Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux (33 page)

“Don’t turn your back on me,” Grey said screaming. “Face me like a man, you piece of shit!”

“Or what, you’re going to banish me. Get the fuck out of here…”

Nicola turned around and walked back up to Grey. Now eye-to-eye with virtually no breathing room between the two, both men stood with shoulders squared and tempers flaring. It was apparent that if one of them did not back down, they would eventually go to blows, but neither felt the sense of reason that may have allowed them to walk away.

“I’ll only tell you this once,” Grey said balling up his fist. “Stay away from Ivy.”

“Save your breath,” Nicola said feeling his chest swell with an unbearable rage.

“She never wanted you,” Grey said cutting him off. “You don’t mean shit to her. You were a cheap, drunk-ass, second-choice screw. And every day she regrets that she ever let you touch her, whether she says it or not.”

“I’m sure that figment of your imagination is the only thing that keeps you sane, so I’ll let you go with it. But I assure you the first time that she gets angry with you, she’ll come to me.” Nicola smiled deviously. “She always will.”

“While Ivy is not run of the mill, you are. There is nothing that she sees in you that she can’t get from a hundred men out here. By the time I’m finished painting the sordid picture of your abortion paying, drunken, whore screwing ass, she’ll just be glad that she didn’t catch VD.” Grey returned the smile. “Don’t play with me. You’ll be up way past your bed time.”

“Save the veiled threats. I know a few things about you, too. Ivy and Kit aren’t the only women that we have in common. So unless you want me to play the same game that you’re attempting to play, I suggest you keep my past to yourself.” Nicola wondered would Grey call his bluff.

“She would never believe you.”

“I slept with her the first night we went out. I’m in her head, Grey. Of course, she’ll believe me.” Nicola was tired of talking. Turning around, he started towards the opening of the alleyway.

“Well,” Grey said breathing heavily as he built momentum for the ultimate blow, one he had been waiting to swing all night. He calmed his breathing and spoke slowly, clearly to ensure not only clarity but also utter defeat. “Will she believe me when I tell her about Trina? About the abortion? How do you think Ivy and Brooks will feel when they find out just what type of man you really are? I know all about you and that cheap cunt Ivy calls a best friend. Don’t you think that this would be the perfect time to destroy you both?” Grey smirked confidently knowing that he had Nicola right where he wanted him. “Just give me one more reason and I’ll tear your life apart.”

It was at that very moment that Nicola felt his body react without control. And in a horrid rage, he turned and grabbed Grey by his shirt collar and pushed him violently into the brick wall. He wanted to kill him; he hated him so much! But Grey was not afraid. In fact, he carried the same rage and was happy to release it now.

“I’ll fucking kill you,” Nicola said with choking Grey.

“Not before I kill you first,” Grey shouted enraged.

Pushing back, Grey grabbed Nicola by his coat and slung him into the opposite wall. He charged furiously into him trying to knock the wind from his body.

From side to side in the tight alleyway, they fought without so much as a single on-looker. Falling into a puddle of water, they both gasped as the cold slush drenched their bodies. Punching Nicola in the rib cage, Grey felt Nicola’s cold hands around his neck chocking him. He gasped for air and spit blood. He managed to push him off of his body. And then they were back to their feet. Grey’s glasses fell to the ground as he felt the last blow to his face before he hit the ground, but unable to give up, he charged Nicola again. Making contact with Nicola’s body, Grey felt his angry force carry both of them a few feet before they both fell again. He punched Nicola angrily but each blow was returned by Nicola’s own extreme frustration.

Neither of the two men was willing to give up. It was as if the man that retreated, forfeited his right to care about Ivy. And so, if it meant killing each other, they would do it but fairly. And that was the only reason that the department issued pistol stayed in its holster. If Nicola was going to beat him, he would do it with a clear conscious.

“What the hell are you two out here doing?” Brooks ran up to the men, broke the two up pushing each to an opposite wall of the small space. “Calm down!” he commanded.

