Ivy shook her head. “This would have predated the upstairs wall. While she was becoming a little forgetful, as we saw in that old film we found, the disease was not yet full blown. She lived here through the war and was still a force to be reckoned with.”

  As Ivy stared at the wall, she wondered what, if anything, was behind it.

  Later that afternoon, after Ivy had directed a pair of guests to the children’s beach, Poppy bounded from the library. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement. “I think I found something online about Geena’s family. Come with me, and I’ll show you.”

  In the library, Poppy pointed to her computer screen. “I found this post on another person’s social media profile that was linked to Geena. Her name is Rebecca Bellamy. And look at this photo.”

  Ivy slipped on her leopard-spotted reading glasses and leaned toward the screen. “That’s Geena, and the woman beside her looks like a relative.”

  “Read the post,” Poppy said. “It’s her long-lost sister. Rebecca found Geena through a DNA search. It says here that their mother gave up Rebecca for adoption as a baby.”

  Intrigued, Ivy sank into an armchair. “So we should find Rebecca and talk to her.” Hope for a DNA solution surged within her.

  “We don’t even have to do that,” Poppy said. “Rebecca posted an entire album of photos about her reunion with Geena, as well as her newly found mom and grandmother. She also posted about her grandfather, who never married her grandmother. It seems Rebecca was the first child. Geena was the second, and her mother insisted on keeping her.”

  Ivy sat back in her chair, thinking. “Did they have different fathers?”

  Poppy looked like she was about to burst with the news. “Not according to the family tree, which would be the same for both sisters. I’ve got it right here.” Poppy tapped a key, but the computer screen froze. “There goes the internet connection again.”

  “Still, that wouldn’t matter because their maternal grandfather would have been the same,” Ivy said, tapping her fingers as she thought. Seeing Poppy’s expression of excitement, she ventured a guess. “Not Gustav?”

  “Not even close,” Poppy replied. “At the grandparent level, my guess is that the father either didn’t know about the baby or wouldn’t marry the grandmother, so she passed off the child as Gustav’s in order to get money. Or maybe the father was in on it, too. Like a con job to extort money.” She tapped the keyboard again, but the screen remained frozen. “I wish I could show you the family tree.”

  As Ivy considered this, disappointment set in. “But for Gustav to have fallen for that story, he must have been having an affair with the grandmother.”

  Even though that had taken place decades ago, she felt terrible for Amelia. Ivy had wanted to believe that they had a strong marriage. From all that she had read and heard, the couple shared many common interests and were dedicated to artists and their work. “Back to the parent level. Did Rebecca say why her mother gave her up for adoption?”

  “She says here that her mother had her out of wedlock.” Poppy cringed at her last word. “I hate that phrase. I always think about someone throwing away the key.”

  “It’s not like that today,” Ivy said, rising from her chair to pace as she pieced together details. Geena’s family was more complicated than she had imagined.

  “It still sounds like old-fashioned imprisonment,” Poppy said. “Marriage is a contract. I took business law in school. It’s only fair that if someone breaches the contract, it should be up for renegotiation.”

  “It often is.” Ivy paused and gave her a wry smile. It sounded simple—until the heart was involved. “Had I known about Jeremy’s indiscretions, we would have had some serious talks?”

  Poppy beamed. “But it’s cool that you and Bennett are each doing your own thing. So it’s possible to be in love and still give each other a lot of space.”

  “I suppose,” Ivy said softly, although she was now having second thoughts about the status of their relationship. Maybe they didn’t need quite as much space as she’d imagined. In reconsidering, she wondered if her actions were hurting their relationship.

  Lately, Bennett seemed to have something on his mind that he wasn’t sharing with her. It was just a feeling, and she could be wrong, but she sensed an odd shift in their relationship.

  “When you fall in love, you might feel different. Ideally, you become true partners in life.” As her last words hung between them, Ivy thought about that. True partners in life.

  “Maybe I will.” Poppy’s cheeks turned pink. “I’d like to find out.”

  Ivy continued pacing as she recalled the conversation she’d had with Geena at Carol’s. “Geena told me she didn’t know who her father was.”

