Shelly quirked a smile. “So we both had to change, and Daisy wanted to dress up.”
Ivy laughed at the news and hugged them both. “Glad you were able to fish out Sarah the seal.”
“Barely,” Shelly said, making a face. “I tugged the stuffed animal out by the tail, but it wasn’t easy. I sent it through a super-fast wash cycle and towel dried it. I hope it will air dry in the sun. And here I thought my plumbing days were over.”
Ivy put her arm around her younger sister. “Look at you, winning at motherhood.”
“Barely.” Shelly shuddered. “Can we talk about something else? I’m a little traumatized.”
“Let’s see what Brooke brought from her garden today.” Ivy gestured toward a booth where a table was laden with vegetables.
They greeted the older sister of Ivy’s friend, Marina Moore, who had opened a cafe in town. Brooke wore a friendly smile, along with denim overalls and Birkenstock sandals. She tucked wisps of hair into her long braid.
“Why, look who we have here,” a gruff voice called out.
Ivy and Shelly turned to see Darla strolling towardthem. Daisy waved her arms and cried out in a sweet sing-song voice to her.
“Mind if I take Daisy for a spin around the market while you shop?” Darla asked.
Daisy squealed with glee, clearly understanding the conversation was about her.
Shelly smiled. “Go ahead, she likes to get out.”
With a wink at little Daisy, Darla took control of the stroller. “Come on, kiddo. I feel donuts in your future.” She wheeled Daisy away before Shelly could protest.
Ivy laughed while Shelly shook her head. “I have to introduce Darla to fruit and granola.”
“One donut won’t hurt Daisy,” Ivy said. “Lighten up.”
Shelly clamped a hand to her forehead. “I can’t believe you’re throwing my advice back at me.”
“Ivy’s right.” Brooke smiled. “But that’s why I started growing vegetables. When my boys were little, they wouldn’t touch them, yet they were fascinated when I started growing them. Watching cucumbers and tomatoes grow and eating them off the vine intrigued them. While those aren’t technically vegetables, they were close enough for me.”
A bushel of small artichokes caught Ivy’s attention. “I have to get some of those for Poppy.”
“How many?” Brooke asked.
Whatever Poppy didn’t want, she and Bennett and Sunny would enjoy, if her daughter was around. When Sunny wasn’t working at the inn, she often went out for dinner with friends, even if that only meant grilled hot dogs on the beach or pasta night at a friend’s place. Ivy was glad Sunny had made new friends in Summer Beach.
While Brooke helped her select good produce, a woman joined them.
Ivy didn’t recognize the younger woman, who wore a cream-colored leather jacket that accented her blond hair. Diamonds sparkled at her ears and neck. While Ivy didn’t know everyone in town, she would have remembered this attractive woman. Every item she wore looked expensive.
“What delicate artichokes,” the woman said.
“They’re so tender, you can eat them whole,” Brooke said. “Simply remove the outer leaves and cut the tops. When these are ready to harvest, they sell fast, and I won’t have any more for a while.” She told her how to prepare them. “Then, serve them with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar drizzled over them.”
“They sound delicious,” the woman said. “I wish we could get some, but we’ve just moved in, and our kitchen is still a disaster.”
A tall, good-looking man about Bennett’s age joined them. He slid an arm around the woman.
“The Coral Cafe is serving them right now,” Brooke continued, her voice rising on a strangled note at the man’s arrival. “The chef prepares a lot of seasonal specialties. She’s also my sister.”
“That must be a new restaurant,” the man with her remarked.
Brooke’s cheeks flushed. “It’s been open for a couple of years.” She tried to turn away from the couple.
The woman exclaimed over Brooke’s vegetables. “Do you grow everything yourself?”
