Page 72 of Meet Me in Ivy Falls

‘My mom used to say that every new day is a fresh start. A chance to make the time we’re alive count. When I see the number of views inch up on that video, I try to remember I can only control this moment. Not what happened yesterday or could happen tomorrow. Only today.’

A quick breath rushed out of my lungs as I worked the paint down the wall.

‘If I think about it in those terms, it helps me move on. Whether it’s demolishing a kitchen, or laying on a fresh coat of paint, I’m the one deciding what happens next.’

A single tear rolled down her cheek. ‘I wake up every day hoping I can be that strong.’

‘You can do it. And you have lots of people around to support you.’

‘Beck’s lucky he found you again. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen my brother smile. Not a grin, or a smirk, but a real, full-blown smile.’ She glanced around the room at everything we’d accomplished. ‘One more thing I have to thank you for.’

‘I’m lucky too. He’s helping me make a dream come true by renovating this house and he’s also asked for help on another project too.’

‘Uh-oh,’ she groaned. ‘What else has my brother dragged you into?’

I laughed. ‘It’s nothing bad. Manny and I are going to help his team find a house in town that could be the potential site of a future client’s restaurant chain. Put together a proposal of what it would cost to revive another part of Ivy Fall’s history.’

‘Ugh, restaurants,’ she moaned dramatically. ‘That only reminds me of what I have waiting back in New York.’ She pushed the roller dramatically against the wall and went back to work.

She was just like Beck in so many ways. On the outside she could put up a good front, but inside she was a mass of tangled and complicated feelings. I understood her confusion and pain. Grief was a difficult road to navigate. One minute you thought you were breaking out of the dark tunnel you felt like you’d been travelling for days, and then the walls inched in, making the shadows loom larger. It took time but if you kept moving eventually you’d see the light.

There were days I thought I was close to seeing that flare but then the scent of rose water, or a picture of Iris, who looked so much like my mom as a child, would remind me that she was gone and that black spiral would grab me by the ankle and drag me down. Working on the house though, doing small things to honor her in each room, was pushing me back to the light again.

‘He’s proud of you, you know. All the progress you’ve made to get better.’

Piper made herself a little smaller. ‘I know. Just hope I don’t screw it up.’

‘You won’t.’

She tilted her head like she didn’t quite believe me. ‘How do you know?’

‘Because I see how hard you’ve worked to get here. You won’t let it slip away.’

She was about to answer when Lauren swept into the room, her long dark hair bouncing loosely around her shoulders.

‘Torran, can I have a minute?’ Her gaze darted between me and Piper. ‘Alone?’

‘Sure,’ I said. ‘Piper, want to take a break?’

‘Yeah. It’ll be good to stretch my legs a bit.’ She gave a small smile to Lauren and left the room.

As soon as she was gone Lauren’s shoulders went tight and her hands twitched at her sides. ‘We have a problem.’

Those four words were like a bomb exploding in my head. ‘What kind of problem?’

She fidgeted again, swaying back and forth, which only made my anxiety spiral.

‘Is it the network? Do they not like the house? What we’re doing?’

‘It’s not the network. It’s a problem here.’

‘Here? You mean Ivy Falls?’

‘Yes. I just got a call from the network. A hold has been put on our filming permit until we can meet with the town council and settle some issues.’

‘What kind of issues?’ I said coolly. ‘Can they just stop production like that?’

She nodded and it was like the earth spun out beneath my feet. This was about that damn video. I couldn’t do this to Manny again. Ruin this great opportunity.