Chapter 25
25
P re-dawn pearl-gray moonlight shone through the new gauzy bedroom curtains when Ivy’s phone erupted. Startled awake and disoriented, her heart raced.
Has something happened to Misty or Sunny?
Beside her, Bennett stirred, instinctively reaching for his phone in the half-light. “What time is it?” he murmured, his voice rough with sleep.
Ivy fumbled for her phone, squinting at the screen. “It’s Andrew,” she said, suddenly fully alert.
She tapped the phone with trembling fingers, putting the call on speaker at Bennett’s gesture.
“Sorry for the early call, but I’m at the bank in Switzerland.” Andrew’s voice crackled a little on the line. “I’m here with Lea and her husband. Everything is proceeding, but we’ve hit a complication. We hope you can help.”
Bennett sat up beside her, running a hand through his sleep-tousled hair.
“What kind of complication?” Ivy tried to keep the anxiety from her voice.
“There’s a password on the account. The bank is requesting it before they’ll release access. Do you have any idea what it might be? Maybe a word or phrase written on another piece of paper, or even on the plans.”
Oddly, Ivy had a weird dream last night about this, probably from some research article she’d read. She closed her eyes, trying to put herself in Amelia’s place. Or would it have been her father? She breathed out. No, he would use a password his daughter would remember.
What might Amelia use?
“It might be Gustav…”
“No, that’s not it,” Andrew said quickly.
Her eyes still closed, she pictured Amelia here. Walking on the beach…. Words materialized in her half-awake consciousness. “Try Summer Beach.”
There was a pause and a murmured conversation on the other end, then Andrew’s voice returned. “I’m sorry, no luck.”
She closed her eyes again, visualizing a beach scene. Amelia turns toward her house, her heart full of love. She whispers…
In a flash, she knew. “It’s Las Brisas del Mar.”
More voices floated through the phone line. Andrew came back on. “That’s it.” He lowered his voice. “How did you know?”
“That was the home’s original name, before it became the Seabreeze Inn.” Relief washed through her.
“We’ve cleared another hurdle. I’ll call later with another progress report.”
After they disconnected, Ivy rubbed her face, processing what happened.
“That was a good guess,” Bennett said, taking her in his arms. “And from a dead sleep. I’m impressed.”
“It wasn’t a guess. It just came to me, as if I heard it.” Ivy was slightly awed over the experience, too.
“Maybe you did,” Bennett said, burying his face in her hair. “Come on, we won’t get back to sleep now. Might as well start the coffee, unless you have another good idea.” His eyes twinkled, teasing her.
Ivy wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “I’ll take you up on that later. But for now…” She whipped off the covers. “I’ll race you to the kitchen. Dibs on the coffeemaker.”
Bennett dove for her but missed. “Hey, it’s my turn, you know.”
They had just returned to their newly renovated quarters. The kitchen was updated with fine cabinets and countertops, while still maintaining many of the vintage elements. The tile was refurbished, walls painted, and a new retro-style refrigerator added.
The pride of their cozy kitchen was a fancy new espresso machine they’d splurged on.
Ivy added fresh coffee beans and turned it on. “Here it goes.”
“Right behind you, sweetheart.” He wrapped his arms around her, laughing.
A whirring noise filled the kitchen. Like a couple of kids, they watched the machine grind and brew the perfect espressos.
“This is the nectar of the gods,” Ivy said, handing him a warm cup. The smell was intoxicating.
In the brisk morning air, they slipped into thick terry cloth robes and cuddled on the balcony. They talked about their day ahead while they watched the sun rise over the ridgetop. Ivy loved the quietness of simply being together.
Soon, they saw a light in Poppy’s room in the cottage quarters, which were also finished now.
“That’s our signal,” Bennett said, rising from his seat. “I’ll start breakfast.”
The large kitchen in the main house was still under renovation. Reed had sent the twin vintage refrigerators and ovens out for refurbishment. When asked what color she wanted them, she’d told him, “Any color as long as it’s turquoise.”
Some things simply couldn’t be improved upon. Bert and Bertie would live on in their kitchen.
