Nick shook his head. “A very small family,” he replied with a trace of sadness in his voice.
At once, Ivy understood why Nick wanted to stay through Christmas. Most likely, he was alone. She wondered if his parents were living. Perhaps he’d share some details about his life. Or not. Though Ivy was curious about all their guests, she’d learned not to pry.
As the tree filled with ornaments, Ivy was in awe. The colors and array were astounding and represented years of collecting. She could just imagine Amelia and Gustav adding to their collection as they traveled. Perhaps they’d brought some cherished family pieces, or maybe they’d asked artists to create special commemorative ornaments.
Ivy felt a strange duty to look after what they’d found in those old crates. She might only bring these decorations out once a year, but it would be an annual connection and homage to the woman who’d taken great risks to save significant works of art and shelter people from danger. If only Alzheimer’s hadn’t robbed Amelia of her memories in her later years.
Even before residents of Summer Beach knew of the old house’s hidden treasures, they held Amelia Erickson in high esteem for her generosity to the small community. She’d bought land and donated it to the city for parks and the children’s center, among many other activities.
Ivy couldn’t match Amelia’s level of philanthropy, but she and Shelly could make the Seabreeze Inn a gathering place for the community. She couldn’t wait to share the joy of the season.
Poppy was standing on a ladder, hanging a sweet little birdcage with a tiny red robin inside when her phone buzzed. As soon as she finished hanging the ornament, she descended the ladder and checked her phone.
Poppy let out a squeal. “The ads are working!”
Ivy rushed to her side and motioned for Shelly. “Did we get a query?”
“We got a reservation,” Poppy cried. Her phone dinged again. “Make that two reservations!”
Carlotta beamed. “I knew you girls were onto a big idea. I predict that you’ll soon have full occupancy.”
“Just not tonight,” Elena said, and everyone laughed.
Poppy opened the reservations. “One is for a private room, and one is for a shared room.”
Ivy pressed her hand against her heart. “Thank goodness. My crazy idea might just work.”
Shelly flung her arms around Ivy and Poppy. “What a team we are. Poppy, we’ve missed you.”
Sunny stood and joined them. “As soon as school is out, I’ll be here to help, too.”
Ivy brought her youngest daughter into their group. “I’m always thrilled to have your help.” Sunny had been helping out after Poppy left for Los Angeles, but there hadn’t been much work. Instead, Ivy encouraged Sunny to focus on her last year of school.
Once the tree was decorated and most of the family had left, Ivy stood by the fireplace, watching how the fire danced and threw light across the glimmering ornaments. At the very top, Bennett had secured a beautiful crystal angel.
Sunny had gone to bed, Bennett had followed, and now only Shelly, Poppy, and Elena remained with her. They’d helped her put away the food and tidy the ballroom. Now, they’d all kicked off their shoes and were lounging on the sofas, transfixed by the majestic tree and sipping wine, unwinding after a long day of work.
An evening chill had crept into the house, and Ivy warmed her hands by the fireplace. “Thanks for picking up more wood, Shelly. I’d completely forgotten.”
“I didn’t get the firewood.”
“Who did, then?” Ivy asked.
“While you were getting ready, I heard Bennett outside with a couple of guys. They were unloading a truck.”
Ivy blinked. “There’s more outside?”
“It’s stacked in the back,” Poppy said. “Looks like enough for the entire winter. I figured you knew about it.”
Pressing her lips together in consternation, Ivy wondered how much that had cost. She sure wished Bennett had asked her first.
Swinging her legs up onto the sofa, Elena leaned back and gazed up toward the bookshelf. “That piece up there has such brilliance. Mind if I look at it?”
“Go ahead,” Ivy said. “It’s a pretty rhinestone piece.”
Elena padded across the hardwood floors and reached for the piece, but she couldn’t quite get it.
Shelly bounced off the other sofa. “I’m a little taller. I think I can reach it.” She stretched her hand toward the oval knick-knack. “Almost.” She scooted a nearby ottoman over and stood on it. Her fingertips just touched the sparkling piece.
Shelly barely managed to push the piece to the edge of the top shelf. “I can just get it now.” Her ankles wobbled on the soft ottoman, and she cried, “Watch out!”
Elena flung out her hands to catch the falling piece, but she was too late. The piece hit the rug and bounced, splitting open.
“Oh, no,” Elena cried. “I broke it.”
As half the piece came to rest, a tiny bird rolled out.
Elena picked up another portion that had been dislodged and had fallen out of the piece. Kneeling on the rug, Elena passed a hand over her face, which had gone pale.
“Elena, are you okay?” Ivy asked.
Looking up, Elena cleared her throat. Her voice wavered as she spoke. “Aunt Ivy, Aunt Shelly. You need to see this right away.”
Chapter 9
Ivy knelt on the rug next to Elena, examining the sparkling, red enamel piece that her niece had given her. It just fit in her hand.
“It doesn’t look broken,” Ivy said, trying to comfort Elena, who seemed shaken. “That could’ve happened to anyone. I’m always climbing up on wobbly chairs to get something. It’s a wonder I don’t break my neck.”
“No, look closer,” Elena said. In her other hand, she held a tiny piece dislodged from the oval-shaped decorative item. A golden nest, exquisitely portrayed. A delicate bird with glittering red wings. She fixed her vivid blue eyes on Ivy. “Look at what you called rhinestones.”
By the light of the flicking fire, Ivy peered closer. She turned over the oval-shaped piece, which had burst open on impact. “It’s so ornate. The outside is beautiful, but what’s surprising is the inside is just as finished.” Her neck began tingling with a strange sensation. “These stones…”
“Are definitely not rhinestones,” Elena finished. “Diamonds and rubies, I would say, and very fine enamel work. None of the stones are large, but the design is beautifully whimsical. An outstanding work of art. You don’t see pieces like this very often. I’d like to look at this closer tomorrow.”
“It must be valuable.” Ivy sat back on her heels. “I wonder why it was packed away with the Christmas decorations?”
Shelly and Poppy knelt beside them, and Ivy passed the gemstone encrusted piece to Shelly.
“Think about it,” Shelly said. “The house staff would have packed and stored the decorations. Because it’s red, maybe a new member of the staff thought this was part of the Christmas things.”
Poppy made a face. “Someone probably lost their job because of this.”
“Unless Amelia wasn’t well and didn’t notice it,” Ivy said.