He was a long way from being able to afford to support a wife in the style he’d planned at one time, and he had a few years ahead of him before he could be in practice. But he’d leave it up to Ivey this time. They didn’t have to wait another minute to be married as far as he was concerned. There was an official courthouse in the next town over, and if that didn’t work, there was a rumor that Burt the chief of police was secretly an ordained minister.
Now all he needed was the ring.
*****
A week later, Ivey had avoided it long enough, and now it was time to visit Mom’s grave. It must have been hard for Mom to live in wine country, trying to pretend that she was like everyone else and could stop at one or two drinks.
Speculating wouldn’t do any good now, because Mom hadn’t stopped drinking even after child protective services threatened to take Ivey away. She didn’t stop drinking for Aunt Lucy, who didn’t understand why Beth couldn’t go out drinking Friday night without winding up under the table.
The cemetery where Mom had been buried was on the outskirts of town, ironically on land rumored to have long ago been occupied by a vineyard that had gone out of business. Ivey hadn’t been here since the day of the burial.
Along the way, Ivey stopped at a flower stand and bought a dozen gardenias, Mom’s favorite flower. Ivey heard a florist say that gardenias were not a good idea in arrangements—they were fragile and required a precise amount of light and cool nights and the leaves turned brown after being touched, making them almost impossible to work with. But maybe Mom should have what she’d wanted in death, even if she couldn’t have it in life.
Ivey bent down and replaced the plastic flowers with the gardenias, even if they wouldn’t last long in this environment. Kind of like Mom.
Ivey didn’t know what to say to a gravestone. Mom wasn’t really here, but maybe Ivey could pretend for a minute. Despite the fact that Mom had made life at home a minefield, Ivey didn’t blame her any more. Some people could be as fragile as the gardenias, and couldn’t help but make mistakes. Mom had made a lot of them, but so had Ivey.
She was learning to forgive herself. “Hi, Mom. Sorry it’s been so long. I hope you don’t mind me asking, but if there’s a special place in heaven for babies that were never born would you please find my baby there? Give her a hug from me.”
She didn’t want to cry, but when a memory of Jeff’s warm hand slipping inside hers on the day of Mom’s funeral came to mind, tears flooded her view.
She hadn’t heard from Jeff in two weeks, and although she tried to tell herself that fourteen days wasn’t all that long, every day seemed to be further proof that Jeff couldn’t forgive her. Couldn’t trust her, and would never get past her betrayal.
But she wasn’t going anywhere. Running wouldn’t solve anything. If Jeff thought she’d ever give up on him again, he was about to find out different. She’d wait for him, and give him all the time and space he needed. However much time was necessary for him to realize they were meant to be together. She’d be patient this time. Jeff was right in that life sometimes needed a plan.
Or at least a rough draft. Even if she’d always flown by the seat of her pants, like Mom taught her, this time she’d try a plan.
A stop at Mama's Kitchen was precisely what she needed right now to cheer up this melancholy mood, and a double helping of the Knock You Naked Brownies wouldn’t hurt. Today of all days she deserved them.
She arrived at Em’s in the late afternoon lull before dinner.
“What’ll you have, honey? Made some of my pot roast today. Best in a while.” Em pulled out her pad.
“I’m having my dessert before dinner today. Life’s too short. I want some Knock You Naked Brownies,” Ivey said with a sigh.
“Si, are those brownies ready yet?” Em turned to yell.
“No, woman, I said twenty minutes. Hold the phone. There isn’t magic in this oven, ya know!” Si shouted back.
“Good Lord that man will be the death of me yet. I told him to put those in two hours ago, as I live and breathe. I’m sorry, dear. Anything else you want now?”
“No thanks, Em. I think I’m going home.” Maybe it was a sign from the universe that one more helping of those brownies would turn Ivey into a size eight overnight.
She walked out the door to an unsettling sight. In plain view outside the diner sat Jeff’s car, with a huge pink ribbon draped over the hood. The ribbon was large enough to cover the windshield, and it draped down the sides of the front windows.
She didn’t think he’d be too thrilled with the idea, even if, like her, he’d grown used to the ribbons. This one was a bit over the top, and Ivey wondered who the joker could be. She turned in circles and didn’t see anyone nearby. Maybe she could take it off herself and he wouldn’t be the wiser.
Carefully she pulled on the ribbon.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
Ivey startled and turned to see Jeff standing in the shadows, leaning against the wall of the building. “I didn’t see you there. I’m only trying to help. Somebody’s idea of a joke.”
He moved towards her. “Don’t take it off.”
“Why not?” Her foolish heart beat triple time against her rib cage as he drew closer. Please calm down, heart, don’t get your hopes up.
“I kind of like it, seeing as I put it there.”
“You did?” Ivey’s heart did a weird flip when he reached her side.
