Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux by Latrivia Nelson (books to read for beginners .TXT) 📕

As she took her picture with the president of the college, Ivy felt his arm around her waist and him whisper, “Job well done, Ms. Winters.” This was a coming out party of sorts for Ivy. During her speech, she had revealed to the world that she was an expecting mother who would not fall down to and wallow as a failed statistic, but that she would rise and lead her children into a bright new world full of limitless opportunities. Tears filled her eyes even now at how proud she was to finally acknowledge her children and forget what the world would say about it.

“I now present to you our newest graduated class of Bryton-Ritz College,” the dean said as the students stood up and threw up their caps. Ivy and Trina screamed to the top of their lungs with huge joyful teardrops staining their gowns.

“I love you,” Trina said kissing Ivy on the cheek.

“I love you, too,” Ivy said reaching inside of her gown. “Here, I have something for you.” Pulling out a gold charm bracelet with their initials on a dangling heart she gave on to Trina and put one on for herself. “To celebrate out lives together.”

That evening after a long celebration and dinner with family, Ivy hung her degree on her wall and stared at it for hours as she sat in her bed curled up with her pillow and cup of tea. She had not given up or given in to the obstacles that seemed to have crowded her life all of sudden. She had managed to also keep her fiancé despite her relationship and circumstance with Nicola. She had a job awaiting her after her honeymoon and a beautiful wedding coming up in less than two months. She had God to thank for everything, and yet she deserved nothing.

Then, he crossed Ivy’s mind and she had to stop thinking of her accomplishments and focus on the man who could be classified as her one big failure. Nicola. She wondered had he been at the graduation somewhere. Had he thought of her special day? She knew inwardly that all of this affected him. She knew inwardly that he loved her, and she loved him. But she hated the distance between them. She had tried for months to understand why he had pulled away, but there was no logical explanation. When she looked in his eyes, she still saw it. When he did things for her, she still saw it. When she closed her eyes and thought of him late at night, she still felt it. Love. So what was keeping him so far from her reach?

“Hey, lady,” Emerald said knocking on the door.

“Hey, come in,” Ivy said sitting up in bed. “What are you still doing here,” she asked yawning.

“I just wanted to tuck you in since your knight in shining armor isn’t here to do it.” Emerald sat on the bed. “I like that guy less and less.”

“Grey’s just busy. His work and school take up a lot of his time. I have to be willing to…”

“Save it, Ivy,” Emerald said tucking the covers around her bulging body. “My nephews need to hurry up.” He touched her stomach. “Wow. You are getting huge.”

“Tell me about it,” she looked at the clock. “Well, I’m going to call it a night.”

“Alright,” Emerald said rubbing her hair. “Sleep well.” Closing the door to her bedroom, he turned off her light.

**

“Is she asleep in there,” Trina asked as she sat curled up on the couch with a bag of potato chips.

“Yep, it’s been a long day for her,” Emerald said sitting beside her.

“Do you want a sip?” Emerald asked offering his glass of Peach Schnapps.

“No, I can’t.” Trina said looking twice at the glass.

“Are you sure? It’s your graduation night.” He sat down beside her and allowed her to put her head on his shoulder. He yawned. “When I graduated, I don’t believe I turned down a drink.”

“I found out something day before yesterday.” Trina said turning to Emerald.

“What? You’re allergic to Peach Schnapps.” He put his hand in her bag of potato chips.

“No, I’m pregnant.” Trina smiled as she rubbed her stomach. “And I’m scared as hell.”

“Damn,” Emerald said looking at his glass. “I must really be messed up, because I could have sworn that you just said that you were….”

“Pregnant? I did.” She lifted her head.

“Trina, how can you be pregnant?” Emerald sighed. “I’m lost.”

“Brooks and I celebrated our engagement a little too hard the night before he was killed, I guess.” She sighed. “You know, my whole life up until this point has been about me, but I’m not going to make the same decision that I did before. I refuse to have another abortion. It’s just that I never wanted to raise a child alone. Brooks promised me that I would never have to, and I trusted him. And even though it’s not his fault, look where I am right now.”

“You can’t feel bad that you two were planning to have a family. You can’t blame yourself for his death. That’s crazy. You have to put in God’s hands.” He placed his hands over hers. “As strong as you are, you will be fine.”

“You sound like my mom. Thanks for having more confidence in me than I have in myself.” She patted his hand.

“I want to kiss you right now,” Emerald said touching her chin.

The mood had changed suddenly without Trina even noticing. “Don’t. You don’t even know the half of it.” Trina thought of Nicola.

“Why…” he frowned. “What’s wrong with me? Does my breath stink?”

“It’s not you, Emerald.” Trina felt that she could trust Emerald and her heart ached to tell someone the secret that was keeping Nicola out of Ivy’s life and her only inches from being kicked out of her apartment. “Can you keep a hideous secret?”

Emerald looked