Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux (51 page)

“Thanks,” Ivy said glancing down at the small blue book. “Should I have read it before I return?”

“As much as you can. We’ll talk about how it relates to the problems you’re having when we meet again next week. And Ivy for what it’s worth, I think we’ve made excellent progress.”

Ivy smiled at the prospect. Was she really doing better? “Thanks again,” she said placing the little book in her purse. “Until next week.”

***

Nicola walked the Wolfchase mall quietly in his Gap Jeans and comfy white t-shirt. His curly tendrils where hidden under an Italian Flag baseball cap and he sported a dark pair of shades covering his tired, red eyes. Madison and Adamo had cried all 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 up?”
“Dinner tonight at seven at Dad’s.”

“Oh, I’d almost forgotten. Let me see if Mom will watch the babies.”

“We need to get a sitter.” Grey breathed heavily agitated at the constant juggling.
“Well, we don’t have one yet. So, I need to call mom,” Ivy said in a matter of fact tone.

“Yeah, I know. That’s just a note for the very, very near future.” Grey looked at his watch. “Should I pick you up or do you want to meet me there?”

“I’ll meet you. I have to pick them up from Nicola’s house.”

“Don’t be late.” Grey said hanging up before she could hear how pissed he was. Nicola. Always something to do with that damned man.

***

Ivy wrapped up her work and headed out. Looking around the perfectly designed corner office before she locked the door, she felt a since of calm. She knew her work so well that she hadn’t skipped a beat since she’d returned. Everyone loved her fresh ideas and praised her constantly for her early return from maternity leave to focus on the Ellis account. Things were finally starting to go her way. Locking the door, she bid her administrative assistant a good night and disappeared behind the golden doors of the elevator with her self-help book tucked tightly under her arm.

Within an hour as the sun set on the city leaving a beautiful golden rose hue on the horizon, Ivy was pulling into Nicola’s driveway in her new silver Audi A4 with the top down blasting Mary J. Blige.

Without thinking, she walked to Nicola’s door and opened it. Like always it was unlocked just for her. She entered, set down her purse, kicked off her shoes and threw her keys by his on the stand. She found Nicola at the kitchen table with Adamo in his arms feeding him a bottle and reading the newspaper. He looked up from his gold, wire-rimmed reading glasses and smiled at Ivy.

“Hey,” he said looking over at Madison lying in the plan pin napping.

“Hey,” she said walking over the stove. “What’d you cook? Something smells good.”

“Chicken cacciatore. Want some?” He stood up with the baby still tucked safely in his embrace.

“Don’t get up,” she shooed him back to the table. “I’ll fix it.”

“Okay,” Nicola said sitting back down.

“I can’t stay long. I’ve got to get the kids to Momma’s house and then get to dinner at Grey’s folks house with the Black Doctors Association.”

“Are they any different from the White Doctors Association?” Nicola snickered.

Ivy rolled her eyes and stuck her fork in the pan. “Smart ass.”

“Why don’t you just leave them here?” he asked burping Adamo.

“Would you mind?”

“Why would I mind? They’re my kids,” Nicola said kissing the crown of Adamo’s head. “That’s a good boy.”

The sight warmed Ivy’s heart. She turned to keep from staring at him. “Okay. Great. Well, I’ll pick them up after.”

“No need. You can pick them up tomorrow after work. I don’t have to be at work until day after tomorrow.” Nicola left her in the kitchen alone to check on Madison.

“This is really good.” Ivy licked her fingers.

“What can I say, I’m a bad man.” Nicola yelled from his living room.

***

As Ivy drove back home to shower and dress for dinner, she thought about Nicola and how wonderful he was with their children. He never hesitated when it came to them or her. He was always there proudly taking charge and taking care. She appreciated him so much. Things could be so different. So much worse. But he had kept his promise. They were his, and he was being a good father.

Plus, there were those feelings she fought so hard to repress. He looked so great in his reading glasses! The way he carried her sons in his arms made her want to crawl up in them herself. And she could have called him to ask if he would watch them, but she had made the special trip over not only to see the boys but also to see him.

***

Friday came quickly and Ivy found herself running around again like crazy. Sadie had gone back to the base with Madison for a few days so that he could handle some business. Emerald and Trina were closing on a house, and she was due at a huge fundraiser with Grey in two hours. The babysitter Grey had hired called in sick just minutes before and she was forced yet again to call on Nicola. This time, she felt that she was pushing her luck, but she dialed him anyway.

“Hello,” he said grabbing his remote to turn down his stereo.

“Hey, I need a really big favor.” Her voice pitch heightened in nervousness.

“Okay,” Nicola said lighting the candles at his dinner table.

“I have to be at a fundraiser at the Canon Center in two hours. I don’t have a babysitter. I’m really in a rut. Can you watch the kids tonight? I’ll owe you,” she whined.

“Well, I did have plans.” He looked at his clock. “But...”

“Please.” Ivy clasped her hands together.

“Alright. Bring them over. I’ll figure something out.” Nicola sighed.

“Thanks,” Ivy said kissing the phone. “I owe you. We’ll be there in one hour.”

***

Exactly one hour later, Grey and Ivy pulled up to Nicola’s house in formal attire ready for the untimely gala. Thunder bounced off the rooftops and heavy clouds hid the moon. It was all very dreary to Ivy. She sighed disgusted at the weather and felt for her umbrella. They might as well get a move on considering that they were running a half hour late.

Grey sat quietly in seat visibly perturbed by Nicola. Even after over a month of reality beating at him day in and out, he could not get used to the children belonging to that man. However, he was determined to suppress his resentment. He just wished that there was some sign of Nicola moving on in his life. If there was a steady love interest, he was certain that he be more comfortable with Ivy around him.

“Should I call him and have him come out to the car?” Ivy asked looking back at the children.

“No, we can take them to him,” he said listening to the wipers graze over his windshield. “You grab Adamo, and I’ll grab Madison,” he said taking a deep breath. He never held Adam although he couldn’t figure out why and was constantly thankful that no one had noticed.

As they got to the door, Nicola opened it attentively and turned on the porch light. Greeting Ivy with his usual school boy smile, he took Adam in his covered car seat and invited them into his home as a couple for the first time.

“How are you, man?” Nicola asked extending his hand to Grey although he still felt the residue of old opposition.

Grey shook Nicola’s hand hesitantly. “Hi, fine. You’ve got a nice place here,” he said noticing Nicola had company. “I didn’t know you had a guest.” Grey smiled inwardly as he watched Ivy’s reaction.

“Yeah,
Rachel
this is Ivy Winters and Grey Henderson. They’ll actually will be Mr. and Mrs. Henderson in a what…a few short weeks?”

“Hi,” Rachel said standing up and walking over to shake Ivy’s hand first. She made her way over gracefully giving everyone time to admire her in a pair of low rider distressed jeans and a pink cotton low cut cotton tee. Her ensemble complimented her fair, milky white skin and bouncing red mane. She smiled brightly with her deep blue eyes sparkling bright. Her presence was absolutely breathtaking.