Once they reopened for business, the usual rhythm of life would return. Laying out breakfast for guests, welcoming newcomers. Shelly teaching a yoga class while Ivy led the beach walk. Painting lessons by the sea. Just thinking about this eased her mind and lessened the panicky feelings she’d had.
But for now, life was just about family gathering in a sweet little kitchen.
“Do we have ripe avocados?” Bennett asked.
“Might be some in the basket on the table.” Ivy drained her coffee. “I’ll check them.”
As they got breakfast underway, Bennett started the bacon and sliced avocados while Ivy whisked eggs and pureed green smoothies. The aroma of sizzling bacon filled the air just as Shelly arrived with a bag of fresh-picked oranges from the garden. Daisy was toddling beside her now.
Poppy followed them in, already looking bright-eyed.
“Wow, breakfast is early this morning,” Shelly said. “Couldn’t sleep?”
Ivy grinned. “Not since we got a call from Andrew in Switzerland.”
“Any news?” Shelly asked.
Poppy hid a smile with her hand.
Noticing that gesture, Ivy realized she’d probably spoken to Andrew. Poppy had let slip that they’d been talking on the phone a lot. But he didn’t share anything about the case with her due to client confidentiality. “Andrew called from the bank. He needed more information.”
Shelly spread her hands in shock. “Wait, was this a good news call?”
“Maybe, but anything could still happen.” Ivy slid an omelet onto a plate. “We need to prepare for either outcome.”
“Always the pragmatist now,” Bennett teased, but his eyes held admiration.
She smiled. “I’ve learned, painful as it was.”
Bennett arranged avocado slices over the omelets and passed them around while Ivy poured the green drinks and Shelly peeled oranges.
Daisy tasted the smoothie Ivy had put in a sippy cup for her. She cooed her delight. “Mmm, good,” she added in a sweet sing-song voice.
“One of her new words,” Shelly said, smiling. “After mama, da, and no.”
They settled around the small table, conversation flowing despite the underlying tension. Ivy updated them on the inn, Poppy reported the earnings from the Bookfest, and Shelly reported on the new spring plantings.
When Ivy’s phone rang again, she leapt to answer it. Everyone’s eyes fixed on her.
“It’s Andrew,” Ivy said, answering with speakerphone enabled. “We’re all here. Bennett, Shelly, and Poppy, too.”
“Then I have an audience for the good news.” Andrew’s voice lifted with pride. “It’s official. It’s been determined that Lea is the rightful heir. The account will be turned over to her.”
Ivy was thrilled, yet despite her call with Lea, she was hesitant to make assumptions. “Please tell her congratulations.”
“There’s more,” Andrew said. “She has also signed an agreement donating the funds to a nonprofit entity, The Amelia Erickson Library and Museum, specifically for constructing and maintaining a permanent facility. It will be under your control, Ivy.”
His words hung in the air, seeming almost unreal. Yet, it was, at long last. Ivy gripped the counter, nearly overcome with tearful relief. “Thank you, Andrew,” she managed to say, her voice quavering with emotion. “And my deepest appreciation to Lea.”
The kitchen erupted in celebration. Shelly cried, “Woo-hoo! That’s what I’m talking about!” Little Daisy squealed with delight.
Bennett pulled Ivy into his arms. “Congratulations, my love.”
Then, Shelly asked the big question. “What was the final figure? Will it be enough?”
There was a pause before Andrew answered. “The original deposit, plus close to nine decades of interest and investment returns, amounts to a very tidy sum.”
When he gave the final tally, Ivy sat down abruptly, her legs suddenly unable to support her. The figure was beyond anything she had imagined.
Poppy stared at her, wide-eyed. “That’s enough for the building and an endowment for operating costs.”
“Exactly,” Andrew confirmed. “Lea has specified that after the building costs, the principal shall remain untouched, with the annual returns funding operations in perpetuity. The building itself will be named The Amelia Erickson Library and Art Museum, with a special plaque in remembrance of her father, Hans.”
When the call ended, Ivy sat in stunned silence, the reality of what they had accomplished sinking in.
“Here’s to you, darling.” Bennett raised his water glass to Ivy, and everyone around the table did the same.