“Well, isn’t this convenient,” Grey panted trying to get his breath. He smirked at Nicola as he wiped blood from his own brow and mouth. “We were just talking about you, Brooks.” He straightened his clothes and checked his pocket for his cufflinks.

“I really don’t give a damn,” Brooks said quickly.

“Well, Nicola. I’ll give you some time to think about my little offer.” Grey pulled his cufflinks out of his pocket. “Back off and no one has to know
anything
about
anything
. Stay close, and I’ll go blow for blow with you in more than just this alleyway.”

Brooks shook his head in total disbelief. “What the hell is wrong with you two? That girl could be in there possibly loosing those babies or her own life, and yawl’s stupid asses are out here fighting over her. Wake up! She may not want either one of you after this.”

“You sure that you want to get involved in this Brooks?” Grey asked still seething.

“Look, don’t test me,” Brooks said pointing at Grey. “You better calm that shit down. I don’t care who you’re daddy is, I’ll stump a mud hole in your ass.”

“I’m sure,” Grey said unconcerned with Brooks.

“This is far from over,” Nicola continued.

“Well, it’s over for tonight.” Brooks finished.

“Just for tonight…good night to you gentlemen,” Grey said leaving the alleyway.

“Go fuck yourself,” Nicola retorted.

“Calm down, man” Grey said ignoring Grey. “You’re feeding in…”

“This is beginning to be some messy shit,” Nicola said checking his watch.

“Beginning to be?” Brooks sighed. “You’re in way above your head. I told you just lay low until the paternity test. But no…you’re out here fighting GQ’s Man of the Year.”

“Maybe you’re right. And I’m not saying that because of a little altercation. I just don’t know if this gets me anywhere with Ivy.” Nicola couldn’t risk losing his best friend for an engaged woman who couldn’t even say how she felt about him. Plus, if his secret leaked out on the force, he would never regain his respect. “Have you already been in to the hospital?” he asked calmly.

“Yeah, there’s no word yet,” Brooks said checking his sidearm.

“I want to kill him right now.”

“He isn’t worth it,” Brooks said patting Nicola on the back.

“Believe me. Yes, he is.”

**

Hours later, the doctor announced that Ivy and the babies were in stable condition and had been moved to a room for the night. If she checked out well in the morning, she would be able to leave the next afternoon. Hearing the news, everyone left for the night except for Sadie. Grey offered, but she insisted that he go home and get some rest. It was apparent when Sadie arrived at the hospital that both Grey and Nicola had experienced some type of disagreement, and she wanted both of them as far away from her daughter right now as possible.

As Ivy lay asleep in the hospital bed, Sadie rubbed her hair. Taking a hand-woven blanket from her bag, she pulled it over Ivy’s body and tucked her pillows under her softly trying not to wake her. With the pregnancy, there was little to be done about the pain and discomfort that Ivy was experiencing; so sleep was the only remedy. Sitting down beside her, she took the Bible off of the counter top beside the bed and began to read. Someone had to pray for their family and pray hard.

**

When Ivy opened her eyes the next morning, she felt a sharp pain race through her back causing her to grip the rails of the bed. The sun shined over on her forehead blinding her and air conditioner was up much too high freezing her through the thin white sheet and her favorite blanket. She pulled the sheet from her body as she saw a monitor connected to her stomach; she began to panic. Pressing the button for the nurse, a petite black woman with blue teddy bear scrubs and her hair in a bun marched through the door.

“Are you alright, honey?” the nurse asked walking over the bed.

“I don’t know.” Ivy held her stomach. “Are they alright?” She could better answer the woman’s question if she only knew that.

“There fine,” she said with a bright smile.

“Well then, I’m alright.” Sitting back in the bed Ivy laid her head on the pillow. Where was everyone? What time was it?

“I’ll bring you breakfast in a moment and the doctor will be in to see you in about an hour.” Pulling the blanket back over Ivy’s legs, the woman passed her the remote and left the room.

Shortly after the nurse left, Madison and Sadie came walking through the door with breakfast. Madison had arrived in Memphis only hours earlier, and Sadie had stayed awake by Ivy’s bedside all night. Yawning, she took a seat on the couch and took off her sweater.

