Wicked Season (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 7)

by Lily Harper Hart

  Ivy shook her head. “I don’t think so. I felt better after talking to her for a bit.”

  “My mother?”

  “Your sister.”

  Jack groaned as he pinched the bridge of his nose. He could feel a headache building behind his eyes and he wanted to eradicate it before it got a foothold. “What did she say to you? I swear I’m going to kill her.”

  “She said that while you don’t have a lot in common that she loves you and wants you to be happy.”

  “She’s winding you up.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not, though. She also said she did a lot of thinking last night and she doesn’t like what she’s turned into and she thinks you and I are good together. She also warned me that your mother isn’t going to let go of the idea of you moving back to Detroit so I need to put my foot down.”

  “You need to put your foot in my sister’s behind,” Jack shot back. “That’s what you need to do.”

  “Calm down,” Ivy soothed, resting her hand on the spot above his heart. “It’s going to be okay. I promise.”

  Jack studied her pretty features for a moment, conflicted. “I love you so much.”

  Ivy’s eyes lit with mirth. “Is that you agreeing to give this meal a chance?”

  “That’s me giving you my heart forever and always,” Jack countered. “We’ll see what happens with the rest of it.”

  “I think that’s the best we can do. Now … come on. I’m freezing and this place has great breadsticks.”

  “You had me at breadsticks, honey.”

  “WELL, THIS is certainly a lovely place.” Margaret offered Luna a stiff smile as the women sat next to each other. Michael wisely picked a spot between his wife and Max, flashing Ivy a warm wink as she settled on the other side of her brother. Jack seemed happy to be close to Ivy on one side, although he cast the occasional dark look to his right, in his sister’s direction, when he thought no one was looking.

  “The food here is wonderful,” Luna said. “It was an inspired choice, Margaret. They have vegetarian and meat offerings so everyone will be happy.”

  “Yes, well, that’s what I was thinking about when I picked it.” Margaret said the words, but her tone indicated otherwise. “So, how was everyone’s day today?”

  “Well, I had two women come to the lumberyard and they were totally hot,” Max offered. “They needed plywood for some project so I took off my shirt as I bundled the pieces even though it was cold – I thought I would give them a little treat, if you know what I mean – and then I found out they were lesbians so I’ll probably be sick tomorrow for nothing.”

  Ivy rolled her eyes and cuffed her brother while Michael and Jack barked out appreciative laughs.

  “I’m sorry you had such a rough day, son,” Michael teased. “Your plight in this world must be terrible for you to bear.”

  “You have no idea.”

  Michael smirked before focusing on Ivy. “And how about you, missy? Did you work on those soap bars you promised? You know we’re leaving in a few days and I need my homemade soap so I can always smell like home and think of you when I’m stuck in Florida for the next few months.”

  Ivy’s smiled fondly at her father. “I’m doing that Friday. I promise you’ll have your soap. I was going to start this afternoon, but I did some work at the greenhouse and then got distracted when Gilly McKinnon stopped by to talk.”

  “How is Gilly?” Luna asked, sympathetic. “She must be having a rough go of it with the baby so close.”

  “She seemed okay. I think she just wanted a female ear to listen while she talked. She’s surrounded by men on the farm.”

  “Why were you at the greenhouse alone?” Michael asked, his eyes cloudy. “I told you I would close everything up on Friday. There was no need for you to go over there by yourself.”

  Ivy balked at his tone. “It’s my greenhouse.”

  “And you were kidnapped from it less than a month ago,” Michael pointed out. “You shouldn’t be hanging out there alone. It’s not safe.”

  “I’m an adult,” Ivy reminded him, her temper flaring.

  “You’re still my child, though,” Michael reminded her. “As my child, I have a say in your actions.”

  “Since when is that the rule?”

  “Forever.”

  “Whatever,” Ivy muttered, crossing her arms over her chest and staring at the wall. “You’re so unreasonable sometimes. It’s … ridiculous.”

  Michael refused to back down and focused on Jack for support. “Tell her she’s being a pain. You don’t want her alone at that greenhouse any more than I do. Admit it.”

