‘You seem happy, love,’ said Fin, handing her the paper bag. ‘Going well at the shop, is it?’
‘Yeah,’ said Ivy. ‘It is actually.’
Whistling, she headed up the street and pushed open the door to Wildest Dreams, suddenly breaking off mid-tune. Trip and Brooke were standing by the counter, wearing coats and hats, with suitcases at their feet.
Josie was already behind the counter, pencil tucked behind her ear. ‘Morning, darling!’ she called. ‘Glad you got here in time to say goodbye. These two are making their escape from Fox Bay.’
‘Oh,’ Ivy said, feeling like she had suddenly been soaked in cold water. Her gaze darted to the cases. Goodbye? ‘You’re … leaving? Did the Winter Wonderland put you off?’ She gave a nervous laugh, but she felt uneasy.
Trip shook his head, smiling as he tugged on his gloves. ‘It’s not really goodbye – we’re just off to London for a few days. Someone called Ted is driving us to the station.’
‘And he’s late,’ added Brooke, eyeing her Apple Watch crossly. ‘Honestly, I said 8.30 a.m.’
‘London?’ said Ivy. She felt a rush of relief that he wasn’t leaving for good.
‘Didn’t Trip tell you?’ Brooke said, smoothing down her navy coat. ‘We’re catching the nine o’clock train. Or we should be, if this guy ever shows up. Does everything in this town run half an hour late?’
‘No, I—’ Ivy paused. ‘You didn’t mention London.’ She hated how crestfallen she sounded.
Trip looked, Ivy thought, slightly evasive. ‘Brooke said I needed a proper city fix.’
‘You can’t come to the UK and not go to London,’ Brooke said firmly. ‘I’ve booked us a great boutique hotel in Covent Garden.’
‘But what about the show?’ Ivy asked, trying not to sound forlorn.
‘Mr H says it’ll be fine for a few days,’ Trip said.
‘I chatted to him last night. I’ve left all my notes and Callum has the sound cues down, Erin is up to speed on the script, Mei was born to be stage manager …
she’s like a different person with that headset on.
’ He shivered. ‘A slightly intense one, but she’s working wonders. ’
‘Yeah, I think the Fox Bay extravaganza can cope without you for a few days,’ said Brooke.
Josie tutted. ‘Still, you’re going to miss all sorts of fun things,’ she said. ‘There’s going to be the annual bonfire on the beach and dancing. It has an almost pagan energy.’
‘That’s a shame,’ said Trip, sounding genuinely regretful. ‘I love a bonfire, especially a pagan one.’ He glanced at Ivy. ‘When is it? Maybe we’ll try and come back in time.’
For a moment, Ivy imagined being on the beach with Trip, branches crackling as the flames flickered into the dark night, woodsmoke scenting the chill air. His arm round her, pulling her close—
‘It’s on Monday night,’ she said quickly. ‘The bonfire. If you wanted to come back for it, I mean.’
‘I’m not sure we’ll make it,’ said Brooke. ‘We’re going to be pretty booked up till at least then.’
‘Booked up?’ said Josie, frowning. ‘With what?’
‘Oh, you know. Shows, restaurants, shopping,’ said Brooke vaguely. ‘Can’t bring my little brother to the big city and not give him the full tourist experience, can I?’ She tapped her foot. ‘Where is this Ted person?’
Ivy considered Trip. It was odd that he would leave the show for sightseeing in London when he was so into it. But she supposed Brooke knew him best.
‘Ted usually waits in the lane,’ Josie said. ‘Make sure he takes it easy on the narrow roads and don’t let him go too fast. His eyesight is not what it was – his cataract op is coming up.’
‘Good to know,’ said Brooke, hoisting her case. ‘Come on, Trip.’
‘Right,’ said Ivy, gathering herself. She realised her expression must be hurt and she pasted on a cheerful smile. ‘I hope the journey is okay. Oh, I forgot,’ she held out the paper bag, ‘I bought you breakfast.’
