From This Moment Read online

  “He did try to help me, but I got up, ran to my car and sped away. I didn’t know that there was something wrong until after I’d gotten home. He didn’t know I went to the hospital.”

  Jonathan moved closer, their knees touching. “So, did he call or come over to your place so you guys could talk?”

  “Yes, but I didn’t answer my phone. I didn’t want to keep hearing his reasons for my getting rid of my child.”

  Jonathan pulled Ivy into his arms. “I don’t blame you.”

  Ivy pulled away. Now that she started explaining, she wanted to tell him all of it. “I woke up in the middle of the night with severe cramps. I knew there was something wrong. I was only eight weeks pregnant.”

  Jonathan couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Did you call Randall? How did you get to the hospital?”

  “I didn’t want anything more to do with Randall, so I drove myself. I’ll never forget the sterile smell of that emergency room or that bald-headed doctor telling me that I had had an early miscarriage.”

  Jonathan reached over and squeezed her hand as a gesture of comfort. “Were you upset that you’d lost the baby?”

  Ivy got up and walked across the room and stood in front of the entertainment system. “Honestly, I was all over the place. At first I felt relieved, being a twenty-four year old; I didn’t want to bring shame upon myself and my family, so that’s why my sisters don’t know about it. Then I felt guilty about losing the child.

  I went to my doctor a couple of days later because I wanted to find out if what the emergency room doctor had told me was true. Did I lose it because of the fall down the stairs or what? People fall down the stairs all the time and don’t lose their babies.” She paused.

  “In the end Randall got what he wanted, I just never told him.”

  Jonathan went to her. “I don’t blame you. He was an insensitive bastard.” He hugged her.

  Ivy stepped back. “When he came to see my today, with all those silly accusations after all this time, I just looked at him like he was crazy.”

  “Is this the first time you’ve seen him since the night of your fall?”

  Ivy nodded. “Yep. It’s been ten years. Can you believe that he asked me not to tell Lauren?”

  Jonathan wasn’t surprised at Randall’s behavior, and if Ivy was honest with herself she wouldn’t be either. They were harboring a secret, too. Even though it didn’t involve a child, it did affect their lives.

  “I can believe it. He probably thought that you were still angry with him and that you’d tell his fiancée about his past in order to shatter his future.”

  Ivy threw her hands down. “When I left Michigan, I left all thought of him behind. I will be so happy when we get him married off. If I don’t ever see him again, it will be too soon.”

  Jonathan reached out and pulled her into his arms and held her. “I don’t ever want you to go through that kind of hell alone again,” he said before kissing her forehead and leading her back to the sofa.

  “When is the next time you’re scheduled to see him?”

  “At the cake tasting next Monday morning at ten.”

  “I thought you said that you had that taping.”

  “I do. That’s this Monday, but we’re shooting the segment on the couple at my office for our consultation.”

  “Well I’m going to be there next Monday for the cake tasting, too.”

  Ivy rested her hand on his. “You don’t have to do that, Jonathan. I don’t think he’ll say anything with Lauren there.”

  He lifted her hand up. “Doesn’t matter,” he said. “I know we have our issue with the marriage and all, but right now you’re my wife and I’m not going to allow him to mistreat you.”

  Ivy was overwhelmed by Jonathan’s words. He was sensitive to her needs and a great listener. “Thank you so much for listening to my problems.” She scooted closer and gave him a hug.

  Surprised but pleased by her actions, Jonathan wanted to continue his date. This conversation was the start of one of the most important elements in a relationship: trust. Ivy proved that she trusted him.

  * * *

  “Are you hungry?” he asked.

  “I could eat a little something,” Ivy replied.

  Jonathan stood up and said, “Good, because I’m starving.” He walked over to the kitchen area, opened the drawer and pulled out several take-out menus.

  Holding them up, he said, “Pizza, Chinese, fish, chicken. Take your pick.”

  Ivy jumped up and walked over to him. “You don’t have anything here we can cook?”

