The intercom buzzed. “Yes, Gwen.”
“Lauren Kabins and her fiancé are here.”
“I’ll be right down.”
Ivy walked swiftly out of her office and down the hall to the reception area.
Once she got closer, she saw Gwen taking their coats and Jonathan standing off to the side, his eyes on Randall. He had made it just as he promised. She went to him, and before she could say anything he kissed her. “Hey, baby.”
Ivy grabbed his hand and whispered, “Thank you.”
She started walking away, and he finally released her hand.
“Good morning, you two.” Ivy glanced at Randall and saw the unreadable look that marred his face. She decided to ignore it. She stopped in front of Lauren first. “Good morning. How are you?”
Lauren and Ivy hugged each other.
Stepping out of her embrace, Ivy asked, “Are you ready to eat some cake?”
“Violet called me this morning to tell me that my dress has been shipped. I guess I’ll have it in a couple of days.”
“Everything is coming right along. I don’t see anything that would stop us from getting you married on time.”
The two women walked down the hall together, leaving Randall behind them, Jonathan trailing after him.
Walking into the foyer of Lili’s office suite, there was a comfortable couch and a mahogany cocktail table laden with books and magazines about cakes. They walked through another doorway into the cake display room.
Lauren pointed at a towering confection of chocolate that was on display. “Wow, that is simply gorgeous,” she said to Randall, who didn’t express his opinion. He kept looking behind him and seeing Jonathan there.
“These are what we call dummy cakes. We decorate them and put them on display for brides to view,” Ivy said as they waited for Lili, who was on the telephone.
As she entered the room, Lili greeted everyone. “Good morning.”
Everybody responded to Lili’s greeting except Randall. Ivy watched him glance at his watch for the third time since they’d been in the room.
“Randall, do you have another appointment?”
Randall glared at her. “No, why?”
“Oh, I’m sorry. You keep looking at the time.”
Lili stepped up. “Well, we aren’t going to keep you. If you follow me this way, I have the cakes already set up for you to taste. We can finalize the cake order and you can be on your way.”
Everyone went into an area that had been set up with all the amenities of a commercial kitchen: an oven, prep tables, supply racks and a marble-top table that seated six.
Lili set the table with four small dessert plates, forks, and napkins. In the middle of the table sat two platters, each having four different slices of cake.
“Have a seat and we can get started,” she offered.
Lauren and Randall sat down next to Lili, Ivy sat on the other side and Jonathan hung in the shadows.
“Couples today are experimenting with different flavors and shapes so that they will have a unique cake to present to their guests at the wedding reception.” She looked at Lauren. “I think you’ve chosen a wonderful design. Today we are going to choose the flavor and fillings for those cakes. The flavor is an integral part as it gives the taste and color to the cake. We offer twenty-seven different flavors, but based on the information you gave to Ivy, I chose four.”
She pointed. “This is the white butter cake made with fresh sweet butter. You can combine this cake with the vanilla, grand marnier, fresh citrus, or white or dark chocolate flavors. I chose the white chocolate for today.”
Lauren picked up her fork and broke off a piece. “Hmm, this is good.” She broke off another piece and put it in front of Randall. He bent and opened his mouth to taste.
“Do you like it?” Lauren asked.
Randall hunched his shoulders. “It’s okay. You pick. I don’t have to taste any more.”
Ivy could see by the expression on Lauren’s face that Randall had hurt her feelings.
Ivy reached across the table and grabbed Lauren’s hand. “With so many choices, it can be a bit overwhelming, but concentrate on what you like,” she said, trying to comfort the young woman.
Lili tried as well. She picked up the platter again and said, “Try this one. It’s one of my favorites.”
Lauren cut a small piece of the rich-looking chocolate cake.
“Good?” Lili asked.
Lauren closed her eyes, savoring the flavor. “I love this one. What do you call it?”
“This is made with extra dark cocoa and a hint of spice. You can combine this with flavored Swiss meringue butter cream filled with vanilla, chocolate, and mocha. This one is espresso mocha.”
Ivy suspected something was going on with Randall. When he should have been paying attention to Lauren, he was watching Jonathan.
And from the time she’d come to greet them at the reception desk, Jonathan’s eyes had been on Randall.
Ivy wondered if something happened between them. But she was sure Randall and Jonathan didn’t know each other. Jonathan only knew what she’d told him about Randall.
Randall pulled out his cell phone. He got up from the table and bent down to give Lauren a kiss on the lips. “Babe, I need to take this phone call, and I have a couple of questions for Ivy.”
Ivy blinked. She had no idea what he was talking about. She watched him walk toward the door.
“Ivy, can I talk to you for a minute?”
When Ivy got up and walked over to him, Jonathan, who had been standing near the door, turned and followed her.
Randall stopped when they entered the hallway. He looked Jonathan in the eye. “I’d like to speak to Ms. Hart alone, if you don’t mind.”
Jonathan took a step forward, but Ivy pulled the tail of his suit jacket.
“If you have a question about cake costs, Randall, you should have asked Lili.”
“Let’s just go to the office and I can explain.”
Ivy walked to her office with Randall, leaving Jonathan in the hall.
