Page 99 of The Summer of Christmas

Chapter 29

Over at the Belhurst Castle, Amari was having an epiphany. On that morning, she’d gotten a text from her agent. Apparently, the studio was very happy with the dailies, especially with Amari’s acting. Her agent made the point that she had been given an ideal role for where she was in her career.When Joseph Met Marywas a game changer in her rise to stardom.

As Amari thought about how she’d loved the part that Ivy had written for her, she had one of those light-bulb moments. She finally realized that if it hadn’t been for Ivy, she never would have been given the script with the perfect part. She suddenly felt horrible about how she’d treated Ivy, especially that she’d kicked her off the set. All because of her own insecurity about her voice. Who really cared if she could sing? She was an A-list actress. While she was getting dressed, she’d discovered the matching “soul sister” bracelet that she had given herself and Ivy. It was at the bottom of her suitcase. She’d meant to wear it, but she’d gotten into the fight with Ivy. Amari was applying her mascara when she started to tear up.How could I have behaved so badly?

Across town at the Green house, Linda was making French toast for the whole family. Mitch was frying up turkey bacon, and Griffin and Carol were sitting around the table drinking coffee, acting like siblings. Griffin looked right at home as if it was his real home. Ivy rushed down the stairs. She was telling them about her crazyA Christmas Caroldream when the doorbell rang. Carol peered out the window to see Amari on the porch. Alone.

“It’s the evil witch,” she said.

“Uh oh. I’m going to peace out. I don’t need her to see me here,” Griffin said as he got up and ran up the back staircase. Carol mouthed the word “chicken” to him.

“I’ll let her in,” Mitch said as he went to the door. He opened it to see Amari, beautiful as always and yet looking like she’d had humble pie for breakfast.

“Hi. Is Ivy here?”

“We’re all eating breakfast. Why don’t you come inside?” Everyone looked up as Amari entered the kitchen. Ivy glared at her.

“Hi,” Amari said shyly. “Ivy, can we talk?”

“Sure,” Ivy said. But she said it in a way that indicated she was angry.

“I mean somewhere privately.”

“Whatever you have to say to me can be said in front of my family.”

Amari actually looked nervous. She could tell that Ivy’s family no longer loved her unconditionally. “It’s about Nick.”

“Please. I don’t have time for this. He doesn’t love you.”

“I know that.”

Ivy looked surprised. “You do?”

“I knew I never had a chance with Nick. I was only trying to get into character. I was acting.”

“You did an awfully good job at it,” Carol said.

“And for the record, I hope you know that I’m not really your mother,” Linda added.

“I know. It was all play-acting. But for me it also became real. I’m sorry for hurting you guys. And I’m sorry I banned you from the set, Ivy. It had nothing to do with Nick. I was just so jealous of your voice.”

“Ivy does have a beautiful voice,” Mitch noted.

Ivy looked irritated. “Let’s see if I’m getting this right. You banned me from the set of the movie for which I wrote the script. And without said script there never would have been a movie, and all because you were jealous of my voice at a small-town Karaoke bar?”

“Yes.”

“How fragile are you?”

“It’s not my best quality,” Amari said as she broke into tears. “I never meant to hurt you. I really liked you so much. I wanted us to be like sisters.”

“She already has a sister,” Carol quickly said.

“Amari, I don’t have time for this. I have other things I need to do right now,” Ivy said.

“Nick never loved me. It was always you. It was all he talked about. All the time.”

“Even in the hotel room?”