Page 78 of Meet Me in Ivy Falls

Sienna’s big brown eyes went wide. Her mouth opened but no words came out.

‘Her name is Sienna,’ I said.

Teddy Ray narrowed his eagle eyes at me. ‘I’m talking to the young lady.’ He focused his attention back on Sienna. ‘Did you write that jingle?’

She managed a small ‘yes’.

He cracked his knuckles one by one like he wanted to torture every single person in the room. Finally, one side of his mouth twitched up into a grin.

‘It’s a mighty fine tune. I’d love for you to play it again. Except this time I’d like to hear it say ‘homestyle biscuits being better than your grandmama’s’. It’ll remind folks that Brinkley’s been around a good long time.’

Pete’s face broke into a wide smile as the entire room including Teddy Ray’s entourage clapped along to the jingle one more time.

Chapter Thirty-Four

TORRAN

Bulldozed Into My Life And Flipped It Over.

Even though my nieces’ laughs were loud enough to shake the birds from the trees, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I lay on the blanket spread across the grass in anticipation of today’s Fourth of July festivities. The morning sun peeked through the bright green leaves and warmed my cheeks.

After the permit fiasco, work on the house was way behind. I’d been up all night adding finishing touches to the upstairs bathroom, adding new sconces and two gilded-frame mirrors which sat perfectly above the white porcelain pedestal sinks we’d installed. The bathroom was next on Lauren’s filming list, and I wanted to make sure it was in tiptop condition before the production crew arrived on Monday.

An insulated cup brushed my fingers and I cracked open one eye to find Tessa standing over me.

‘Large coffee with one squirt of that vanilla creamer you like and three sugars.’

‘Have I ever told you that you’re my favorite sister?’

‘I’m your only sister,’ she snorted.

I took a long sip, begging the caffeine to do its magic. My shoulders ached, and the knot in the back of my neck still throbbed, but a final dark caramel stain covered all the hardwood floors in the house.

A happy flutter filled my chest. We were so close to the end, and the house was better than I could have ever imagined.

In front of our blanket, Iris and Rose chased each other in circles. The red, white and blue hems of their dresses swirled out in wide circles. Miss Cheri and Mrs Vanderpool played cards nearby with ‘Fixer Ferris’. By the grim set of his mouth, the ladies were beating him at Hearts.

‘Hey, you two,’ I said to my nieces, setting down my cup in the grass and pulling them into a hug. ‘Your bikes ready to go for the big parade?’

‘Yes! Mommy let us put lots of ribbons on the handlebars,’ Iris crowed, her burnished copper hair shining in the sun.

‘And Mr Manny put patriotic lights on our spokes that sparkle and glow when we pedal. He did the same thing for Lou’s bike too.’ Rose plopped into my lap; her curtain of blonde bangs plastered against her sweaty forehead.

I caught Tessa’s eye. ‘Wasn’t that nice of Mr Manny? Isn’t it great that he drops by so much?’

‘Girls.’ Tessa quickly looked away from me. ‘I forgot napkins. Run to the ice-cream vendor near the fountain and grab some.’

Iris took Rose’s hand and they headed the hundred yards across the lawn in front of town hall.

‘Please don’t say those things about Manny in front of the girls,’ Tessa grumbled. ‘They’re already too attached.’

‘Tessa, I see the way he looks at you.’

‘Stop. He’s a friend. That’s all. I can’t handle any more than that right now.’

The edges of her eyes watered and she sucked in a quick breath.

‘Fine, not another word as long as you promise me a refill after I’ve finished this cup.’ I made a zipper motion over my lips and pretended to throw away an invisible key.