Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux by Latrivia Nelson (the beach read txt) 📗

at the pictures he had taken of his brand new sons and closed his eyes. He wanted to burn their images in the back of his head and leave them there for all eternity.

***

On the other side of town in a less festive mood, Grey lit his cigar and took a long drag, before nestling down in his chair and sipping his brandy slowly while he watched his father pace around the dark moonlit study screaming on his cell phone. Normally, such a sight would have caused him to show some type of concern, but now it only made him laugh. He snickered under his breath watching the old man occasionally look over at him and clench his jaws. Taking another long drag, he made small smoke circles in the air. Nothing mattered anymore. The media had gotten wind of the entire incident and had reportedly already made breaking news about the young man’s unfaithful fiancée and her new little twins that lay quietly in the hospital resting.

“You put a lid on this shit,” Mr. Henderson said finally closing his phone and hurling down in the couch. He looked at his son awkwardly for a moment, unsure if he should speak on the current matters or not. Grey did look like he was close to a nervous breakdown.

“You should just calm down,” Grey said gulping down the last of his spirits. “It’s not you that they are after.”

“Then who is it?” Mr. Henderson said handing Grey an ashtray.

“Me.” He was drunk and unconcerned. “We could just use this opportunity to voice our opinion on our pro life concept.” His eyes rolled. “Join with the fucking...” Hiccup. “…anti-abortion fanatics on this one and make a killing.” Hiccup. “Shit. We are so close to making it official that I’m running for Uncle Ted’s seat in the House of Representatives. We might as well begin with the bullshit lies and cover-ups, right?” Words slurred. “That’s all a sensible man can do in a situation like this.” He looked at his father under his heavy eyes.

“Go to sleep, boy. You’re a mess,” Mr. Henderson said sympathetically. However, Grey had a point. Even now, he could count on his devoted son to think of a way to cover his tracks and protect the family name. He felt terribly for the young man and his love for a compromised woman, but at least he was levelheaded enough not to make such a big deal about it out in the streets. He preferred for him to come home and deal with his problems away from the public eye.

To Mayor Henderson, Grey’s only flaw was his fetish for women, which often led him to the den of the Black Tie. However, most of the influential men of Memphis where regularly seen there and to report on such a touchy subject by any media figure would surely be frowned upon in very important circles.

Passing Grey a pillow, he took the cigar out of his hand and picked up the crystal glass from the floor. The smell of alcohol lingered on his breath and the stains of tears covered his collar. Helping him to his feet, he led him to the leather brown couch, where Grey laid down and finally rested for the first time in many hours.

“Stay in here. I don’t want your mother to see you like this,” Mayor Henderson said pulling Grey’s shoes off his tired feet. “In the morning, we’ll figure something out.” He gazed at his son one last time before leaving him to sleep. “I love you, boy,” he whispered quietly as he turned off the lights.

***

Ivy sat quietly observing her father across the hospital room humming a little tune to his grandsons while he cradled them. Her mother brushed her hair softly and oiled her scalp. And Emerald and Trina cuddled on the couch and watched television beside them. It was a wonderful sight for Ivy to behold. Her entire family was coming closer together, all because of her children. Her entire pregnancy, she had felt as though she was being punished as well as punishing the ones that she loved. It was only after the birth of children that she realized that her worries and fears had been in vain.

It may have been her hormones raging or the simply the thought of would could have been that made Ivy cry, but she let the tears flow down her cheeks freely. Her heart was starting to mend from the broken state of a turbulent pregnancy. She could feel the warm trickles burn her cheeks, but she didn’t bother to wipe them.

Her thoughts went to Grey and where he could be at that very moment. His pain was too great to stay. And for this, she could sincerely sympathize. He left only a few minutes after she had the children and had not returned. More than anything, she prayed that he had not retreated to yet another woman’s arms. She hoped that his promise to stay with her had been true and that his fidelity would not be tested again. Then, without effort, her thoughts went to Nicola. She exhaled at the thought of him. She knew that he was home, tired and resting. He had only recently left her side. Even though it had to be uncomfortable for him, he had stayed and marveled over his children. He had made everyone accept early that he had a place in their lives regardless of how inconvenient it was.

Her mother passed her a napkin and pulled her out of her deep thoughts. Gratefully, she wiped her eyes

“They are absolutely perfect,” Madison said without looking up from the children. “Are you happy?”

“Extremely,” Ivy said putting her napkin away.

“Is that why you’re crying?” Madison carried the small wonders to their basinets.

“I think so. I’m grateful…if not happy.”

“You know, I think that you’re more than capable of making your own decisions, but I have to say that this must change things