Baby on Board (14 page)

security area to the third floor for his care. Things had seemed to get much

better for him now that Katie was back in the picture. He no longer

needed Ivy to be there for his medication and his almost childlike

personality was barely seen anymore. You could now talk to the young

man who donned a uniform and went off to fight in a war.

Ivy was glad to see him getting better. Things still needed to be settled

with Reese, but her schedule was completely different than when she had

been on the third floor and the few times she tried to call him, she got no

answer and he didn’t return her calls. One afternoon when she was

visiting with Marie back on the third floor during her lunch break, Katie

and Reese walked in holding hands. Yup, they were back together. Ivy

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was not upset. She had Rafe and knew that she and Reese were never

meant to be. Though it didn’t stop Reese from looking guilty as hell when

he sent Katie on to see Jon and called Ivy over.

“Ivy, I was meaning to call you. . . .” he began.

“No, you weren’t. I left you three messages,” Ivy replied. “Reese, it’s

fine. I’m glad you and Katie found your way back to each other.”

“I didn’t want a big scene.” Reese smiled. “I should’ve known that’s

not you, Ivy.”

She punched him lightly on the shoulder. “Yes, you should’ve. Rafe

and I have been…well, we’re together now. But I’d still like to be

friends.”

“You and the soldier boy, huh?” Reese shook his head and shrugged.

“Even when he tried to choke me that night in front of your house I could

tell. But anyway, the doctors said we can take Jon home in a few weeks as

long as he keeps going the way he is now. Katie is going to relocate here

and we’re getting married.”

Ivy smiled. She was genuinely happy for all three of them. “Well,

congrats on all the great news. I hope I get an invite to the wedding.”

Reese nodded. “You will, and you do the same for us.”

“I don’t know if… We’re taking it slow.” Ivy felt her face redden in

embarrassment. It was too soon to talk about marriage. The thought of

Rafe proposing thrilled her though. Was it even in the cards for them?

Reese laughed. “Yeah, he’s not letting you go, Ivy. I won’t be

surprised when I see an invitation in the mail. I’m going to head in to see

Jon now. You take care of yourself.”

“You too,” Ivy replied. “And tell Katie I said congratulations.”

“Will do,” Reese said and walked down the hall to Jon’s room.

Ivy stepped back toward the nurses’ station and Marie gave her a

thumbs up. “That went very well. No fist throwing or anything. You

people bore me.”

“I’m sorry there wasn’t an episode of Jerry Springer playing out on

the floor for you,” Ivy said casually. “Next time I’ll pep it up.”

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“You don’t have to do that, just tell me about your rigorous sex life

with your hunky soldier and that will suffice. I have to live vicariously

through you.” Marie sighed. “I need sexual healing.”

“You need mental health meds,” Ivy teased. “You’re crazy. I’ve seen

at least two doctors eyeing you. All you actually need to do is date.”

Marie shook her head. “Nope, not dating another doctor. You saw

how it ended with Dr. Feel Good. He had his hands on me and four other

nurses, man whore that he was. Tell Rafe he owes me a soldier and I want

to collect, damn it. Someone tall, hunky, and muscular that can lift me

while he licks—”

“Whoa, whoa, too much information there.” Ivy covered her ears with

her hands. “I’m slowly backing away to the elevators and going back

upstairs. You keep that mouth zipped until I’m gone.”

Marie batted her eyes sweetly. “Then I guess you don’t want me to tell

you how I want to be upside down and—”

“Must scrub mental picture from my mind,” Ivy interrupted her and

moved toward the elevators. She pointed at Marie. “You’re a sick woman,

Marie, a sick, sick woman.”

“Try it with Rafe. You might like it!” she heard Marie call before the

elevator door closed.

Who says I haven’t?
Ivy thought with a grin. When it came to Rafe in

the bedroom, nothing was off limits and that was how she liked it. Her

phone buzzed in her pocket as she walked back onto the fifth floor. She

smiled when she saw it was Rafe’s number.

“Hey, I was just thinking about you,” Ivy said.

“Good things, I hope,” he replied and his deep sexy laugh made her

shiver.

“All good things,” she practically purred. “What can I do for you?”

“Oh, I could think of quite a few things, but I’d rather show you,”

Rafe chuckled. “I’m going to be late coming home and my mom has

agreed to pick up Bonnie from daycare and bring her to you at my house.

Is that okay?”

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“Um, yeah, sure,” Ivy said hesitantly. “Does your mom know we’re

seeing each other?”

“Yes, she does, and you’d have to meet her eventually, darling,” Rafe

replied. “Don’t worry. She doesn’t bite. She’ll just drop Bonnie off and

ask three million questions.”

“Oh, that’s so much better,” Ivy said dryly. “I have to stop by Target

to pick up some diapers and milk. Is six-thirty okay for her to drop her

off?”

“I’ll let her know,” Rafe answered. “And while you’re there, can you

pick her up a nice dress, please, and this weekend you need to go

shopping for something pretty to wear.”

“Why are we getting dressed up?” Ivy asked, her heart jumped as she

thought,
proposal.

“We’re going to Washington. The President is pinning me with my

bronze star and the entire platoon with the bronze star,” Rafe replied.

No proposal
. She pushed back her disappointment, but still felt pride

and happiness at his news. “That’s so amazing, honey. Congratulations!

I’ll make sure to pick the best, frilliest dress a baby girl could have.”

