Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux (46 page)

“Here we go,” he said aloud. Pulling into his drive beside her car, he got out with his dinner in one hand and his gear on his shoulder.

Layla hadn’t been around since their fallout over Ivy. It was a small favor from God in his opinion. But for some odd reason like a genital wart, she had resurfaced. She sat on his front doorstep now in full stalker mode, chewing her fingernails and text messaging someone on her cell phone. When she saw him, she stood up off of the stoop and wiped off her jeans.

“Layla, people normally call me before they come and visit,” Nicola said walking past her to unlock his door.

“I know. Sorry about that. It’s just that I haven’t been able to get in touch with you since Brooks’ accident. So, I figured that I would just stop by and check on you.” She followed him into the house.

“I changed my number.” He laid down his belt and gun on the table in the foyer.

“You changed all your numbers,” she said confirming that she had called him on both his cell phone and home phone.

“Yeah, that’s what I said.” He greeted Rico who came running happily from the laundry room.

“You got a dog?”

“It’s Brooks’.” Nicola turned to Layla aggravated that she was still there. “Look, it’s been a long day. I just want to get some rest. I appreciate you stopping by, but today is not a good day.”
I don’t know if there will ever be a good day to see you
, Nicola thought to himself.

“I know that I said some messed up stuff the last time that we were together,” Layla said moving closer to him. “But I didn’t mean it. And I really miss you.” She touched his chest suggestively. “Don’t you miss me?”

Nicola stood quiet looking into Layla’s baby blues. She really was a beautiful girl, but she also was a wacko. He thought about her earlier tantrum and his desire to stay celibate. “No, I don’t miss you,” he said moving back. “A lot has changed since the last time we were together. So…”. He motioned over at the door. “We should just let sleeping dogs lay.”

Layla could feel her ears starting to burn with contempt. “What the hell is that suppose to mean?”

Nicola took a deep breath. “It means get the hell out of my house and under no circumstances cause a scene, because I’m not in the mood for that shit. I didn’t call you, because I didn’t want to call you. So, don’t show up on my step like a psycho again, or I’ll press charges.” Without raising his voice an octave, he grabbed her firmly by the arm and escorted her to the front door. “Goodnight.” His voice was stern and unmistakably agitated.

“Goodnight,” Layla said sensing that she had better follow his direction.

He slammed the door in her face, locked it and watched from his living room as she pulled out of his driveway. Tomorrow, he would call the security hut and bar her from the community for good. Tonight, however, he planned to hurry up and get in the shower before his marathon came on TNT.

**

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride,” the justice of the peace said to Emerald and Trina standing face-to-face in white linen suits on a beautiful Friday evening.

Grabbing her in his arms, Emerald kissed his blushing new bride softly, savoring the smell of her perfume and anxiously awaiting their wedding night. “I love you,” he said holding her to him.

“I love you, too” Trina said with tears of joy in her eyes. Before she could say another word, she was bombarded by hugs and kisses from her family. Clapping emphatically, Ivy wiped the tears from her eyes pinched Grey. All of this seemed so surreal to her.

Grey also stood flabbergasted. All he could wonder was how in the hell his soon-to-be brother-in-law managed to get married two times before he could get married once. With a fake smile, he congratulated Trina realizing that she was nearly completely out his grasp.

“Is this one going to have to grow on you, too?” Emerald asked kissing Sadie.

“No, this one I’ve liked from the start.” Sadie grabbed Trina again and kissed her.

Watching them rush off in their limo, Ivy stood on the steps of the courthouse with her hands clasped and Grey’s arm wrapped around her. She couldn’t have been happier at that moment if it were she and Grey in the car. She let out a sigh of contentment.

Trina had always wanted an elaborate wedding in a crowded church on Spring Saturday afternoon, but under the circumstances, she had found the perfect man on the cusp of summer with no wish to be bothered with all of the unnecessary business. Needless to say that she quickly accepted his proposal and quickly altered her desires.

