Finding Love in Ivy Falls

Chapter Fifteen

MANNY

Impossible For The Locals

‘Manny, if you swing that hammer any harder, you’re going to drive the nail straight through the structure wall. Stop taking your frustration out on the poor lumber and talk to me.’

Torran crossed her arms and leaned against the new entry frame to the house. We’d built it with an impressive arch that would be filled with leaded glass. Below it would sit two massive side-by-side wrought-iron doors. We wanted this house to make an impression when you first saw it. The doors were a good start.

I stood and used the bandana in my back pocket to wipe the Sheetrock dust from my hands. ‘We’ve got a lot of work to do. The film crew is supposed to be here soon to start shooting more interiors. It can wait.’

‘No. Tell me what’s bothering you.’ She tapped the toe of a dirty black boot. Crossed her arms. She wasn’t letting me off that easy.

I didn’t have to tell her about the rock incident at the P&P. Ivy Falls gossip again. She also knew that when I wasn’t squabbling with her for more than a half-hour, something was troubling me.

‘The break-in at the house, and the rock at the store.’ I hesitated, trying to put into words what I was worried about without freaking her out. ‘Is someone trying to bother Tess? Did she unknowingly make someone mad?’

‘Did you ask her?’ she flipped back at me.

‘Of course. She swore she has no idea what’s going on.’

‘Then that’s her answer.’ She paused and slid her hands into the pockets of her paint-splattered overalls. ‘Although all of it is sort of weird. This is Ivy Falls. Usually when a person has an issue, they’ll just stomp right up to you on the street and have it out.’

Torran knew better than anyone how much that was true. When Hearth and Home shot our first TV pilot, an entire can of green paint fell on her head, and she shouted out enough F-bombs to make even Roy Kent blush. The footage made it to YouTube, and people in Ivy Falls weren’t shy about letting her know how angry they were that she’d told the entire internet that she hated the town. It wasn’t true. She loved this place more than anything, but in a fit of rage and fear, she’d said the wrong thing.

‘If it’s not related to Tess directly, then what in the hell is happening? Is it kids getting a vandalism thrill?’ I said.

‘If that was true, wouldn’t we know about it by now? People around here can’t keep a secret for very long.’

My mind went to that day at the soccer fields. The man pacing behind the trees.

‘You don’t think this is related to the show in any way? Like out-of-towners trying to stir up trouble?’

‘I get why that might make sense for the incident at the store, but Tess’ house? Why there?’ she asked.

I shrugged, and the worry lines around her mouth tightened.

‘I can talk to my dad. Make sure Deputy Ben makes more frequent passes by her house.’

‘That’d be great. I might just drive by a few times too.’

‘Manny,’ she sighed. ‘Why don’t you just ask her out? It doesn’t have to be a big deal. Go and have a drink one night. Beck and I will watch the kids. We can do a campout in our backyard before it gets too cold.’

A brief flash of Tess and me standing close in the P&P, a kiss only seconds from happening before that rock came through the window, sent heat through my bones.

‘I thought you promised you’d stop meddling.’

She gave me a shrug. ‘This is my sister we’re talking about. I want her to be happy.’

‘We’ve been over this, Tor. She needs to be ready. I can wait for however long Tess needs.’

She held up her hands in surrender. ‘Okay, message received. I won’t push anymore.’

‘Liar,’ I said with a smile. ‘But for now, can I get back to work?’

‘Thank you for looking out for her. She needs it,’ she said in a soft voice.

‘Don’t let her hear you say that. More than anything, Tess wants to prove to you and your dad that she can stand on her own.’

‘She knows we believe in her.’

I’d already said too much. What Tess shared with me on Halloween about Billy not providing any money to support Iris and Rose felt like a private, vulnerable moment. She didn’t need me exploiting it now, even if I thought it would help her. I turned away and tried to get back to work.

‘Hey.’ Torran tugged on my ragged work shirt. ‘Is there something else going on with Tess?’

‘Tor, you should talk to her, not me.’

‘No. You brought it up.’

I hated that I’d opened my mouth, but Tess needed to know that she wasn’t alone in any of this. That she had support if only she’d ask for it.

‘When was the last time you talked to her about the financial state of the store?’ I was in it now, may as well let out the rest. ‘Did you know Billy still hasn’t paid a dime to support the girls?’

All the color drained from her cheeks. ‘Shit. I’ve been so busy with the business and Beck…’ She rubbed at her tired eyes. ‘I guess I haven’t talked to her much, and that makes me a seriously crappy big sister.’

‘She knows you care, but a little reassurance from you, and your dad, couldn’t hurt.’

‘You’re right.’ She tapped the wrench she was holding against the leg of her overalls. ‘I’m telling you right now that if Billy shows his face again in Ivy Falls…’ She paused, her jaw clenching. ‘Well, I just hope you have bail money.’

‘Me? Why isn’t Beck bailing you out in this little made-up criminal scenario of yours?’

‘Because he loves Tessa as much as I do, and he’d be in the cell right next to me.’

‘Oh, like Bonnie and Clyde?’ I teased.

‘Nope. More badass like Mr. & Mrs. Smith .’

Her phone pinged, and she pulled it from her pocket.

‘Crap.’

She turned the screen to me. It was a text from Lauren saying she was two minutes away.

‘You ready to hear the offer for Season Three?’

I shrugged. The last year had been a whirlwind. And while I appreciated that the show might make tourism pick up soon, help Tess’ store, I wasn’t loving the stares pointed at me when I walked through the square, or the small group of onlookers who lingered outside the house right now. The way phones were pointed in my direction every single time I walked into a public place in town.

