Page 11 of The Parent Pick-Up
“What do you mean?” I ask, feeling my chest tighten. “I let her be free.”
She chuckles. “From the looks of this house, I can see you like things pretty precise.”
My jaw sets. “So it’s my fault Hannah doesn’t like her piano teachers?”
She cocks her head, thinking. “In a way: yes.”
I scoff. “I don’t agree.”
“It’s not all your fault,” Ivy says, backtracking when she sees my reaction. “It’s just sometimes too many rules kill the fun. And music should be fun.”
“It’s proven that learning to read sheet music enriches the left side of the brain, improving function in math and science.”
Ivy laughs heartily, ending in an undignified snort. “Wow. That was enlightening.”
I can’t help but smile. “You snorted.”
“I did.” She laughs again, a little more softly. “Thanks for that.”
“It’s been a while?” I ask.
She nods.
“To new neighbors and snort laughing.”
Our glasses clink, and we share a smile.
“I play a little myself,” Ivy says. “If you ever want me to show her a few things…”
I don’t answer right away. I want that. But I also know who she is.
“Ivy…” I say carefully. “You know I recognized you, right? You’re Ivy Ice.”
She stiffens instantly. I hate myself for bringing it up, but I can’t pretend I don’t know.
She stands. “I should go.”
I stand too. “Please don’t.”
“I knew this was too good to last.”
“You were pretty famous,” I say. “You’re bound to get recognized.”
She sighs heavily. “I didn’t think it would be on my first day here.”
“To be fair, I wouldn’t have recognized you, except Hannah has a poster of you over her bed.”
Her eyes go wide. “No way.”
I nod. “You had to be all of sixteen, but you owned that stage.”
Anger blazes in her bright blue eyes. “I just want peace and quiet and to raise my daughter somewhere safe. Is that too much to ask?”
“You want a quiet life? Fine.” I make a gesture of zipping my lips closed. “I won’t blow your cover.”
She crosses her arms over her chest, still on guard. “Then why bring it up?”
“Because I’m curious,” I admit. “You had it all. And then you were gone.”
