“And here’s to family,” Ivy said, clinking glasses with her parents and brothers and sisters-in-law. “What a year it has been. Thank you all for pitching in to help us, from the clean-up and painting of this old house to the attic disaster. I don’t know how we would have made it without you.”
“And may we get some Christmas reservations soon,” Shelly added.
Carlotta frowned. “I thought you said only this week was slow, mija.”
Ivy hadn’t wanted to concern her family. Her parents had brought up five children to be independent adults. After Jeremy’s death, she’d had a couple of tough years, but she’d made it. She and Shelly had recast their lives here in Summer Beach, and they were determined.
“We’ll have Poppy post a special offer online,” Ivy said. They’d already done that, but they’d have to try a different approach. Or something else.
“Maybe it needs to be more festive looking,” Angela said. “Your fall decorations are lovely, but if it were more Christmassy, maybe visitors would stop.”
Shelly shot a look at Ivy. “I have a few poinsettias for the entryway reserved at the Hidden Garden that I’ll pick up this weekend,” Shelly said. “Beyond that, decorations aren’t in our budget. We’ll do what we can to bring some holiday magic indoors.”
“Didn’t we used to string popcorn, Mom?” Ivy grinned.
“Well, yes, but—”
Tabitha snapped her fingers. “I know. You could put up a huge tree in the ballroom and throw a party. That would be fabulous.”
Ivy knew Angela and Tabitha were trying to help, but her sisters-in-law didn’t realize what a tight budget she and Shelly had to work with.
“Didn’t you ship all your beautiful decorations from Boston?” Angela asked. “I remember how lovely your place was that time we visited. We can help you put them up.”
Ivy shook her head. “When I shipped my boxes from Boston, my holiday decorations never made it.” After downsizing from her Back Bay condo, she’d only kept those with sentimental value. The clothespin moose, the cotton-ball snowman—the ones her children had made. Now, those were gone, too. And Shelly had left everything at her boyfriend’s apartment in New York.
Bennett tucked her hand into his. “I lost our decorations in the fire, but I hadn’t used them in a long time. Maybe it’s time we make new memories.”
Ivy imagined that Bennett hadn’t decorated his home for the holidays since his wife’s death—ten years ago. She understood.
After Jeremy died, she’d moved into a professor’s extra bedroom. Celebrating the holidays was the last thing on her mind. That last year in Boston, she’d taken her daughters out for a holiday dinner at a little restaurant in the neighborhood, and they’d exchanged gifts. Still, it wasn’t the same as decorating a home, bustling around the kitchen, and relaxing by the fireplace while snow fell outside.
She missed that. And she didn’t want to dwell on what they didn’t have when they already had so much.
Brightening, Ivy said, “This year, we’re fortunate to have a home that we can share with others.”
Across the table, she saw Shelly’s tight smile. Her sister and her niece understood how tenuous their situation was this season. They had to make it through the winter until guests returned with warmer weather.
“Yeah, if only they’d make a reservation,” Shelly said, biting her lip. “Ivy might have avoided the auction block for the overdue property taxes, but she just got another bill.”
“They come every year,” their father said.
“I know, but this fall was slower than we expected,” Shelly said.
Ivy turned to her father. “Summer Beach slows down at the end of summer, so the winter is shaping up to be pretty lean. Fortunately, Poppy has a couple of good marketing gigs in Los Angeles, so she’s covered.”
Ivy and Shelly would struggle through the winter—at best. Their main concern was to keep on the utilities. That was no small feat in a drafty old home.
“A lot of businesses are seasonal in Summer Beach,” Forrest said. “Could you get a loan from the bank to see you through the winter months?”
Ivy swirled the ice cubes in her glass. “Already tried. The banker wanted to see two years of tax returns on the business, which we don’t have. We don’t even have a year. But we’ve made it this far. I’m sure we’ll think of something.”
“If you need help, we’re here for you,” Flint said.
“Yes, mijita,” Carlotta said. “We’re all here for you.”
Ivy touched Flint’s hand. “You have your kids’ college educations, and as for you—” She turned to her parents. “Nothing will come in the way of your sailing adventure.” At their age, it was probably the last chance they’d have while they were both still in good health. “We’ll be fine,” Ivy added emphatically.
She wished she were as confident as she sounded. If ever they needed a Christmas miracle, it was now.
As the sun slipped beneath the horizon, the kids spilled out of the kitchen. “Wait for it,” Reed yelled, pointing toward the horizon.
“There’s no such thing as a green flash,” Rocky shot back, popping him with a dishtowel. He was met with a chorus of cheers and jeers.
“Here it comes!” Coral shouted. Among the cousins, a countdown erupted. “Five, four, three, two…one! There, you had to have seen that.”
Ivy laughed at their antics, which reminded her of what she and her siblings used to do.
“Nope, didn’t happen,” Rocky said. “Pay up.”
“You lost the bet,” Reed said. “We all saw it, right?”
A round of cheers went up. “Dunk him, dunk him!”
All at once, the cousins hoisted Rocky on their shoulders and trotted toward the pool. Moments later, Rocky soared through the air and landed with a splash into the pool, bellowing as he hit the water.
Shelly cupped her hands around her mouth and yelled, “Woo-hoo! The party is on.”
“That water must be freezing,” Ivy said, frowning. Without any guests using the pool, she had turned off the pool heater. “I hope he’s a good swimmer.” She’d already rescued one person from the pool—none other than Rowan Zachary, a famous actor. And at his son’s wedding, no less.
“Better stand guard,” Shelly said, laughing and clapping. As the youngest of the siblings, she wasn’t much older than the oldest of the cousins. “Hey, you guys need to help him out. That water is too cold.”
Rocky swam to the edge and reached out a hand. Reed bent to pull him out, but Rocky yanked him in. “Got you!”
The rest of the cousins cheered them on.
Ivy shivered as she watched. She hoped she wouldn’t have to put her lifeguard training to use tonight. “Poppy, could you get some towels? They’re going to need them.”
“Will do,” Poppy said, dashing inside.
Soon, the two brothers lifted themselves out of the pool, and Poppy flung towels over them. The breeze from the water kicked up, sending Rocky and Reed racing inside for a change of clothes.
Misty stopped beside her mother. “The kitchen’s clean, and we’ll bring out the pies. Mind if we head down to the beach afterward? A lot of kids are getting together tonight for a bonfire.”