Ivy had been dreading this topic. Only two of the bedrooms upstairs had adequate furniture, which were the ones that she and Shelly had moved into. “I thought I’d visit some antique stores and yard sales.”
Carlotta threw a swift glance at Sterling, who nodded his assent. “Take what you need from the house.”
“I can’t do that,” Ivy said. She wouldn’t strip her mother’s lovingly curated home, especially if Carlotta were ill.
“Of course you can. We’re—” Carlotta began.
“Planning to make a few changes at the house,” Sterling finished.
Ivy detected something amiss. Before she could quiz them on it, Shelly waved for her attention. “I couldn’t do that,” she said, making a note to try to find out more.
Her father was in on the secret her mother was keeping. Whatever that is.
Chapter 10
THE SQUAWKING OF shorebirds through an open window woke Bennett from a sound sleep, just when he’d been planning to sleep in this Saturday morning. Usually, he woke before dawn to start his day with a run on the beach or attend a city event, but today he was relishing a chance to catch up on sleep. Closing his eyes, he burrowed his head back into his pillow just as his phone rang.
“Go away,” he mumbled, pulling a pillow over his head. Then, remembering his civic duty, he slid out a hand. It could be something important. When he glanced at the screen, he saw it was his friend Flint. Bennett groaned and rolled over.
“Hey, Flint.”
“Where are you, buddy? Thought we were meeting at Java Beach this morning?”
Bennett yanked the pillow off his face and pummeled it against the wall. His assistant kept his mayoral schedule, but he’d forgotten about the promise he’d made to Flint, to whom he owed several favors. Flint had hosted a party for him with friends in Summer Beach during his election campaign, and he’d referred him to a local radio station who’d interviewed him on the air. They’d also gone for a few runs and gotten coffee together. Flint was a good guy, and he hated to let him down.
“Oh, yeah,” Bennett said, trying to sound awake. “Your sister’s place, right? Can I meet you there?”
“It’s just a few blocks away, but I’m ashamed to say I don’t know the address. How quick can you get here?”
“Give me a few minutes.”
“Hurry up. I finished my coffee. Meet me at the hardware store next door.”
Bennett rolled out of bed and eased into his jeans. He pulled on a T-shirt and cap, ran a toothbrush over his teeth, and headed out the front door.
He still lived in the same ridgetop home that he and Jackie had bought after they’d married. It wasn’t one of the new mansions that were sprouting up along some of the beach communities, but the view was incredible—from Catalina Island and Long Beach all the way to Tijuana. And he couldn’t ask for better neighbors.
As he walked to his SUV, a couple of his neighbors called out. “Morning, Ben.”
He waved at them. “Good morning.”
Celia and Tyler had retired in their late thirties after selling their tech start-up in Silicon Valley. Now they spent their time sailing and investing in other young companies along the California coast. Tyler had told him they were anxious to stay relevant, a term Bennett usually heard from older residents, but that he supposed reflected the rapid pace of change in the technology sector. “Getting an early start on the gardening? Thought you’d be out on the boat.”
“Nah.” Tyler motioned to his towering palm trees where a couple of young guys with special equipment were scaling the trees. “Getting rid of the dead fronds. Heard that Santa Ana winds will be blowing through here soon. Want them to trim yours?”
“Sure, thanks.”
One of the workers shook his head and spoke to Tyler. “They’re booked for a couple of weeks. That okay?”
“Sure, give them my number. See you around.”
When Bennett arrived at Nailed It, he strolled inside and grinned at the owner. “Hey George, be careful waiting on that guy.” He jerked a thumb toward his buddy Flint, who was wearing a navy blue Padres baseball cap. “I hear he’s been banned from home repairs.”
Flint gave him a bear hug. “Woke you, didn’t I?”
“First time I’ve been able to sleep past five in the morning, and you have to call,” Bennett said, giving him a punch on his muscular arm. “Ow. Pretty buff for an old guy.”
“Look who’s talking.” Flint paid for some wood adhesive and other supplies. “Take my truck?”
“Sure. How’s your work going?” Flint was a marine biologist, or more specifically, a marine mammologist. He was as likely to don scuba gear for underwater research as he was to be teaching at the university or writing an academic journal paper.
“I’m taking a team of PhD students out next week to follow an interesting pod of dolphins.”
They were still talking when Flint pulled up in front of a 1950s beach bungalow shrouded by eucalyptus trees.
Bennett was surprised. “Your sister bought this one? Didn’t even know Darla had it for sale.”
They stepped from the truck.
“It’s the one next door. Come on.” Flint started off.
“Wait right there.” Bennett clamped a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “What’s your sister’s name?”
Flint laughed. “I’ve got three, didn’t you know that? This house belongs to my sister Ivy. She’s recently widowed, and—hey, you might like her. She’s—”
“Look, buddy,” Bennett cut in. “I don’t know how to say this, but your sister Ivy and I aren’t exactly—”
“What’s he doing here?” Behind him, Ivy’s voice was knife’s edge sharp.
“Told you I was bringing a buddy to help,” Flint said, looking perplexed. “You two know each other?”
Bennett took a step back. “Hey bud, I’d like to help, but this isn’t such a good idea. I should leave.”
Ivy’s green eyes blazed. “That’s the most considerate thing you’ve said so far.” Ivy spun on her heel and charged back inside the house.
“What happened between you guys?”
Bennett jerked his thumb
