“I know. But she has a lot on her plate.” She wondered how Dani would negotiate parenthood, the gallery, and her decorating business as her vision diminished. “Dani will find this new wealth of ancestry interesting. She mentioned that she can trace your mother’s family way back but that your dad’s line ended with Ann.”

He balled up his napkin and pushed away his plate. “Why would Dani care about genetics?”

A flush of color warmed her face. “Doesn’t everybody care about it?”

“No. Why does Dani care?”

“I don’t know.”

“You do. You’ve got that look on your face.”

“What look?”

“The caught-with-the-hand-in-the-cookie-jar face.”

Ivy touched her cheek. “Too much time in the sun.”

“Nice try.” He sighed. “Haven’t we learned anything about secrets today?”

She felt overwhelmed by him, Dani, her family. “Look, if there’s something you want to ask your sister, then ask her.”

“I’ve tried the direct and honest approach with Dani. She’s as cagey as she was as a five-year-old.”

“I can’t get between the two of you, but I do encourage you to talk to her.”

His expression sobered, grew serious. “I’ll drop you off and go see her right now. Unless you want to come with me. Keep the peace between the two of us?”

Dani wanted Ivy’s silence, and she’d given it. But if she showed up with Dalton, Dani would feel outnumbered, maybe even betrayed. “She can handle you just fine.”

“She needs to be honest with me.”

“I agree. But this is your family business.”

“Technically, Cousin Ivy, you are part of the family now,” he said. “Come with me. No matter how this goes down, she’s going to be pissed at you and me. Might as well take it on the chin together.”

Ivy and Dalton arrived at Dani’s house twenty minutes later. The bus had just arrived, and Bella and Dani were walking up the front sidewalk. Bella was chatting a mile a minute while Dani shouldered her daughter’s book bag.

When Dalton pulled up, Bella’s face broke into a wide grin. Dani’s tightened with suspicion as Bella ran toward Dalton. “Dalton! What are you doing here?”

“Why aren’t you in school, squirt?”

“Half day!”

He picked her up and hugged her close. “Ivy and I had lunch, and we thought we’d stop by.”

“Did you bring me anything?” Bella asked.

Dalton chuckled. “I did not. But I hear you have a puppy coming soon?”

“I do! Her name is going to be Lulu!”

“Not Star?” Ivy asked.

“That was yesterday,” Bella said.

“I have more puppy pictures,” Ivy said. “Want to see Lulu?”

“Yes!” Bella leaned in as Ivy pulled out her phone and played the video of the puppies yipping and wobbling around.

“Their eyes aren’t open yet,” Bella said.