Chapter 21
21
T he airy, mid-century modern City Hall was perched on a cliff, commanding sweeping views of the village and ocean beyond. Its expansive windows framed the coastal scene like a postcard. Ivy stood beside Libby at the reception desk, where Nan greeted them with professional warmth.
“Hello, ladies,” Nan said, glancing up. “Here for the council meeting?”
Ivy introduced Libby. “Her bookmobile proposal is on the agenda tonight.”
“Good luck, dear. I’ll be pulling for you,” Nan added in a whisper.
Libby’s eyes flicked to a large banner that read, Life is Better in Summer Beach . “I sure hope that’s true.” She drew a deep breath and straightened her long skirt. “I’m nervous about appearing before the council.”
Ivy touched her arm lightly. “Summer Beach and its people have been good to me. Not that I didn’t love where I lived before. Boston was a wonderful city.” She paused, choosing her words carefully. “But I had memories that were better left behind.” When she saw surprise and curiosity on Libby’s face, she said, “I’ll tell you about it someday, but what’s important is I found my purpose here. I have a feeling you will, too. You’ll do fine, and many people are here to support you.”
The sincerity in her voice seemed to steady Libby, whose shoulders relaxed a little. “I hope so. No one has ever said that to me.”
The younger woman’s words nicked Ivy’s heart. How many people simply needed a kind word of encouragement to start on a path and fulfill their potential?
She smiled. “I’ve got your back, Libby. Will Reed be here?”
“He’d planned on it but got a call before I left. He said he needs to stay at the inn because his boss is coming by for an inspection.”
That would be Forrest, Ivy knew. Reed’s father was a stickler for proper procedures.
They entered the council chambers, where Bennett and the other council members were chatting and taking their seats. Ivy had made several proposals here since she’d arrived. Although the ocean view made official business feel less intimidating, the matters at hand were still important.
Ivy noticed how many friends and family members filled the audience seats. Shelly and Mitch sat near the front, with Poppy just behind them. Jen and George from the hardware shop waved from their seats, while the bookshop proprietor Paige thumbed through what appeared to be notes. Even Hallie from the cafe hurried in.
“Look at all this support,” Ivy whispered to Libby, guiding her toward two empty seats.
Just then, a casually elegant woman with long, straight black hair flowing around her shoulders approached them.
“Libby, this is Celia and her husband, Tyler,” Ivy said. “They support local music classes and other educational programs in the Summer Beach schools.” The young couple had retired to Summer Beach a few years ago.
Celia extended her hand. “We’ve heard about your bookmobile. It’s what this community needs, at least until we find a permanent solution.”
Tyler nodded. “We used to work in technology. Your proposal should pass, and we’d like to contribute funds for books. All kinds, but especially those about science and technology. Maybe you could engage with the subject on a fun level. The kids miss having a library outside of their school facility.”
“Don’t forget music and the arts,” Celia said to Tyler.
Libby’s eyes widened. “That’s incredibly generous, thank you.”
After the pair sat down, Ivy whispered to Libby, “You have a lot of support.”
“I’m beginning to realize that.” Libby’s voice held a note of wonder.
Once the council members were seated, Bennett smacked his gavel and brought the room to order.
Ivy watched her husband, noting how he reviewed each item of business that came before them. He spoke with thoughtfulness rather than performative importance. When she caught his eye, he acknowledged her with only a slight nod. She appreciated that he never compromised his integrity. People respected him for that.
Those qualities had drawn her to him, and she still found them wildly attractive, though infuriating at times, such as with her requests.
Love could be complicated.
Three agenda items passed before Bennett called for Libby. “Our final item of business is a proposal for a bookmobile contract.”
As Libby walked to the front, Ivy noticed her hands trembling slightly, but her posture was straight and her gaze direct.
“Good evening, council members,” she began in a quiet voice.
With a subtle gesture, Ivy touched her ear, encouraging her to speak up.
Libby increased the volume. “I understand that Summer Beach has been without library services since the closure of its library. The absence has left a gap in your community’s services to all residents.”
Ivy nodded her approval. The professional librarian in Libby was taking over.
She outlined her proposal with increasing confidence. She spoke of how her bookmobile would visit neighborhoods on a rotating schedule to bring books, internet access, and programming to all sections of Summer Beach.
“I’ve compiled data showing that communities with mobile library services see improved literacy rates and community engagement.” She paused to distribute folders to the council members.
Bennett flipped through the material with a thoughtful expression. “This is impressive research. Have you worked with mobile libraries before?”
