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

night and now they napped in their double seat stroller, while their exhausted father pushed them along gazing through the windows and occasionally yawning.

“What did I come in here to buy?” Nicola asked himself aloud. Then, it hit him. He needed to get them new jackets. It was September again and soon fall would set in and the temperature would change. His mother had warned of colds during their first year, and he knew how unseasonably cold last fall had been. Plus, Ivy didn’t breastfeed. So they were missing out on great antibodies that she carried naturally. It was weird to say aloud, but inwardly he knew that he had gone completely soft.

Turning into the Baby Gap, Nicola watched the normal reaction of women, when the Agosto men entered a room. They turned and looked first at Daddy, who normally would have used the opportunity to get phone numbers but now was just trying to stay awake. And then they looked at the twins, fair enough to be his but dark enough to be Ivy’s. Their faces had changed dramatically over the last weeks. Their eyes were bright and wide. Their features so striking that they amazed even Nicola. They took on Nicola’s masculinity and Ivy’s beauty. The combination left most people awestruck. Then the women would croon over all three, normally wanting to pick one or both of his boys up. But he would always deny them the chance to touch and kiss. Ivy had warned him that she didn’t like that. Ivy…he laughed at the thought of her. She was so protective over their boys. She was so proud of them. So in love.

Nicola stopped for a moment in the infant section, scanning the clothes for things that looked more like him. He had to admit his dressed them like he dressed…no funny animals or animations. He liked them to look pressed and polished, but their mother loved Winnie the Pooh. Ugh! Confidently, he picked out an assortment of jeans, coats, jackets, sweaters and hats. When he’d filled both arms, he made his way to the counter. Barely looking up from the sleeping boys, keeping his watchful eye on them at all times, he waited on the total.

“Are they yours?” A voice asked beside him.

“Yeah,” Nicola said turning to be startled by a stunning redhead in a navy blue business suit.

“They are gorgeous,” she said kneeling down to take a closer look at the sleeping pair. “What are their names?” She looked back up at him with brilliant blue eyes. Refreshingly, she reminded him of his mother.

“That’s Madison and that’s Adamo.” He smiled as he looked at his sons. The boys had pulled in a winner. “What’s your name?”

“Rachel,” she stood back up straightening her tailored suit. “I’m shopping for nephews.”

“You don’t have any?” Nicola asked ignoring the saleswoman. She could wait.

“No. Always the bridesmaid…never the bride.” She gave a wide smile that made Nicola smile. Her full lips were extremely tempting for a man on a no sex diet.

“Well, I’m not married either. In fact, I’ve never been invited to a wedding that I was willing to go to.” Nicola flashed his ring finger to confirm. It was a common misperception now that he was married.

The saleswoman cleared her throat and smacked her lips. “Sir, that will be $325.75.”

“Oh, yeah,” Nicola said pulling out his debit card. “Here you go.”

“Debit or Credit?” She rolled her eyes.

“Debit,” he said looking back at Rachel who had gotten back in line.

“Please sign here,” the saleswoman said shaking her head and giving him the pen.

Nicola signed the receipt, took his bags and headed out of the store with his head down barely looking behind him. As he got to the entrance of the store, he stopped.

Rachel was in the other direction. Behind him. Beautiful. Fresh. He took a deep breath. What would the harm be? Turning around, he approached Rachel as she paid for her items. She turned to see him standing there with his stroller of rug rats and instantly smiled.

***

Grey had been in meetings all week with his uncle’s old campaign team. The team had been handpicked by the family to ensure his chances of winning the primary. He could nearly taste victory when he heard that the Republican in Memphis, Joe Sniber would not be running because of health issues. The seat was his. And he would make formal statement of his intentions the day after the wedding.

Looking down at his watch, he realized the hour and concluded the meeting. He was scheduled for dinner across town with his father and the Black Doctor’s Association in only a few hours. There were so many people to meet with in such little time. As the small group dispersed from his office, he sat down behind his desk and took a deep breath. Long, long day. Unrolling the arms of his Oxford, he slid on his jacket and dialed his assistant.

“Hey, Carol?”

“Yes, sir?”

“Could you get Ivy on the phone?”

“Of course,” she said hanging up.

Since Grey received his MBA from University of Memphis, the doors at his firm had opened wider than ever. He had received another promotion and salary increase and was ranked number two in Memphis’ most powerful young leaders. All of his dreams where coming to fruition minus the small detail of Nicola’s brats.

At first, the buzz around Memphis about Ivy having Nicola’s twins had made Grey look like a fool, but his initial thoughts of the public opinion finally came to the forefront. Single mothers loved him for sticking by Ivy. Family men understand his commitment and the church parishioners praised him for being so forgiving. Overnight, he slate was washed clean. Suddenly, people didn’t remember his many one nightstands, his long stays at the Black Tie and his many late night indiscretions with some of the most prominent women in Memphis.

“She’s on line four,” Carol buzzed in.

“Thanks.” Grey lifted the receiver of the phone. “Hey, baby.”

“Hey,” Ivy said looking over paperwork in her office. “What’s