Rafe laughed. “You do that. I’ll see you tonight when I get home. Bye,

doll.”

“Bye.” Ivy pressed the disconnect button on her phone.

She was truly happy for him, and wonderfully satisfied with their

relationship, but since hearing Reese’s news, she wondered where her and

Rafe’s relationship was going. Did he want to be with her for the rest of

his life? Did he want to get married at some point or was that not

something that interested him?
Ugh, stop this
silliness,
she berated herself.

Everything was fine with Rafe. She picked up her charts and went about

getting ready to give out the afternoon medications. The future would

unfold as fate intended and there was no sense in worrying.

She was clocked out by five and in Target by five-twenty. Super

Target carried everything from clothes to meat. Ivy roamed through the

grocery aisles and picked up some chicken breasts, onions, spinach and a

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few other items to make enchiladas for dinner before heading to the baby

aisles. She was looking at size four diapers, thinking Bonnie might need

to go up a size when she heard a familiar voice behind her.

“Ivy, is that you?”

She gritted her teeth, recognizing the voice of her ex instantly. She

turned and pasted a fake smile on her face. “Hi, Ben, how are you?”

“Doing good. I had to stop by and pick up some stuff for Margie and

the twins before going home. She’s pregnant again.” He laughed loudly

and Ivy wanted to punch him. “That woman only has to think about a

baby and she’s pregnant. She’s that fertile.”

“Good for her…and you. Congratulations,” Ivy said, her voice laced

with saccharine.

“You’re buying diapers. Did you have a baby?” Ben asked curiously

as she put the package in her cart.

“No, this is for my boyfriend’s daughter. He’s a single dad,” Ivy

responded.
You should’ve
said yes
, but Ivy couldn’t lie.

Ben made a sympathetic sound. “Well, with your issue, I’m not

surprised you have to pretend to be someone’s mother. I hope it satisfies

you, Ivy.”

“You’re a dick, Ben. Just because you practically knock up Margie

right after she’s given birth does not make you a good dad. Rafe is a

soldier and I’m glad to be a part of his and his daughter’s life,” Ivy

snapped. “I hope to God you’re not teaching your kids that the only worth

a woman has is to bear children.”

“What I teach my kids is none of your business,” Ben said coldly.

“Yeah, just like what I do is none of yours,” Ivy said. “Bite me and

have a good evening.”

Ivy pushed her cart down the aisle and made her way to the registers,

still steaming. She even forgot to pick out a dress for Bonnie and only

remembered when she was on her way home.
Fuck.
She would have to get

it tomorrow on the way home. Matters didn’t get any better when she

pulled her car into Rafe’s driveway. Donna and Grace were nearby and

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since Donna had an audience, she probably thought it was the perfect time

to try and rub Ivy the wrong way.

“Is Rafe working late?” Donna asked as she and Grace walked over.

“What do you think?” Ivy pulled the grocery bags from the back of

her car.

Donna tsked softly. “You know when they start working late it usually

means they are bored at home, Ivy. You should have known you wouldn’t

be able to please that man.”

“Oh, and you could?” Ivy retorted and turned to face her.

“You know what they say, those who can, do…” Donna said sweetly.

“And those who can’t have three ex-husbands.” Ivy was tired and in

no mood for playing nice. She dropped her bags where she stood and

walked over until she was nose to nose with Donna. “I wonder why Rafe

never took you up on that offer? Maybe because he likes real women

instead of fake plastic Barbies. Or, maybe he heard from your exes about

how dried up and used you are? Looks like gravity is starting to take hold.

Those bags you have for breasts are looking a bit tight around the edges

where your skin is starting to sag and can’t hold up the weight. I wonder if

anyone took you up on your offer the night of the party? From what I hear

you went home because no one wanted you.” Ivy flicked a glance at

Grace. “While Grace got lucky with more than one of them that night.”

“Shut up,” Donna hissed while Grace gasped and turned red.

“You called down the thunder and now you got it. Rafe told you he

wasn’t interested and you can’t handle it. So you think you can pick on

me. This isn’t high school, sweetie. My self worth is not based on being

popular or your lack thereof. You want to feel special and you’re not.” Ivy

sighed. “Did you ever wonder why your kids spend more time at their

dad’s? It’s because they want a parent, but while they’re here, it’s all

about Mommy. Don’t step foot on this property again. If you need to hear

it from Rafe one more time, I can make sure he tells you loud and clear.

You come up to me again, I’ll punch you in the face. But don’t worry, it

will be an excuse for you to get more plastic surgery. So, actually, I would

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be doing you a favor. Go away, fly, don’t bother me anymore.”

Ivy turned and picked up her bags. She used the key that Rafe gave

her to get into his house. She needed to check on her own place and water

her plants.
You spend so much time over here, but what about him

spending time with you?
Her mood was sour and Ivy tried to push the

negative thoughts away. She wasn’t losing herself in this relationship. She

was happy and be damned if assholes like Ben or Donna would make her

pick a fight with Rafe. She put the food away and found a mallet to start

preparations for her chicken enchiladas. She cut the chicken breasts in

thin slices and put them between Saran Wrap before she vented her

frustration on the meat by pounding it mercilessly. That’s how Rafe’s

mother found her when she stepped into the house with Bonnie in her

arms.

“Ivy?” Rafe’s mother said.

Ivy smiled and put down the mallet. “I’m sorry. I didn’t hear your car

pull up.”

“I’m not surprised, dear. You were beating the hell out of that chicken.