Chapter 5

The music at the Seascape Restaurant faded away, and the song which Ivy and Julian had been dancing to ended. Julian and Ivy returned to their table, and Ivy had to remind herself every second of what her goal was. Their lobsters had arrived and they began to eat.

“There’s no butter.” Julian said displeased, “what kind of service is this?”

Ivy could see the Julian she knew coming through. “Relax, I’ll go get some.” She sighed as she got up from the table.

Back at Sam’s table, he watched Ivy get up and knew he had to talk to her. Jessica wasn’t back yet, so it would be okay. Sam followed Ivy behind a turn and up to the room by the counter, where Ivy had just asked for butter at her table.

“Ivy, we have to talk.” Sam said coming up behind her.

She was surprised and spun around. “Sam.”

“Ivy, I have to know why you’re doing it. Why are you marrying Julian again?” Sam didn’t want to seem to concern so he quickly added, “Because if Julian is forcing you into this, I’ll rip his-”

“Sam stop.” Ivy demanded. She was more confused then ever. She loved Sam, but she didn’t want to deceive Ethan. Ivy knew that any other time she would have her hands all over him, but not this time. This time she felt different. She felt guilty. That’s when she broke down and began to cry.

Sam comforted Ivy’s shaking body, by hugging her. He pulled her into a corner, so they wouldn’t be so noticed.

“I just don’t know anymore...” She was saying. “I can’t decide, and I don’t want to hurt... Ethan, but I just don’t know anymore...”

But as Sam held her, the more she didn’t want to let him go. Although, she was still confused she looked up at Sam and began stroking his face. After a few moments Sam moved her hands away. “Ivy, I can’t...”

Ivy blinked and sat down in a chair as Sam walked off. “I have to focus, and I have to have you and this wedding is going to help me.” She was thinking straight again, and this time she wasn’t going to let anyone take her off track. At least, she hoped. Ivy wiped her eyes and left the room to return to Julian.

From across the room, the two had been closely watched. Jessica, couldn’t believe it, but she was secretly thrilled. She had heard every word. Ivy wanted her father, and this wedding was all a hoax. If Jessica could only get proof, she could stop the wedding, and then Kay wouldn’t get her time in the spotlight.

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There were two busy places in Harmony the next day. The carnival on the Pier had one day left until it opened, and the Crane Mansion had trucks stopping out front to drop off boxes every half hour. The Cranes had decided on a wedding in their backyard, and nothing was being overlooked.

People were calling out from all around, “Mrs. Crane, can I get your signature over here?” and “Is this what you wanted?”

Ivy was busily bouncing back and forth from the trucks out front to inside where the boxes were being checked. Still, in her mind she knew everything was going to far.

“Pilar, can you sign for those?” Ivy asked pointing to the man with the boxes on the front stoop.

Pilar went over and did just so and returned to Mrs. Crane. “The white fold up chairs are arriving now, where do you want them?”

Mrs. Crane thought for a moment. “Have them taken to the cottage, and placed in the backyard. Sheridan won’t mind.” She instructed, “And have the cook cancel brunch, I’m going down to the carnival.”

Pilar looked questioningly at her employer, and Ivy continued, “I need to go find Kay Bennett.”

As Ivy was leaving, Ethan came running down the stairs and stopped her. “Mother!” Ivy turned around and hugged her son. “Mother, you’ve been so busy we haven’t gotten to speak. I’m coming with you to the carnival.”

Ivy laughed and smiled at her son. “Sure, but I’m not taking the limo.I think I’d prefer to walk.”

Ethan and Ivy went out the door with high spirits. If Ivy only knew what was going to happen to her later that day, she probably would have stayed at home. Oblivious of the people plotting against her, she and Ethan strolled down Raven Hill and onto the streets of Harmony.

“So, what changed your mind?” Ethan spoke up, making Ivy snap out of her day dreaming.

“Excuse me,” she asked.

“What changed your mind about Father. He never did honor your previous wedding vows, so why are you two-”

Ivy cut her son short. “Ethan, you have a lot to learn about love.” Was the only answer she could muster, not wanting to lie directly to her son.

“Okay, I’ll stop asking those types of questions. I’m just so elated with everything, that’s all!” He said grabbing his Mother’s hands and pulling her towards a corner store. “Let me buy you an ice cream!”

Ivy was reluctant at first. The elegant Mr. Crane seen walking licking an ice cream cone? But she gave in, and let Ethan buy her a vanilla cone.

The two approached the Harmony Pier, as Ivy finished off her ice cream. Ethan spied someone he knew and waved. “You know, I always wanted to help set this place up.” He admitted, “It looks like it would be great fun.”

Ivy nodded. “Tell me if you see Kay Bennett, I need to talk to her about a rehearsal time.”

Grace came up to the mother and son pair with a huge smile on her face. “Ivy, it’s so nice to see you out and about. Congratulations on everything. And thank you so much for asking Kay to be a part of it. She is probably the happiest girl in all of New England.”

“It’s a pleasure working with Kay, she is such a sweet girl. Speaking of Kay, is she around?” Ivy said returning Grace’s smile.

Grace glanced around for a few moments and pointed farther down the Pier. “I just saw her go down that way, with her friends.”

Ivy and Ethan walked in the direction Grace had pointed but still couldn’t see her. “Ethan, this may take a while. Look, there’s Theresa, why don’t you go talk to her while I try and find Kay.”

