Ivy’s heart dropped again. “I’ll scan and email what I can find.”
Poppy spoke up. “I’ll do that for you, Aunt Ivy.” Her cheeks were flushed with excitement.
A smile lifted Andrew’s lips, and he held Poppy’s gaze with interest. “Here’s my card. I look forward to hearing from you, Poppy.”
Ivy started to thank him when a voice sounded behind them.
Reed had just returned. “Who’s this?”
Turning to her nephew, Ivy introduced them and explained, “Andrew promised to help us investigate what we found.”
Reed was pleasant enough, but Ivy detected an undercurrent between him and his sister.
“I should be on my way to beat the traffic,” Andrew said. “I’ll be in touch, and I’ll see myself out. I enjoyed meeting all of you.”
Poppy stared after him until Reed waved a hand in front of her face. “Hey, you’re not interested in him, are you?”
Flipping her silky hair back, she shrugged off his question. “You have no right to comment.”
Reed ran a hand over his jaw. “Neither do you, but that didn’t stop you.”
“Actually, I’ve changed my mind about Libby,” Poppy said. “We’re working together on the book festival.”
Reed folded his arms. “Does this mean you’re giving me your blessing to see her? Not that I need it, you know.”
Ivy and Shelly looked at each other and burst out laughing.
“What’s wrong with you two?” Poppy asked, her face growing even more flushed.
Still chuckling, Shelly said, “You guys argue just like we used to with your dad and uncle. They never approved of anyone we liked.”
Ivy nudged her. “They were usually right, though. As for them, well, thank goodness Forrest found your mom.” Angela was a good match for their brother, Ivy thought. With five children of their own, their family was as rambunctious as the one she and Shelly had grown up in. Not that she would have wanted it any other way.
“Don’t you have work to do?” Poppy said to her brother.
“I just wanted to meet the guy you were making googly eyes at,” Reed said over his shoulder. “See you later.”
Poppy blew out a breath. “Sometimes Reed drives me nuts.”
“Andrew seems interesting,” Ivy said, smiling at her niece. The last boyfriend hadn’t turned out well for her. Still, Poppy was young and should be dating to discover what she liked. “I’ll try to get some documents for you to send him.”
That would be a copy of the trust, Ivy decided. Bennett had one in his files. She didn’t have anything else. Technically, she had no claim on any funds.
If there was an account, would funds go to the trust to be directed to Amelia’s designated charities?
Ivy had another idea. She had no claim, but Lea might. She shivered at the thought and checked her phone again. By now, it was nighttime in Europe. She let out a small sigh. Maybe she’d hear from Lea tomorrow. That would be another conversation.
Though she tried to temper her thoughts, Ivy’s mind still sprinted ahead, vacillating between possibilities and the sheerabsurdity of her expectation. And yet, after all these years, what if funds meant for a library and art museum still existed in the bank?
What if Amelia’s dream, and her own, could finally be realized?
Even as she tried to temper her feelings, her pulse pounded. For the first time, the sound of hammers and drills didn’t bother her because beneath the noise and chaos, there was hope.
20
“Another fine date night,” Bennett said, helping Ivy slip into her lightweight jacket.
She kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, darling.” His skin was warm from the cozy evening they’d spent in front of the fireplace at the Oceanview Cafe. His eyes reflected the renewed warmth they shared.
