Ivy couldn’t sleep. She had spent most of the night again reviewing Matthew’s proposal. It was as good an idea as it was risky. “Go big or go home,” as he used to say in high school.

She rubbed her eyes and poured a fresh cup of coffee. A business failure would hurt, but it wasn’t like losing her vision. She tried to imagine the world of darkness and shadows facing Dani.

Her phone rang. It was Dani. “Hey. Everything all right?”

“Yes. When are you going to examine the rest of Ruth’s paintings? I was thinking now would be a good time. It’s a nice, bright, shiny day.”

Ivy sipped her coffee. “Sure, come on by.”

“Good, I’m in your driveway.”

She moved to the window. “You drove?”

“Just like I did the day before. See you soon.”

Dani ended the call, and Ivy watched her walk up the cottage stairs. She was wearing black jeans, an oversize white cable sweater, and a leather jacket. Her boots were a bright red, and her hair was pulled into a high ponytail.

Ivy opened the door. “How do you do it all the time?”

“Priorities.” Dani regarded Ivy’s faded gray sweatpants and oversize NYC sweatshirt splattered with old grease stains. “You should try to make an effort sometime.”

“I can pull it together once in a while.”

“More often is better.”

Ivy closed the door as Dani crossed the room to Libby and the puppies. She pulled a rawhide chew stick from her purse and offered it to Libby. “Mama deserves a treat.”

Libby accepted the chew and began working on it immediately. Dani picked up the littlest puppy, the one that Bella had picked out, and took a picture of her. “I promised Bella another picture. She was ready to skip school today and puppy sit.”

“They are moving around more. Won’t be long before their eyes open,” Ivy said.

Dani nuzzled her nose close to the puppy’s. “They have a whole new world waiting to see.”

That same world grew darker by the day for Dani. “You’re pretty calm about all this.”

Dani carefully replaced the pup and petted the others. “I’m freaking out. Good makeup and flashy boots are designed to distract.”

“When are you going to tell Dalton?”

“Soon. I’m still not ready for him to freak out. Only one crazy Manchester allowed.”

“And Matthew?”

She inhaled the scent of the pup and nuzzled her cheek close before she set her next to Libby. “Yeah, not looking forward to that one either. Have you looked at the numbers he proposed?”

“I have. He’s a lot smarter than the eighteen-year-old Matthew with his grand idea of the three of us working together. He does want a financial stake from me. I suppose trust only goes so far now.”