But Ivy didn’t think it was so embarrassing. Jackson hadn’t been able to keep his eyes off Olivia – that much was obvious. Ivy felt an idea brewing. Maybe Franklin Grove’s newest bunny was the right guy for her sister? She was so happy with Brendan. She’d love for Olivia to have the same with someone.
‘Can we please go get something to eat now?’ Brendan asked, interrupting her thoughts.
‘Anything to escape more humiliation,’ Olivia said.
‘How about back to Mister Smoothie?’ Camilla suggested.
‘I would rather dig my own grave,’ Ivy replied. ‘Anyway, I’ve got to get back home before Dad leaves.’
‘No burger?’ Brendan pouted, looking back at the Meat & Greet longingly.
‘Unless you’re happy with a movie-version that’s all cornstarch and glue, you won’t be getting a burger today.’ Ivy took Brendan’s hand as they started to walk away.
They wove their way through the crowd that was still pressing forward to catch a glimpse of Jackson.
‘Excuse me,’ Olivia said, squeezing past three little girls jumping up and down.
‘Sorry.’ Camilla bumped into a skinny pizza-delivery boy, still holding warm pizza boxes.
‘Careful!’ Sophia said as a woman with her Pekinese dog knocked her camera.
Ivy took control. In her loudest voice she said to Olivia, ‘What do you mean you don’t like Jackson Caulfield?’
The crowd gasped and parted – almost afraid to be infected by anti-Jackson sentiment.
‘You think he’s a bad actor?’ Ivy called out and their path got even wider. Olivia had her face in her hands. ‘Ivy!’ she whispered with gritted teeth.
‘We’re getting through, aren’t we?’ Ivy whispered.
‘Phew,’ Brendan said as they finally escaped.
When they turned the corner, they ran into Charlotte and her minions coming back with smoothies in their hands. All three cheerleaders had slightly blue-stained lips. Ivy realised that they must have all gone for the Beauty-Boosting Blueberry. Charlotte had turned her bag around, so no one could read the logo.
‘People were saying something was happening at the Meat & Greet.’ Charlotte prompted Olivia for information, but Ivy wasn’t about to let the chance go by.
‘Oh yes.’ Ivy forced a look of concern on to her face. ‘There must have been dozens of men there – and the smell was awful!’
Charlotte crinkled her nose. ‘Smell?’
Brendan caught on quickly. ‘A pipe could have burst or maybe something happened to the sewers?’
‘I’d avoid the whole area if I were you,’ Ivy said. Little Miss Superior will just have to wait to see the hottest actor in Hollywood, she thought. Charlotte would find out sooner or later.
Charlotte considered for a second and then said, ‘I wanted go to the mall, anyway.’
‘We can look at bags,’ Katie suggested, getting a sharp look from Charlotte.
As the three girls walked away, Olivia wagged her finger at Ivy. ‘Naughty, naughty.’
‘I know,’ Ivy said, feeling a pleasant tingle at her own wickedness.
Their dad was rolling a small suitcase across the porch when Ivy and Olivia arrived at the top of Undertaker Hill. He looked a little broody in his smart jacket and crisp white collared shirt, but as soon as he saw the girls, his face creased in a smile.
He wheeled the suitcase over to the car. ‘Perfect timing! I was going to wait until you came back, but since you’re here, I might be able to catch an earlier flight. Have you had a fun afternoon?’
‘Olivia met the love of her life,’ Ivy said.
‘No, I did not!’ Olivia’s voice had gone up an octave. She cleared her throat. ‘He’s just an actor I admire.’ She had been trying to push that humiliating performance out of her mind. ‘And I’m sure he thinks I’m a total idiot.’
Mr Vega raised an eyebrow. ‘Impossible.’
Like Ivy said, Olivia thought, the best real dad I could wish for.
‘But a movie star doesn’t sound like a normal boyfriend to me,’ Mr Vega said.
‘Very true,’ Olivia replied. It doesn’t matter anyway, she thought. Tomato-with-earmuffs or not, I’d never have a chance with him.
‘Now, girls,’ Mr Vega said. ‘Audrey will be over to pick you up in two hours and, when I come back, I hope we can spend much more time together as a family.’ He planted a kiss on Ivy’s forehead, then held his arm out for Olivia to join them in a group hug. Every hug from her bio-dad felt like ten hugs, like he was trying to make up for the time they’d spent apart.
‘Just not at Mister Smoothie.’ Mr Vega grinned as he got into the car.
Olivia giggled. As her bio-dad drove away, Olivia said to Ivy, ‘We really are a family now, aren’t we?’
Ivy nodded. ‘And I can’t imagine life any different. So will you come in and help me finish packing my stuff for the sleepover?’ she asked.
Olivia took one look at the innocent smile on her sister’s face. She mustered up her best imitation of one of Ivy’s trademark death stares. ‘You must think I was born yesterday,’ she said, folding her arms.
Ivy burst out laughing. ‘OK, OK. Will you help me start packing?’
Chapter Three
Olivia’s mom was very excited indeed when they got home. ‘I love sleepovers!’ she declared. ‘Olivia hasn’t had one since we moved here.’
Olivia helped Ivy haul her heavy black duffel bag down the hall and dumped it at the bottom of the stairs. There had been lots of debate over how many pairs of boots Ivy should bring (two), how many chunky sweaters (three) and, of course, which nail polish colours (Goddess of the Night, Diva at Dusk and Vampy Violet).
‘Thank you for having me, Audrey,’ Ivy said.
‘We’re thrilled you’re staying over,’ Olivia’s dad said, poking his head out of the living room. ‘I greet the sun with an hour of tai chi every morning. Beginners welcome, if you’re awake.’
Olivia rolled her eyes. Her dad was always a little too inclusive with his martial-arts hobby, but Ivy was nodding along like she planned to join him.
Mrs Abbott clapped her hands together. ‘Steve, will you take Ivy’s bag up to Olivia’s room?’
‘Ah,’ said Mr Abbott, after only one lift of the duffel. ‘A worthy opponent. A moment’s meditation is needed before attempting to move this mountain.’ He closed his eyes and took several deep breaths.