“The book club won’t like that,” Poppy added.
They all looked at each other. Shelly raised her brow and began counting. “Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four?—”
Darla charged up the stairs. “What in heaven’s name is that racket? We can’t hear ourselves think, let alone discuss the book.”
“I’m sorry, Darla, but we warned you,” Ivy said, although she hadn’t realized it would be quite so loud.
“I know, I know. But where can we go?”
Ivy blinked, trying to think of an option. Several club members often put up their extended family and friends at the inn, so they were important to keep happy, too.
“How about gathering around the fire pit on the beach? There are plenty of Adirondack chairs. It will be quieter out there, and it should be a beautiful sunset. We only have a couple of guests. They might even join you.”
“Well, I suppose that will work,” Darla said in a grudging tone. “Some people might have to take off their shoes.” She looked down at her sneakers.
“Nothing like the feel of sand between your toes,” Shelly said, giving Darla a high-five. “I’ll even whip up some Sea Breeze cocktails for you.”
Darla seemed to like that idea. Ivy flashed a grin at Shelly. “Take them through the kitchen and out the back door.”
A few minutes later, the book club members were fleeing the premises for the relative quiet of the beach, the sound of the waves crashing on the shore notwithstanding.
Poppy smiled, holding her hand over her ears. “That was quick thinking.”
“Let’s go to the kitchen,” Ivy said. “Might be a little less volume back there.”
However, before they could leave, the front door opened again. Two high school students and an older man stepped inside.
“David and Sophie,” Ivy said, greeting them. “Are you here to study?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Sophie replied. “Our midterm exams are this week, so we brought a tutor. I hope that’s okay.”
“It is, but it’s pretty loud where you usually study.”
Worried looks filled their faces. “I don’t think we can study with that,” David said.
Ivy felt sorry for these two siblings. They were the oldest in their house, and with several younger siblings, they had nowhere else to study. Usually, they sat quietly in the ballroom, out of the way. She knew how important their grades were to them. They were top students and hoped to gain scholarships to the university in San Diego or elsewhere.
Quickly, Ivy fished in her pocket for her key. “Take my apartment above the garage. You can study at the table. And help yourself to soft drinks and snacks in the refrigerator.” Bennett wouldn’t mind, and they wouldn’t be home for a while anyway. She’d bring a bottle of his favorite wine.
Sophie looked relieved. “Thank you, but we always pack sandwiches.”
“We’re going that way now,” Ivy said, motioning them to follow.
Ivy directed them through the kitchen, and as they crossed the car court, she saw the book club members gathered around the bookmobile.
Curious, Ivy stepped into the car court, intrigued by the vintage RV-turned-bookmobile. Fantastical murals that warmed her artist’s heart covered the exterior.
Darla gazed at the vehicle as if it were an answer to her prayers. “Would you look at this beauty?”
She looked closer. Towering castles sprouted from open books, dragons swooped through starlit skies, and mermaids dove through waves morphing into turning pages. The wordsAdventures Awaitsplashed across the side in swooping calligraphy.
“Wow, that’s breathtaking,” Shelly said in awe, with Daisy wedged on her hip.
The little girl cried with glee, reaching toward the painted butterflies that seemed poised to flutter away. Shelly kissed Daisy’s cheek. “This is like something from a fairytale. And not one of those scary warning fairytales, but the happy kind we read, right, Daisy-do?”
Darla circled the RV, her bedazzled visor catching the sunlight. “This is what Summer Beach needs.”
A thought struck Ivy, but before she could speak, Darla’s face filled with excitement.