  “Maybe she didn’t—until earlier this year.”

  “That makes sense,” Ivy said, sorting information in her mind. “I would guess that after Geena’s mother gave one child up for adoption, she didn’t want to give up another baby.”

  Poppy laced her fingers behind her head. “So if Geena knows the truth, why does she think she’s entitled to anything we find here?”

  Ivy thought about that. Geena had said that her mother was adamant that she file the lawsuits. Had her mother or grandmother—or both—been perpetrating a lie all these years? Or was Geena simply trying to con them?

  “Maybe Geena’s mother felt she had to act fast with new information from Rebecca,” Ivy said. “That might explain why she was pressuring her daughter to file the lawsuits.”

  Poppy’s eyes grew wide. “Her mom did that? Wow, that’s mean. And pretty cowardly.”

  “Thanks for researching this, Poppy. It looks like I have some things to do.” She strode to the door. “Could you and Shelly take care of the afternoon wine and tea event? Especially today, it will help calm people’s nerves about these little aftershocks.”

  Poppy grinned. “You bet.”

  “And please be sure not to turn anyone away who needs a place to stay. We’ll manage.” She paused. “The same goes for breakfast. Let’s open the doors to the inn. Like Carol and Hal, we can make room for anyone.”

  Ivy marched upstairs to Imani’s room and knocked on the door. When her friend answered, she asked Ivy in. They sat at a small table by a window in the beach-themed guest room.

  Quickly, Ivy told her what Poppy had found. “I might have a shot at resolving this. Can you give me a day to try to sort this out in my way?”

  “Do you want me to talk to Geena with you as your attorney?” Imani asked.

  “I appreciate that, but I think she is more apt to open up to me,” Ivy said, thinking about the conversation at Shangri-La.

  Imani folded her hands on the table and nodded. “Give it a try, but don’t commit to anything.” She grinned and added, “You’re a fierce woman when you know what you want.”

  Ivy chuckled. “Fierce. I like that. I don’t think I’ve ever been called that.”

  “No? Surely you’ve been called persistent.”

  Ivy arched an eyebrow, recalling what Jeremy used to say. “Stubborn is more like it.”

  “Same thing. Women are stubborn; men are persistent.” Imani rolled her eyes. “Forget that. Just go forth and be fierce. And good luck.”

  After leaving Imani, Ivy fired the engine on her old Chevrolet and started for another bed-and-breakfast in the village. The Seal Cove Inn didn’t look like it had sustained any damage. After parking in front, she climbed the front steps of the old Victorian home. Inside, exotic orchids flowered against a breezy shabby-chic interior of white slipcovers and dark, polished wood. Ceilings were high, and fans swirled lazily above.

  A woman about Ivy’s age at the front desk smiled. “Hi, Ivy. What brings you here today?”

  “Hi, June,” Ivy said, stepping up to the desk. “I thought I’d stop by and see how you fared through the earthquake.”

  “Not too bad. This house is pier-and-beam construction, so the floors are a little uneven anyway due to shifting over the years. This old grand dame swayed through it with grace, although we lost a few wine glasses and decanters in the honor bar. How about you?”

  “A little landscape damage, but the house came through it fine. I think Amelia Erickson was watching after her home.” Although Ivy spoke lightly, there was a kernel of truth in her words. Shelly and Poppy sure thought so.

  “These old homes have their share of spirits.” June folded her arms and leaned on the desk. “The earthquake freaked out a couple of guests, who checked out immediately. Actually, that was fortunate because I just filled those rooms with the owner of a boutique in the village and her family. Their cottage tilted and flooded, poor folks. It’s a good thing they’re insured.”

  “We’re standing by to help people, too.” Ivy drummed her nails on the desktop. “I was wondering if Geena Bellamy might be around. I heard she’s staying here.”

  “She sure is. She’s a good kid once you get to know her, though I understand you have your differences. Do you want me to ring her room?”

  “If you would, please.”