“Yes, Mayor Dylan. Before arriving in Summer Beach, I was employed as a research librarian and an outreach coordinator, managing a bookmobile that served surrounding rural neighborhoods.”
Ivy felt a flutter of pride. Libby hadn’t mentioned this experience to her.
A councilwoman with bold black glasses frowned. “The proposal looks interesting, but where would new books come from?”
“I’m accepting donations to cover the cost. In fact, some here have already pledged support for new books. I’m also helping the Seabreeze Inn managers organize an annual book festival. The goal is to raise funds for books to augment my existing collection and eventually become part of a library collection.”
One councilman shook his head with exasperation. “We have already addressed the library request. The city doesn’t have the budget. Now or in the future.”
“May I comment?” Ivy raised her hand, feeling the weight of every gaze in the room.
After Bennett recognized her, she stood and squared her shoulders. “Members of the community are making alternate arrangements to provide a library for Summer Beach residents. The bookmobile is an important interim measure because it might take us a while. But know that we are working on it, no matter how long it takes. Summer Beach will have another library, even if it is a privately supported facility.”
Shaking his head, the last councilman leaned forward again. “A private library? Sounds a little far-fetched to me. Is that even a thing?”
“Actually, I’m very familiar with private libraries,” Libby said. “I interned at the Huntington Library in Pasadena. It’s known for its extensive research collection. It even has the papers of Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. So yes, private libraries are a thing . A very good thing.”
A murmur rippled through the audience, followed by spontaneous applause. Ivy glanced at Bennett, whose expression remained neutral, but she caught the flicker of impressed surprise in his eyes.
After the applause subsided, the council members conferred in low voices. Bennett leaned forward, speaking quietly to his colleagues. Ivy couldn’t hear his words, but his body language conveyed support. They held a quick vote.
Bennett turned back to those in attendance. “After consideration, the council approves the bookmobile contract as proposed, with quarterly performance reviews.” He swung his gavel again to adjourn the meeting.
Instant joy transformed Libby’s face. When she returned to Ivy’s side, she squeezed her hand. “I can’t believe it,” Libby said, her voice thick with emotion.
Ivy smiled and hugged her. “Better than the job in Los Angeles, right?”
“So much better,” Libby said, laughing at the tale she had told.
Shelly threw her arms around her. “Way to go. You’re one of us now.”
“This is just the beginning,” Ivy said, pleased at the growing support in the community.
Bennett joined them. He leaned in, whispering to Ivy. “How about another date night?”
“I have to meet Forrest and Reed at the house,” she replied. “My brother is doing a walk-through.”
“Mind if I join you?”
“I never mind. Let’s go.”
They left Libby to bask in the glow of her bookmobile victory, surrounded by Poppy, Shelly, and plenty of new supporters.
Bennett fell into an easy pace beside Ivy, catching her hand in his. “I’m curious to see how the renovation is progressing.”
“So am I,” she said, clasping his hand. “Reed’s been sending photos, but they don’t capture the whole transformation.”
“Unlike you, who sees the potential in everything.”
His compliment warmed her. “Libby surprised me, though. When she first arrived, I wasn’t sure what to think, but she turned out to be a rock star.”
“You followed your gut instinct.”
“Something like that,” Ivy said, thinking about the guiding spirit that was likely still in residence, if that were possible.
As they approached the inn, Reed emerged from the front entrance, clipboard in hand, his demeanor more professional than she was accustomed to seeing from her nephew. Beside him stood his father, an imposing, fit figure of a man. His keen eyes were already assessing the exterior work.
“Right on time,” Reed called out. “Dad dropped by to inspect our progress.” The slight tension in his voice revealed how much his father’s approval still mattered.
Forrest stepped forward to hug Ivy. “Had a job site nearby. Thought I’d see how Reed is upholding the company’s reputation.” Though his words sounded critical, the pride in his eyes when he glanced at his son told a different story.
“Bennett, good to see you.” Forrest extended his hand. “Especially outside of the building department meetings. It’s been a while.”
“Likewise,” Bennett said. “The city council meeting today was interesting. Once again, Ivy challenged the city.”
Forrest chuckled. “What now, Sis?”
“A library and art museum for Summer Beach,” she said with pride. “And if you’re lucky, you might get a shot at building it.”
He turned to Reed. “From the old plans you mentioned?”
“That’s right. Interesting, huh?” While his father nodded his approval, Reed glanced at his watch. “We’d better stay on schedule or Mom will kill you.” He gestured toward the entrance.
Forrest grinned. “Can’t be late tonight. Let’s see what you’ve done here.”
