Sunny seldom did, though Misty made the effort.
Is that how their parents had felt about her and her sisters and brothers? A lump rose in her throat, and she swallowed against it. She desperately wanted her mother to be okay. Was that too much to ask? She resolved to spend as much time as she could with her mother. She and Shelly could work out a schedule so their parents wouldn’t be alone.
Ivy blinked back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes and turned to Honey. “What’s it like for you and Gabe now that Elena is on her own?”
“We miss her, but we’re happy that she’s living her dream in Los Angeles.” Honey’s eyes crinkled at the corners as she smiled. Now almost fifty, she still had a youthful glow about her. “And we’re fortunate to live near the beach where we have many friends, so we’re not lonely. We didn’t know just how many friends we had until Gabe’s heart attack. Now, he has a second chance at life, and he’s living it doing exactly what he loves, though with more exercise and a better diet.”
Shelly nodded with enthusiasm. “Vegan burgers on the barbie, I heard.”
“That’s right,” Honey said. “As for me, my boutique keeps me busy, and we visit every few months to see Elena, check on Carlotta and Sterling, and get in some skiing at Lake Tahoe. Now that you’re living on the west coast, we’ll be seeing more of you both.”
“And who’s the guy with Elena?” Shelly asked.
“Her fiancé, Jake,” Honey said. “We like him a lot.”
Shelly looked intrigued. “How did they meet?”
“When the jewelry Elena designed and loaned to a celebrity friend—Penelope Plessen, the model—for the Academy Awards was stolen, an insurance claim was filed. Jake was the insurance investigator. Their relationship was adversarial at first because he thought Elena was involved in the theft. Imagine! But love finds a way.”
“I hope that’s true.” Shelly sounded wistful.
“So how is work on the house going?” Honey asked.
Ivy and Shelly exchanged a guarded look. Ivy was dying to tell their family about the paintings, but they had both been sworn to secrecy.
“We’ll be taking in guests soon at the Seabreeze Inn,” Ivy said.
“I love the name.” Honey beamed. “I’m so proud of you. You’re really turning around that dreadful situation. I’ve been awfully worried about you.”
“I’m getting my life back on track,” Ivy said. “Or rather, a different life this time.” She tucked her arm through Shelly’s. “It feels good to have a new home.”
“We’re going to rock that place.” Shelly grinned. “Wait until you see what we’ve done.”
Honey smiled. “If you don’t mind Elena’s old room, you’re both welcome in Sydney whenever you’d like.”
“Maybe during the offseason,” Ivy said. “We’re hoping for a busy summer.” She prayed that their mother was well. If not, she couldn’t venture far away. “We’d love you and Gabe to visit anytime as well.”
A few minutes later, their parents appeared at the top of the stairway. A murmur rippled across the room, and the three sisters traded worried glances.
Carlotta made her way down first, followed by Sterling. Their mother wore an off-the-shoulder ivory silk blouse paired with a flowing ivory skirt. Her dark hair was piled high on her head, and large hammered silver earrings and a matching necklace framed her still youthful face.
She looked and held herself like a beautiful Mayan queen.
If Mom is ill, she hides it well. Ivy braced herself for the worst.
“We’re glad you all came,” Sterling began. “Honey and Gabe, Flint and Tabitha, Forrest and Angela, Ivy and Shelly. Do you know this is the first time since you were children that you’ve all been together at the same time? And with almost all our grandchildren.”
Only my children are missing, Ivy thought. Neither of her daughters had felt it important enough to attend, even though Ivy had offered to pay for their flights.
Carlotta beamed up at her husband. Her face glimmered in the light. “This is the best birthday present ever,” she said. “And I’m glad I didn’t have to wait until I was on my deathbed to see you all gathered around.”
The room fell quiet, and Ivy could feel each family member preparing themselves for the announcement.
“I hope that won’t be for some time,” Carlotta said. “Even though several of you seem to think that we have one foot in the grave.”
Uneasy laughter followed.
Forrest spoke up. “It’s not that, Mom. Angela and I thought you and Dad should make plans to move in with us.”
“And we thought you’d be better off with us,” Flint said. “We don’t have stairs to navigate like Forrest and Angela do. At your age, that’s important.”
Ivy couldn’t help but wonder if her daughters would be willing to bear such responsibility someday. Not that she ever wanted to be in that position.
Carlotta held up her hand. “Sorry to disappoint you both, but we’re not going to take either of you up on your offer.”
“Mom, Dad, be reasonable,” Forrest said.
“We are,” Carlotta said. “That’s why we’ve decided to buy a larger boat and sail around the world instead.”
“Before we buy a motorhome to see the rest of it,” Sterling added, his eyes twinkling with delight.
Gasps rippled across the room.
Ivy blurted out, “Then you’re not dying?” She pressed a hand against her pounding chest.
“Dying?” Carlotta clutched her silver necklace. “Dios mio, no, mija. Not for years and years, we hope.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” Ivy said as relief washed over her. Her limbs were weak from the stress she’d carried all the way from Boston. Not dying.
“Sailing around the world is too dangerous,” Forrest said. “Anything could happen.”
“And anything could happen right here,” Sterling said. “All our lives, we’ve loved nothing more than traveling and finding artisans to help around the world. We’re going to follow our passion as long as we can. We’re leaving in a couple of months, and no, you can’t talk us out of it.”
“We wanted to have
