Page 77 of Second Chance Christmas

“Well, I’m glad I found it. You have such a talent. I especially love the second-floor sunning deck. If you do it just right, a little one-on-one time with the sun and no tanning lines could happen.”

“Skinny dipping at night too,” Ivy added, laughing as the tension melted away.

They clinked their coffee mugs and gave a salute. “Maybe we could add it to the list of couples summer activities. I have so many ideas. The B&B is just in my blood, I guess.”

“Phew.” Her Gran let out an over-the-top sigh. “About time I heard those words. I didn’t know how long I could hold out. I was beginning to worry. Now that they’re out there let’s do this.” Gran plunked her mug on the counter with a thud and grabbed her hand. “I’ve come to a decision,” she stated matter-of-factly.

“Oh. What’s that?”

“Come with me and I’ll show you.”

Their pairs of reindeer slippers jingled in harmony as Gran led them to the fireplace where the Christmas tree sparkled with lights.

“Look under the third package from the right.”

Ivy shook her head. “Not this again. You know it took me over ten minutes to find the key when you pulled that trick with the poinsettias.”

Gran only smiled so Ivy kneeled by the pile of Christmas gifts the guests had left under the tree for Christmas morning. Picking a point where to start she lifted and scooted until a thinly wrapped package slid out from under a heavier package.

“That one,” Gran said excitedly.

Ivy sat and held the present wrapped in bright red paper with tiny antlers splattered across the paper in a zigzag pattern topped with a gold, shimmery bow. A single slip of white silver-rimmed paper denoted it was meant for her.

“What is this, Gran?”

She waved a hand at her, “Well, open it, silly.”

Gran clapped her hands beneath her chin, her smile beaming bright as the sun coming in from the large windows opposite the room.

Ivy flipped the present, found the seam and ripped. Wrapped in the beautiful paper was a manila envelope with bold lettering on the front that spelled out her full name.

Okay so no clue there either but deep in her gut, the one she hardly listened to, was currently screaming the answer before she could pull the stack of papers fully from the envelope.

“Ivy Sunday Winters,” her gran started as she looked into the other woman’s aging, sweet face. “This B&B needs YOU and my present to you is the gift of a wonderful future together that I pray will give you and Aspen as many happy memories as it has me.”

Her mouth fell slack. She worked it a couple of times as she looked between the papers in her lap and the other woman. “But what about you? What will you do?”

“Oh, sweetheart, Harry and I are going to travel the world. Now that I don’t have to tend to the joint. Ahh…retirement will be bliss! Harry has promised me a honeymoon I’ll never forget.”

Ivy thought back to the conversation she had with Mr. Langley. She should introduce them at some point because they would get along splendidly.

“Are you happy with Harry, Gran?” She took her hand in her own.

“I miss your grandfather every day and he’ll always have a special place in my heart, but it’s okay to move on too. Life is made for loving and laughing.” Gran squeezed her hand. “It’s okay to get mad, make plans, toss them aside and start again. It’s okay to move on from Lewis, sweetheart. I think you know this now. Know that it’s okay to be happy. You deserve that.”

The tears that had haunted her for the past few days, ones she’d refused to acknowledge, now fell free but not out of stress or sorrow. These were of pure joy. As if the weight of an entire unhappy future fell from her shoulders and she could finally take a deep breath.

She ran a gentle finger down the deed and across her name as the new owner. “It’s funny how you don’t know what you want until it stares you in the face.”

Ivy gathered her gran in a fierce hug and let the tears come as they may. “I don’t know what to say, Gran.”

“Say you aren’t done setting your future right. Say you have more plans in the works and tell me that you have a plan on how to get Aspen’s attention. Oh, and if it’s not bluntly obvious, it’s okay to have a plan, just know when to change it if the damn thing doesn’t work.”

Ivy sat a little straighter. “You’re right. And I do, but…I don’t know… Aspen spent the last week trying to help me find my happiness and I know he wanted a second chance.”

Ivy paused. Of course! How could she be so blind!

“Gran, I have a terrible, horrible, beautiful idea.”

---