Ivy moistened her lips. “Good to see I haven’t lost my touch.”

Dani’s laugh was hearty and full. “I knew it.”

“I like him.”

“Are you staying for him?” Dani asked.

“You know me better than that,” Ivy said. “I’m staying because all this feels right for me.”

“If you break Dalton’s heart, I will hunt you down and turn you into barbecue,” Dani said.

“You can’t cook.”

“I’ll figure it out.”

Ivy met Dani’s gaze. “I’m not running again.”

“Okay, then.” Dani reached for her phone. “This just might be good.”

EPILOGUE IVY

EPILOGUE

IVY

Wednesday, June 15, 2022, 5:00 p.m.

Ruth’s art exhibit opened a week before the summer season kicked off. Dani argued that the traffic would be less congested, and so her regular customers, decorators, and the press would be more likely to attend. Sales might not be as high, but that would come. The exhibit was scheduled to remain up until Labor Day. But the streets were already busy with early vacationers, and there’d been a good bit of buzz in local media about Ruth’s work.

For the opening buffet, Ivy’s menu was an homage to Ruth with her own twists. She’d made panko-fried chicken nuggets, mini buttermilk biscuits, and small cups of fish chowder. For dessert, she’d made bite-size apple-and-fig pies. The drinks were colas in glass bottles (a nod to Ruth and Talley) and martinis (a shout-out to Ann and Carlotta.)

Fifteen minutes before opening, Ivy stood in the space staring at all the paintings, all tangible expressions of the deep feelings Ruth had held so tightly all her life. Spread among them were the framed black-and-white photos Carlotta had taken over seventy years ago.

“Drink it all in.” Dani’s heels clicked against the wooden floor as she moved toward Ivy, the full skirt of her blue dress swirling around her as she moved. She’d pinned her blonde hair up into a twist and wore sparkling earrings, along with red lipstick and fingernail polish. It was her nod to Carlotta.

“It’s incredible,” Ivy said.

“It is,” Dani said. “It wouldn’t have happened if not for you.”

“Me?”

“Because you left here twelve years ago to chase a dream, the rest of us had to get our act together and find our own path. Ruth began painting. I made a baby and a career. It all happened because you left.”

“I never thought about it that way.”

Dani picked up two martinis and handed one to Ivy and kept one for herself. “I’m toasting you, Ivy Neale.”

Ivy raised her glass. “Right back at you.”

Dani sipped, glancing toward the parking lot. “Where’s my brother and child?”

“Dalton should be here soon. He said there was traffic from Elizabeth City.”