Shelly’s gardening and floral arrangement site had morphed into a lifestyle vlog, with Shelly’s 3-minute video makeovers for home, garden, and personal style being her most popular.
Ivy took the book and flipped through it. “The T-Shirt & Jeans Handbook. Are you kidding? I’m an expert at that.”
Carlotta and Shelly traded exasperated looks.
“You can keep your basic style,” Shelly said, tapping the cover. “But you really need to up your game.”
Ivy closed the book, but not before she saw several photos of stylish outfits that caught her eye. “I’m through playing games,” Ivy said. Especially with Bennett. Now that she thought about it again, where was their luggage and why wasn’t he returning her calls?
Carlotta arched an eyebrow. “If you won’t listen to me, listen to your sister.”
“You have to live a new life now,” Shelly added.
“And I am, as of right now,” Ivy said, appraising herself in the mirror. Still, they had a point. “Mom, do you have some shoes to go with this?”
Carlotta bustled into her walk-in closet and emerged with a pair of handcrafted jeweled sandals with short kitten heels. “These look good with that.”
While jeweled sandals were the last thing she’d buy, she tried not to cringe while she slipped them on. “Not bad,” she said grudgingly. They were cute in a twenty-something way. Yet her mother got away with them.
“Wow, you rock those,” Shelly said, clapping.
“You look fabulous,” Carlotta added. “Very California chic.”
Ivy slid another look into the mirror. Surprisingly, the color did lift her spirits.
Carlotta held up a yellow sundress for Shelly. “This is one of my lower hemlines. With your long legs, I’m afraid most of what I have would be too short on you.”
Shelly slipped into the dress, which still hovered above her knees. “Perfect, Mom. Thanks.” She gave her mother a peck on the cheek. “We have to be on our way. Will you stop by later to see the house?”
“If I have time after yoga,” Carlotta said. “The keys to the old Jeep are on the rack by the garage.”
“It’s still running?” Ivy asked. “That car must have a few hundred thousand miles on it.” The Jeep had been passed from one child to another when they were growing up. Ivy had good memories of that old vehicle. They’d carried all their friends to the beach in it.
“We replaced the engine, so it still runs fine.” Carlotta smiled. “It’s yours.”
“Just until I can get a car.” Ivy hadn’t driven in months. She’d usually taken the subway in Boston, and she had sold Jeremy’s BMW.
Carlotta shook her head. “As you wish.”
Yesterday Ivy had been so certain of her decision about the house, but now trepidation crept over her. Could she really manage such a large undertaking? Her pulse quickened, and she sat on the bed, resting her chin in her hands. “What have I gotten myself into?”
“You’ll find a way, mija.” Carlotta put her arm around Ivy. “Your father and the boys can help with cleaning and painting, and Shelly can manage the landscape.”
“Already volunteered,” Shelly said, turning to Ivy. “We’ll figure it out together. That’s what Mom always told us, so that’s what we’re doing.”
Ivy reached out to hug her sister. “I needed that reminder.”
“Speaking of that…” Shelly rummaged through her bag for a pen and a pad of paper that had a sparkly rainbow on the cover. “Here. You’re the Great Organizer. Start with a list of what we’ll need.”
“You’re on.” Ivy grinned. With a pencil and paper in her hand, she felt grounded. How well her sister knew her.
Ivy and Shelly left their parents’ home and drove along the coast to the smaller community of Summer Beach.
As Ivy drove, she thought about her decision. She was scared to death, but she had little choice except to forge on and give this project everything she had.
“What shall we call the place?” Shelly asked as Ivy drove.
“Las Brisas is the old name, but I’d like a new name to represent the new era. Summer Beach Inn is a bit plain.”
“The Breeze Point Inn?”
“Maybe.”
As she pulled into the long drive, Ivy had another idea. Once inside the house, she pocketed the key. “I’ve got it. Welcome to the Seabreeze Inn,” she said, trying to sound more confident than she felt. All she could think was how much money it would cost to open the doors to the public. The thought of it made her queasy.
“Hey, that’s a sweet name,” Shelly said, following her inside. “By the way, what was in those Sea Breeze cocktails?”
Ivy grinned at her. “Cranberry and grapefruit juice. Vodka optional. I used to drink the virgin version when I was pregnant with Misty.”
Shelly chuckled. “I know you were being responsible, but you do see the irony in that, right?”
“I think the fully loaded version is how I got pregnant,” Ivy whipped back at her.
“Seabreeze Inn it is. I like that. Sounds sunny and fresh.” Grinning, Shelly flicked an old light switch, and the stunning chandelier in the entry blazed beneath layers of dust and cobwebs. “First on the list, glass and crystal cleaner.”
Ivy shook her head. “To clean all the windows and light fixtures in this place would cost a fortune in product alone. I make a window cleaner with white vinegar and water. A lot cheaper and just as effective.”
“Vinegar? You’re kidding, right?”
“We had two children to put through college. I found a lot of ways to economize, especially on expensive branded cleaning supplies.”
“While your husband was off spending your retirement on colossal beach houses.”
“Point.” Ivy made a face. “But white vinegar still works well. Fewer chemicals, too.”
“Point. Vinegar it is.”
Ivy made her way into the ballroom and flicked another switch. The entire room blazed with light from the chandeliers. Her heart lit with them, and her mind raced with possibilities. She raised her hands to frame the room. “Reception desk here, sofa and chair grouping there.”
“Wonder what all those chandeliers cost?” Shelly whirled around in a graceful pirouette, and her dress swirled around her like