  June picked up the phone, but before she could dial, Geena came down the stairs. She’d showered and changed. Her hair was still damp, and she wore black jeans and a matching denim jacket. When she saw Ivy, she raised her brow in surprise.

  “Oh, hi,” Geena said to Ivy. She paused by the front desk. “June, I’m going out for some groceries for the room. Do you need anything?”

  “Glad you asked. I’m out of my favorite tea.” June told her what type she wanted, and Geena agreed to buy it at the market.

  “Mind if I walk there with you?” Ivy said to Geena. “I just ran out of bread.”

  Geena shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

  The two women set off toward the store. As they walked along the sidewalk, Ivy saw a couple clearing their yard of water-logged items.

  “I’m glad the sun is out,” Ivy said, making an attempt at small talk.

  “I suppose so.” Geena fell quiet again.

  Instead of leading with the DNA evidence Poppy had found, Ivy wanted Geena to come to a decision on her own. Otherwise, she might become defensive and dig in. She ventured again. “You talked a lot about your mother last night. I couldn’t stop thinking about that.”

  “I guess I did.” Geena kicked a small pebble on the sidewalk.

  “I got the feeling that you’re doing this—these lawsuits—for her.”

  Geena pursed her lips and sighed. “She’s my mom, so it’s my duty.”

  “Is that what she told you?”

  “Like I said, it’s complicated.” Geena hesitated. “If I do this, then she won’t need me to look after her and Granny anymore.”

  “Are they ill?”

  “No, it’s nothing like that,” Geena said. “Mom just wants to have some fun, go to Las Vegas, stuff like that.”

  “Does she gamble a lot?”

  Geena shot a wary look toward Ivy. “Probably too much. Granny won’t give her any more money.”

  A picture was forming in Ivy’s mind. “Not that I’m suggesting it, but what would happen to your mother if you moved away?”

  Geena didn’t say anything for a little while, and the question hung between them. Her lips quivered, and she brushed a hand impatiently over her cheeks.

  Ivy waited.

  Finally, Geena expelled a breath. “I have a sister I didn’t know I had. Rebecca. Earlier this year, she called me and then came to see us. My mom was pretty affected by it all because she’d been forced to give her up. My granny regretted insisting on that, but at the time, she thought it was for the best. She knew how hard it was to raise a child by herself.”

  That seems to fit, Ivy thought. “And how did you feel about meeting Rebecca?”

  Another small silence ensued before Geena spoke again. “This is going to sound awful, but I sort of wished Mom had given me away, too. My sister says she has the greatest parents, and she has the life I always wanted. She went to college, and she’s married to a great guy—she even has two sweet children and a dog.” She paused for a moment. “Even though my mom is hard to live with, I feel like I have to look after her.”

  “Why do you feel that way?”

  “Mom is always talking about how old she is, but I know people older than her that do a lot more.” Geena shook her head. “I don’t know how long I can take the stress she heaps on me. At this rate, she’ll probably outlive me.”

  Ivy studied Geena from the corner of her eye. “So, what keeps you there?”

  “I don’t know if I have what it takes to make it out there on my own.” Geena forced a wry laugh. “I didn’t have the best grades in school. But my granny still believes in my ability.”

  Ivy felt sorry for Geena—she needed someone on her side. “I think your grandmother is right,” she said with conviction. “You need to give yourself a lot more credit.”

  Geena kicked another pebble. “Mom told me that if I do this for her, she’ll give me enough money from what we get to buy my own place. But I know her. She’ll find a high-stakes game and lose it all overnight. It’s happened before.”

  “Stop waiting on her,” Ivy said, daring to touch Geena’s shoulder. “You’re a smart woman. Do you have friends you could stay with until you got on your feet?”

  Geena gave her a half-smile. “June offered me a room if I handle the evening shift. I also heard Celia say she’s looking for someone to oversee a new art program for kids in the Summer Beach schools.” She twisted her lips to one side. “I probably wouldn’t be any good at it, though.”

  Celia had told Ivy all about the program and asked if she knew anyone to work it. If Geena was as passionate about art as Ivy imagined, that could work for both for them. “I think you’d be perfect. You could join my art classes if you want to brush up on your technique. No charge.”

