Ivy raced to Shelly and gave her a huge hug. Shelly was panting hard and laughing, while Mitch looked dumbfounded.
“She actually did it,” Mitch said. “I can’t believe she beat me.”
Bennett congratulated Jamir and gave Mitch a playful slap on the back. “These Bay family women are full of surprises. Does that mean you’re training more next year?”
Mitch drained a bottle of water. “Looks like it.”
“Hot chocolate is on me at Java Beach,” Bennett said, and people began making their way toward the coffee shop.
Chapter 16
While Imani brought in bags of groceries from her car, Ivy brought out a set of sturdy ceramic mixing bowls from the butler’s pantry. Imani and her son were baking gingerbread for the First Annual Gingerbread Bake-Off at the Seabreeze Inn.
“Let me know what else you might need,” Ivy said as she placed the bowls on the kitchen counter.
“I think I have everything, thanks to you,” Imani said. “My new house should be ready by summer, and I can’t wait to have a kitchen and gadgets and a garden again.” She quickly added, “Not that I haven’t loved being here, but you know what I mean.”
“I sure do,” Ivy said, thinking about how much this home meant to her and Shelly. “Having a home of your own is special. But so is sharing a home with family or good friends.”
Imani shook her head as she tied on an apron. “I never thought I would miss cooking, but it turns out I do. When Jamir was young, and I was in law school, we used to gather in the kitchen and bake for fun.” She glanced up at the clock above the sink. “As soon as my son’s last final exam is over, he’ll be here. I know the rules. Both team members have to be present.”
“Sunny has her last exam today, too,” Ivy said, wiping down the counter for her. “It’s been a tough semester for her, what with the new school and new friends. She’s been nervous about her exams.”
“Weren’t we all,” Imani said. “Sunny seems like a bright girl. She just needs to find the right path for her talents.” Imani hummed as she removed flour, brown sugar, and ginger from a shopping bag.
Ivy was surprised at how many people had entered the gingerbread bake-off. Ginger Delavie had drafted Bennett and Cookie, the organizer of the Summer Beach farmers market, to serve as judges. Mitch had immediately announced his entry, and the Java Beach coffee group quickly spread the word. While no entry fee was required, Poppy was collecting donations for the children’s center.
Ivy glanced at the clock. Shelly had just finished leading her yoga class, which met later on the weekend. Ivy could hear attendees chatting as they hurried to the dining room for a late breakfast.
Shelly sauntered into the kitchen in her yoga gear. “Good morning, Imani. Ready for the big contest?”
“You bet I am. I plan to sell my award-winning gingerbread loaves at Blossoms.”
Mitch opened the back door. “And I’m offering my award-winning gingerbread pancakes on the menu at Java Beach.” He carried a basket of fresh cranberry and orange muffins that Poppy had ordered yesterday for breakfast.
“Ha, we’ll see about that,” Imani said. “I’ve been making gingerbread almost as long as you’ve been alive.”
“Yeah? Well, I trained under the best.”
Imani tilted her nose up and gave Mitch a smug look. “That doesn’t mean you can execute. We’ll let the judges decide, but I’m not worried. I know what I’m capable of.”
Mitch grinned and gave her a high-five. “Game on, then.”
After watching this exchange, Shelly twirled her work-out towel and popped Mitch on his bottom with it. “You’d better take those muffins into the dining room before those women get a whiff of them and tear you to pieces.”
Mitch leaned over and kissed Shelly on the cheek. “Yes, ma’am.”
“Don’t you yes ma’am me,” Shelly said, narrowing her eyes. “And that better not be a dig at my age. I left you in the sand at the Santa Sprint.”
Grinning, Mitch said, “I love dating a cougar.” He swiftly dodged Shelly’s towel again and raced from the kitchen, his box of muffins in hand.
While Ivy and Imani laughed, Shelly rolled her eyes. “Be honest. Do you think he’s too young for me?”
Ivy slung her arm around her sister, who had always been the unpredictable one in the family. “Does it matter what anyone else thinks? Others’ opinions have never bothered you before. Don’t let them start now.”
“Aw, I’m just kidding,” Shelly said. She threw her towel around her neck and jerked her thumb toward the door. “Mitch is all right. More than all right, in fact.”
Ivy heard a soft note in her sister’s voice. “And exactly what does that mean?”
Shelly brushed back wisps of chestnut hair that escaped her messy bun. “We’ve just been talking…”
Ivy and Imani exchanged looks. “About what?” Ivy asked.
Shelly brought out a bottle of orange juice from Gertie and took a glass from a cabinet. “About the future.” She poured juice and gazed out the window toward the sea as she sipped. “What we want for our lives.”
“Oh, my, my,” Imani said, smoothing a handwritten recipe on the counter. “Sounds like you two are getting serious.”
Turning back, Shelly flushed. “Maybe. But don’t let that get around.”
“As if the entire town hadn’t already figured that out,” Ivy added.
Shelly had met Mitch the first day she and Ivy arrived in Summer Beach last spring. Shelly had just broken up with her long-time boyfriend in New York, Ezzra, who had been dodging the marriage question. Shelly wanted children and a family, so at thirty-seven, she was growing anxious.
Ivy understood that forlorn look of regret in Shelly’s eyes. Her sister waited too many years for the wrong man. Ivy wondered if they would have an announcement to make by the end of the year. Although Ivy liked Mitch, she hoped he wouldn’t waste Shelly’s time.
Mitch stepped back into the kitchen, and Shelly brightened. “Why do I feel like you three have been talking about me while I’ve been gone?” He ran his hand over his spiky, sun-bleached hair like an overgrown kid.
Shelly shrugged into a hoodie and pulled gloves from the pockets. “Want to go with me to the Hidden Garden, sweetie? Leilani called yesterday, and she put aside a lot of trimmed branches that we can use in my wreath-making class for guests today. They can display them here until they leave, and I’ll film a video for my channel.”
“Sure,” Mitch said. “My assistant can handle the late coffee crowd on her own.”
“Wreath-making, huh? That was clever of you,” Ivy said, thinking about how much time that would save them—and the inn would be beautifully decorated with the guests’ unique contributions. “Think they’d be interested in my vacuuming class?”
“Nice try,” Shelly said. “You have to get more creative. Like vacuum cleaner tango or something.” She paused at the rear door. “I forgot to tell you, but I told one of our guests, Kristy, that she could use the kitchen for her gingerbread entry. I love how everyone is getting involved, even our guests.”