  Thinking quickly, Jonathan opened the refrigerator. Since he only ate at home on occasion, it was mostly empty.

  “The only food in my refrigerator is a package of boneless chicken breasts, a head of lettuce and a package of bologna that I picked up last week.”

  Ivy chuckled and shook her head. “Where are your seasonings?”

  Jonathan stared at her as if he didn’t know what she was talking about.

  “Jonathan, do you mean to tell me that you don’t have any salt and pepper?”

  He smiled. “Yes, I have that, but I don’t have all those fancy seasonings like my brother uses. The only reason I have the chicken breast is because a lady was giving away samples in the store. It was good, so I bought it.”

  “I understand. So where is the salt and pepper?”

  He opened the cabinet next to the stove and pulled out the package of chicken breasts and a head of lettuce. “We can whip up a grilled chicken salad in no time,” she said.

  Jonathan stood right next to her watching as she methodically gathered what she needed for the quickie meal.

  Ivy looked over at him. “You really don’t cook?”

  “I do get sick of going out to eat or over to a family member’s house, so I tried several times.”

  “How did it turn out?”

  “I threw it in the garbage.”

  Ivy looked puzzled. “Why did you throw it away? Didn’t you eat some of it?”

  “No, the steak was rubbery and the chicken I tried to fry wasn’t done. And so you don’t want me to cook tonight, there’s no telling how it will come out.”

  They both burst into laughter.

  “Maybe you should leave the cooking to me, then. I don’t want either one of us to end up in the hospital with food poisoning.”

  Jonathan was elated. “Sure, whatever you say.” He went over to the cabinet where the pots and pans were kept. “Which skillet do you need? I know I can do that right.”

  “Do you have one with the grooves? Remember, we’re going to grill the meat,” she said, rinsing off the chicken breasts. “You can wash and cut up the lettuce.”

  Saluting, Jonathan said, “Aye, aye.”

  Working together this way emboldened Jonathan. He walked behind her. “I keep telling you we are good together.”

  Ivy could feel the heat from his body. She leaned back against his chest, her eyes closed.

  Jonathan gently pushed back a wisp of hair covering her ear. “Ivy, don’t fight us, just give us a chance,” he said, his voice now raggedy and hoarse.

  What he wanted to do was to make love to her right there in the kitchen. On the table, the counter, the floor, it didn’t matter. He just wanted to be inside her, but he knew she wasn’t ready. At least she was starting to trust him.

  Releasing her, he walked over to the fridge and got an unopened bottle of white zinfandel. He then got two wine goblets from the cabinet over the sink and went to the table to wait for her.

  * * *

  “Jonathan, do you have any music by that group we heard tonight?” Ivy asked, plating their meal. She placed the dishes on the table just as he got up from his seat.

  “No, I don’t but I do have some other jazz,” he said, going over to the entertainment system. He picked up his iPod, which was hooked up to his sound system. He chose the playlist from the small device, and the next thing they heard was Peter White playing his acoustic guitar.
r />   Jonathan went back to the kitchen and poured himself a glass of wine. He raised the bottle in her direction. “Would you like me to pour some for you?”

  “Yes, I’ll have half a glass. It’s getting late and I still have some reading to do when I get back home.”

  Jonathan poured the golden liquid into the round glass. “I thought you were going to relax this evening,” he said as he handed her the glass.

  “I’m relaxing with you now. And I must say I’m having a great time.”

  Jonathan gave her a warm smile before digging in to his meal. “This is good. It’s too bad I can’t boil water.”

  “Jonathan, a bachelor needs to know how to feed himself.”

  With his eyes tilted up, he said, “Technically, I’m not a bachelor.” He couldn’t resist; the words just rolled off his tongue.

  Ivy ignored his remark and asked a question instead. “How’s business for you guys?” She changed the subject on purpose because that was a heavy subject for her.

  “Business is good. We booked three wedding receptions and a corporate Christmas party today.”

  Ivy smiled. “I’m glad the business is a success for you and Marc,” she said, picking up her wineglass.

