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

“You too,” Kakeline said waving.

Exhausted from the brief but emotional reunion, Ivy returned to her bed to rest. Who would have thought that her big brother would return home married? He had gone to Hawaii to find himself after he graduated from college. During this trip, he spent thousands of dollars on women, booze and lodging. One night while at a college party with some of his friends, he met Kakeline and what was supposed to be a one to two month high yetis became a six month stay. In reality, it was probably inevitable that he would marry. Ivy just never thought that he would do so before her.

Emerald was never marriage material. He was talk, dark, wild, extremely handsome and smart. He had modeled since his freshman year of college and had even been in some top men’s fitness magazines. Everyone thought that his future would be in the fashion industry until he went to Hawaii and discovered he had a better talent…business management. To pay for his stay, he started to work for the resort owner in his nightclub and ended up yielding a twenty-five percent increase in profit over only five months. Now that he was home, God only knew what he would do for work.

Excited that she had a new sister-in-law, Ivy nestled back down in her comforter and began to look over her work again. Halfway down the page the phone rang. Groaning, she picked it up.

“Hello,” she said impatiently.

“Ivy, it’s Nicola.”

“Oh. Hi.” She was surprised to hear from him.

“I saw that you called the other night, and I never got a chance to see what you wanted. How are you?” He truthfully just wanted to hear her voice.

“Not doing too hot. The babies have had me up all morning, but I can’t seem to get going. I feel so nauseous. All I’ve been eating is broth and crackers.”

“Um, I know that you called me the other night and you had a run in with a friend of mine. I’ve been meaning to call you and apologize for that,” he stuttered. “I’ve just been really busy with work.”

“Yeah, about that. I didn’t want anything. I was just calling to talk.” Ivy felt uncomfortable even discussing the rude woman.

“Well, maybe I can make up that situation to you. Have you eaten today?”

“I’ve been too sick to get out of the bed really. So no.”

“Good. I mean, not good. But it just so happens that I’ll be in your area in just a little while. You need something solid on your stomach,” he said closing the door to his office. So, she really did just want to talk with me the other night. His instincts about her were starting to be really good. “I could stop buy and bring you something.”

“You don’t have to go out of your way.” Deciding she would never finish her work, she set the papers down on her nightstand.

“Believe me. It’s no problem. Really.” He anxiously awaited her reply.

“Okay.” Ivy paused for a moment. What was she doing? Grey would have died if he had found out that Nicola was bringing her anything. Their agreement was that she would only see Nicola when it was his turn to take her to the doctor, but if she didn’t eat, she would end up in the emergency room.

“Great. I’ll bring you something by, and we can sit and talk for a while.” It had been three weeks since he had seen her face, and he missed her terribly.

“Okay,” she said seeing nothing wrong with his kind proposition as long as Grey didn’t show up. And that was highly unusual considering he was so busy with work these days.

Hanging up the phone, Nicola slid across his office floor in excitement. He was like a schoolboy again feeling his heart skip a beat when Ivy smiled and smelling her perfume when he thought of her late at night. If just for a moment, he was alive again. As he turned around smiling, Brooks threw a ball of waded up paper at him and bounced it off of his forehead. “What are you so happy about?”

“I thought I closed the door,” Nicola said calmly. It was time to put on the façade. He picked the paper up and threw it in the trashcan.

“You did, but you know I’m nosy, and I wanted to know who you were talking to all sweet and quiet like on the phone,” Brooks said closing the door behind him.

“I was talking to Ivy.” But Nicola was sure that Brooks already knew that. There was brief silence in the room as they made eye contact.

“About…” Brooks wished Nicola would take his advice and leave Ivy alone.

“Lunch. I’m taking her some over there in just a minute. She’s not feeling well.” Grabbing his coat, he walked pass Brooks who was leaning on Nicola’s desk looking through his paperwork.

“When you get back, we’ve got to review this new Intel on Caesar,” Brooks said yawning. The subject quickly changed but only for a brief moment.

“Cool.” Ivy crossed Nicola’s mind. He needed to go…now. “Look man, I’ll be back in about two hours. Call me if you need me.”

“Lunch is only one hour,” Brooks said playfully as he followed Nicola out of the office. “Don’t let me have to report your ass.”

“Go right ahead. Just remember, I have some good shit on you, too,” Nicola said closing and locking his door behind them.

“What happened to you being finished with the women folk?” The thought suddenly dawned upon Brooks. “Is Ivy not included? And what about Grey? How does he feel about you going to her house?”

“To hell with Grey.” Nicola tried to shrug off his nagging mother-like friend.

“Don’t you think he would consider this cheating? I would.”

“No. Now, what we did a few months back would be considered cheating. Taking a sick mother food is…charity.”

“Yeah, her husband will charitably kick your ass if he finds you