So far, she had failed, and that was a sore point between her and her husband. But she wasn’t giving up.
“Everyone misses gathering at the library,” Arthur said. “Small as it was, it was important to people of all ages. After all, what’s a town without a library for books and news and a place to meet without the admission price of a cup of coffee?”
“You’re a fine one to talk.” Nan nudged him. “You’re quite happy to go to Java Beach every morning. You and your gossiping cronies.”
Arthur put his arm around his wife and squeezed her to him. “It’s not like that, my pet. I’m performing a service for Summer Beach, listening to residents’ concerns. I daresay you have the ear of the mayor, too.”
“Excuse me?” Nan raised her brow in faux shock. “Not like Ivy does.”
Though their midlife shenanigans were charming, Ivy cut in, grinning. “Okay, you two, that’s enough. Sadly, I don’t have any power over city matters.”
During the week, Nan worked as the receptionist at City Hall. She had plenty of influence, too, but neither of them could conjure more funds in the budget to rebuild a library. The owner’s property insurance in the library’s leased space hadn’t been enough, and the community couldn’t make up the difference.
She turned back to the article about the library. “Are you sure this is the only mention of the project?”
“That’s all we could find,” Arthur replied. “By chance, might there be extra funds from the renovation project?”
Recently, Ivy held a gala fundraiser to restore the old property as a centerpiece of the community. “I’m afraid those finances are committed.”
That’s what Bennett said about the city budget, too.
“Well, then, do you still want the vintage wall sconces for the ballroom?” Nan asked, changing the subject. “They’re such a good match to the ones you have. We were lucky to find them.”
“Fortunately, those are in the budget,” Ivy replied, nodding.
“We’re always watching estate sales for you,” Arthur said. “We know the effort it takes to keep up the older properties in town.”
“I appreciate that.” Another shiver touched Ivy’s neck, and she rubbed it. “You’ll let me know if you find anything else about Amelia Erickson’s plan for a local library?”
“Of course,” Nan replied, though her expression was doubtful. “And best of luck with your city council presentation tonight.”
“Thanks. I’ll need heaps of good fortune this time.” Ivy smiled at the couple’s genuine, heartfelt encouragement for her second attempt. She was leading this library proposal for the small town, and she hated to disappoint the kind people who had been there for her since she’d arrived when she was newly widowed, cash-poor, and in desperate need of a fresh start in life.
So many strangers-turned-friends had supported her efforts, sending friends and family to stay at the fledgling inn. Darla, the grouchy neighbor who’d once sued her, had become an ally. She was still nosy, but she meant well. Darla was especially fond of Ivy’s brother-in-law, Mitch. Darla considered him a son.
Ivy paid for the sconces and left the shop to walk back to the inn, wondering what she might have overlooked. She had identified additional state grants and a small private donation. Would it be enough this time?
As she approached the old house, her heart tightened. If ever she needed some of Amelia Erickson’s guidance, it was now.
“Finally, this is the life.”Ivy kicked off her sneakers in the vintage convertible as Bennett drove along the coastline. With the top down, the 1950s cherry-red Chevy was open to the clear blue sky, and she shook back her hair in the breeze.
She hadn’t felt this relaxed since before her bid for a new library had been denied again at City Hall last week. That disappointment had become an undercurrent in their marriage, but she was trying to rise above it. As mayor, her husband had a duty to the city that had nothing to do with her.
At least, not usually.
Since sunrise, they’d been clearing guest rooms of furnishings, shifting boxes and furniture from one block of rooms to another in preparation for tomorrow’s construction kickoff. She was physically drained, but in a good way.
Bennett rested an arm across the back of the bench seat. He caught a strand of her hair and twirled it. “We needed this little getaway. I’m sorry about the budget?—”
“Let’s not mention it. I know it’s out of your control.”
“You know I love you, and if it were within my power to give you what you wanted, I would.”
“I know,” she said softly. It seemed they couldn’t do much about this project that was so close to her heart and many others in Summer Beach. “Can we start again?”
“Good idea.” Exhaling, Bennett rested his hands on the large steering wheel and lifted his chin toward the crashing waves they passed. “This view always makes me happy.”
“Me, too.” Feeling a measure of relief, she squeezed his knee through his jeans. However, just because they weren’t goingto talk about the library didn’t mean she was abandoning the project.