Ethan agreed, and headed over to Theresa. Ivy kept on going, and was about to give up when she was tapped on the shoulder from behind.

“Mrs. Crane, hello. Are you looking for Kay?” It was an old woman carrying a doll.

“Oh, why yes. How’d you know?” Ivy asked shocked by the woman, who was of course- Tabitha.

Tabitha smiled. “Well, I can tell when someone wants something. I believe Kay is over talking with Sam.”

Ivy jumped at the mention of his name. “Sam...”

“Sam Bennett, her father.”

“Oh, yes I know. Thank you very much, but I didn’t catch your name.” Ivy said politely.

“Tabitha.”

Ivy nodded and walked slowly away from the witch. Tabitha watched her carefully until she was way in the distance.

“Timmy loves the fresh ocean air! Timmy wishes he could be a sea captain!” The doll said breathing in the air.

Tabitha looked down the Pier ignoring him and smiling.

“What’s Tabby so happy about?” He asked.

Tabitha continued smiling but finally turned to Timmy, “Today is going to be an very excellent day.”

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Jessica awoke to silence. She slept in while the rest of her family went to work at the carnival. Jessica pulled out the old photo of her father and Ivy from under her pillow. It had recently crossed her mind that Tabitha had had it, so she could ask the old lady about her father’s past.

Jessica shot out of bed, a million ideas developing in her mind. She went into the bathroom and proceeded to take a shower. The shampoo felt different in her hands as she washed it through her short hair. Nevertheless, it wasn’t until after she dried Jessica realized what was going on.

She raced down the stairs and shrieked, “Kay! Kay Bennett you are going to die!”

Instead of shampoo, the contents of the bottle had been filled with Simone’s mother’s Insta-Curl. Jessica resembled something like a poodle. Jessica tried washing out the curls, but after two washes they still were there. Jessica didn’t have time for this either, so she put on a bandana grabbed a banana and tramped out the door.

Tabitha wasn’t at her house, so Jessica decided to look where most people would be- at the Pier. Tabitha was standing on the out skirts of the crowd, holding her doll and surveying things when Jessica found her.

“And to what do I owe this pleasant surprise?” Tabitha mused as Jessica approached her.

“Tabitha, I really need to talk to you. You don’t know how important this is.” Jessica said out of breath.

Tabitha grinned to herself and she sat down on a nearby bench, as Jessica continued. “Last night when you gave me the tea towel to wash, well, I found something wrapped up in it.” Tabitha listened intently to Jessica’s story. “It was an old picture, a photo from like years ago. You can tell by the clothes and by the condition of it.”

“Well what was it?” Tabitha asked as if she had no clue as to what Jessica was talking about. Jessica rummaged around in her bag and pulled it out, handing it to Tabitha. The witch examined it and finally met Jessica’s eyes. “You must have been confused when you saw this, but it’s nothing.”

“No. I know who those people are, you don’t have to hide anything.” Jessica insisted. “But I want to know about it. I need to know about it.”

“Goodbye Ivy Crane.” Tabitha whispered into Timmy’s ears. Tabitha turned back to Jessica who hadn’t noticed anything. “Well, that’s your father with Mrs. Crane. They were- oh maybe I shouldn’t be telling you this.”

“No please... please continue.”

“They were very much in love. Sam was even ready to propose to Ivy, when, well then she married Julian.”

Jessica listened carefully, and felt sorrow for her father. “Why? Why did she marry him?”

Tabitha could have explained everything but that may seem odd, so she shrugged. “I don’t know, you’d have to ask Mrs. Crane. Your father doesn’t even know why, but-”

“Hey, Jess.” Kay smiled evilly noticing Jessica’s hair. “Bad hair day?”

Jessica knew what Kay was implying but couldn’t reply because her father had also arrived. Jessica quickly pulled the picture back from Tabitha.

“What were you guys looking at?” Sam asked.

Tabitha smiled and Jessica proceeded to lie by telling him she was looking at old carnival photos. The situation was already uncomfortable, but that was nothing compared to the atmosphere after Ivy arrived.

“Good morning everyone.” She said cheerfully smiling at Sam.

Everyone was silent for a moment, with Kay glaring at Jessica, Jessica glancing back and forth between Ivy and Sam, and Ivy staring at her past love. Tabitha was almost too happy, and had to control her excitement.

“Hello again, Mrs. Crane.” Tabitha said.

The others all greeted her, and Ivy began, “Well, I’m glad I finally found you Kay. We need to go over wedding plans, and Julian really would like to meet you. So why don’t you and your father come-”

“No!” Sam interrupted, as the crowd waited for what he would say next. “Kay you have to finish here.”

“But Dad I have a commitment to Mrs. Crane, and I want you to come with me. Plus, this place is almost finished.” Kay argued. She really didn’t want to be left alone with Ivy and Julian, because frankly, Julian scared her. “Come on Dad.”

“It’s just a rehearsal, I don’t even know if Julian will be there. So, shall we?” Ivy motioned towards the street.

Kay and Sam began following her when she stopped, as if she had remembered something. “Jessica!” Ivy called. “I forgot, Gwen is out of town and I need someone to fill in the place of one of the bridesmaids. Would you mind taking her place, just for this rehearsal?”

Jessica couldn’t really say ‘no’ so she agreed to go experience what Kay was really apart of.

Tabitha watched the group leave and laughed. “Ooh, this is better than Hallowe’en Timmy!”

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