* * *
As soon as they entered the office, Randall started raising his voice. “Who is this Jonathan guy?”
Ivy sat in the chair behind her desk. “I don’t understand the question.”
“Jonathan, the cat that kissed you and who has been sticking around all morning.”
“A friend.”
“How long have you known him?”
“Why, Randall?”
“How does he know Lauren, and why is he following us like he’s security?”
“Your wedding is taking place at his banquet hall. And I don’t think he’s following you, he’s here for me.”
“Yeah, right,” Randall snapped.
“If you had questions about Jonathan, then you should have asked him. We were all in the same room.” Leaning forward, Ivy asked, “Why the inquisition?”
Randall’s eyes narrowed. He leaned over her desk as close as he could without leaving his chair. “You told him about what happened between us, didn’t you?”
Randall jumped up from his seat. Fire danced in his eyes as he quickly ran around to the other side of the desk. Leaning closer to Ivy, he said through gritted teeth. “I knew that’s why that SOB looked at me funny.”
Ivy pushed her chair back, making him move out of the way. “What I tell my friends is none of your business.”
He slammed his fist against her desk. “It is if it’s going to ruin my marriage. You had no right. I know you told him, Ivy. Can you trust him? I don’t want him whispering lies to Lauren.”
“What do you mean, lies? I didn’t tell him any lies.”
Randall blew out an aggravated breath, and then pointed to Ivy. “You’re trying to get back at me. Payback is a mutha.” Randall eyed her intensely. “I’m not going to let you ruin my life.”
“Back up, bruh.” Jonathan rushed over, pulling Randall away from Ivy’s desk.
Randall pushed him back and was straigh
tening out his suit when Lauren ran in.
“What are you doing, Randall?” she cried out.
Randall rushed over to her. “Nothing, baby, Ms. Hart and I were having a conversation.”
“If it was nothing, then why were you pushing Jonathan?”
Randall was silent.
“I hope you’re not going to act this way every time a man speaks to me or pays me a compliment. I don’t think I could handle a jealous husband.”
Randall glared at Jonathan. “I’m not jealous of this man.”
Ivy pulled Jonathan back when he stepped forward.
“It’s not worth it,” she whispered.
Lauren walked over and stood next to Ivy’s desk. “Ivy, can you tell me what’s going on?”
Ivy reached out and touched Lauren’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, but you need to talk to Randall about that.”
Lauren turned to him. “Randall?”
Randall rushed over to her and said, “Baby, let me explain.”
Lauren moved to the side out of his way. “Explain,” she said calmly at first, then she screamed, “Explain.”
Ivy grabbed Jonathan’s hand and they started to walk from the room. “We’re going to give you two some time alone.”
Lauren held up her hand. “No, I don’t think so. I think you’re involved in this somehow. What really happened between you and Randall?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You know exactly what I mean,” Lauren shouted, glancing between Ivy and Randall.
Jonathan walked over to Lauren. “I understand that you’re upset, because you don’t know what’s going on. But, Lauren, I agree with Ivy. This is between you and Randall.” He gave Randall an unpleasant gaze. “If anyone should tell you anything, it should be him.”
Jonathan reached for Ivy’s hand and started walking away, but stopped in front of Randall. “Handle your business, man.” Then he said to Lauren, “We’ll let you two have your privacy.”
Bringing Ivy’s hand to his lips, he kissed it and they walked out of the office, leaving the couple alone.
* * *
Jonathan and Ivy walked upstairs to the conference room. Once inside, Jonathan removed a chair from under the table and sat down first and then pulled Ivy down onto his lap.
“Are you okay?” Jonathan asked her, rubbing her shoulders.
Ivy pressed her forehead against his. “I’m fine. Thank you for being here today.”
Jonathan kissed her softly on the lips. “If he’d gotten any closer, I would have popped him upside his head.”
Ivy played with the knot in his tie. “I’m glad it didn’t come to that. I just think Randall is scared for whatever reason.”
“What do you think is going to happen between those two?”
Ivy shook her head. “I don’t know, but I’m not going to worry about it. Let Randall slay his own giant.”
Chapter 20
Ivy checked her watch and stood. She and Jonathan had been sitting in the conference room for the last fifteen minutes. He needed to leave, and she needed to see what was happening with Lauren and Randall.
“Let’s go and see what happened,” she said to Jonathan.
As they walked down the stairs, they saw Gwen coming toward them.
“Ivy, I was looking for you.”
“I was in the conference room,” she said, continuing to walk toward her office.
“Lauren Kabins told me to tell you that she’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Did she and her fiancé leave?” Ivy wanted to know.
“Yes, they both left about five minutes ago.”
Ivy looked at Jonathan and then back at Gwen. “Thanks a lot, Gwen.”
As soon as Gwen was out of earshot, Jonathan said to Ivy, “I wonder what happened?”
“I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.” Ivy shook her head and continued to her office. “We’d better make sure the office isn’t a wreck.”
There was a possibility that Lauren had thrown something or pushed something over to release her frustration, anger and disappointment. Ivy canvassed the room, but everything was in its place.
“Things are fine here,” Jonathan said, inspecting the place himself.