“What can I say? I wanted to get in on the fun. I hate to tell you this, Little Face, but you’re becoming a little predictable.”
“Me? What do you mean?”
“Every afternoon around four you’re at the diner.” He put one hand on top of the hood, effectively blocking her in on one side.
She felt a little bit pinned in, but in a good way. Had he been watching her? “Where did you get a ribbon this large?”
“Special order two days ago. Did you know you can find anything online?”
“Yes, I do.” But probably not love. At least not the kind that made you ache.
He grinned. “All right, so I’m still a planner. I can’t help that. It’s part of who I am, like taking care of people is part of who you are. I wanted a big enough ribbon so that the whole town could see how crazy I am about you.”
Now her heart had entered the Kentucky Derby because he was so close, and she couldn’t speak because there was a good possibility she’d been struck mute. Good thing he wasn’t touching her, because if he did there was a good chance her knees might give out on her for good.
“I’m sorry,” he said, and she thought she might have heard wrong.
“You’re sorry?” she finally managed to say.
“I’m sorry if I ever made you feel like anything was more important than you are.”
Ivey swallowed. She’d heard wrong, somehow, otherwise how could he say exactly what she needed to hear?
His finger traced the curve of her lips. “I love you, Ivey. I want to spend the rest of my life proving that you come first with me.”
She was dreaming again. This couldn’t be real, because it was too good. Too perfect. When Ivey noticed Em and Si walk outside the diner, and then noticed Ophelia and Genevieve, as well as many other patrons and customers, she had to admit this was no dream. It was her reality, and far better than fiction.
“What’s all this?” Ivey glanced in the direction of their audience, who had formed a semi-circle around them.
Jeff reached inside the front pocket of his slacks. “I thought I could use a little support.”
He had to be kidding. “For what?”
He got down on his knees in front of the mini-crowd. She almost gasped because those were a new-looking pair of slacks, and he was kneeling in a parking lot. Had he thought this all the way through, or was he trying unpredictability on for size?
“Marry me, Ivey. Say my timing is right this time. I’m not going to lose another chance with you.” He had a beautiful antique-looking ring in his hand.
&
nbsp; Ivey’s heart broke open, and a zillion tiny butterflies made their way up her stomach and out her throat. “Yes! Of course, yes!”
Was that loud enough? God, she hoped so. She hoped people in the next town heard her loud and clear. Her finger shook as Jeff placed the ring on it.
She tugged Jeff up off his knees and threw her arms around his neck. He pulled her up onto her toes and kissed her square on the lips, deepening the kiss like there was no one else in the lot. No one else in the world. People were clapping, possibly, the sound fading in the background.
Sophia was right behind Jeff then, trying to aim her smart phone over his head. “I can’t reach, can you get out of my way?”
“No,” Jeff said, kissing Ivey again.
“Well damn, how can I get a selfie with both of you in it?” Sophia complained. “My followers are going to want to see this.”
Ivey was vaguely aware of someone, possibly Em, dragging Sophia away, muttering a few expletives. It didn’t matter, because she wasn’t aware of anything other than the pounding of Jeff’s heart beat under her hands.
“Let’s celebrate, everyone. Knock You Naked brownies on the house!” Em cried out, and Si groaned.
“Should we go inside?” Ivey asked Jeff.
“No. I’m going to knock you naked,” Jeff said, smiling against her mouth.
All things considered, that was a much better offer. She did love her chocolate, but she also wasn’t crazy.
“See you later, Em! Thanks anyway,” Ivey called out.
Jeff was still holding onto her like he thought if he let go she might disappear. But she wasn’t going anywhere. Ever again.
“One more thing. I decided to change specialties, so you’re going to be the wife of a resident for a while. I don’t know exactly what lies ahead, but I hope you’ll be there with me.”
“It sounds like an adventure.”
They drove home in Jeff’s car, but first they took the ribbon off.
THE END
A NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Thank you so much for taking the time to read Jeff and Ivey’s story. I know you have many choices for entertainment, and I’m honored that you took the time to read my book. If you wouldn’t mind taking the time to place an honest review, I’d be eternally grateful. Reviews help readers decide whether they should spend their hard earned money on a book.
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COMING SOON FROM HEATHERLY BELL:
SOMEBODY LIKE YOU (Starlight Hill Series Book Two)
Billy Turlock has all the right moves, but Brooke Miller isn’t playing …
Hometown hero and retired baseball pitcher Billy Turlock buys a Napa Valley vineyard right out from under Brooke. Now he wants her to work for him. Brooke takes the job, but the last thing she wants is to fall for the handsome jock who happens to be her boss. The two have a short history that didn’t end well.
Brooke is the one that got away, but Billy won’t let her go this time. Even if it means chasing every one of her prospective suitors away. Billy is ready to knock this one out of the park. All he needs is a second chance.
All of Me Page 14