Chapter 24
Daniel had not planned on having this talk with Sarah Anderson in a parking lot, but, as she had said, there was no time like the present. “This is a bit awkward.” He jammed his hands in his pockets, feeling like a schoolboy asking the most popular girl in school if she would go with him to senior prom. And worse, he knew Sarah had no clue what he was about to spurt out. “Listen, this is not easy for me to say, so I’m just going to say what I have to say. I’m really trying to focus on Holly now. She’s a great kid, as you know, a little snarky, but what kid isn’t?”
This was not coming out as easily as he’d thought. Sarah had stars in her eyes, no doubt about it, and he hated to, but he had to extinguish them. “I’m not really open to us—you and me—being anything more than friends.” He felt like a total jerk, but it was necessary. “If I have assumed more, I feel like a major idiot.”
The look on Sarah’s face was enough. He did not need to hear the words.
Obviously, his words had taken her by surprise.
“No, no . . . I thought we . . . well . . .” Sarah took a minute to gather herself. “We can be friends. I’m good with that. Really. Maybe I have been too persistent with my offer to tutor Holly, too. She’s made drastic improvements. Her latest test score shows me that she’s really putting in an extra effort in a subject she dislikes and has trouble grasping.”
Sarah was rambling, and it made Daniel feel like a jerk. “Good to hear. I know I’m hard on her, but I want her to succeed in all of her studies.”
“Well, then, it’s settled. I will not worry about tutoring Holly, and the other . . . We’re . . . friends, right?” She smiled, and offered her hand. She’s a true lady, he thought. And it made him wish that he did feel something for her, but it would be unfair to her.
He squeezed her hands. “Friends, Sarah. Truly. You know my daughter probably better than any female, and I want your relationship with her to remain as strong as it’s been. She adores you, you know?”
“The feeling is mutual,” Sarah added.
Daniel saw Holly and Ivy heading their way; their timing could not have been more perfect.
“Dad, I saw a really cool barrette and headband at Baubles. It’s red and sparkles like Dorothy’s shoes in The Wizard of Oz. It’d look great in my hair. For Christmas.” She radiated excitement. “Can I add that to my Christmas list?”
Daniel laughed. “I suppose you can. I hope she wasn’t any trouble?” he said to Ivy, who wore a huge smile. The haunted look in her eyes was still there, but there was something else that he had not seen during lunch. Peace? Joy? Contentment? He could not say. Whatever it was, he liked the change.
“She’s a doll, and we had a nice, though quick, trip up and down the aisles. I think Baubles has something for everyone,” Ivy told them. “I plan to return and do a bit of shopping myself.” Ivy winked at Holly. Daniel saw that and approved.
“So I need to get going, I have a million and one things to do,” Sarah said quickly. “Holly, I’ll see you on Monday. Ivy, call me later. We’ll plan another lunch.”
“Of course. Maybe we can make reservations for The Red Barn?”
“I’ll check my calendar and call you with a date,” Sarah replied. She fished through her purse for a pen and removed a business card from her wallet. “What’s your number?”
Daniel watched the two women interact. They were as different as night and day. Sarah: peppy, pretty in a girl-next-door way. Bright blue eyes, shiny brown hair cut at a sharp angle, enhancing her square jaw. He was sorry he did not have feelings for her. She was pure down to the core. Ivy, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. Woeful, maybe? He was not sure. Slender, with the lean body of an athlete, her honey-colored hair reached the middle of her back; and unlike Sarah’s, there was no style or shape to it. Just long and thick. Green eyes, and ivory skin untouched by time; he thought she was mysterious and wondered why he’d never run into her before. During lunch, she had talked about growing up and living in Pine City her entire life.
Knowing this about her made her even more intriguing. Where had she been hiding? He had not a single clue, but he was interested in finding out more about her, and maybe getting to know her in ways that he had not wanted to acknowledge wanting to know someone in a very long time.
“I’ll look forward to lunch,” Ivy said; then she gave Sarah a quick hug.
Sarah smiled. “Me too. See you Monday, Holly.” She waved and made her way hurriedly across the parking lot to her car.
Daniel returned her wave and felt bad about hurting her. “Holly, we’d best get going. You have more studying to do. Ivy, it was nice talking to you. Maybe we’ll run into each other again.” His eyes met hers.
“Promise you won’t forget New Year’s Eve?” Holly asked Ivy.
“I promise. It was nice seeing you both,” Ivy said, and she, too, gave them a half wave and walked across the parking lot to her car. Daniel was surprised to see she drove an older-model Mercedes. He was not sure it suited her, but a car was a car. He watched as she opened the door and got inside.
“Dad? Earth to Dad?” Holly blurted out. “Is something wrong?”
Daniel pulled his eyes away from Ivy as she pulled out onto Main Street.
“I was thinking. I’m just fine,” he said, and meant it. “Let’s go home, and if you study for one hour, you can call Roxie.”
“Woo-hoo!” Holly shouted. “Thanks.”
“Sure thing, kid,” he said, and he yanked on her ponytail again.
* * *
The ride home was a blur. Daniel could not stop thinking about Ivy. It amazed him they’d never run into one another, but there was something else about her. Another version of her? Someone she reminded him of? Maybe a woman he’d passed on the street? Whatever it was, he could not get her out of his head.
Holly was seated at the table, immersed in her math book, writing numbers in her notebook. He really needed to back off with this math thing, but he had to focus on his long-term goal for his daughter, keep it front and center.
He did not want her to pursue a career in music.
Daniel spent the next half hour in his den, reworking one of the designs for his upcoming work on The Bright Side condo project. He was having trouble concentrating. His thoughts kept returning to Ivy.
She had definitely made an impression on him. Why her and not Sarah, who would welcome him into her life with open arms? He was not looking for a relationship. Holly’s future was uppermost in his life plan. Yes, he’d been with a few women since Laura’s death, but there had never been any deep emotional attachment to any of them. Something told him Ivy was not the kind of woman who’d involve herself in a physical relationship, just for the pleasure of it. No, she was the kind of woman who would love deeply and expect the same in return.