Chapter 2
I vy was momentarily taken aback by a woman crouched near Daisy. She was perhaps in her early thirties, slender, with dark hair clasped at the nape of her neck. She wore a soft linen dress and sandals.
“Hi, Aunt Ivy,” Daisy said.
“Hi, sweetie,” Ivy began, feeling protective of Daisy. She stepped toward the woman. “May I help you?”
The woman turned. “I came out for some fresh air and ended up in this enchanting spot.”
“Are you Kiko?” Ivy asked.
“I am.” As she rose, Kiko glanced around, clearly intrigued by the greenhouse.
“I’m Ivy Bay. My sister and I run the inn.”
“Poppy said you were gardening.” Kiko attempted a smile. “I’m afraid I’ve interrupted your work.”
“You haven’t. I was coming in to find you.” Ivy gestured at her dirty shirt and gloves. “After I cleaned up a little.”
Kiko smiled. “I didn’t give you a chance, did I?”
Daisy, still sorting her petals, glanced up. “Look what I have.”
“Are you enjoying yourself?”
She nodded, gesturing to a spot near her. “My friend wanted me to stay.”
The little girl seemed so certain and unbothered by this revelation that disturbed Ivy. Recalling Shelly’s teasing, she tried to ignore the feeling that swept through her.
Staying calm, she said to Kiko, “My niece has an imaginary friend. It’s a stage many children go through.”
Kiko nodded, casting her gaze around the structure as if taking in every detail. She fidgeted with a small pendant at her neck.
Ivy noticed it. “That’s very pretty. Is it vintage?”
“It’s a family heirloom.”
“Is there a story behind it?”
Kiko hesitated as if she wasn’t sure where to begin.
“My grandmother was a nurse here starting in 1943, and a patient gave it to her. I remember that she was especially fond of this greenhouse. I imagine it was her refuge from the patient care she managed. I suppose you’re aware of the history of this inn? ”
“Mostly. We often stumble across new pieces to the puzzle. We understand Las Brisas del Mar was used as a convalescent home during the Second World War. As you can see, we’re improving the landscaping for a big spring event, and we just discovered the old sign in the garden.”
“I’d love to see that.”
“Sure, we’ll clean it up.” Kiko’s story made Ivy curious. “Did your grandmother work here long?”
“A few years, and then the war ended.” Kiko averted her eyes, glancing shyly at the plant shelves that held Shelly’s seedlings.
“We have more photos from that era you might like to see,” Ivy said. “What was your grandmother’s name?”
A flash of pride crossed Kiko’s face, and she lifted her chin slightly. “Hana, which means flower. Hana Kato. We were very close.”
“Grandparents are special.”
Even Daisy smiled at that and clapped her hands.
Ivy smiled at her niece. “Why don’t you play where your mother can see you, darling?”
“Okay.” Daisy gathered the petals in her bucket and left the greenhouse.
“Your grandmother sounds like a very special woman.” Ivy wondered what Kiko wanted to gain from this visit. Perhaps some sort of closure.
Kiko touched a finger to her eye and smiled.
“She always spoke about this place with fondness. She didn’t give many details, and she didn’t like to talk about what happened before she came here.
You’re probably aware of how American citizens of Japanese ancestry were imprisoned during the Second World War.
Only because nurses were needed, was she released to work. ”
“I’m so sorry she had to go through that,” Ivy said, an ache forming in her heart.
Ivy recalled her father stopping at an internment site on the way to Mammoth Lakes one winter to go skiing when her siblings and she were children. Manzanar . Her parents were uncharacteristically solemn. They’d all walked among the remaining rubble of walls as the chill winds blew.
It was a sobering experience for all of them.
People lost their homes and livelihoods, only to have to start over with little to nothing several years later. Some did not survive the experience.
Kiko went on. “My grandmother said this house was ideally suited for healing. She spoke of the ocean breezes, the sunshine, and the abundance of fresh produce here—all of it essential for promoting harmony and balance. Besides her skill as a trained nurse, she also employed a variety of healing techniques, including many old methods such as herbal medicine. She called this home a haven.”
“I’ve often thought that, too,” Ivy said. “There’s a special feeling here. Many people sense it and say they sleep better here. Maybe it’s the negative ions from the beach, or the sound of the waves at night.”
“Quite possibly,” Kiko said, “My grandmother told me how the greenhouse was warmed by winter sunlight and filled with herbs and vegetables. The owner tended an abundant victory garden, as they were called then. Appreciating nature was important to Hana. She loved the sweet scent of jasmine that grew by the greenhouse entrance, so she planted the same at her home. She taught me everything I know, but it’s still a fraction of her knowledge. ”
“Thankfully, my sister is also knowledgeable. Still, I’m learning.”
Kiko rubbed her arms. “Anyway, I just wanted to see the place, and when I learned it was now an inn, I decided to visit.”
“I’m glad you did. You’re not the only one.” Many people had passed through the doors to her home long before she and Shelly did. The longer Ivy lived there, the more she realized the effect this house had on people.
Just then, Daisy skipped back to the greenhouse and smiled up at Kiko. “My friend likes you.”
Kiko smiled at the little girl. “That’s kind of your friend.”
Daisy handed her a single pink flower with great ceremony. “This one’s for you.”
Their guest accepted it with reverence. “Thank you. This means a lot to me.”
Daisy turned her face up to Kiko. “Are you staying for the Spring Fling? Mommy says it will be spectacular.”
