Three Blissful Days, page 17
She shifted uncomfortably. “Maybe she was just waiting for the right time? Or making sure it’s serious before making an announcement?” Or not expecting me just to drop in on her life and want to play house.
“Maybe.” Shauna nodded slowly, clearly not entirely convinced. “Or maybe she’s worried about what I might think.”
“Why would she worry about that?”
Shauna looked directly at Kendall. “The last person Ivy dated was my research partner. It ended badly. Really badly.” She paused. “I introduced them.”
“Oh.” The single syllable felt inadequate.
“Just…be careful with her, okay?” Shauna’s voice had lost its interrogative edge, replaced with genuine concern. “Ivy acts tough, but she’s more vulnerable than she lets on.”
“I know,” she said softly. “I’m not going anywhere.” Those words were truer now than ever. She wanted to see this possibility through.
Shauna studied her for a long moment, then nodded, apparently satisfied with what she saw. “Good. Well, I should finish up here. Tell Ivy to call me, would you? She owes me a hike or two and probably dinner.”
Kendall promised she would, and they parted ways with an awkward but friendly good-bye. She grabbed a bag of potatoes and an onion as she pushed her cart toward the checkout, but she couldn’t help but wonder what other parts of Ivy’s life she had yet to discover—and whether she should tell her about this encounter with Shauna or let her explain their relationship to her friend in her own time.
She turned the cart around. “Hey, Shauna. Why don’t you come for dinner tonight? I mean, if you’re not busy.”
“Not busy at all.” Shauna smiled. “I’d love to.”
“Great. I’ll see you at six, then.” She spun the cart around. Some secrets, she was learning, were meant to be kept. But some revelations weren’t hers to make.
Chapter Forty-one
Ivy removed her muddy boots before entering the cabin. She was beat. Her day had been long and cold as she searched the trails for lost hikers, and her legs were feeling it. She’d barely had time to stop and sit on the trail momentarily to scarf down a sandwich for lunch before she’d had to get back to it. Multiple people were searching, but she couldn’t rest until they were found. Thankfully, they’d been found and no one had been hurt. They were just navigationally challenged.
“Hey there, ranger. Thought you might need some caffeine. Hot and black, just how you like it.” Kendall handed her a piping hot cup of coffee.
Ivy smiled as she took the cup. “You’re a lifesaver. Been on my feet since dawn. Three lost hikers and a family of raccoons in someone’s cooler today.”
Kendall leaned against the counter. “Never a dull moment in your world, huh?”
“That’s why I love it.” She walked closer to the kitchen. “What smells so good?”
“I put a pork roast in the crockpot. I hope that’s okay.”
“That’s more than okay. It’s fantastic.” Ivy hadn’t had home-cooked meals except on Sundays at her parents’ house before Kendall arrived, and she imagined her waistline was beginning to show it. She lifted the lid off the crockpot and took a glance. It looked different from what she was used to. “What’s that in there with it?”
“Sauerkraut and onions.” Kendall took the lid from her and placed it back on the slow cooker. “Just the way my mom always made it.”
“I haven’t had it that way before.” Ivy glanced at the potatoes and gravy cooking on the stove.
“Oh. How do you make it?”
Ivy picked up the bottle of white wine on the counter and smiled as she examined the label, Kendall Jackson. “With potatoes, carrots, and celery in the oven.” That was how her mom always made it.
“Like a beef pot roast?” Kendall raised her eyebrows. “I remember you said you liked my brand of chardonnay.” She grinned as she pointed at the bottle.
“I do.” She set the bottle back on the counter. “And, yes. Just like that. Didn’t realize there was another way to make it.” She clearly needed to get outside her comfort zone and find some new recipes.
“Historically, there’s a tradition of eating pork and sauerkraut for luck on New Year’s Day. Its origins can be traced back to Germany.”
“Is that when your family usually has it? Are you German?” Ivy hadn’t really wondered about Kendall’s lineage.
