Chapter 8
8
L ight streamed through the music room’s open doors, illuminating dust particles dancing in the air. Ivy stepped onto the protective paper covering the hardwood floors, joining Reed, who was measuring and making notes in a spiral notebook.
“Good news,” Reed said. “The project is well under budget. You planned for cost overruns, so you’ll have extra funds for other updates you want.”
Ivy was pleased to hear this. “Then I’d like to customize some of the public spaces to improve efficiency.” This was a chance to reshape the inn to update its casual beach comfort and historic elegance.
Her nephew looked up from his measurements, a pencil tucked behind his ear. “What did you have in mind for this room?”
Ivy surveyed the space thoughtfully, seeing it as it usually was in her mind’s eye. Plastic sheeting covered the grand piano in the corner, protecting it from construction dust and paint splatter. Other furnishings were draped in the center of the room. The ornate fireplace and vintage light fixtures were similarly protected.
“To improve the ease of our daily tea and wine gatherings, I’d like a wall of built-ins right there,” Ivy said, pointing to a blank wall. “We need cabinets to store napkins, serving platters, extra music stands, electrical cords, batteries. All the practical things we spend time searching for and ferrying around the inn when we host events. That’s time lost every day for set up and clean up.” Running an inn with a lean staff was all about efficiency.
Reed nodded, jotting notes. “Smart. Cabinets above, too?”
“The same.” Ivy ran her hand along the wall. “I want something that feels upscale but beach casual. Guests should feel comfortable coming in with sand in their shoes but still feel like they’re somewhere special.”
“Got it,” Reed said. “Like the rest of the house. Relaxed. Elegant but not pretentious.”
The door swung open, and Shelly breezed in, her cheeks flushed. “Sorry I’m late. Just dropped Daisy at Darla’s for a little while.”
Ivy smiled. “How’s that going?”
Shelly laughed and shook her head. “Darla was on her hands and knees childproofing when I arrived. She told me she tries to see everything from Daisy’s point of view.”
“That’s smart.”
“Now that Daisy’s taking a few steps at a time, Darla’s convinced she’ll be climbing the bookshelves soon. So she’s planning to anchor them to the wall.”
“Good idea.” Ivy shook her head. “Sometimes I’m surprised we survived childhood. But accidents happen. We should do the same.”
Shelly grinned. “I can’t wait to tell Mitch how thrilled Darla is about baby-proofing her home.”
“Who would have thought she would turn into such a doting surrogate grandmother?” Ivy shook her head, still amazed at how their neighbor had changed. “You have him to thank for that.”
“You did your part, too. You’re the one she sued in the beginning.” Shelly grinned and joined them at the wall.
Poppy appeared in the doorway and paused. “What are we looking at besides a blank wall?”
“Ivy is thinking about built-ins for storage and display,” Reed said.
Noticing a faint line on the wall, Ivy took a step forward. She traced her finger along a line barely visible beneath layers of paint.
“See these outlines? There might have been furniture here before. That’s about where I’d like the new cabinets.”
Shelly squinted at the wall. “Old wallpaper lines, maybe?”
Reed stepped closer, running his hand over the surface. “Maybe a poor tape-and-float job. But then, everything around here shifts as the ground does.”
He tapped lightly, the sound changing from hollow to solid as his knuckles moved across the wall. “Sounds solid. Must be some built-ins on the other side.”
“Except there aren’t.” Poppy had a quizzical look on her face.
A memory of the first time she and her sister attacked a wall flashed through Ivy. “We need to check that.”
Shelly broke into a broad grin. “Sure do.”
Reed pulled a utility knife from his tool belt. “Since you want to cover it up anyway, I don’t see why not.”
“Be careful,” Ivy said, her heart quickening.
“Hold on.” Reed scored the drywall carefully along the faint rectangular outline. He pried an edge free.
“Don’t be so slow.” Shelly grabbed another tool from his belt to help.
“Wait for me.” Laughing, Ivy joined in.
Poppy whipped out her phone. “This time, I’m getting it all on video.”
A section of the old drywall came off surprisingly easily, crumbling under their hands. Ivy gasped at the sight of a fine wooden edge. “Let’s keep going.”
They removed another section, revealing a recessed space with cabinets.
“Wow, look at that.” A frisson of excitement spiraled down Ivy’s spine, just as when they’d discovered the hidden art collection.
“Woo-hoo!” Shelly shot a hand into the air. “I just knew this old house had more secrets.”
Eager to see what was inside, Ivy tried to open a door. “It’s stuck.”
“The hinges haven’t worked in years.” Reed examined the cabinet doors and reached for a liquid lubricant to clean them. “We’ll see what the previous owner wanted to hide.”
Ivy could barely contain her excitement as Reed worked.
This old house had already revealed so many treasures from its past. Letters, artwork, hidden rooms. Each discovery connected her more deeply to its history and Amelia Erickson, who loved this house.
Watching Reed work, Ivy stepped back into an oddly cold spot. Immediately, she shifted out of the way.
Amelia loved her home so much that Ivy still sensed her presence.
Not that she’d ever admit that to Shelly. Her sister would publicize the ghost angle in a heartbeat, and that might be the end of their business. Who would want to sleep in a haunted old inn?
“Any luck yet?” she asked, growing impatient.