Chapter 40
Before going downstairs again, Ivy checked out her appearance in the full-length mirror at the back of her walk-in closet.
She wore the black skinny jeans she had bought on Amazon three days before, with a red, green, and black cashmere sweater she had had for as long as she could remember. Someone once told her that cashmere never went out of style, and she agreed completely. Her black half-boots would do until she went to Asheville for some serious shoe shopping. She pulled her hair back into a low ponytail and wore a pair of silver hoop earrings. Long overdue for a new hairstyle, she would have to take care of that, too, but for now, this was as good as she was going to get. Adding just a touch of red lipstick to stain her lips, she headed downstairs to check with Tanya and her mother, Darlene, who had made most of the hors d’oeuvres for tonight’s gathering.
“Wow, you look stunnin’,” Tanya said when Ivy entered the kitchen.
Ivy smiled. “Thank you. It smells wonderful in here.”
“Thanks,” Darlene said. “It’s the buttermilk biscuits you requested. With the ham and sliced tomatoes to be added when you’re ready to serve. We have it under control, Mrs. Fine,” Darlene said.
“Ivy, please.”
“Ivy it is. The sweet-potato biscuits are finished, and I have the pork and slaw ready to serve as soon as the guests arrive. I left three jars of the blackberry jam in the refrigerator, if you need them, and I made a few deviled eggs, too. They’ll go good with the ham biscuits.”
Ivy had chosen a menu that reflected her Southern roots, but did not really require a knife and fork for the most part: Cuban sliders, along with the ham biscuits, and sweet-potato pork rounds topped with the pork and slaw. Ivy did not want to go overboard, but she wanted a variety of tastes. Sarah was making her famous mushroom puffs for those who did not want anything too heavy. Margaret, who Ivy was beginning to learn was quite the baker, was bringing a pumpkin espresso tiramisu cake, along with red velvet cupcakes.
Ivy placed several bowls of roasted pecans, cheese straws she had purchased at The Bakery, and small bowls of olives and pickles on the island, where they had set up a makeshift buffet. She had also put together a fresh fruit salad, which was still chilling in the refrigerator.
Plates, napkins, and any utensils one might need were placed in a basket at the beginning of her buffet line. She could have had any one of her dad’s three restaurants at The Upside step in and cater this, but she had fallen in love with the biscuits at The Blackberry Café, not to mention its owner, Darlene and her daughter, Tanya. They were a hit in Pine City, and Ivy predicted a great deal of success for the little restaurant.
“I do not remember when it has ever smelled so good in this kitchen,” Ivy said as she removed another serving platter from the cupboard. She had made sugar cookies last night, and they’d actually turned out pretty decently. She had sprinkled them with red and green sugar, and was reminded of the few times she had gotten to bake with James and Elizabeth. The kitchen had looked as if a natural disaster had taken place, but she had had so much fun watching serious James as she had showed him how to measure the flour and sugar. Elizabeth, on the other hand, had not been able to keep her little fingers out of the sticky-sweet mess. She felt beyond sad, but she knew that she would always feel the loss of her family, no matter how much time passed. They were lodged in her heart forever. If when she remembered the short time they’d shared, tears poured, then so be it.
The doorbell rang, and Ivy’s heart raced as she went to let her guests inside.
“Dad, Margaret, you two look”—Ivy eyed their matching red sweaters, with a felt Christmas tree in the center—“very festive. Come in, and I’ll put these yummy-smelling desserts in the kitchen.” She took a giant plastic cake carrier from Margaret, and her father followed her to the kitchen with a matching cupcake carrier.
“Smells delicious,” Margaret stated as she removed the top of the cake carrier container to reveal the three-layered tiramisu cake. Her father did the same with the cupcakes and placed them at the end of the buffet.
“If you’re sure you do not want us to stick around and serve, we’d best get out of here and let you enjoy your evening,” Darlene said as she covered a pan of biscuits with a tea towel.
“We’re fine serving ourselves. I just wish you and Tanya would join us, there’s certainly enough food,” Ivy added.
“I would, but we have an early morning, so you all enjoy the food, and you let me know what the folks say about the food.”
Darlene and Tanya said their good-byes and departed.
“This probably isn’t the time, Ivy, but I wanted to tell you before anyone else arrives. The airline is sold. One hundred percent—lock, stock, and barrel. And I know this is fast, but I’m pretty sure I have a buyer for the house,” George explained. “To tell you the truth, I am more than a bit relieved to hand off the airlines after the holidays. I did ask that any of my family and friends be allowed to fly for free, and it’s in the contract. Just in case. So what are your thoughts?”
“It’s a good move on your part, and I’m okay with selling the house. Actually, I have been thinking about putting this place on the market, too. It’s more room than I need. Lots of good memories here, and I’ll miss them, but I need to move forward, too.”
“I told you she was a smart woman,” Margaret said as she poured a glass of springwater for herself. “You know, I have an idea, and, George, since I am now your future wife, I think you need to listen up.”
George laughed, then wrapped his arm around Margaret’s waist. “See? What did I tell you? She’s bossing me around already.”
“Good for her,” Ivy said. “So what’s your idea?” She turned her attention to Margaret.
“All that land just south of where you’re breaking ground on The Bright Side, what if you were to build a family community? One close enough to The Upside for those who have family members living there, but far enough away so we do not feel as if we are being checked up on.”
“That’s a fantastic idea, Margaret. At least I think so. What about it, Dad?” Ivy asked.
“Actually, it’s something I have had in the back of my mind for a few years. It’s a good idea, and it would certainly bring more young couples to Pine City. I think this future wife of mine is onto something, but tonight let’s just enjoy the moment. We can talk shop after the holidays. That okay with you, girls?”
Ivy had never seen her father this happy. He looked ten years younger, and she was so very pleased that he’d asked Margaret to marry him. While she had had nothing but negative thoughts where Mark was concerned, she knew it was time to put those to rest as well. On behalf of the airline, Ivy had formally requested that the investigation into the crash be closed.
“It’s fine with me,” Ivy said, then jumped when she heard a loud rap on the door.
She hurried to the door, and again her heart rate increased when she saw Daniel and Holly standing outside along with Kayla and Roxie. She opened the door. “Come in and get out of the cold,” she said. Ivy had butterflies in her stomach, and it was all she could come up with.
She closed the door behind them and proceeded to lead them into the kitchen. “Dad and Margaret are in here,” she said. “Follow me.”
In the kitchen, after everyone went through the usual niceties, Ivy sneaked a look at Daniel. He was wearing dark jeans and a forest-green pullover, with a chambray shirt underneath. Black boots added an inch or so to his height.
Holly, on the other hand, was dressed to the nines. She wore a burgundy maxi dress, her gold hair twisted in some kind of braid that Ivy had no name for, and was wearing the headband that Ivy had given her. “You look awesome, Holly, and I love the braid,” Ivy told her. “What’s it called?”
“It’s a fishtail braid. Dad actually helped, can you believe that? I can do yours sometime, if you want,” Holly said. “It’s what’s trending now. You know, like what’s cool.”
They all laughed, the doorbell rang, and Ivy announced, “Let the party begin.”