  Jack looked caught as his gaze bounced between Ivy and Michael. Finally, when he realized Michael wasn’t going to stop staring until he answered, Jack swallowed hard and shrugged. “It’s her property. She’s not in any immediate danger to my knowledge. It was light out. I think she’s earned the right to decide what to do with her afternoons.”

  “Thank you,” Ivy said, exhaling heavily. She wasn’t sure whose side Jack would take given the argument.

  “You’re just agreeing with her because you feel bad about your mother being mean to her,” Michael muttered, shaking his head. “I’m glad the snow is coming and you won’t be able to visit the nursery until the spring, Ivy. At least that way I’ll know you’re safe.”

  “Except for the fact that a couple of crazy people have attacked her at the house over the past few months, too,” Max reminded him, shrinking back when Ivy scorched him with a dark look. “I don’t know why I say these things. I really don’t.”

  Jack chuckled, the sound hollow as he leaned back in his chair. Thankfully for everyone the music started at that very moment and a few random patrons drifted toward the dance floor. As if on cue, Jack extended his hand to Ivy and gestured in that direction. “Do you want to dance with me, honey? I figure we could both use the break.”

  Ivy’s expression brightened at the suggestion. “Really?”

  “There’s nothing I would rather do, honey. You can trust me on that.”

  “THEY’RE VERY … close, aren’t they?” Margaret looked almost resigned as she watched Jack spin Ivy around the dance floor. She couldn’t ever remember seeing her son dance before, not even when he dressed up to attend formal events during his high school years. It simply wasn’t his thing. That’s what he told her, anyway. Apparently “his thing” had changed once Ivy entered his life because he looked happy and content as he swayed to the music with the pink-haired woman in his arms.

  “They’re very close,” Luna agreed, following Margaret’s gaze. “They’re in love.”

  “Are they in love or simply infatuated with one another?” Margaret challenged. “I don’t happen to think they’ve known each other long enough to fall in love.”

  “Then you’re not seeing the bigger picture,” Luna shot back, not missing a beat. “Jack and Ivy have been in love almost from the beginning. They couldn’t identify what they were feeling, but they were drawn together. It was almost … magical.

  “The bond between them grows every single day,” she continued. “If it was merely infatuation they would grow apart. They’re stronger than they’ve ever been.”

  “But … they hardly know each other.” Margaret knew she was grasping at straws, but the idea of letting her son willingly walk away from the life he spent so long building made her sick to her stomach.

  “They know each other better than most,” Luna countered. “They’re happy. They’re in love. They’re looking at a road that leads to forever.”

  “Jack belongs with me at home,” Margaret argued. “I’m his mother. His home is with me.”

  “No, Jack’s heart belongs to Ivy and his home is with her,” Luna countered. She wasn’t much for confrontation, but when a member of her family was being threatened – and that’s exactly what Luna believed Margaret had in store for Ivy – the feisty and invested mother wasn’t one to walk away from a fight. “You need to get over this. Those two love each other an
d you’re not going to break them apart.”

  “I don’t want to break them apart,” Margaret sniffed. “I want my son to come home.”

  “He is home,” Luna stressed. “The longer you work against them, the more of an outsider you become. You know that, right?”

  “I gave birth to him. I’m hardly an outsider.”

  “Blood isn’t everything. Love is, though.” Luna locked gazes with Margaret, practically daring her to continue the fight. “You’ll lose if you try to force Jack to make a choice. You must see that.”

  Margaret was obstinate on a good day … and today was very far from being a good day. “I don’t happen to believe that.”

  “Then you’re in for a world of hurt and I hope you survive the outcome,” Luna offered. “Some things are destiny. I firmly believe Jack and Ivy are destined to be together. It doesn’t really matter what I believe, though. It matters what they believe.”

  Luna pointed at the dance floor, to where Jack whispered something to Ivy and caused her to throw her head back and laugh as he pulled her body tighter against his.

  “I’m pretty sure they believe they see forever in each other’s eyes,” Luna said. “They won’t give each other up. You’ll be the one who loses in this scenario if you’re not careful.”

