Her twin looked so pitiful, how could Ivy say no?
‘Seriously,’ Olivia continued. ‘My arms ache just thinking about lugging those folders again. Plus, you have vamp strength. Carrying that lot should be no big deal for you.’
Olivia was right. Ivy could carry the binders, no problem. ‘OK, fine,’ Ivy conceded. ‘But this doesn’t mean I’m going to help with the dance planning!’
Olivia placed her hand over her heart. ‘I solemnly swear not to rope you into any more dance-related activities.’
‘Good.’ Ivy tried to look serious.
Ivy’s keys jingled as she used one hand to unlock the heavy Gothic door. Inside, she dropped Olivia’s dance folder on the dining-room table with a loud thud, and made a big show of shaking her arms out.
‘That was rough.’
Olivia stuck out her tongue. ‘Stop pretending! I thought I was supposed to be the actress in this family!’
‘Girls, in here.’ Ivy heard her father call.
The twins tramped into the kitchen. It was strange, but now that Olivia was part of the family, this room was actually home to real human food. It still surprised Ivy when she opened the refrigerator sometimes. Vampires got all their food from the BloodMart, a secret vampire grocery store hidden in the basement of the FoodMart. Ivy couldn’t remember the last time they’d had a vegetarian in their home pre-Olivia.
‘Hi,’ said a familiar voice. It was Lillian, leaning on the kitchen counter, looking casual-fabulous as usual, in a black turtleneck and skinny jeans tucked into her stiletto-heeled ankle boots.
Ivy and Olivia had first met the ultra-chic vampire film-maker on the set of The Groves, where she had been working as an assistant director. Ivy had spotted the romantic chemistry between Lillian and her father a mile away. Her dad hadn’t been able to take his eyes off Lillian for a second when she had walked the red carpet at Olivia’s big debut, and it didn’t take super-powered vamp sight to see what that meant.
Lillian wrapped the twins in a double hug. ‘I thought we’d all have dinner. Is that cool?’
‘That’s perfect!’ Olivia clapped her hands, squealing. Ivy knew Olivia was beyond pleased that their father had fallen in love. Come to think of it, Olivia was beyond pleased when anyone fell in love. Ivy could only imagine what romantic scenes her sister anticipated taking place at her dance. Yet another reason not to go.
Lillian touched Olivia’s elbow. ‘How are you doing?’ Her voice was soothing. ‘Have you heard about the strike?’
So much for the dance distraction. Olivia wilted. ‘Yes and it bites.’
‘But look on the bright side. You now have a year to make sure you know the script backwards – and forwards, of course.’
‘That’s true.’ Olivia stood up straighter, a smile stretching across her lips. ‘I hadn’t thought of it that way.’
Ivy wasn’t sure she was looking forward to a year of helping Olivia learn her lines. The things I do for sisterly love!
Ivy reached for a third helping of chocolate Marshmallow Platelets at the same time as Lillian. It was a favourite dessert for both of them and they were in a contest to see who could eat more.
‘I give in!’ Lillian laughed, letting her fork clatter to her plate. ‘You are a force to be reckoned with, Ivy.’
‘That she is,’ said Charles, raising his crystal glass to his daughter.
Lillian folded her dark red napkin in a neat square on the table. Over dinner, Olivia had explained how she wouldn’t be needed on set that summer.
‘You’re not the only one suffering as a result of this whole writers’ strike ordeal,’ Lillian said, turning to Olivia. ‘It’s affected my job, too.’
‘Is there a bright side for you?’ Olivia asked.
‘Well,’ Lillian said, as her eyes flitted to Charles, ‘I’ll be staying in Franklin Grove until Hollywood reboots.’
Ivy and Olivia shared a mischievous look. No way could they let this opportunity slide.
‘Ooooh!’ Ivy teased her father. ‘How romantic!’
‘It’s fate,’ Olivia chimed. ‘Just like that film where the couple have to share dinner because of a rainstorm. They think they hate each other, but really, they –’
‘Love each other!’ Ivy interrupted. ‘Ah, true love. Isn’t it the best?’
Ivy couldn’t believe it, but her father was blushing. Now I’ve seen everything!
‘Of course, I’m not one for anything too gushy, but I think it’s totally cool that you two –’
Olivia dug an elbow into Ivy’s ribs.
‘Girls!’ A smile threatened to crease the corners of Lillian’s mouth. ‘You need to quit teasing your dad.’
Olivia slapped her hand over her mouth, her blue eyes nearly bugging out of her head. ‘Sorry,’ she mumbled into her palm. ‘Just kidding.’
Charles cleared his throat, recovering his typical suave composure. ‘And I’ll be getting my own back.’
Say what? Ivy didn’t have a clue what her father meant.
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’ Olivia’s eyebrows pinched together.
‘Oh, nothing.’ Charles swished his hand through the air.
‘Come on, Dad,’ Ivy pressed. ‘What do you mean?’
Charles smiled at his daughters. ‘A father has to have a few secrets of his own, does he not?’
Ivy wished the answer was ‘not’.
‘Pass the Buttercup Yellow, please.’
Ivy tossed a bottle of nail polish to Olivia, who had just finished coating the nails on Ivy’s right hand in a deep shade of Vampy Violet. Ivy blew on her fingernails. She had a bad habit of smudging them before they dried.
‘So, what should we do for the holiday?’ asked Ivy between puffs. ‘Now that I won’t be catching up on the latest episodes of Shadowtown, that is.’
‘Good question.’ Olivia brushed a layer of the bright yellow polish on to her toenails. ‘I’m guessing you don’t want to join Charlotte in her quest for the perfect tan?’
Ivy wrinkled her nose, studying the sheer white of her skin. ‘I’m thinking no.’
‘Right,’ agreed Olivia.
‘Maybe we could visit Aunt Rebecca on the farm, then?’
‘Now that idea, I love.’