  Geena stopped on the sidewalk and stared at her. “You’d do that for me?”

  “Why not?”

  “But, the lawsuits….”

  Ivy held Geena’s gaze. “Do you really want to continue pursuing them?”

  Geena shook her head. “But Mom….” Her voice trailed off.

  Ivy placed a hand on Geena’s shoulder. “You’ve spent your life doing what your mother wants. What about your dreams? This is a chance for you to get out and pursue them.”

  Geena bowed her head into her hands. “She’d kill me if I did that.”

  Ivy frowned at her choice of words. “Literally or figuratively?”

  “She threatens me all the time, but she doesn’t mean it. I hate to leave Granny, but I know she’ll understand.”

  “Think about it. And I’m not saying this because I’m trying to talk you out of the lawsuit—well, maybe I am a little—but you need to look out for yourself. For your life. You can still have the life you’ve dreamed about, maybe even one like Rebecca has.”

  Geena’s mouth lifted at the corners. “My sister told me things about my family I didn’t even know. She did the DNA research.”

  “And?” Ivy held her breath.

  “My mom doesn’t believe in DNA.”

  “But isn’t that how Rebecca found you?”

  Geena rolled her eyes. “Mom thinks it’s right sometimes, but not always.”

  “What do you think?” Ivy was curious to see how Geena thought.

  “I don’t know if you can have it both ways. Rebecca found our real grandfather through DNA. Mom didn’t want to hear anything about him. When we tried to tell her, she insisted she was an Erickson and stormed out of the house.” Geena paused. “I don’t want to sue you or anyone else. I wish I’d never listened to her. Do you think I can call it off?”

  “I think you should explain all of that to your attorney—without your mother around.”

  Geena faced the sea and tipped her head back. “I don’t care if there are earthquakes here. I’d like to stay.”

  Ivy quirked her mouth to one side. “They don’t often happen—if that helps.”

  “It does,” Geena said. “I’ve already made more friends here than I had back home. June, Paige, Celia—even you. The book club is cool, too. Listening to all those smart women is so interesting.” She dipped her chin. “I know it seemed like I had a chip on my shoulder. But I’m not really like that.”

  “No, I don’t think you are.” Ivy paused. “It’s never too late to rewrite the story of your life.”

  The two women neared a market on the corner. Inside, they shopped together for a few items, and Ivy helped Geena carry her bags back to the Seal Cove Inn.

  Although Ivy couldn’t tell Geena what to do, she wished the other woman would make the right decision for her life. If she continued on the path her mother had set for her, it would be a costly fiasco for all of them.

  But sometimes, people had to hit bottom before they changed.

  Ivy hoped this wasn’t one of those times.

  22

  “Pack anything you see that can be salvaged,” Bennett called out to those who were helping sort through the inventory at Pages. He placed a stack of unharmed books from an upper shelf into a box destined for new shelves at the inn.

  “Only books that are in new, saleable condition,” Ivy added. “Put the rest of them in the donation pile. Or if they’re waterlogged, toss them. If you have any questions about items, ask Paige.”

  “Wait,” Paige said, holding up a hand. She sat on a chair at the center of the old bookstore with an odd assortment of mementos on her lap. “If it looks old or valuable or is signed by an author, please save it. Many of these books are like old friends. Even if they’re wet or dirty, they’ll dry.”

  As Bennett finished packing the box, he called out, “Did everyone hear that?”

  “Got it,” Ivy said, which Poppy and her brothers Rocky and Reed echoed. Shelly was looking after the inn while they were here, an activity that didn’t require any heavy lifting.

  “We should have this done in a few hours,” Bennett said. “Want to grab dinner in the village tonight?”

  Ivy grinned. “Is that an invitation for a date, Mr. Mayor?”

  “It can be.” Brushing his hands against his worn jeans, he rephrased the question. “Would you like to dress up and go to Spirits & Vine tonight? I heard they came through the earthquake pretty well. They have special cabinets and displays, so they didn’t lose anything but a few glasses.”

 

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