The call from Kim came bright and early, interrupting what had been an unusually calm morning for Ivy and Harper. After the chaos of the last few days, the promise of a new sponsorship deal should have felt like a blessing to Harper. However, it felt like a curse as it interrupted the brief moment of domestic bliss Harper had been enjoying.

 Harper and Ivy have been up at the break of dawn, with Ivy showering and changing first. She is dressed in a soft green puff-sleeve summer dress and doe-brown leggings. She pulls on her black wellingtons to protect her socked feet and takes her foraging basket as she always does to gather crab apples as the first light of the sun creeps over the horizon. 

Harper had woken to the sound of the back door swinging shut, spending a few moments just breathing in Ivy’s scent, hungrily clinging on to what she could get, before rising and taking a shower, dressing back into yesterday's outfit, and exiting the bedroom just in time to meet Ivy, who returned from her apple picking with several apples in her basket along with fresh mint, thyme, and basil. 

They shared a pleasant conversation as Ivy made breakfast for them: slices of homemade focaccia bread with a garlic butter spread, wedges of cheese, and slices of crab apples. Harper continued watching her sleepily from the kitchen island table, daydreaming about making this an everyday occurrence. 

When the phone rang, Harper groaned as she picked up the insistently vibrating device and answered it reluctantly.

“What’s the gig this time?” Harper mumbled as Ivy handed her a steaming cup of coffee.

After a few minutes of back-and-forth with Kim, Harper hung up and sighed, drinking more coffee while Ivy sat down across from her, helping herself to focaccia bread and spreading on some garlic butter. 

“So, what’s up? Something new to promote?” Ivy asked curiously, stirring her tea. 

“Something about nature-inspired organic snacks,” Harper replied, sipping her coffee. “Kim sounded way too excited about it.”

The morning sun filtered softly through the trees, casting dappled golden light onto the forest floor. The air was crisp and fragrant with the scent of pine and damp earth, a gentle breeze stirring the last autumn leaves. Inside the cottage, the kitchen was bathed in warm light as Ivy and Harper sat at the small wooden table, their steaming cups of beverages between them. They ate their fill of the freshly picked fruit, cheese, and bread, and as their tummies filled, Harper steered the conversation back to last night. 

“How’re you feeling today, by the way?” Harper asked, her voice low and gentle. Her dark eyes were intent on Ivy, searching her face for any lingering traces of yesterday’s distress. “Are you… feeling any better about everything with Maze?”

Ivy nodded, a soft smile curving her lips. “A lot better,” she admitted. “Thanks to you.” She reached out, her hand brushing Harper’s briefly before pulling back to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “I don’t know what I’d have done without you last night.”

Harper’s gaze softened as she leaned forward, covering Ivy’s smaller hand with hers. “You don’t have to do it alone, Ivy. You can come to me for anything, anytime.”

Ivy laughed, the sound light and a little self-conscious, though she didn’t pull her hand away. Instead, she gave Harper a gentle squeeze. “Careful, I might hold you to that.”

Harper grinned, opening her mouth to respond, but the sound of a car crunching up the gravel path outside stole the moment. Ivy’s head turned toward the window. “I’ll see who it is,” she said, slipping her hand from Harper’s and heading to the door.

The sound of Ivy’s cheerful voice carried back into the kitchen a moment later, mingled with another voice—one Harper instantly recognized. Her stomach tightened.

Kim.

Ivy returned first, her expression warm and welcoming as she stepped aside to let Kim into the kitchen. Kim followed with easy confidence, her camera bag slung over one shoulder. She stopped short when she spotted Harper at the table, her sharp eyes darting between Harper and Ivy like she was piecing together a puzzle. A slow, knowing smile spread across her face.

“Well, well,” Kim said, setting her bag down and crossing her arms. “I didn’t expect to see you here, Harper. And still wearing yesterday’s outfit, no less.” Her tone was light, teasing, but the glint in her eye made Harper bristle.

“Ivy offered me coffee,” Harper said flatly, standing up and moving toward the counter as Ivy handed Kim a steaming mug.

Kim accepted it with a grateful nod but didn’t miss a beat. “How generous of her. Though I’m sure, the… hospitality went both ways.”

Harper rolled her eyes, her patience wearing thin. “Why don’t we go check out the site?” she said, her voice clipped. “Ivy’s got enough to do without us crowding her kitchen.”

Kim’s smile widened as she caught the edge of Harper’s tone. “Sure thing,” she said, sipping her coffee. She turned to Ivy. “Thanks for this. I’ll leave you to it.”