Chapter 7
W ith Shelly clutching her arm, Ivy gripped the phone, her hands shaking. “Hello? Mom?”
The line crackled with static. Ivy could hardly make out anything.
“Darling…can you…”
“Mom, I can barely hear you.” Ivy pressed the phone against her ear. She leaned one way, and then the other, trying to improve reception.
Shelly turned off the engine. The Jeep shuddered to a stop in the Hidden Garden parking lot. She leaned toward Ivy’s phone. “Are you and Dad okay?”
“Fine, sweetheart…both fine…trying to call…for days…”
“We’ve been so worried about you.” Ivy pressed a hand to her forehead as relief flooded her. She put the phone on speaker and held it between them. “Shelly’s here. You’re on speaker.”
“…hello, my girls…” More static, then Carlotta’s voice broke through with sudden clarity. “Can you hear me now?”
“Yes,” they shouted in unison.
“Oh, thank goodness. This phone is practically useless. The battery won’t hold a charge anymore, and the connection out here is terrible.”
Shelly leaned closer. “So where are you now?”
“We’re in St. Helena, the island where Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled. Took us almost two weeks to make that sweet blue water sail from Cape Town. We just docked yesterday.”
“How long will you stay there?”
“We have a little work to do on the yacht. Nothing serious, darling, so you’re not to worry. But we’d like to rest here among the Saints, which is what the few thousand residents call themselves. Isn’t that charming?”
“So you’re finally living among the Saints,” Ivy said, attempting some levity to reassure her mother. She could hear her silver bangles tinkling in the background.
Carlotta laughed lightly. “You might say that. In a week or so, we’ll sail for Recife, which is on the coast of Brazil. That’s about 2,000 nautical miles, and it should take two to three weeks, depending on the weather.”
“Any storms?” Ivy asked.
“On the way here, we went through a few squalls, but we had some gorgeous, exquisite days where we put out the spinnakers and clocked seven-and-a-half knots a day. Not that this is a race, but it was such glorious fun. We felt like we were twenty again with hardly a care in the world.”
“That sounds appealing,” Ivy said. “We haven’t been able to reach Dad either. His phone was off.”
Carlotta’s voice cut out, then returned. “…your father’s phone was stolen…in Cape Town. He didn’t even feel it. A skilled pickpocket, most likely. But he’s fine.”
Shelly and Ivy traded looks of relief.
“Don’t tease him about it. He’s embarrassed enough.” Static swallowed her next words, then, “…this phone is so old it barely...”
“Mom, your voicemail has been full for weeks,” Ivy said. “We tried but couldn’t leave a message.”
“Has it? I seldom bother to check. It’s usually full of spam calls.”
Shelly shook her head. “We thought something happened to you. Ivy called Honey in Sydney. We were ready to send out a search party.”
“Oh, my darlings.” Carlotta’s voice softened, and the static cleared. “I’m sorry we worried you. We’ve been having a wonderful time, but the communications are spotty in some areas.”
At the sound of her mother’s voice, Ivy relaxed. She enjoyed hearing about their escapades. “Have you seen anything interesting?”
“We’ve seen quite a few dolphins—mostly bottlenose and bridled. Several pods surfaced around us, bow-riding alongside. They like to surf our wake and hunt for disoriented fish. It’s quite a sight, and they’re so playful and entertaining.”
“How’s Dad?” Ivy asked. “Other than being without a phone.”
Carlotta laughed. “He’s been well. We both are. Right now, he’s haggling for supplies.”
Ivy smiled. Sterling Bay was a born dealmaker, while their mother had an eye for quality, timeless classics, and hot new trends. That’s why their import business had been successful. “That sounds like him. Tell him we love him.”
“I will,” Carlotta said. “Now, before this call drops—we should buy new phones in Brazil and check in with everyone as soon as we’re settled…rest up before…Caribbean…”
The static was creeping back.
Shelly made a face. “You’re breaking up again.”
“…love you both so much…tell the others…”
“We love you, too,” Shelly said, her voice cracking. “Have fun out there.”
“…always…like your father says…”
The connection went dead.
“I’m so glad they’re okay,” Shelly said, looking relieved. “Oh, my gosh. I can’t believe Dad got pickpocketed. He probably had the phone sticking out of his back pocket with a sign on it that practically screamed ‘take me.’”
“Someday we’ll all laugh about this.” Ivy reached over and pulled her sister into a hug. The gearshift dug into her side, but she didn’t care.
Shelly pulled back and wiped her face with both hands. “They’re living their best life while the rest of us lose sleep.”
Ivy narrowed her eyes. “I thought you were the one who didn’t worry.”
“Things change,” Shelly said. “I don’t know what’s happening to me.”
Ivy wondered what that meant. Her sister started the Jeep, backed out carefully, and pulled onto the road, this time at a reasonable speed.
“We should call Honey right away,” Ivy said. “And Flint, and Reed.”
“Just send a group text.” Shelly adjusted her rearview mirror.
“Good idea.” While Shelly drove, Ivy tapped a message. Mom called. They’re fine. Now in St. Helena. Dad’s phone was stolen. Continuing to Brazil soon.
The replies came in seconds. Thank goodness! So happy!