As they stepped inside, Ivy was struck by how different the space felt. Light streamed through new windows, casting patterns across the freshly sanded wooden floors.
Forrest turned to Ivy. “Are you happy with the new windows?”
“Thrilled,” Ivy replied. “You were right to suggest those. I can already tell they’re less drafty and more efficient. I wasn’t aware we could replace the old windows with the historic designation.”
She had planned to restore the old windows, but Forrest encouraged her to look at new options since the inn was a public place with high traffic. An exception was made for those reasons.
Her brother nodded. “These windows match the original design and are better for energy efficiency. Your guests will appreciate that. Winters by the sea can be cold, even here.”
Reed pointed out items of interest as they walked. “We’ve completed all the major structural work. Electrical and plumbing are now updated to code, and we added improved insulation where we could. Heating and air conditioning systems have also been replaced.”
“The bones are solid now.” Forrest ran an experienced hand along a smooth wall. “Nice work.”
Reed straightened at his father’s approval. “Tomorrow, we continue refinishing the original hardwood floors. They were in fairly good condition, though we replaced a few boards.”
“I can’t even tell where,” Bennett said.
“As it should be.” Forrest nodded in agreement. “That’s the mark of a fine craftsman. They’re getting harder to find, but we have a good team.”
Ivy followed them through the house, envisioning how it would look when completed. “What about the fixtures we discussed?”
“I saved everything salvageable.” Reed led them to a side room where he’d organized vintage hardware in labeled bins. “The crystal doorknobs from the upstairs bedrooms are intact, but we’re missing some, and a few were damaged. The bathroom fixtures are another story. Most should be replaced.”
“We budgeted for that,” Ivy was immensely pleased and relieved at the progress.
Bennett picked up an ornate brass door plate, examining it. “Craftsmanship like this is rare now.”
“I’ve found online sources for period-appropriate replacements,” Ivy said. “There’s an architectural salvage shop in San Diego that specializes in coastal properties from this era. I want to honor the building’s history while making it functional for today. That might go for the new library someday, too.”
Bennett put his arm around her. “I like how you think.”
As they continued through the house, Ivy noticed Bennett taking mental notes, asking Reed and Forrest intelligent questions. With his background in real estate, Bennett had more than the average knowledge.
She appreciated having an interested partner.
Reed showed them the work they’d done in the kitchen, which brought everything up to code but kept the vintage look. When they stepped outside in the car court area, Reed looked up at their quarters above the garage. “We haven’t touched this section yet.”
Ivy and Bennett looked at each other. “That’s because we hadn’t planned on doing much,” Bennett said. “We can manage most improvements ourselves.”
Forrest put his hands on his hips. “As long as our crew is here, you might as well take advantage of it. This was included in the budget.”
Ivy was pleasantly surprised. “If we ever move, we could add this unit to the inventory. I know we hadn’t planned on it originally, but if we have the budget to do it now, we should.”
They all climbed the stairs and went inside.
Reed gestured around the space. “New paint at a minimum. Might as well sand and refinish the floors, too.”
“That tragic kitchen sink should go,” Forrest said, chuckling. “We’ll add that to the list. Cabinets, too. They didn’t use the same quality here as in the main house.”
“That’s true, though I want to keep the vintage look and feel,” Ivy said, leading them to the bathroom. “I have a lot of ideas about this space.”
They spoke for a while, and finally, Forrest said. “You won’t be sorry, but you’ll have to find a place to stay for a while. Poppy is moving home for the rest of the renovation.”
Bennett turned to Ivy. “My sister has a nice guest bedroom she offered earlier. Shall I call Kendra?”
“Let’s take her up on it,” Ivy replied.
Bennett grinned. “Dave and I can jam on the guitars, and we can teach Logan.”
“Sounds like fun.” Ivy enjoyed spending time with Kendra, too.
As they discussed finishes and timelines, Ivy’s phone vibrated. Glancing down, she saw a missed call notification from Lea. Her stomach tightened with disappointment. How had she missed it? Then she realized the call had come in during the council meeting.
Bennett noticed her expression. “Everything okay?”
“I missed a call from Lea. I need to speak to her.”
“Go ahead,” Bennett said. “We’ll finish here.”
Ivy hesitated, torn between her responsibilities to the inn and her growing unease about Lea’s situation.
“The house has stood for nearly a century,” Bennett added. “It can wait another hour.”
“Thanks for that.” She squeezed his hand before hurrying toward a table by the pool, mentally composing what she would say.
She hoped Lea would pick up.