“I can hardly believe it’s over.” Ivy was overcome with the magnitude of what had just happened. It was one thing to dream, and quite another to execute. “And now, it’s the beginning of the project, isn’t it?”
“What’s next?” Poppy asked, looking excited.
Ivy pressed her fingertips against her temples in thought. “We’ll have the architectural plans updated so Forrest can work up a favorable estimate for us. We’ll organize the board and start making plans.” She glanced out the window at the inn, which was looking quite elegant again. “Here we go again.”
Shelly wiped Daisy’s face. “You wouldn’t be happy unless you had a challenge. You’ve always been that way.”
“Then I must be ecstatic.” Ivy laughed because her sister was right. “But someday, I’d like to have a little leisure time. Probably not for a long time, though.”
Bennett kissed her cheek. “That’s what vacations are for. “Maybe we should plan a long weekend getaway before the inn reopens.”
“I’d love that.” Ivy threw her arms around him. Bennett knew what she needed, sometimes more than she realized.
She’d kept her emotions tightly contained for a long time, but now, they burst free, whizzing through her like a wild roller-coaster.
“You’re shivering,” he said, rubbing her arms. “Probably from the adrenaline rush of all this.”
Shelly eyed her sister. “Why don’t you two go for a walk on the beach or take a ride? We’ll clean up here. Go digest this, Ives. You really put your heart into this one.”
Ivy turned to hug her sister. “Look at how far we’ve come. Thanks, Shells. You’ve always been a part of this, too.” She sniffed back tears that sprang to her eyes. “And you, too, Poppy.”
“Let’s go, sweetheart.” Bennett brought her favorite hoodie, and the two of them set off for the beach, leaving Shelly and Poppy, who were making lists of next steps.
“A library and art museum for Summer Beach hardly seems real,” Ivy said, strolling beside him on the beach. “All that time searching, hoping, and piecing together fragments of Amelia’s life. Now her dream will exist.”
“Because you refused to give up,” Bennett said, studying her. “Your determination inspired an entire community.”
She dodged the icy water rushing onto the shore. “It wasn’t just me. I like to think Amelia’s spirit was somehow guiding me.”
“You were the catalyst.” He drew her close as they walked. “You saw possibility even before you discovered those plans.”
Realizing what she was doing again, she paused, filling her lungs with air. “I did, didn’t I?” Acknowledging her accomplishment felt surprisingly good.
Bennett nodded at that. “Have you ever thought maybe it wasn’t a spirit leading you, but rather, you attracted the elements you needed?”
“Shelly once said something like that. I thought it was a little woo-woo, but she might have a point.” Ivy looked up at the bright morning sky. “If that’s true, I’ve had it backward. Is that what you mean?”
“Who’s to say?” He smiled and caught her hand. “What I know is you’re a resourceful, visionary woman. Look at what you’ve created here. A life that you wanted and deserved, that benefits everyone around you.” Squeezing her hand, he added, “I’m sure glad it includes me.”
“I don’t think I’d want it any other way.” She grinned and lifted her chin like a queen. “Not today, anyway.”
“Hey, don’t let your newfound power go to your head.” He swept her into his arms and whirled her around while she laughed with delight.
Ivy shook her hair back, smiling with happiness. With Bennett’s arms around her, she felt more loved than ever—outside her family and daughters. Caring for her family and guests, gathering around a table with laughter, taking an impromptu walk on the beach with Bennett—these were the simple joys she loved in her life.
Her accomplishments over the past weeks filled her with satisfaction. At last, with the renovation nearly completed, she could turn her attention to a reopening party.
Bennett let her down, and her toes touched the sand. The cool breeze on her face brought a fresh thought to mind.
“We have twice as much to celebrate,” she said. “The reopening of the inn and now, the kickoff of the library and art museum project.”
“One project ends and another begins.” Bennett swept fine strands of hair from her lashes and kissed her forehead. “About the library—it all worked out, didn't it?”
“As it was meant to, it seems.” Ivy could hardly wait for the next chapter in their lives. She lifted her lips to his for the sweetest of kisses.