We’d talked to Lauren about the uptick in uncomfortable comments, and she’d promised Hearth and Home would protect our privacy, and luckily no one had figured out where I lived.

Tor was a different story.

After the second episode of our show aired, people started showing up in front of the house on Huckleberry Lane to take pictures. We knew it might happen after she and Beck decided to keep it and move in. What we didn’t expect was people trespassing on their front lawn. Knocking on her front door at all hours of the day and night, scaring Piper, who was still a little too fragile.

Discussion had gone back and forth with the Ivy Falls sheriff about the trespassing. Now Torran and Beck were discussing putting up a privacy fence for safety.

A freaking fence.

That was not something I ever wanted to consider for Lou and me.

Like she could read my mind, Torran said, ‘I get that the attention has grown a little intense, but we really are helping the town. Hell, the other day Silvio actually smiled at me when I grabbed my coffee at Sugar Rush.’

‘It has been good. I just want things to stay calm for a little while longer, because once Season Two is done and starts airing, it’s going to bring in a lot more people.’

‘Yes.’ She looked up at the framing that was going up for the second floor. ‘But the extra funds are letting us do a lot more for this house than we’d be able to do with our own budget.’

Her response brought up yet another worry for me. The upgrades we’d planned would put this house in the highest price range for anything on the market in Ivy Falls. I wasn’t sure anyone local would be able to afford it, which meant a possible out-of-towner buying it.

Over the last few months, I’d read articles about shows similar to ours that’d brought attention to their towns. The result was the cost of homes skyrocketing, making it impossible for those original to the area to purchase properties. I wanted people to come to Ivy Falls. Taste the deliciousness that came from Barb and Susan’s café. Browse the shelves at Tess’ shop. I just didn’t want them to move here and make it impossible for the locals to buy and live in our community.

‘Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Manny. Wait until Lauren presents the deal, and we’ll go from there.’

Her phone buzzed again, and a slow smile slid over her face.

Must be Beck.

‘I’m going to head inside and take this.’

‘Tell Beck I said “Hi”.’

She smirked, and her voice took on a golden tone as she answered. She and Beck had been through hell, and I was glad that Tor was finally happy. After the long, agonizing period of grief she’d gone through after her mom passed, she deserved it.

I went back to hammering, focusing on the framing for the doors. A few minutes later, the familiar click of heels on the pavement warned Lauren had arrived.

‘Manny,’ she said in that soft Georgia twang. I’d been around her enough to know that was her I-want-something-from-you voice.

‘Lauren.’ I kept working in the hope that she’d go inside and chat with Torran first.

‘How’s that sweet little girl of yours?’

Yep. She definitely wanted something.

I set down the hammer and tried not to smirk. It always blew me away how dressed up she was when she came to the sites. Today she was wearing a bright pink pantsuit with a crisp white shirt underneath. Her heels were the exact same shade of what Lou, I think, called Barbie pink. She’d slicked back the hair from her face in a perfect ponytail. I tried not to grimace. I’d been doing Lou’s hair for years now and still could not get my ponytails to look that good.

‘What do you need?’ I finally said, giving a good yank on the brim of my hat.

‘The show is still getting great buzz, and we really want to amp up the promo for Seasons Two and Three.’

‘Isn’t that something you take care of back at the network?’

She pinched her lips into a thin line. ‘What we need is for you to make a personal social media account that ties into the show. Your fans are being relentless about getting updated photos of you.’

I gave my hat another good yank so I wouldn’t have to see her eyes when I said, ‘That would be a big freaking no, in fact, we need to talk again about moderating the show’s account and limiting the comments. They’re still way out of hand.’

‘Manny, work with me here. If we limit comments, the fans will get upset.’

‘I’m more than happy to let your publicity team take photos when we are shooting here. Put them on the show’s account. But I won’t agree to anything more.’

She propped a hand on her hip. ‘Is this a negotiable or non-negotiable item with you?’

I swallowed a laugh. After Tor and I finished the first season and started having talks with the network about Season Two, they made a lot of ridiculous requests. First, they wanted us to get on a big bus and spend the summer going to home and garden shows around the country to do speaking engagements. I shut that one down quickly by saying that was a ‘non-negotiable’ item. Then they asked if we could do one or two within the state. That became something ‘negotiable’. We went back and forth for the entire day until everyone involved was beyond exhausted. Now, whenever we spoke, Lauren thought it’d be funny to throw in my turn of phrase to poke the bear a little.

‘Non-negotiable,’ I said.

She bent down next to me. The hem of her expensive pants picking up bits of sawdust and dirt.

‘Come on, Manny. The network is really on me for you to do more promotion.’ She pulled in an uneasy breath. ‘In fact, they require it as part of the next contract.’

I rose to my full height. Even with those heels on, she barely reached the center of my chest. ‘Does Tor know about this?’

‘Are you kidding? I know better than to try and talk around you. That woman turns into a fire-breathing dragon when it comes to protecting you.’

Tor did sort of go all ‘big sister’ when it came to anything dealing with me. At first I was shocked by it, but I’d learned to appreciate it since I was an only child. I hoped Lou had a friend one day who’d look out for her the way Torran did for me.

I picked up another set of nails and clutched them between my fingers. ‘Lauren, I know you have a job to do, but I’m not changing my mind.’

‘At least come inside and let’s talk it over with Torran.’

There was a plea in her voice that made guilt twist in my stomach. She wasn’t trying to be difficult, only doing the network’s bidding.

Like she was sure I’d follow, she walked through the front door and into the cavernous house, which at the moment felt like the inside of the belly of a whale, all wide gaping hollows and thick wood framing for structure.

I set down the nails and pulled in a full breath, because I had a sneaking suspicion this conversation was far from over.