By the next evening, Iva was hauling her suitcases and boxes into the Victorian. The house had been empty for the past year and was happily rented by the time Iva departed Heartland Realtors during her lunch hour.
Britney Willis explained that the owner hoped to return sometime in the next year and refurbish the place. To either sell it or to live in it again.
"Perfect," Iva told her. "I only want it for the summer."
After signing the contract and handing over a cheque for the deposit and first month's rent, Britney said she could move in anytime.
"And yes, it's furnished," she said to Iva's question. "No guarantees on the state of the interior so bring your mop and bucket."
"Am I allowed to plant flowers or clean up the yard?"
"Good grief, yes! We're short-staffed this summer and I certainly don't have time or inclination to keep up with every one of my properties. It's all I can do to keep the roof from falling in and the plumbing working."
On that encouraging note, Iva had returned to the Fry Shack, a jump of excitement in her stomach and a bigger smile on her face than she'd had in days. Lina helped her move, boxing up the few pictures and books and alarm clock she'd brought from Toronto.
Everything else had been ready to go into Noah's apartment, but was quickly routed to a storage unit. It felt strange to Iva to have all of her furniture and personal belongings so far away.
Her mother was not happy about her decision to move out of the family home. "I'd hoped to have you all to myself this summer," she said desperately when the final tour bus roared out of town belching black
"At least for a little while," she added while Iva packed the last of her clothes back into her suitcases. And then when she was loading her car.
"But you barely got home. Don't I get you for more than three days after all the drama and tragedy?"
Iva zipped up her second suitcase with a snap. "Mother, there wasn't a tragedy. Nobody died."
"Well, you know what I mean.
"I do. And I have to do this. It's been too long that I've been on my own. I'm going to scream if I stay here."
Her mother's face fell into pockets of hurt. I didn't realize you felt that way about us."
"Don't pull a guilt trip. I'll see you every single day at the family business, remember?"
Mrs. Jazzlyn Remington slowly nodded.
"Well, I guess there's that." Iva's father said, "I'll come over on Saturday and help you mow the weeds."
"Thanks, Dad," she told him, kissing his cheek. "And, Mom," Iva added when she was walking out the door to the car. "I wasn't supposed to be home this summer at all. I was supposed to be married. On my honeymoon. Unpacking wedding silver and matching monogrammed towels in my new home."
The door closed behind her and Iva said, "Ouch. That was blunt."
"Did I come on too strong?" Iva felt a twinge of guilt.
Lina popped the trunk. "Sometimes parents need to hear it straight and uncensored. And, actually, everything you said was true."