Fresh spring breezes tinged with salty ocean air swept through the old beach house. As Ivy descended the stairway, she drank in the soul-cleansing sea air that held the aromas of sun-warmed sand and fresh flowers. They’d had a marine layer for several days that had kept the beach pinned under a blanket of gloomy gray and cool days, so this was a welcome change.
As she cleared the last step, she imagined the day ahead. On such a perfect spring day such as this, anything seemed possible. Yet with each passing day, it was one less day until her parents departed on their around-the-world sail. Although Ivy was happy that they were fit and healthy enough for this adventure they’d longed for, she would miss them.
At a table in the foyer, her younger sister Shelly was arranging a bouquet of yellow and white blossoms she’d clipped from the garden. “What do you think of this arrangement?”
“You’ve brought the sunshine indoors,” Ivy said, pausing near the reception desk they’d placed near the entrance to welcome guests.
With an expert motion, Shelly stripped leaves from a creamy white rose before inserting it among a cluster of yellow roses and daisies. “The morning sun flooded my room, so I woke up feeling this yellow-and-white theme.” Sweet scents were already permeating the fresh ocean air flowing through open windows.
Shelly grew most of the flowers and herbs they used on the property, and she was happily putting her horticulture degree to work. She nodded toward Ivy’s yellow sundress. “Looks like you’re channeling the sunshine, too.”
“I suppose I am. This is another dress Mom sent over.” Ivy touched the cotton seersucker fabric, soft from frequent washings.
Their mother had given them some of the clothes she couldn’t fit onto the boat. Although Carlotta and Sterling Bay were in their seventies, they were still vibrant and adventurous. They had been planning this trip for more than a year, and their excitement was palpable.
Ivy couldn’t help by worry about their safety, and now she knew how her parents must have felt when each of their children set off on adventures. While Carlotta and Sterling were experienced sailors, unexpected winds could transform a calm sea into a hungry, treacherous creature.
“I’m going to miss Mom and Dad,” Shelly said, continuing to strip leaves from roses.
“We all will,” Ivy said. “But we’re adults, and this is probably their last chance for a long trip like this.”
Seeking to change the subject, Ivy picked up a glossy fern frond and idly twirled it. “How’s your new vegetable garden coming along?”
Shelly brushed back strands of chestnut hair that had escaped her messy topknot. “Thanks to the seeds I started in the hothouse, the cherry tomatoes should be ready next week, along with several types of lettuce. My big heirloom tomatoes still need a few more weeks.”
“I can hardly wait for those,” Ivy said.
Shelly drew her lower lip in and frowned. “I’m going to miss Mom and Dad a lot more than when I lived in New York. I’ve gotten used to seeing them more often now. Do you think we should be worried about them?”
“They’re in better shape than I am,” Ivy replied as she stuffed the fern frond into the vase. She hated to think about anything that could happen to them.
Shelly curved her lips into a knowing half-smile. “You didn’t answer my question, so that’s a definite yes.”
“This journey is their dream,” Ivy said, trying to sound reasonable. “They’ve always supported ours. And they’re not leaving until after you and Mitch get married. Which we’re all guessing will be pretty soon, right?” Shelly and Mitch liked spontaneity, but Ivy wished they’d decide on a firm date. They had already pushed back one date Shelly had wanted. Ivy wondered if anything had changed between them.
Shelly cast her gaze to one side and drew in her lip. “This trip is different,” she said, avoiding Ivy’s question. “It’s such a long one. What if they—”
“Here you are,” Poppy called out, bounding around the corner. With her long blond hair swinging around her shoulders, she waved a message slip in her hand. “I’ve been looking for you, Aunty Ivy.”
Ivy turned toward her niece, an energetic young woman who worked at the inn between her marketing jobs in Los Angeles. “What’s up?”
Poppy grinned. “I just spoke to a woman who wants to talk to you about having a wedding here at the inn. And I also want you to review the story I wrote for my blogger friend—the one about the Seabreeze Inn being the perfect small wedding venue. Looks like we’re diving into the wedding business.”
Shelly shook her head. “I know we have to fill rooms during the off-season, but we should be careful that wedding parties don’t take over the inn. Remember what happened at Carol Reston’s daughter’s wedding? Our other guests played along only because Carol is a huge celebrity, but many won’t be crazy about rowdy wedding parties.”
“That one was different,” Ivy said. “They’re not always that rowdy.”
“I worked plenty of weddings in New York.” Shelly arched an eyebrow. “I don’t know why we need any wedding parties in the summer anyway. We were booked solid last year.”
“Weddings are scheduled year-round, and that’s business we need,” Ivy said firmly. “We can charge more fees for the use of the ballroom and dining room—and you can make extra money on the flowers.”
“We can be selective,” Poppy said, sounding conciliatory.
Ivy threw a look at her niece. They couldn’t afford to be too choosy. This month marked the first anniversary of the inn, and as with any new business, it had been a challenging year.
Summer Beach was a seasonal spot for summer tourists. Ivy and Shelly had made it through the lean winter months by creating special events that Poppy promoted. They had hosted a Halloween sleepover for kids and their parents, a Christmas and New Year’s week for singles, and a romantic Valentine’s weekend. They’d planned spa weeks and featured cooking classes. The last event was a family Easter egg hunt on the grounds, followed by a luncheon that Mitch catered from his Java Beach kitchen.
Poppy handed Ivy the message. “Eleanor York. She made sure to intimate that she is related to the royal Yorks.”
“See? I smell trouble already.” Shelly clipped the end of another sturdy rose stem with force and shot a look at Ivy.