The wedding had come as a total shock to everyone in the family, save Madison. Emerald had proposed at a lunchtime picnic at Shelby Farms Park by the lake on Wednesday. Trina said yes before he could get the question out. And the family had been called together and told to meet for the ceremony on Thursday. Sadie had made the honeymoon arrangements only the night before. And Ivy had helped Trina find the perfect dress at The Muse, a boutique downtown that Friday morning.

“At least someone around here is going to be getting some tonight.” Grey nudged Ivy. “Are you ready to drop that load or what?”

“The doctor said that they should be no longer than a week now.” She hated that all Grey thought about was sex, but she also hated that when she offered to make love to him, he shied away like she was offering him the plague. “The doctor also said we should make love. It would help induce the labor.”

“No,” Grey said kissing her forehead. “It’s so awkward now.”

“Whatever,” Ivy said moody. What about her needs? She needed it even if the pregnancy didn’t.

“Well, keep your cell phone with you at all times. I don’t want you to go into labor without me knowing about it.” Looking at his watch he kissed her on the cheek. “I got to go. Are you still riding with your folks.”

“Yes.” Ivy rolled her eyes. “Why do you have to leave?” She always hated for him to leave her on special days. Even graduation night, she wished that he’d spent the night with her instead of leaving her alone with Emerald and Trina.

“A man doesn’t work, he doesn’t eat.”

“Fine.” Ivy tried to lighten her mood. She couldn’t argue with him about his obligations, especially now that he was actively trying to prepare to run for the House. “Will I see you tonight?”

“Late, but yes. I’ll be there to tuck you in.” Scurrying off, Grey waved goodbye to her and her family, glad to be leaving.

* *

Grey pulled into the airport parking lot and jumped out of his car hurriedly headed for the Northwest terminal only thirty minutes after he left Ivy. He was already seven minutes late and counting, and he knew that if he didn’t catch her, she would grab a cab and leave without him. If only the wedding had not taken so long, he wouldn’t have to scuttle. Spotting her walking through the security check point with her bags already in hand, he straightened his jacket and put his shades on his head.

“Kit!” He opened his arms to welcome her with a huge hug. “How are you?”

“Tired, baby.” Giving him her bags, she sifted through her purse for her cigarette case. “I need a smoke and a hot bath.” The gusty winds blew up her sundress, showing her bare shapely legs causing a small stir in Grey’s pants. Smiling at him, she lit her cigarette and took a long drag. Blowing the smoke up in the air, she blew him a kiss.

“I’m sure I can help you relax. I’ve booked us a suite at the Madison Hotel. We’ll be all alone with no interruptions.” Kissing her on the cheek, he extended his arm to escort her across the street. He couldn’t wait to get her out of that dress.

“Thank you.” Taking his arm, she stepped off into the street. “Where’s your pregnant little pumpkin?”

“At home.” Just reference to Ivy made Grey tense up. “Do me one small favor. It will probably be one of the only ones that I ask of you while you’re here.”

She lifted her eyebrow. “Yes?”

“Don’t mention
her
again.” Deactivating his alarm, he popped the trunk and placed Kit’s things away. “What do you have in mind for lunch?”

“Room service.” Her voice was husky and seductive.

**

Madison closed the door behind him and placed the bags of groceries on the table while Sadie ran to the restroom. Grabbing a cold corked bottle of Champaign from the refrigerator, he poured a glass and took a seat. The last past month had been the most eventful for the Winters family in years, and it seemed to have taken a toll on him.

He looked around the clean, well- decorated kitchen and thought of his place. That was definitely one thing he could say about Sadie; she loved a cleaned house as much or more than he did. He surveyed the kitchen again for a moment. Why couldn’t his kitchen and her kitchen be the same? Why instead of taking out his garbage, he couldn’t simply take out theirs? Why… Sadie walked into the kitchen and began to sort through the bags.

“Well, we have both of them grown and nearly married.” She smiled at him sitting looking at her with his champagne glass to his mouth drooling like a teenage boy.

Madison figured if his son had the balls to marry twice in less than three months, he need not be afraid of a woman he was married to for most of his life. He sat up in his seat. “Yeah. All of this business between the kids really has had me thinking.”

