“He did make an impression. I’m not sure his character in the movie is any help to us here, though.”
“Oh! I wonder where the movie was filmed. That could give us a hint.” She pulls out her phone, and I wonder if she’s onto something. I have no idea where the movie was filmed, but I’m glad to follow along as she plays detective.
“It definitely could. It’s been a very long time since I saw that movie, so I have no idea.”
“The Czech Republic.” She looked up from the phone, disappointed. “I’m guessing your aunt didn’t want you to go to the Czech Republic.”
“No. I’d say she didn’t. Why don’t you look up Chaucer, the actual person?”
She works on the phone for only a moment before excited eyes fly to mine. “Canterbury! She wants you to go to Canterbury!”
I grin.
“You knew,” she rightfully accuses.
“Yes, Chaucer gave it away for me, but I thought you would have fun figuring it out.”
“Did Ifigure it out? You told me to look up Chaucer.”
“I had to contribute something to your search!” I grin and catch the pillow she flings at me. “That was fun. Maybe you can help me with some more of these before you go.”
“I’d like that. But tell me if you already know the answer.”
“I make no promises.”
“So where is Canterbury? Is it far?”
“It’s about an hour and a half from here.”
“Oh.” She looked a little crestfallen, like she’d wanted to join me, but felt like that was too far.
“You could come with me tomorrow.”
“I don’t know, I’ve already been away from my family all day today. And we have plans in the morning.”
“We could leave when you’re finished. Why don’t you check with them and see what they think?”
“You think they’ll tell me to go with you, don’t you?”
I shrug. “I hope they will.”
“They love me. They will want me to stay with them.”
“Or do they love you so much that they want the best for you and know the best is going with me?”
Ivy shakes her head and smiles. “I guess we’ll see.”
24
Ivy
“Youhavegottogo with him to Canterbury. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Val says.
“This trip with my family is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” I insist.
Val continues, ignoring me, “Or, really, it wouldn’t have to be once in a lifetime if you would let yourself love him. He could bring you here any time you wanted.”
“Val!”