  “Are you nervous about the show?” he asked.

  Ivy looked up from her plate, careful not to look into his eyes. That’s what really made her nervous. Every time she did so, she would see the passion, kindness and concern in them. If she looked into the depths of his brown eyes, she would surely end up in his bed tonight. She’d better hurry and finish dinner so he could take her home.

  Chapter 11

  Jonathan pulled up in front of Ivy’s condo, released his seatbelt and turned to her. “I had a good time with you tonight, Ivy.”

  “I really enjoyed the evening, too, even though I ended up cooking.”

  They both laughed.

  Ivy released her seat belt and leaned over, intending to give Jonathan a kiss on the jaw. Instead the kiss landed on his full lips.

  Realizing what had happened, Ivy broke the kiss and looked away.

  “Ivy, I enjoy being around you. Even when you are trying to play hard or be serious, I just enjoy your company. And now that I’ve proven to you that we’re good together, I would like to spend more time with you.” He caressed her cheek.

  Ivy knew she had to make a decision about Jonathan. He’d done nothing since they came back from Vegas but try to support and please her. Deep down, she wanted to spend more time with him.

  “I want to spend more time with you, too, Jonathan,” she finally admitted.

  Jonathan jumped out of the vehicle, ran around to the passenger side. Opening the door quickly, he assisted her down and escorted her to the front door.

  Jonathan glanced at his watch. “It’s getting pretty late and I think we’ve had an eventful evening,” Jonathan said, leaning against the side of the door.

  Ivy chuckled. “You mean the drama I dropped on you. Yeah, you handled that well.” She pulled her keys from her purse and placed it in the lock.

  “Don’t you worry about Randall. I’ll take care of him.”

  Turning the knob on the door, Ivy pushed it open and stepped inside with Jonathan right behind her.

  “I don’t want you to cause any trouble, Jonathan.”

  He raised his right hand and crossed his heart with his left. “I won’t, if he won’t.”

  Jonathan stepped closer to Ivy. “I have a question for you, though.”

  Before Ivy could find out the question, Jonathan captured her face in his hands and tasted her sweet lips. He retreated.

  He returned again, pulling her closer, and Ivy was lost in his kiss. She moaned and he followed, deepening the kiss, causing his hands to move from the expanse of her back to caress her behind. His manhood stretched with her body pressed against him.

  When he finally released her, he rested his forehead against hers, whispering hoarsely, “I needed that.”

  Taking two steps back, he stared at her with passion-filled eyes. “Goodnight, baby,” he said before turning around and walking out the door.

  Ivy stood silently at the door watching him leave. Her body was alive, passion coursing through it. For the first time since she and Jonathan got married, she believed she was ready for a relationship . . . one with him in it.

  * * *

  On the way home, Jonathan thought about his encounter with Ivy. He willed to constrain himself from going too far with her. That first kiss left him wanting more, but once he tasted her lips the second time, he all but devoured her. She was as warm and responsive as he hoped she would be.

  Replaying his conversation with her, she revealed the number one reason why she had trust issues. They were very well deserved. He was grateful that she trusted him enough to tell him her secret. And he understood her reasons why he couldn’t tell her sisters. Now that all that had been revealed, he wanted her to heal, to move on and live a rich life. Preferably with him, but even if they didn’t work out, he wanted her to have her heart’s desire.

  Next Monday, he would be present to see for himself how Randall acted. He hoped for Randall’s sake that he did his business and left. He parked his car and went into the house, and all his thoughts were on loving Ivy.

  Chapter 12

  Ivy got through the weekend reading the bios and other information about Marsha and Blake, so she was fully prepared when they arrived for the television shoot.

  Before she left home, she called her sisters to remind them that they were wearing their royal blue Hearts and Flowers uniforms for the shoot today instead of their regular clothes.

  She liked the ensemble, which consisted of black slacks and a royal blue button-down cotton shirt with the company crest embroidered in white and gold on the left breast pocket.

