Page 15 of Battle of the Exes

Now, I’ve got something bigger than a book signing in the works. Something I’ve been waiting to tell Rue about in person.

The problem now is Ivy. Her reaction to seeing me leaves nothing to interpretation. It’s clear she hasn’t forgiven me for how things ended between us.

Given what I have planned, the next few weeks are sure to be interesting.

Chapter Thirteen

Ivy

“Ilove what you’ve done with the place, Rue,” I say with sincerity. We’re sitting in her kitchen on soft leather barstools. My sister’s daughter, Lulu has her arm around my shoulders. I recall what the place looked like the last time I saw it. “It’s like a whole new house.”

“My vision, Gary’s funding,” Rue says. I note the pride in her voice.

Gary is an accountant, thrifty to the max but his love for my sister supersedes his distaste for what he considers frivolous expenditures.

Not that I’d ever consider new quartz countertops and beveled windows frivolous. The whole kitchen looks straight out of a magazine.

Lulu takes my hand, leading me to the living room.Cushy furniture and wood accents make the space feel both western and comfortable. There are family photos wherever the eye lands.

Rue chimes in. “Good thing we did the renovation when we did. If I knew things would be going south with the Quill I wouldn’t have commissioned the work.”

I’m glad, though. Rue has never left Silver Pine. She and Gary are hard-working salt-of-the-earth folks. They’ve earned a bit of luxury.

“I’ll show you the rest later. Right now we need to get ready for Jasper.”

Lulu turns to me. “Isn’t he dreamy?”

Rue laughs. “What is this, the fifties?”

“Huh?”

Rue and I share a smile. I guess the old lingo is making a comeback.

“He certainly is,” I say to Lulu. “That hair makes you want to run your fingers through it all day long.”

My niece and I sigh in unison.

Rue says, “Come on, you two, let’s put out the canapés I picked up from Mae’s. Lu, please get the wine glasses and cheese board.”

Half an hour later, the table looks terrific. Fresh-cut flowers, trays of hors d’oeuvres, petit fours, artisanal bread. Lulu sets Alexa to classical music. It’s elegant, almost like the setting for an Upper East Side book launch, only Colorado style. My sister’s become quite the hostess. Living so far away, I missed these details about her life.

Rue goes upstairs to get ready.

I consider the clothes I’ve brought with me. All of it uber casual. Nothing that fits tonight’s unexpected party.

The truth is, I was looking forward to not having to dress up. That’s one of the things I loved about living out here. The words soiree and gala are not part of the local vernacular.

I poke my head into the kitchen. “Hey, Lu, think you can help me look a little more Silver Pine chic?”

She brightens. “Say no more. Come with me.”

Chapter Fourteen

Beau

The drive from the hotel is quicker than I expect. Shoulder season means lighter traffic. With time to spare, I take the scenic route, past the overlook.

Jasper is looking out the window and though he’s not saying it, I can tell he’s awestruck by the view. Silver Pine is nestled in the heart of the Rocky Mountains. With no major airport nearby, you have towantto be here. The area attracts nature lovers, hikers, and in the winter, ski bums. Jasper is none of these but even he, with his jaw slightly dropped, is falling under its spell.

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