Emma dug into the arch of Maggie’s foot, and Maggie positively groaned. Looking back to me, she continued. “Renting this place out, running a business on your own, whatever you have going on with Jake, pick your topic.”
“Jake, let’s start with Jake.” Maggie spoke from her spot of relaxation.
I tried for an innocent look. “What do you mean?”
Emma hooted with laughter. “Oh, Ivy. You need to do better than that. We were at the brewery celebration, and you two had so much heat coming off you as you circled each other you threatened to combust.”
“Yep, and Sully says Jake has been in a reallygood moodsince this weekend. So, chickie, spill.” Maggie sat up to get some crackers, but her belly was in the way. “Before you spill, Emma, cracker me.”
Emma grabbed the box and held it out toward Maggie. She got what she needed, and they both turned to me, clearly ready for the details.
I looked at my phone at the time, wondering if I needed to get Addie yet. Nope. Hours to go. I loved these girls. They’d become good friends in my time in Highland Falls. “Are you two sure you don’t want to call Lou to come over? Or are you the next generation of Highland’s gossip leaders?”
“Those are big shoes to fill,” Maggie said.
“And Miss Lou is on a Christmas shopping trip with her friends to Indy,” Emma replied. “We’re here for her too.”
“Course you are.” I shook my head. “Well, let’s just dive in and lay it down. I have no idea what’s up with Jake and myself.”
Maggie was lacking any form of patience today. “Any horizontal dancing?”
Emma slapped her arm.
“Yep,” I replied, my cheeks heating a bit, but staying the course. “And brunch with his family on Sunday, calls and texts since then.” I looked around Nana’s place. “And he’s been helping me with some business decisions, like renting out this place.” I looked down at her crazy patterned rug, running my hands over the softness.
Emma leaned across the low table to squeeze my shoulder. “You okay with letting this place go? Well, kind of.”
I looked around, soaking it in for a moment. It was time. “Yeah, I am. I mean, I feel Nana here, you know? But I feel her with me in a lot of places. It’s time, and Kate will do well up here.”
Emma settled back, watching me. “I’m glad Jake has talked to you a little about business. I know Sully says often that it would be too hard to run the brewery on his own.”
Meeting their eyes, I worked to ignore the way my stomach was twisting. “I still don’t know if I’m going to sell. I wouldn’t even consider it if it wasn’t to another independent bookstore. But it is, and well, things were tight this summer. I’m just not sure—”
“You don’t need to explain to us,” Emma interrupted.
Maggie bulldozed over Emma’s words. “I wish I’d known that things were so tight last summer. Why didn’t you say anything? You didn’t need to pay me.”
My heart lightened. It was hard to trust that people would stick by you sometimes. But these two? I think Nana would have approved.
“It’s fine, Mags. We just had a dip. I think I’m a little more sensitive to that because things were tight when I first had Ads. I don’t want to ever go back to those days.”
“But sell Pages?” Maggie’s brows were drawn together. “You love this place. The vibe is so you, and it’s your dream. Are you really considering it?”
I studied my hands, at a loss for what to say or, truly, what to do.
“Ivy,” Emma called.
I glanced to see her watching me, kindness pouring off her.
“We support you with whatever you decide. And I hope it goes without saying we’re here if you want to talk.” She slid back into the couch as she tugged Maggie’s feet back into her lap. “Now, let’s talk about happier things, shall we?”
I smiled at her gratefully.
“So you’re together.” Maggie pulled us back to the topic of Jake.
“Not sure,” I said, figuring we might not be on that much happier of a topic. I picked at my flowy skirt, twisting it. “I had a thing with my parents the other night. Jake was upset by it. I can’t stop thinking about Lou saying Jake’s a born nurturer. Maybe that’s what he’s doing?”
“While getting some?” Emma asked.