“Sounds like you learned a new word, sweetie.” Ivy and Shelly had been working on her vocabulary.
Kiko pressed a hand to her heart. “I wish I could, but I have to return to work.”
“It’s okay,” Daisy said. “My friend says you’ll be here soon.”
Ivy and Kiko made their way back to the main house. While Daisy tagged along, Ivy told their guest about the Spring Fling, their renovations, and how Shelly planned to restore the greenhouse.
“I’d love to talk more after you’ve had a chance to settle in your room,” Ivy said. “Poppy mentioned you’d started looking through our old photograph albums of the inn’s early days. We have an afternoon tea and wine welcome event. We could meet there.”
“I’d like that very much,” Kiko said, starting back. “See you then.”
Ivy watched her until she rounded the corner, then looked down at Daisy, who was humming again, swinging her basket in one hand.
“Hey, honey,” Ivy said lightly. “Does your new friend have a name?”
Daisy looked up at her and laughed. “That’s Kiko. Did you forget?”
“No, I meant your other friend. The one your mommy says is invisible.”
Daisy tilted her head as if the answer were obvious. “I don’t know, but she lives here.”
So it was a woman, Ivy thought. Or maybe a little girl. “What does she look like?”
Daisy raised her shoulders and giggled. “How would I know?”
Ivy smacked her forehead. “Oh, right. She’s invisible.”
Laughing, Daisy raced back to her mother.
Watching her go, Ivy wondered if this was healthy. Was Daisy sensing Amelia…or another spirit? Maybe she was just being a playful little girl, and Ivy was reading too much into it.
Just then, Bennett’s SUV rolled into the car court behind the main house. She walked over as he pulled into his spot in the garage under their apartment.
As he climbed out, a slow grin spread across his face.
He reached for a leaf in her hair. “I like this new look of yours.”
Ivy glanced down at herself, realizing with dismay how she must have looked to Kiko. A streak of dirt ran up one forearm, and her jeans had grass stains at the knees. “I call it garden grunge chic. What do you think?”
“Everything looks fabulous on you.” He swiped a trace of dirt from her chin and kissed her. “How’s the garden, sweetheart?”
“I dug some holes today. Shelly keeps promising it will be worth it.” Still, Kiko’s story remained on her mind, and something about the look in their guest’s eyes troubled her. “How was City Hall today?”
“Seems like everyone tried to beat up the mayor today, but I came through it. It’s all good now.” He paused, his eyes narrowing, sensing something about her. “Are you okay?”
“Other than a little achy, I’m fine. I just met an interesting new guest.” Ivy told him about Kiko. “Imagine what her grandmother must have gone through.”
Bennett shook his head. “I can’t imagine.”
“Somehow, I think there’s more to her story.”
He shifted his jacket to his other arm. “Every guest has a story.”
“I know, and we don’t interfere.” At least, that’s what she told Shelly, Poppy, and Sunny.
“I’m going up to change, then I need to make a call,” Bennett said. “Meet you by the firepit in twenty minutes? There’s something we need to talk about before tonight’s gathering.”
“Make it forty. I need to shower off a layer of soil after I check on Poppy.”
Wondering what was on his mind, Ivy watched her husband go, then she turned back toward the inn, pausing to glance at the greenhouse once more.
Sunlight slanted through the panes and caught the light now, throwing patterns onto the grass. For a moment, Ivy thought she caught the scent of jasmine.
Then the breeze shifted, and it was gone.
A little later, with her hair still damp from her shower, Ivy made her way toward the Adirondack chairs by the firepit. She’d changed into a comfortable, flowing blue cotton dress. She dressed it up with a silver necklace, earrings, and woven espadrilles.
Bennett was already there with refreshments. When he saw her, he said a few more words before ending the call. He stood as she approached.
“What’s so secret that we have to meet out here?” Ivy asked.
He kissed her, then handed her a frothy iced coffee, the kind they liked in warm weather. “Don’t take this wrong, but you’re in charge here, and Shelly needs help with the garden.”
“That’s why I’m helping her.”
Bennett shook his head. “Then you both need more help. The committee and others who’ve donated to the Spring Fling event are concerned that it’s running behind. This is a major fundraiser for Summer Beach, and the first year is important. The city has invested in this event.”
“Then why didn’t my committee come to me?” She was incensed that they’d gone behind her to Bennett, but she also felt a little guilty because there was truth in what they’d said.
“They said they already have.”
That was true, too. She sighed. “That’s when I started helping Shelly. Between looking after Daisy and helping Mitch’s cousins get settled in town, she’s been busy. And our budget isn’t?—”
“Sweetheart, regardless of the challenges, you’re the chairperson. The committee is concerned they might have to cancel the event, which would be a loss of funds to the city and the tourism budget.”
“And all because the mayor’s wife couldn’t properly run the project,” Ivy finished, feeling even more guilty. Where had she gone wrong? She’d trusted Shelly, not that she was blaming her. Her sister had an optimistic vision. Bennett wasn’t angry. He was only stating the facts.
Bennett stroked her hand. “You need to sort this out right away. Come up with ideas, call a meeting as soon as possible, and present your new plan. Want me to help you? I’ll even wield a shovel for you.”
Ivy shook her head. “You’re running Summer Beach. This is my mess, so I’ll figure it out.”
She was usually the one with the plan, but this time, she’d let her focus drift. Still, Ivy couldn’t let down her husband or Summer Beach residents. She needed a new strategy, and fast.