Page 10 of Decked Out with Ivy

Trey: He looks like a douche.

Rome: He looks like a douche.

Trey: Ha! See? Rome knows.

Rome: High-five!

Aunt Claire: Are you two ever going to grow up?

Rome: No

Trey: No!

Mom: Who is Cody Chance?

She unraveled her scarf and undid the zipper on her coat before responding.

Ivy: No one. It’s a misunderstanding.

She doubted that would stop their questions, but it was the truth. She still couldn’t believe how easily a headline was madefrom an innocent picture. Is this what Bex dealt with on a daily basis? She needed to give her a hug the next time she saw her.

Poppy: You better not be lying.

Ivy: I’m not. Rome and Trey are right. He’s a douche.

Rome: Do I need to kick his ass?

Trey: We can bury his body at Angel’s Den. No one will ever find him.

Aunt Claire: You two knock it off! There will be no beating up or killing!

Ivy: I’m at work. Talk later.

She shoved her phone in her bag. She doubted the text chain would stop, they were just gearing up, but at least they wouldn’t notify the authorities for search and rescue if she didn’t respond.

Ivy turned theClosedsign toOpenand headed to the rear of the store to dispose of her coat and bag. The bells above the door chimed, and Ivy called out, “Be right there!”

She hung her coat on a hanger and draped her scarf across the top before placing it on the rack. She stored her bag in one of the lockers that sat beside the counter.

With a turn of a dial, Christmas music filtered through the speakers around the store. She smiled as Nat King Cole’s voice warmed the atmosphere.

She stepped into the main store and smiled when she spotted Terry and Betty Hayes.

“Good morning, ladies. How can I help you today?”

“Is it true?” Terry asked.

Ivy sighed. “Not you too.”

“So you are shacking up with that hunky actor,” she said.

“Terry, you should know better than to believe tabloids.”

“But it’s not just the tabloids. The local news had a segment about the picture.”

“You’re famous all over the state of New Hampshire,” Betty said, her blue eyes filled with warmth and kindness. Though Ivyknew beneath the wrinkles and grandmother appearance, Betty Hayes was anything but innocent. Ivy strongly believed she had a hand in the fact that all her grandkids were currently married, engaged, or in happy relationships.

“Forget the state of New Hampshire,” Terry exclaimed. “You’re world famous. I saw you on the Tweeter.”

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