  Margaret was annoyed. “Is that a threat?”

  “Just an observation.”

  Margaret remained defiant. “I guess we’ll have to see who is right, huh?”

  “I guess so.”

  Seventeen

  “Something smells amazing,” Jack enthused as he walked out of the bedroom the next morning to find Luna and Felicity slaving in the kitchen. “When did you guys get here?”

  “We’ve been here since six,” Luna replied, smiling. “We used the spare key to get in. You’re not much of a cop if you didn’t hear us bumbling through the door. We weren’t exactly quiet.”

  “Well, I didn’t hear you,” Jack admitted. “I slept heavy, though. I was exhausted after that dinner.”

  “Yes, that was a special treat, wasn’t it?” Luna intoned. “Your mother seemed … upset … when everyone parted for the night.”

  “My mother turns being upset into an art form that only she understands.” Jack poured himself a mug of coffee and sat on one of the stools so he could watch the women work. “She’s going to have to get over it because I’m not going to coddle her.”

  “I think coddling her would be counterproductive,” Luna noted, shifting her eyes toward the hallway. “Where is Ivy?”

  “She’s still asleep,” Jack replied, rolling his neck. His hair was still damp from the shower and he felt a bit sheepish about not realizing Luna and Felicity were in the house for hours before he woke. He’d forgotten that they shifted dinner plans from Michael and Luna’s house to Ivy’s cottage. He couldn’t help but be thankful that he didn’t stumble into the kitchen wearing nothing but his boxer shorts – which was a regular occurrence for him – before hitting the shower. “She’s tired and was out when I woke so I tucked her feet under the covers and left her there. She needs her rest.”

  “She still does that?” Luna was amused. “I spent years going into her bedroom when she was younger and tucking her feet under the covers. She always kicked them back out. I wonder why she does that.”

  “I don’t know, but it drives me crazy,” Jack admitted. “She’s going to catch a cold in the winter. I tried making her wear socks to bed because her toes get ice cold, but she doesn’t like it.”

  “It’s cute that you tuck her feet in all the same.” Luna glanced at the antique clock on the wall. “Everyone is supposed to be here at noon for dinner. She can sleep for another hour or so. Then we need her help because we’ve got mountains of food to prepare.”

  “I’ll help,” Jack offered. “Don’t wake her up. This is the most peaceful I’ve seen her in days.”

  “You’re a good man,” Felicity said, patting his arm. “You’re going to regret offering to help us with dinner, though. We’re going to make you peel potatoes. Ivy hates peeling potatoes.”

  Jack shrugged, unbothered. “I have good company to entertain me. Peeling potatoes seems like a fair price to pay for a wonderful meal.”

  “Oh, so cute,” Luna teased, poking his cheek. “Just for the record, and I’ve been wanting to tell you this for some time but never had the chance because we’re rarely alone, but I’m very thankful my daughter found you. I’ve never seen her this happy.”

  The earnest expression on Luna’s face was enough to tug at Jack’s heartstrings. “I’ve never been this happy myself. She did that for me. I thought it was only fair to return the favor.”

  “What a good answer.” Luna beamed, warmth washing over her. “Now grab a knife. You have peeling duty.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “OH, I THINK I’ve died and gone to Heaven.” Max lifted his nose to scent the air as he walked into the cottage, giving Jack the impression he was looking at a bloodhound searching for fallen prey rather than Ivy’s goofy brother. “I can’t believe we’re getting real turkey this year.”

  “And I can’t believe you’re complaining after the absolutely amazing tofurkey I made last year,” Luna shot back, winking at her son as he shifted out of his coat.

  Jack remained next to the counter even though his mother and Denise entered the house on Max’s heels. He offered them a welcoming smile but otherwise remained quiet.

  “Oh, Mom. Tofurkey isn’t a real thing,” Max complained. “It’s something you dreamed up to torture me. I’m not an idiot.”

  “Well, we have tofurkey and regular turkey this year,” Luna said. “You can have servings of both.”