‘Sweet of you,’ said Brooke, taking the bag. ‘Thanks.’
Ivy hesitated. Something felt off, she was sure of it. Brooke was smiling, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. There was a tension in her posture. Wary, almost. And Trip definitely seemed oddly evasive – not his usual chatty self. But why? What had changed?
‘See you then,’ said Trip. ‘Keep an eye on the show for me. Don’t let Mr H make any unscripted changes or snap decisions. Tell him absolutely no fires. Sketch what I’m missing maybe? And if you see a single snowflake, you have to alert me immediately.’
‘Will do. Have fun,’ Ivy said, trying not to wonder why she already missed him when he hadn’t even left yet.
After they said goodbye and the door swung shut behind them, Ivy went to the window and watched them, Trip chatting all the way up the street. She went back to the counter and switched on the computer, thinking that the shop suddenly seemed very quiet.
Josie gave her a pointed look over the top of a box of returns.
‘What?’ Ivy said, pulling the day’s orders up on the screen.
Josie raised an eyebrow. ‘Oh, please. I know a lovestruck expression when I see it.’ She sighed happily.
‘It’s as I predicted. You and Trip are drawn to each other.
’ She sounded pleased with herself. ‘I predicted that his positive energy and your own more … muted aura would collide and fireworks would ensue. I knew it.’
‘You know nothing,’ Ivy said briskly, keeping her eyes on the spreadsheet. ‘Trip and I are just friends. Wait, scrap that. Acquaintances. Acquaintances who see each other every day. Is there a word for that? Anyway, that’s what we are.’
‘All right, darling,’ Josie said as she started shelving books, ‘if you say so. But all of my senses are tingling. I am never wrong about affairs of the heart.’
‘Fin was besotted with you for five years before you noticed,’ Ivy pointed out. ‘He had to order your entire back stock of Russian novels in an attempt to save you from penury before you paid attention to him.’
Josie waved her hand. ‘The mysteries of our own hearts are impenetrable,’ she declared grandly. ‘But your heart, my dear, is as clear as glass.’
Ivy’s phone buzzed on the counter and she grabbed it. Her heart leapt when she saw Trip’s name on the screen.
This guy Ted drives like a maniac. See you in a few days, I’ll bring you something crassly commercial and unnecessary from Camden Market.
Ivy bit back a smile. Her heart began to flutter in her chest, just as it had when the fairy lights had come on and she had found herself lost in Trip’s serious, intent gaze.
Josie smirked. ‘Just acquaintances, hmm?’
‘Stop,’ said Ivy, turning back to the spreadsheet. She couldn’t stop the smile from breaking out as she began to work through the orders.
But all the same, she couldn’t quite forget Brooke’s evasiveness and couldn’t help wondering what had taken the pair to London at such short notice.
Later that afternoon, the bell above the shop door jingled and Erin strode in, grinning broadly.
‘Well, well, well,’ she sang, brushing the drizzle off her coat. ‘If it isn’t Ivy Pearson, Fox Bay’s most secretive resident. Anything you would like to tell me? About you, the Wonderland lights and a certain very hot American tourist? Hmm?’
‘They’re just acquaintances,’ said Josie, around a mouthful of sourdough. ‘Apparently.’ When Ivy shot her a glare, she held up her hands. ‘I’ll be in the back, stocktaking. You talk to your friend, darling.’ Josie slipped out of sight, chuckling under her breath.
‘I’m not being secretive,’ Ivy said, ‘and I have nothing to tell. What are you talking about?’
Erin leaned on the counter, her bouncy hair tumbling over her shoulders. ‘Oh, please. I am – and so is all of Fox Bay, to be honest – talking about you and Trip and the positively electric chemistry we saw last night.’
‘I don’t know what you mean,’ said Ivy, flushing. ‘There was no chemistry, electric or other—’