Ivy’s phone dinged with another text, and she read it. “Bennett is at Java Beach. He’s bringing lunch for us to the inn.”
Shelly reached over and squeezed her knee. “I’m so relieved about Mom and Dad. But I’m still going to give Dad a hard time about the pickpocket.”
They drove the rest of the short distance in silence as Ivy relayed information to their siblings.
When they pulled into the car court behind the inn, they saw Bennett had just arrived.
He met them at the Jeep with a bag from Java Beach in his hand. “Mitch sends his congratulations on not being orphans.”
“That’s a terrible joke,” Ivy said, swatting his arm. But she was smiling.
“Hey, his words, not mine.”
Shelly took the to-go bag her husband had packed for them. “What did he send?”
“Deli sandwiches and cookies,” Bennett replied. “He thought you’d need a treat after that emotional rollercoaster.”
Shelly brought out a sugar cookie and took a bite. “Mitch knows me well.”
They walked into the inn through the kitchen entrance. Poppy was at the counter with her laptop, and Sunny was cleaning a teapot they used for the afternoon tea service. Both looked up when the three of them walked in.
“The grandparents are fine, and Mitch sent lunch,” Shelly announced, holding up their take-out lunch bag.
“Hooray,” Sunny said, and high-fived Poppy.
They gathered around the table in the kitchen, eating and talking about Carlotta and Sterling’s grand adventure. Each of them had an entertaining story to share.
After they wrapped up their quick lunch, Poppy stood. “I should prepare for the afternoon guests,” she said, heading toward the front desk.
Shelly rose. “I think I left one of my old-school sprinklers on.” She hurried through the rear door.
“I should help Aunt Shelly,” Sunny said. “She drafted me to work with her today, so I need to change clothes.”
Bennett hugged Ivy. “And I should return to work. I’m glad your folks are safe, sweetheart.”
“Me, too,” she said, kissing him.
After her husband left, Ivy stood at the sink with her hands on the counter, still recovering from her worry about her parents. This had affected her deeper than she’d realized. Her entire body felt weak after releasing the stress she hadn’t realized she’d been carrying.
Her parents had been blissfully unaware of the panic they’d caused their grown children. Her father was likely still shopping for parts and supplies. Her mother might be reading a novel on deck with a glass of wine, musing about why her children worried so much.
Ivy liked that thought. Maybe she and Bennett would do that someday. But for now, she had a Spring Fling plan to salvage. Not to mention a painting commission she’d barely touched—and probably wouldn’t until after the event.
The back door squeaked open, and Shelly stepped back inside. “Good thing I remembered that sprinkler. I nearly flooded the rear of the property, and just when I’m trying to save water. See, that’s why I need the irrigation system.”
When Ivy only nodded, Shelly joined her by the sink and bumped her shoulder. “Are you having big feelings about our folks, too?”
“I almost lost it when that call came in,” Ivy said, exhaling. “Why do we assume the worst sometimes?”
“I don’t know,” Shelly replied, tearing up.
“I was carefree in the Big Apple until I moved here and became a mom. No one warns you about how your brain changes. Suddenly, I have a tiny creature who believes in magic and Santa Claus to worry about. Then, I started to worry about Mitch. Remember when Vanz made a mess at Java Beach, and we thought it had been robbed? I was so scared for him to go inside.”
Wiping her eyes, Shelly shook her head. “Now I worry about Mom and Dad. I try not to let it show, though. What’s happened to me?”
Ivy threw her arms around Shelly and hugged her to her side. “Welcome to motherhood. I suppose we realize our mortality, but science research also suggests our brains undergo a physical change. Still, if those feelings weigh you down, you should speak up or get help. Are you okay now?”
Shelly quirked a smile. “Knowing it’s kind of normal, I guess I am now. Thanks.” She glanced outside. “Darla agreed to watch Daisy longer today so I can make some progress on the yard. Especially with Sunny’s help. She’s a lot stronger than you are.”
“Hey,” Ivy said, chuckling.
“I wish I could clone her.”
Ivy snapped her fingers. “Maybe you can. When I talked to Leilani today, she mentioned the high school garden club. We could hire those teens to help. Wouldn’t that be great?”
Shelly held up a hand. “I have to stop you right there. I can train Sunny, but there’s no way I’m babysitting a gaggle of teenagers who’ll overrun the place.”
“Just hear me out?—”
“That’s final.” Shelly sliced the air with a hand and left.
Ivy threw up her hands. Still, she knew what she had to do. Quickly, she placed a call to the Summer Beach High School. She was able to connect to Rose Gardner, who was taking a break, so they chatted for a few minutes.
“I can’t speak for the children,” Rosie said, sounding guarded.
Ivy understood her position. “We’ll offer competitive wages, and they’ll gain training. Later, they can use this experience on their resume. Do you think any of them would be interested?”
“You would have to pitch the project to them,” Rosie replied. “If any are, you can interview them. Come to the campus and see what the club has done this year. I think you’ll be impressed.”
They spoke a little more. Finally, they agreed to meet after school.
Despite what Shelly said, Ivy still thought this would be a good solution. Hiring the teens would be more cost-effective than engaging the professional landscaping company that had given them a bid. Surely her sister could manage the kids.
She just had to find a way to convince Shelly.