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

stayed adverted to hers with only occasional complimentarily glimpses of her breasts, which she had worn on display just for him. He was a total gentleman, and everything about him made her want him more.

“Sorry for the sudden change of plans.” He offered her a glass of wine. “I just couldn’t say no.”

“Sure, no problem. Look, they are already falling asleep.” She rubbed through Madison’s curly black hair. “Wow, they are just so beautiful.”

“Thanks. Would you excuse me for a minute? I better put them in their beds.”

“Ivy seemed a little upset,” Rachel observed waiting on his reply.

“I noticed.” At first the thought was exhilarating to him. Finally, Ivy would see how he felt every time he saw her and Grey together. But after she had gone he felt guilty. It was obvious to everyone in the room that she was more than slightly bothered by him having company.

“Are you over her?” she asked now more confident about prying in this strange man’s life.

“It was never like that in the first place. Ivy and I moved way too fast from the beginning. She got pregnant the first time. The only time.” He hoped that he was making himself clear.

“Oh, it was a one night-stand.” She was relieved.

“You could say that,” he said sort of offended not by her statement but by the truth.

“Well, you’re a good man to stick around. Most men wouldn’t have.”

“I made a promise…” Tiring of the subject, he excused himself. “I’ll be right back.”

“Okay,” she said totally oblivious to his sudden mood change.

***

Early morning came quickly for Ivy who lay in the bed wide-awake thinking about Nicola. Grey was still snoring comfortably beside her as if he had no cares in the world, which was unusual for him. It seemed last night had pleased him more than anyone. But last night had nearly killed her. Only, she dare not admit why.

Even though Grey had done some horrible things, he was a good man and he loved her. He was willing to marry her and look over her shortcomings and spend the rest of his natural life with her. He was successful and beautiful and even at times brilliant. Any woman in Memphis would have died to be in her place, and here she was being ungrateful. Besides, she still loved Grey unconditionally, just not the way that she used to before all that had happened between them. Grabbing her book, she read another chapter from the book her shrink had given her. She needed to try to figure out how to put herself first.

***

By noon, Grey had scurried off into the Saturday heat. He had warned her in advance that she wouldn’t see him the rest of the day. “Baby, I’m going to the golf course at three and dinner with one of my frat brothers at seven, not to mention that I have a hundred errands to run. So, if you need me, call me on my cell, otherwise I’ll call and check on you tonight and see you for church first thing in the morning,” he had said before he pecked her on her cheek and dashed out the door leaving her to her alone to make her own plans for once.

Now all that she had to do was wait for Nicola to drop off the boys, which would be not later than three. After a long hot shower and rigorous body treatment, she stepped into a comfortable pair of Baby Phat jeans and a white t-shirt and a pair of comfortable wedge hill open toe sandals. Pulling her hair up into a ponytail, she stood in front of the mirror carefully placing on her Saturday face. Just enough blush on the cheeks to seem rosy and just enough gloss on the lips to seem full and defined.

Taking a long look at herself, she admired how her body had changed since the pregnancy. Sure she had a small pouch now, but Grey seemed to find it irresistible. Overall her breasts were fuller, her hips were more curvaceous and her skin to was more resilient. Not the mention that her hair had grown two full inches in length.

However past the looks and deep in her soul, Ivy felt lost. What had she given up to be a married mother? What opportunities had she just let slip out of her hand in rushing into love? Those thoughts were always on her mind, but her mother had assured her that no matter how old your were when you marry, those questions would come. “You just have to meet them with the right answer, which is entirely up to you,” Sadie had said trying to support her daughter.

Still for Ivy certain parties were out now and coming home when she felt like it was out now. Dating was out now. Hanging out at her favorite nightspots was out now. “Damn,” she said looking deeper at herself in the mirror. What was in? Those thoughts had been previously crowded out of her mind when she was pregnant. She was more interested in finding out who the babies’ daddy was, and how she would make it through nine months of pregnancy and her senior year of college. Now that she had control of her body and life again, new issues were starting to come up and frequently. Maybe this was part of her change, and maybe this was what Grey had been going through the entire time?

By three that afternoon, Ivy had done all of her chores and was sitting at the computer answering emails from her intern at the office. Every few minutes she would glance over at the clock to see what time it was in hopes that Nicola would not be too long in returning her sons. She has spent most of the day in the house and planned to get out before dusk for just a little while.

Hearing the doorbell, she pulled away from her computer and put away her glasses. As usual her heart skipped