“Nope to both. My family doesn’t have a New Year’s tradition. We usually have whatever sounds good at the time.” She poked a fork into a potato. “This is one of my favorite dishes because it’s the ultimate hearty meal for a cold evening. The pork is perfectly juicy and tender after simmering with the sauerkraut and onions.”
Ivy noted the extra place set at the table. “Are we expecting company?”
“I ran into your friend, Shauna, at the grocery store.”
Ivy was caught off guard. “Shauna? Oh. That’s a coincidence.” A weird coincidence. Why was Shauna at the market during the middle of her workday?
“I didn’t see her and almost ran right into her.” Kendall turned off the burner under the potatoes. “She started asking questions about us and didn’t seem to be convinced that this is real.” Kendall motioned between them with her hand before she picked up the pan and drained the potatoes in the colander in the sink.
Ivy laughed. “That sounds like her. She’s known me for a long time. What did she say?”
“Well, after the third-degree about my intentions, I worried about how to make her trust us, so I thought what better way than to show her, so I invited her to dinner.” She put the potatoes in the pan again and carried it back to the stove. “I thought it might be nice.” She tossed a hunk of butter into the pan. “But I sense she’s not thrilled about us.”
Ivy sighed. “She’s always been protective. Especially since that disaster with her friend Alex.”
“She made that clear.” Kendall widened her eyes. “Then she did this thing where she stared at me for a full minute without blinking.”
Ivy groaned. “Oh, god. The Shauna Stare. She thinks it’s her superpower.”
Kendall smiled as she popped the beaters into the mixer. “It’s kind of effective, not gonna lie. She definitely loves you, Ivy. Said you deserve someone who appreciates your dedication to Diamond Mountain.”
Ivy chuckled. “That’s oddly specific. Look. I’m sorry if she made you uncomfortable. Shauna’s just seen me through some rough patches.”
“Hey, I get it. Actually, I respect it. Shows what a good friend she is. And that you’re worth looking out for.” She stuck the mixer into the pan and turned on the motor, whipping the potatoes.
Ivy touched her on the shoulder. “So, you invited her to dinner? You’re brave.” Facing the problem straight-on. That was refreshing.
Kendall shrugged as she turned off the mixer. “I figure if I can handle your stories about bear encounters, I can handle Shauna.” She gave her a sideways smile. “Besides, anyone important to you is worth getting to know.”
Ivy smiled and took Kendall’s hands. “Thank you for understanding. And for the coffee.”
Kendall popped the beaters out of the mixer. “Fair warning, though. I have plenty of questions for her as well.”
“Oh, no. We’re cancelling.”
Kendall narrowed her eyes. “Not a chance, ranger. Not—a—chance.” The words flowed slowly from her tongue.
“Just kidding. Ask away.” Ivy squeezed her hands before she let them go. “No secrets here. I’m an open book.”
They both laughed as Ivy headed into the bedroom to change her clothes. She really didn’t want Shauna giving Kendall the good, bad, and the ugly of her past relationships, but she could suffer through one dinner of truth-or-dare.
Chapter Forty-two
Ivy drummed her fingers nervously against the kitchen counter as she lifted the lid of the crockpot with her other hand. The rich aroma of comfort food filled her small cabin, but her thoughts were elsewhere. Shauna would arrive at six, and tonight would be a test to see if their so-called relationship could stand the scrutiny of one of her oldest and dearest friends.
She’d hoped for a nice, easy evening at home, but that plan had been shattered by a casual run-in at the grocery store. Kendall had said that the encounter had been awkward enough, but when Shauna had been skeptical about them as a couple, Kendall knew the best thing to do was to invite Shauna to join them for dinner. Tonight, their carefully constructed fake relationship might just crumble into dust, which should be easy, considering the biggest secret of all was that she was falling hard for Kendall.
“Don’t worry so much. It’ll be great,” Kendall had said. “Any friend of yours is someone I’d love to spend time with.”
The doorbell rang, startling Ivy from her thoughts. She glanced at the clock on the wall. Shauna was early, as usual.
When she opened the door, her best friend stood there with a bottle of wine and a smile that seemed more forced than natural. She was obviously playing nice to be polite.
