“Reed found something strange.” Ivy tucked her notebook into her bag. “But you can all stay here and keep talking.”
“How strange?” Shelly asked, cleaning Daisy’s hands with a wipe. “Like ‘I found a weird nest of spiders’ strange or ‘we found a body and need to call the police’ strange?”
Ivy shuddered. “I hope it’s neither one.”
“Do you want us to come with you?” Poppy asked.
Ivy hesitated, then shook her head. “Let me see what’s going on first. I’ll let you know.”
Wondering what Reed had discovered,Ivy hurried back to the inn, her sneakers slapping the sidewalk in triple time. As she neared the house, she slowed, gasping for air. She pressed a hand to her throbbing heart. Now wasn’t the time for a cardio workout. What was wrong with her?
She paused to catch her breath. Hyperventilating in the street wouldn’t be a good look for the mayor’s wife.
Take it easy.Pressing a hand to her forehead, Ivy prepared herself for what awaited her.
The inn was more than a hundred years old. Had Reed found structural instability that would double the cost of repairs?
Or were Shelly’s comments more accurate? She had heard of skeletons found in old structures. Or maybe he’d unearthed Indigenous artifacts or dinosaur tracks. Her stomach lurched at the potential delay any of these discoveries might cause.
If the inn didn’t reopen in time, her cash flow would suffer. She would make do with less income, but she didn’t expect anyone else who worked there to do that.
Not anymore.
Shelly and Mitch had a baby to provide for now. Poppy was building a life, and the part-time housekeeper and bookkeeper also depended on their wages. And Sunny still needed financial help while she was finishing her graduate program.
Someday, her youngest would support herself, but that day wasn’t here yet. Thankfully, Misty was self-supporting with her acting career. Her eldest daughter was so busy she rarely had time to visit, though they spoke a few minutes nearly every day.
Her forehead felt damp. Was this a panic attack?
No.The sun was warm, and she’d been racing, that was all. Whatever Reed found, well, she would handle it. Just as she always had.
But maybe it is.
She drew a deep breath and resumed walking at a slower pace until she reached the house.
As she approached the front door, footsteps exploded behind her. Spooked by her thoughts, she whirled around.
Poppy was out of breath from running. “We decided we can’t let you walk into a potential disaster by yourself, Aunt Ivy.”
Behind her, Libby toted Shelly’s baby bag, her cowboy boots thudding on the stone walkway.
Shelly was last, with Daisy clutching her neck gleefully at the excitement. “All for one and one for all. That’s how we roll, Ives. Hope I didn’t scare you by talking about spiders and dead bodies. Although they would be long decayed.”
Ivy had to laugh. “Only a little. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Maybe it’s just a water leak,” Poppy said brightly. “We’ve had plenty of those. They’re not too bad.”
“My vote is on raccoons in the attic.” Shelly shuddered. “Or rats.”
Ivy shook her head. “We have guest rooms up there now.”
“Not above your place over the garage.” Shelly grinned and bounced her little girl.
“You’re still awful.” Ivy wrinkled her nose at her sister’s flippant remarks.
Daisy squealed with delight at the face Ivy made, and they all laughed.
Shaking her finger, Ivy said, “If you don’t watch out, she’s going to grow up just like you.”