“Thinking about what?” Sadie put the eggs in the refrigerator and closed the door. “Speak up.”

“Well, I was thinking that maybe we could try to get back together,” he said in a matter of fact tone.

“What? You can’t be serious?” She prayed to God that he was!

“Why can’t I be?” He put down the glass and stood up. “There has never really been anyone for me but you. And watching my babies just grow up and begin to start their own families so quickly is really causing me to want my own again. I mean, General is a great companion, but he’s horrible in bed.”

Sadie laughed. “Yeah, so are you.” She blushed as he walked up to her face-to-face only inches from her mouth.

“You never complained.” He took her hand. “What do you say? Can we start over?” He searched her eyes for the glimmer of hope he used to recognize and cling on to so happily.

“I don’t know.” She pinched his cheek. “How do I know that you’ll have time for me this go around.” Her words made him know she had thought about them being together again as well.

“Because this time around I’ll have retired. We’re not kids anymore. If you give me another chance, I’m finished with the Marine Corps. In three months, I can take my terminal leave, and we can sell the seven seas.” His voice was filled with anxiousness.

“I don’t know, Madison.” Doubt began to sit in where hope was holding on by mere threads pouncing on their only chance for true happiness again.

“I do.” He looked down at her wedding band. “Why else would you still wear the ring if you didn’t believe that we would somehow end up back together?” He kissed her soft aging hands.

“Because it keeps away unneeded trouble to say that you’re married to a jar head.”

“Why lie. Be able to tell the truth again.”

“And what exactly is the truth, Madison.”

“That you still love me and still want to be with me.”

“And what about you? Do you feel the same about me?” She searched his eyes this time hoping to see no hesitation.

“Can’t you see it all over me. Hell, I never got over you, Sadie. What man in his right man would?”

“I’m not jumping back into marriage again so quickly. We have to start all over. That means dating first.”

“But marriage isn’t totally out?” He wanted to hear something solid he could build on for the future.

She thought for a moment. “It’s not completely out, no.”

“Well then I don’t mind starting out all over again.” His heart skipped a beat as he reveled at her beauty. She was the mother of his children and the lover who held his heart unconditionally.

“No shacking up either. I could handle you being here when I didn’t want anything to do with you, but after the wedding off you go.”

“Yes, maim,” he said saluting her.

“General is not going to like this.”

“He’ll be strong,” Madison said putting down his glass and kissing her softly. “Let’s take this conversation to the back, Mrs. Winters. It is alright if I call you that, isn’t it?” He pinched her side. It had been years since he could enjoy the true fruits of a good marriage, and he had no problem starting again prematurely.

“Yes, sir,” she said as he picked her up and carried her to her bedroom.

**

Emerald took his new bride’s bags out of the trunk and followed her inside of the Madison Hotel entrance to the concierge desk where two older women sat listening to the Creole band that played about forty feet away on the stage. Taking out her purse, Trina pulled out a credit card and proceeded to pay for their room.

“Wait, what are you doing?” Emerald said taking her card away from her.

“Mom already took care of everything. We’re just here to check in.” Putting down the bags, he kissed her on the cheek. “Thanks for offering though.” He smiled at the desk attendant. “This is my new wife,” he said grabbing her by her waist.

“Congratulations.” The middle-aged heavyset black woman said looking at her computer. “Who may I ask is the suite’s name in?”

“Um…Winters.” He scratched his ear.

“Okay, Mr. & Mrs. Winters you are in Suite 241B. The bellboy will bring up your bags and should you need anything else during your stay…” she said handing him a small print out and a key. “Please give us a call.” She smiled approvingly at Trina.

“Thanks.” Trina turned her attention to the band. “This is so cool.”

“Well, we’ll come down in a little while and listen to them and maybe grab a bite to eat.” Emerald was ready to get into a nice warm bubble bath and start to celebrate the evening.

“That sounds good,” Trina slipped her arm around his and walked to the elevator. “I appreciate you being so understanding about me not wanting to leave the city with Ivy so close to having the baby.” She met his eyes as they stood in front of the elevator door.