“True. Looks that way, doesn’t it?” Ivy said, picking up the folder from the desk. “Well, looks can be deceiving. We’ve just got to wait and see.”
An uneasy feeling swept over Ivy as she remembered the look of disappointment on Lauren’s face when she’d left the office. The excited and vibrant young woman she’d met a couple of weeks ago had been replaced with a woman filled with uncertainty.
Jonathan bent to give Ivy a kiss. “I hate that things turned out this way.”
“If Randall hadn’t harped on the situation, Lauren would have never found out.”
“But, baby, like you said, we don’t know what Randall said to her.”
“You’re right, but I’ve got this weird feeling we’re going find out soon.”
* * *
After Jonathan left, Ivy placed an order for wedding invitations and favors for two brides who were getting married in May and June. She’d picked up the phone several times to call Lauren, but she only got as far as dialing the first three numbers before hanging up. She would wait until Lauren contacted her.
“Girl, this has been a day.”
Lili came strolling into the office, throwing her body into the chair in front of Ivy’s desk.
“Yes, it has been interesting,” Ivy said as she turned to type a note in the brides file.
“Vee, what did Randall want?”
“Not a thing.” Ivy didn’t lie, but she didn’t need to go into details about her conversation with Randall, especially not with Lili.
“Let me tell you, when you left the room, Lauren had this look on her face like ‘why does he have to talk to Ivy in private’.” She waved her hand. “I was thinking to myself, ‘Uh, oh, it’s about to jump off in here.’ ”
Ivy shook her head. “You’re exaggerating, Lili.”
Lili sat up straight in the chair, pushing herself to the edge. “No, I’m not. She kept looking back at the door. I had to keep trying to get her to focus on what we were doing. So finally when she’d made her choices, she said ‘I’m going to go and see what’s taking them so long.’”
Ivy stared at her sister, wondering if Lili knew how much she talked and how fast she did it.
Getting up from her desk, she went to the bookcase and removed a reference manual and brought it back.
“All I can say is once she entered this office, Jonathan and I were certain they needed to talk to each other alone.”
Lili grabbed the arms of the chair and brought it closer to her sister’s wide desk. “Oh, yeah, I was meaning to ask you about Jonathan. Why was he here?”
What was she going to do with her sister? As soon as she answered one question, thinking it would be the end, Lili came back with another.
“You should have been a news reporter instead of a baker.”
Lili tucked one leg underneath the other. “I’m just trying to get the facts.”
Ivy glanced at her watch. “Don’t you have other appointments today?”
Lili checked hers as well before standing to her feet. “I sure do. I have two this afternoon. Rosie and I are going out for lunch. Do you want to come with us?”
A wide smile suddenly appeared on Ivy’s face. She had gotten used to Lili’s tricks. If she wanted to play twenty questions, she’d agree to lunch, but she’d already played that game with her sister.
“Thanks, sweetie, but I’ve got to catch up.”
Lili strolled toward the office door before turning back to Ivy. “Maybe next time. And you still didn’t answer my question as to why Jonathan was here, but that’s okay. I’ll check you later.”
Ivy chuckled and went back to work, but was immediately interrupted again by the ringing of the telephone.
“Vee, have you got a minute?”
�
�Sure, Rosie.”
“I’m coming down there. I don’t want to say this over the phone.”
“I thought you were going to lunch with Lili.”
“I am, but I need to talk to you first.”
Ivy hung up and waited for Rose.
“Vee, did you know that Gwen was engaged?”
Ivy’s eyes narrowed. “No. When did this happen?”
“I overheard her talking to her mother on the phone. She was saying something about not having the money to spend on a big wedding.”
“Hmm,” Ivy said, trying to figure out what the words could mean.
Leaning forward, she clasped her hands together. “You know what, Rosie, we shouldn’t say anything to her because she may not want us to know.”
Rose shook her head. “I understand that, but maybe we can help her. She works here. We’re supposed be one of the best in the business. Why not help her?”
“We’ll help her. Let me just think of a way we can do it without looking nosey.”
Rose stood to her feet. “I’d better get going or Lili will be looking for me.”
Rose left her office, and Ivy hoped she wouldn’t have any more interruptions. She wanted to get a bite to eat herself because her afternoon would be just as busy.
* * *
Ivy called in her lunch order, went and picked it up and ate while she finished her column for the next week and reviewed the seating chart for Lauren’s wedding. She’d gotten a steady flow of responses, and put individuals together based on the list Lauren had given her.
After she e-mailed her column to the editor, Ivy received a call from Sally Carter wanting to know if Ivy would come into the studio in the morning to shoot a promo for the reality show. They set the appointment for nine o’clock.
Ivy sat and reflected on her life. So much had happened since the start of the new year. She couldn’t have imagined giving wedding planning advice to couples on a television program, writing a newspaper column and getting married.
She thought the last one would destroy her, but it turned out to be one of her greatest blessings. She couldn’t have imagined a better friend than Jonathan. When she flew home from Las Vegas, Jonathan was a problem that she had to get rid of before anyone else found out, but now she wanted to shout it from the rooftops that she was Mrs. Jonathan Damon.
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