Enchanted Ivy Read Online Free

the perfect-posture women said, "If you fail, you are free to apply with the rest of the applicants. This test is outside the purview of the admissions committee. But if you fail here, you should not expect an invitation to join Vineyard Club. Indeed, you would not be welcome."
    Success meant her dream come true; failure meant exclusion from this (admittedly nice) clubhouse but still a shot at her dream come true. Yeah, she could totally live with that. No wonder Grandpa was smiling so widely he looked like he might burst. She felt the same expression spreading across her face. She was smiling so hard that her cheeks ached. She felt as if a hundred birthday presents, including the pony she'd wanted in third grade and the lime green Volkswagen she wanted now, had landed right in front of her. "What's the Ivy Key?" she asked. "What does it look like? What does it open? What do I do to find it? How do I start?"
    At her flood of questions, Mr. Mayfair and several others smiled indulgently.
    "That's the test, my dear," the man with the book said.
    But ... it could be anything! A locker room key, a dorm room key, a key to a top-secret safe in the university president's office where he kept world-domination plans ... How would she even know if she'd found the right key?
    21
    "Do you accept our challenge?" Mr. Mayfair said. His eyes bored into hers. His expression was so intense that there was only one possible answer.
    "Yes, of course, I accept!" she said.
    All the Old Boys applauded.
    22
    CHAPTER Two
    Mr. Mayfair opened the library door, and music--or sort of music--poured in. Piano notes fell over one another like a rushing waterfall. The cascade of chords exactly matched how Lily was feeling. She pictured herself years later with gray streaks in her hair and an alum's black and orange jacket, remembering this day and saying, Here, right here, this moment--this is when my life changed.
    Better not screw up.
    As Mom hit another discordant jumble of notes, Mr. Mayfair's smile slipped. He leveled a look at Grandpa that Lily would have labeled "meaningful" if she could have identified what it meant. "Are you certain?" he asked Grandpa again. "Once she knows--"
    "I am," Grandpa said firmly.
    "Very well then. It begins now," Mr. Mayfair said. "Good
    23
    luck, Lily Carter." He shut the door, leaving Lily, Grandpa, and Mom alone.
    As soon as the door closed, Mom sprang off the piano bench. "She's starting?"
    Grandpa beamed. "She accepted the test!"
    "Oh, sweetie, yay!" Mom skipped across the room and enveloped Lily in a hug.
    Lily felt her jaw drop. "You knew about this?" Mom had kept a secret? Lily was torn between being annoyed and impressed. How long had Mom known about the Legacy Test? Days? Weeks? Years? "When did Grandpa tell you?"
    As soon as the question was out of her mouth, Lily wished she could suck it back in. She knew better than to ask Mom to remember anything.
    Mom's shoulders slumped, and her face collapsed. "I ... I don't know."
    "Never mind," Lily said quickly. But the damage was already done.
    Shooting Lily a look that made her feel as if she'd poisoned a baby, Grandpa patted Mom's hand as he guided her toward the door. "We'll be checked in at the Fiftieth Reunion tent," he said to Lily. "Ask for our room number at the registration desk when you need to sleep."
    She trailed after them. "Wait, can't I come with you? I don't know where to start!" Stepping out the front door of Vineyard Club, she blinked into the midday sun. As her eyes adjusted, she noticed that the tiger-haired college boy was
    24
    leaning against the brick wall in front of the club. His hands were shoved deep in his jeans pockets, and he stared up at the cloudless blue sky.
    Grandpa shook his head. "You're going to pass with flying colors, and I don't want anyone to doubt that you did it on your own." He sounded fierce.
    Lily wondered how many favors Grandpa had had to call in to arrange this. Mr. Mayfair had said only a select few were chosen, and she