“Hey,” Ivy said smiling at her father.

“Hi.” Madison stood over her rubbing her hair. “You took a dirty lick yesterday, little boot.” His hazel eyes were fixed on her bandages.

“It looks worse than it feels.” She lied. She didn’t want them to worry more than they had. As she shifted in the bed, the babies kicked causing her hospital gown to move. “Well, at least I know they’re up.” She smiled and rubbed her stomach affectionately.

“I just can’t believe that I’m going to be a grandfather.”

“Well, believe it.” Sadie took a sip of her coffee and took her daughter’s hand. “You talked in your sleep the entire night.”

“What did I say?” Her silky brown eyebrows lifted in curiosity.

“Nicola this and Grey that.” Sadie wouldn’t spill the details with Madison in the room. “Mostly Nicola though.”

“I’ve got to meet this guy,” Madison said sitting down across the room.

“He seems like a nice boy, really. I met him yesterday.” Sadie winked at Ivy. “He was very concerned about Ivy not to mention handsome.”

“Spare me.” Opening up his newspaper, Madison closed the blinds. “This is going to be a long three months. I can see that right now.”

**

While everyone was at the hospital checking on Ivy, Nicola managed to pull himself out the bed and get to her apartment. It was urgent that he speak with Trina about their exposed secret.

Still in the clothes from the previous day, Nicola hid his tired eyes behind his Rayban shades and a cool disposition. Ringing the doorbell madly, he was greeted by Trina, still in her pajamas.

“Nic, what are you doing here?” Trina asked looking out past him to see if anyone was with him. “Ivy’s still at the hospital. They haven’t let her go yet.”
“I’m not here for Ivy,” Nicola said walking past her.

“Okay?” Trina asked closing the door.

“Is anyone here?”

“No.” Trina heart dropped. Something was wrong.

“Grey knows.” Nicola said sitting down on the couch and sighing heavily.

“Please don’t tell me that.” Trina felt her heart constrict.

“The question is how he knows. I sure in hell didn’t tell him. Did you?”

“No,” Trina quickly said as she sat down on the leather ottoman.

“Have you told anyone at all?”

“Not a soul. What is he going to do?” Her fingers trembled.
“Nothing as long as I stay away from Ivy. So that’s what I’m going to do.”

“What if the twins are yours?” Trina wiped the tears from her eyes.

“Well, let’s hope that they are not.” Nicola looked over at his old friend in tears. “How have you been?”

“Better.” Trina shook her head. “I told her to stay away from you. I told you the same…”

“Who knew that all of this shit would happen?

“Nic, I think that she’s in love with you.”

“Yeah? He sat quietly for a minute. “Well, she’s not the only one.” Nicola said looking up at Trina. He could tell her. She would never spill a word. Plus, she could never judge him for it.

Trina shook her head. “This is so screwed up, isn’t it? It’s all my fault.”
“Please. It’s no more your fault than my own. Don’t worry. I’ll figure something out. For now, just keep cool. Don’t go confessing to Brooks or Ivy. And don’t start to act all funny. Be yourself.”

“That’s pretty hard to do.”

“Well when it starts to get hard, think of the alternative. We could always fess up to Brooks.”

“Yeah, right. He’d leave me, but he’d kill you.” She rolled her eyes. “I just don’t want to lose Brooks again. I love him so much. If he ever found out…”
“He won’t.” Nicola gave Trina an assuring nod, turned and left her in the room alone.

Chapter Seventeen: Change of Heart

Chapter 17

CHANGE OF HEART

“Share the cover,” Brooks said struggling with Trina who hogged the chenille throw as they lay opposite each other on Brooks’ den couch.

“Get your own,” Trina said laughing and ignoring the overly agitated Brooks.

They had spent the entire day cuddled up in the house together cooking, eating, watching movies, pampering one another and making love. It was Brooks’ recipe for reconciliation with Trina whenever they had a fall out. Now in an extra pair of Brooks’ pajamas, Trina sat on his den couch with her hair in large pink foam rollers and her face hard as rock from a Mary Kay facial mask