Fox Bay. A film location. Brooke, here on a secret mission.Hollywood.
All at once, it clicked into place. The trip to London. The half-truths, the secrecy, Brooke’s forensic approach to sightseeing. And Madison White, the gorgeous girl on Instagram. The whole visit had all been about pitching Fox Bay as a location and meeting with actors.
She felt a tap on her shoulder and turned.
‘I’m guessing you’ve heard the news,’ said Brooke, shifting awkwardly.
‘Um, yeah. It’s all anyone is talking about.’
‘Sorry, Ivy,’ Brooke said. ‘I couldn’t tell you. I wasn’t sure we’d pull it off and I really didn’t want anyone to be disappointed. The higher-ups weren’t sure about us filming on location like this. It’s a big risk …’ She drew a deep breath. ‘But Kathleen was insistent that this place was magic and she convinced me in the end. Or rather, Fox Bay did. It won me over – all thanks to you, Ivy, showing me all the local spots. I met with the execs last week in London and showed them photos and they agreed too. Especially when I texted them pictures of the cove. How could they not?’ She gestured around the hall. ‘It’s literally the most charming place in the world.’
Ivy opened and shut her mouth again. Her gaze landed on Trip, chatting away to Melissa, hands flying enthusiastically. ‘I thought you were dragging Trip off to London because you were worried I’d hurt him,’ she said bluntly.
‘Well, to be honest, I was,’ said Brooke. ‘But I might have changed my mind on that one. My brother’s an adult; he can make his own choices. I’ve treated him like a little kid for too long, I think. And besides,’ she gave a wry smile, ‘I think he could do a lot worse. You were a good friend to him today, Ivy. Thank you. I’m sorry I was so wary. Talk about overprotective.’
Ivy blushed. ‘It’s okay,’ she said. ‘I can see how I might have come across as a bit …’
‘Moody? Solitary? Standoffish?’
‘Yeah, all of those.’ Ivy laughed ruefully. ‘And I’ll probablyalwaysbe a bit grumpy, to be honest. But your brother seems to have brought out what there is of my optimistic sociable side.’
Brooke’s eyes crinkled as she looked at her brother. ‘He tends to do that for people,’ she said. ‘I can’t live Trip’s life for him, Ivy, I’m starting to realise that. He’ll make his own choices and on reflection I think he’ll do a pretty good job of it.’ She smiled. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and talk to Simi and Lou. I want them to take on the catering for next spring – and take on some Hollywood house guests too, if they’re not too busy with the baby.’
As Brooke walked away, Ivy found herself smiling stupidly into space. She could hear the shrieks of surprise and confusionas Brooke’s news made its way around the room. Hollywood in Fox Bay.How wildly unlikely, she thought. How unexpected. And how absolutely right. Because Brooke was on to something – it probablywasthe most charming place in the world. Suddenly Ivy felt excited that the rest of the world would realise it too.
She felt Trip before she saw him, his hand brushing gently against the small of her back, his voice warm at her shoulder. One word murmured in her ear.
‘Beach.’
Ivy turned to him. He held up two wedges of Fin’s celebration pasty. ‘I come bearing snacks.’ His expression was hopeful. ‘I thought maybe we could go for a walk.’
And Ivy, for once, didn’t hesitate.
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Let’s go.’
They slipped out through the side door, unnoticed by most, though Ivy caught Brooke watching them go. She was in the middle of a circle of avid townsfolk, who were hanging on her every word, stunned that a Hollywood producer had been in their midst all this time.
Outside, the air was crisp and the sky was bright with stars, the last of the paper snow still clinging to Ivy’s coat. The laughter and bustle from the hall faded behind them, along with the music and kids’ shrieking.
Trip took her hand like it was the most natural thing in the world and she let him. It felt completely natural. Different from when she and Raff had held hands, when Ivy would have been frantically thinking of something clever and impressive to say. For now, Ivy was content with quiet – and to her surprise, Trip was too.
They walked through the lanes of Fox Bay, past silent houses and sleepy cats curled in windows. Through the streets that Ivy had spent years dreaming about leaving behind. Now, as Triplaced their fingers tighter, she realised she didn’t want to be anywhere else.
‘Let’s sit on the pier, like proper locals,’ Ivy said. ‘Which you sort of are. Honorary, at least, after pulling off that show.’
She and Trip sat side by side on the pier, legs dangling over the edge, the celebration pasty on napkins between them.
Neither spoke for a while.
‘Are you relieved the show went so well?’ Ivy asked at last.
‘Superrelieved,’ he said. ‘I was worried one of the twins would mess up. You know what a liability they are. I think Mr Trenwith would have leapt on to the stage and made us start again.’
She laughed. ‘You’ve definitely got a knack for this.’
‘What’sthis?’ he asked.
‘I don’t know. Theatre? Organising? Bringing people together? Getting them to eat out of your hand?’