  Ivy stopped by Lili’s office to tell her that Randall would be stopping in with his fiancée just in case Lili recognized him.

  When she walked in all three of her sisters were sitting in the work room laughing.

  Ivy walked into the room. “What’s going on, ladies?”

  Rose got up and walked over to her. “Good morning, Ms. Superstar.”

  Ivy waved her hands. “Girl, please,” she responded, before walking over to Lili.

  “I’m glad all of you are here. There’s something I need to tell you.”

  Lili, Violet and Rose gave her their full attention. “Remember that guy I dated when I was living in Michigan?”

  “Uh-huh,” Rose mumbled.

  “Ronny, Raymond, or something like that,” Lili guessed.

  Violet sat up straight. “Nope, his name was Randall.” She looked at Ivy for confirmation. “Right, Vee? Wasn’t that his name?”

  “Yes, Randall. Anyway, he’s marrying Lauren Kabins.”

  Lili pushed Ivy’s shoulder. “Girl, if you don’t get out of here with that mess.”

  “You are kidding right, Vee?” Rose asked.

  “No, I’m not. I just wanted you guys to know in case he comes for the cake tasting with her.”

  “Isn’t he like forty or something, and she’s a toddler,” Lili joked.

  “He’s marrying her, that’s all I can tell you,” Ivy said, not wanting to get into any personal speculation about his relationship with Lauren.

  “How do you feel about it?” Violet asked.

  “I feel fine. We haven’t been in touch with each other in more than ten years.” Ivy moved toward the door.

  “I needed to tell you that, so there would be no confusion.” She looked at Lili. “And don’t you start anything with them, either.”

  Lili laid her hand over her chest. “Me? I wouldn’t do that.”

  They all burst into laughter.

  Ivy pointed at her. “I mean it. We don’t need another incident like the one we had with Dianne Hawkins and her fake-Gucci-wearing daughter Phoebe.”

  Rose stood to her feet. “Oh, Vee, they deserved everything they got.”

  Ivy concluded that she had to m
ake sure that she was present for the cake tasting because the last time she let her sisters handle a hostile customer they had to call security. Even though she knew the customer made the incident personal, she couldn’t afford anything like that getting out on her now.

  “I’m going up front so that I can see if Marsha and Blake have shown up yet. The film crew should be setting up any minute now.”

  Lili glanced at Rose and Violet. “How’s she gonna come in here, drop a bomb like that and then leave? Oh, no, sistah girl, this conversation ain’t over.”

  * * *

  The television taping went well. Ivy really enjoyed working with Marsha and Blake. Marsha had the most intriguing greenish gray eyes. The tall, ebony colored young woman sporting a short, spiked haircut towered over her fiancé, Blake, who had to be about five feet, seven inches tall. The two were professionals; she worked as a mortgage broker for a neighborhood bank and Blake was a high school music teacher.

  They were high school sweethearts, and then went their separate ways when Blake went off to college. They reunited a year ago when he came into the bank after accepting a job at Wyndam High School.

  A fun-loving couple with great tastes, agreed to the plans Ivy had made for them. They’d chosen to have their ceremony and reception at one venue, the top floor of the Chicago Hilton and Towers on Ninety-fifth Street in Chicago.

  With the help of a very understanding film crew, the taping of the show was a breeze. They would tape two more times this week, and that footage would be edited and combined for the first episode. Ivy looked forward to next week.

  * * *

  Later that afternoon, Rose walked into Ivy’s office and sat down in the chair in front of her desk.

  “We’re going ice skating on Saturday, wanna come?”

  “I think I’ll pass. I don’t skate, remember?”

  “It will be a lot of fun. You should come. Jonathan is coming with us.”

  “And . . .” Ivy knew Rose was trying to play matchmaker. “Did you talk to Jonathan about this before you tried to set him up on a date?”

  Rose blushed. She held up her hands in surrender. “Okay, Vee, you got me. Marc is going to talk to Jonathan about coming along. I just think you’ll like him, if you get to know him.”