“Quickish?” She tucked her phone in her pocket and stood. “I’m cleaning out Ruth’s house. It’s going to take time, given what she’s stockpiled.”

He nodded slowly. “I moved it all up to the cottage. She wouldn’t let go of anything that could be saved.”

“I appreciate the strategic tunnels to the back deck and bathroom.”

He studied her as if he, too, was reconciling a dozen years’ worth of changes. “I knew it would have to be dealt with soon.”

She tucked a stray strand behind her ear as she wondered how she now stacked up in his eyes. “Thanks for doing that. It’ll be a pain to clean out, but if it gave Ruth some peace, then so be it. Losing the hotel was bad enough.”

“Let me know if you need help hauling that stuff away.”

“Thanks, but I’ve got it. It’ll take lots of trips, but I’ve got the time.”

“Back to New York?”

“Maybe.”

He leaned forward a fraction. “New York didn’t soften your North Carolina accent.”

There’d been times when she’d wanted to divorce herself completely from here, but her roots ran too deep. “You can take the girl out of the South but not the South out of the girl.”

Gray eyes never wavered. “I suppose so.” A bell dinged, and the cashier called out order thirty-two. “That’s me.”

“Ruth said you and your father’s construction company are doing well.” Twelve years ago, it had been struggling in the wake of the mortgage-market meltdown.

“We have three dozen employees now.”

“That’s terrific.”

He raised his coffee cup to his lips and hesitated. “Did Ruth tell you that my father bought the Seaside Resort land?”

She shook her head slowly, a little shocked and hurt Ruth hadn’t told her. “She said PDD Construction.”

“That’s us. Peter Dalton Dani. PDD.”

She pictured the freshly stripped hotel site. “I didn’t realize. It was a done deal before she told me.”

“Dad gave her a more-than-fair price.” He spoke with authority, as if he wanted her to understand that the Manchester family had treated Ruth well.

“That’s what she said.” The sale had settled all Ruth’s debts, which was a big comfort to her grandmother.

“Dani know you’re back?” Dalton asked.

Ivy cleared her throat, not ready to face her ex–best friend. “No. I just arrived last night.”

“Give her a call. She’d like to see you. No one got much of a chance to talk to you at the funeral.”

“Bygones, right?” That sounded snippier than she’d intended.

He regarded her as if time should have healed that wound. “Ruth’s house is full. It’s an impossible task to do alone. Call me.”

“I’ve got the van. And I’ll buy a few dozen garbage bags and boxes.”

“How about a construction dumpster?”

“I don’t think it’s necessary.”

“I’ve done many clean-outs like Ruth’s. A dumpster is a must because there’s always more junk than you think.”

Ruth’s house was packed, but to be asking for help less than twelve hours after arrival felt like imposing. “You don’t have to do that.”