  “I don’t think Nicodemus is going to eat tofurkey so I won’t be able to hide it under the table,” Max pointed out. “I’ll stick to the turkey.”

  “Go ahead.” Luna adopted a dramatic expression as she pressed her hand to the spot above her heart. “Break your poor mother’s heart. I dare you.”

  “Yeah, I dare you, too,” Jack teased, his eyes flashing.

  “You both suck,” Max muttered, shaking his dark head as he scanned the room. “Where are Ivy and Dad?”

  “Ivy is getting ready,” Felicity replied, opening the oven so she could stare inside before closing it. “She slept in so Jack helped with dinner preparations.”

  Max made a face. “He can’t cook.”

  “I can cook,” Jack protested. “I help Ivy cook all of the time.”

  “Feeling her up while she cooks is not helping.”

  Jack wagged a finger, annoyed. “Do you have to be you today? Can’t you change personas or something?”

  “Probably not, but I’ll give it some thought.” Max ambled toward the kitchen so he could stare at the covered pies on the counter. “These look great. I’ll have slices of both, please.”

  “Only if you eat your entire dinner first,” Luna countered. “That includes tofurkey.”

  “Oh, that’s blackmail.”

  “I never said I was above blackmail.”

  “You definitely suck,” Max groused, snorting derisively. “You never answered my question about Dad, though. Where is he? I need some backup.”

  “Your father is on his way,” Lune answered, averting her gaze. “He’s been something of a bear since Ivy basically told him to stuff his concern about her working at the greenhouse alone. He feels ignored and disrespected so it will take him an hour or so to pout it out of his system.”

  “He’s still angry about that?” Jack arched an eyebrow. “She’s perfectly fine as long as no one is stalking her.”

  “Yes, well, there are times when Michael looks at Ivy and sees the same small child he taught to ride a bike,” Luna explained. “He can’t seem to help himself.”

  “He has no problem with me working alone,” Max pointed out.

  “That’s because he’s hoping someone will kidnap you,” Jack teased, earning a punch in the arm as Max shot him a challenging look. “That’s assaultin
g a police officer.”

  “You’ll live,” Max muttered.

  “I see I’m just in time for the shenanigans,” Michael announced, letting himself in through the front door. He flashed warm smiles at Denise and Margaret – both of whom loitered near the edge of the room, almost as if they felt out of place – before moving through the living room. “What is that marvelous smell?”

  “It’s certainly not tofurkey,” Max replied.

  “Let the tofurkey go,” Luna chided, waving a spatula in Max’s face. “You’re eating it and you’re going to like it.”

  “Yeah, I’d rather be locked in the basement again,” Max muttered, shifting his eye to the hallway as Ivy made her first appearance. “There’s the layabout. I heard you slept in while Jack did all of the work.”

  Ivy balked. “I … didn’t mean to.”

  “You were tired,” Jack interjected. “Don’t listen to your brother. You needed the sleep. That’s why I left you in there and volunteered to help. Besides, I enjoy spending time with your mother and aunt. They think I walk on water so it’s always a fun afternoon for me when they’re around.”

  “Ha, ha,” Ivy intoned, rolling her eyes. She pulled up short when she neared her father, uncertain. “Are you still mad at me?”

  Michael didn’t hesitate to respond. “Yes.”

  “You still love me, though, right?”

  Michael’s expression softened. “Yes.” He grudgingly leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I will always love you, even when you do things I don’t like.”

  “That’s what makes you a good father.”

  “That’s what keeps me sane even though my children are crazy,” Michael shot back, turning to his wife with expectant eyes. “There. We made up. When can we eat?”

  Luna’s smile was indulgent. “Five minutes and we’ll be ready. Everyone get seated at the table. I think this is going to be the best Thanksgiving dinner yet.”

  “THIS LOOKS amazing.” Denise offered Ivy a smile as she sat, making sure her mother was comfortable before settling herself between Luna and Margaret. She seemed friendlier since their talk, Ivy noted. They were never going to be best friends, but Denise seemed open to friendlier contact.