“I brought reinforcements,” Shauna said, holding up a bottle of Kendall Jackson Chardonnay. “Your girlfriend’s brand.” She grinned.
“You didn’t have to come,” Ivy whispered as she accepted the wine. She set the bottle on the counter as she went into the kitchen.
“Are you kidding? After meeting Miss Perfect the other night and then running into her in the produce section, wild horses couldn’t keep me away.” Shauna stepped inside, surveying the cabin with the critical eye of someone looking for evidence at a crime scene. “You cleaned. You never clean unless you’re seriously interested.”
Ivy’s cheeks warmed. “It’s not like that.” It was but it wasn’t.
“You changed your sheets too, didn’t you?” Shauna raised an eyebrow.
“Shauna,” Ivy hissed, mortified.
Her friend’s expression softened slightly. “After what happened with Alex, I just need to make sure this girl isn’t another charmer with wandering eyes.”
“Kendall isn’t Alex.” Ivy turned to the stove, stirring the mashed potatoes with more force than necessary. “And besides, whose fault was that?”
“I know.” Shauna held up a hand. “I never should’ve let you go out with her.” Shauna helped herself to a glass of water. “So, tell me everything you haven’t told me already about Kendall.”
“There’s nothing more to tell. We met at that cookout at Noah and Taylor’s place.”
“Right. The one I couldn’t attend due to an emergency at work.” Shauna tilted her head. “Why didn’t you tell me about her back then?”
Ivy shifted against the counter. “I didn’t think it was going anywhere. She lives out of state.” She put the spoon on a plate by the stove and returned the lid to the pot. “Since then, we’ve been talking a lot over the phone, and when she came across the landscape opportunity at the lodge, it seemed meant to be.” She hoped Shauna bought that story. Ivy wasn’t one to have long discussions on the phone, a fact that Shauna knew from experience.
“Nice,” Shauna repeated flatly. “The most random get-together in existence.”
Before Ivy could defend herself, Kendall came out of the bedroom. Her stomach flipped.
“Here comes your girl now.” Shauna gave her a look. “Don’t worry. I’ll behave.”
Ivy’s stomach bounced again at the thought of Kendall being her girl. She took a deep breath before turning to see her. Kendall stood there, her blond hair looking slightly windswept, wearing a pair of skinny jeans and one of Ivy’s flannel, button-down shirts. She wore it unbuttoned to the second button, sleeves rolled up, with the bottom tied at the waist.
“Hey,” Kendall said, her smile making Ivy momentarily forget her anxiety. “Most of my shirts are in the laundry. I hope you don’t mind me borrowing one of yours.”
“No. Not at all.” Ivy took in the whole picture of her. “Looks much better on you than it does on me.” Behind her, Ivy heard Shauna make a small noise that could indicate either approval or skepticism.
Dinner began with an uncomfortable silence, broken only by the clink of cutlery against plates. Kendall, to her credit, seemed unfazed by Shauna’s scrutiny, answering her increasingly pointed questions with good humor.
“So, Kendall,” Shauna said, mixing a bit of sauerkraut with her potatoes. “Ivy mentioned your ex is here, also bidding the landscape project. How long ago did that relationship end?”
Ivy choked on her wine. She hadn’t mentioned that situation at all. Shauna must have been getting her information from Susan, who seemed to keep everyone informed about everything that happened at the park.
Kendall nodded, apparently unruffled. “Sometime in the spring. I don’t remember the actual date. It was mutual, but I still try to block those things out as much as I can. We just had different visions for our futures.”
“I hear there’s going to be a meteor shower tomorrow night.” Ivy said, trying to change the subject.
“Oh yeah? That’s cool.” Shauna glanced at Ivy before she returned her attention to Kendall. “Children?” She was relentless.
“None,” Kendall answered. “Though I’d like to have several someday, with the right person.” She glanced at Ivy, who quickly averted her eyes to her plate, suddenly finding her mountain of mashed potatoes fascinating.
“Interesting. And you plan to move here if you get the landscape contract at the lodge?”
“Shauna,” Ivy said, keeping her voice calm. “Maybe we could talk about something else?”
“It’s okay,” Kendall said, touching Ivy’s hand lightly. “I don’t mind. I’m actually looking forward to being here on a more permanent basis.”
Shauna’s expression shifted almost imperceptibly, which led Ivy to believe she accepted Kendall’s response. “That’s good to know.”
As the evening progressed, Ivy watched with a mixture of horror and reluctant appreciation as Shauna put Kendall through what amounted to a full background check disguised as dinner conversation. Yet something unexpected happened around dessert—Shauna laughed at one of Kendall’s terrible puns, a genuine laugh that Ivy recognized as unforced.
When Kendall excused herself to go to the restroom, Shauna leaned across the table. “Okay, so she’s not so terrible,” she said.
“That’s some high praise,” Ivy said dryly.
“She looks at you when you’re not talking. Most girls pay attention only when a woman is speaking directly to them. She notices you even when you’re quiet.” Shauna rolled her eyes. “Weird, right?”
Ivy laughed. She hadn’t realized that fact. “So, I have your approval?”
Shauna shrugged, but her expression had softened. “You don’t need it. But for what it’s worth, she seems genuine. Unlike Alex.”
“Again, your fault.”
“I know. I know.” Shauna shook her head. “Next time I’ll be more selective about who I introduce you to.”
“Hopefully there won’t be a next time.” Ivy was honestly hoping for that.
Shauna gazed at her for a minute, then sighed. “Just be careful, Ivy. You fall hard, stupid fast.”
“I know my track record,” she said, rearranging the food on her plate. “But this feels different.”
“That’s what you said last time.” Shauna frowned.
“And we were both wrong last time,” she said. “But I’m asking you to trust me now. And maybe, just maybe, give her a chance?” Ivy raised her eyebrows slightly.
Shauna held Ivy’s gaze for a long moment before nodding. “For you, I’ll try. But if she hurts you—”
“You’ll be the first one I call for help burying the body,” Ivy said with a small smile.
When Kendall returned, the atmosphere had shifted to a lighter tone. Shauna began sharing embarrassing stories from their early days, referring to unflattering pictures in full-on Xena garb taken at multiple cosplay parties, making Ivy groan and Kendall laugh. By the time they were lingering over coffee, the initial tension they’d all felt had dissolved into something comfortable.
Later, as Kendall helped clear the table, Shauna pulled Ivy aside in the kitchen.
“If she hurts you, I’ll still destroy her,” she whispered, but there was less conviction in her threat now.
Ivy smiled. “I know.”
When they said good night, Shauna gave Kendall an unexpected hug that lasted a beat longer than necessary—a silent communication that Ivy knew contained both warning and tentative acceptance.
As the door closed behind her friend, Ivy turned to find Kendall watching her with amusement.
“She’s intense,” Kendall said.
“I’m sorry about that. She’s just protective.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Kendall replied, stepping closer. “It means you’re loved. That’s never something to apologize for.”
Ivy felt something settle inside her. A quiet recognition that perhaps, just perhaps, Kendall might be someone worth keeping around. Someone even Shauna could approve of.
“Now,” Kendall said, taking her hand, “why don’t you show me some of those Xena cosplay photos.”
“I think I might still have the costume in the back of my closet.”
Kendall raised her eyebrows. “Even better.”
Chapter Forty-three
Ivy was at the sink rinsing her coffee cup when her dad drove up. She quickly ran to the couch and moved the makeshift bed elements to the bedroom.
“Ivy, is that you?” Kendall rubbed at her eyes. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah. My dad just pulled up.” He’d never shown up at her door this often. “It’s early. Go back to sleep.” Ivy rushed back through the living room, threw on her coat before she went to the door, pulled it open, and stepped out onto the porch. “What’s going on, Dad? Everything okay with Mom?”
He nodded. “You gonna invite me in?”
Ivy didn’t step aside. “I was just on my way out to work.”
