Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux

by Latrivia S. Nelson

  “I don’t think that we should rush things.” Quickly, Ivy pulled the cover back over her body. She wasn’t sure what to do. Her eyes darted in desperation. Although she wanted Grey as much as he wanted her, she had just been with Nicola three days earlier. She was sure that he would detect it. There were small scratches on her back and her hips, passion marks on her inner thighs and the odorous smell of unfaithfulness on her spirit. Who wouldn’t see it? It was obvious to the world.

  “We won’t rush,” Grey said pulling the comforter from her body. He would take her tonight if it was the last thing that he did.

  “No,” Ivy whispered wincing away from his touch. “We shouldn’t.”

  “Say that you’ll marry me, Ivy.” Grey held her softly by her moist waist. “Say that you’ll forgive me just this once, and let me make this up to you.” His words made Ivy forget Nicola, and she lay back in the bed as he moved closer to her.

  “And if I do say it, then what?” Now face-to-face with Grey and breathing heavily, Ivy listened closely to him, inwardly begging for the right reply.

  “Then, I’ll try my best to make you the happiest woman in the world.” Grey kissed her soft hands.

  Ivy stopped Grey, and gazed at the anxious young man for a brief moment looking past his physical features for the first time in many years to the soul of him hiding behind his big bright brown eyes and lusty thoughts. It was there that she saw his sincerity lingering lonely and waiting for her to discover it. It was also there that she found her answer and decided to allow him back into her life.

  “I’ll marry you,” Ivy said kissing Grey’s lips softy. “I’ll be yours forever.”

  And as quickly as Ivy had spoken the words of acceptance, did she feel the terrible burden of pain and anger lifted from her heart and replaced by the comforting overflow of tranquility. She also felt the penetration of Grey, unprotected and exposed, push through her body with an undeniable force. Her thoughts cascaded through the five years they had been together highlighting every reason her decision had been a wise one. Every kiss, hug, smile, gift, dream, tear, failure and success had been to arrive at this particular point. She embraced him tightly smiling as she planted her chin in his shoulder gripping his firm muscles and savoring the smell of his virile cologne. Alas, her knight in shining armor had arrived to save her from the truths and cold realities of a single woman’s world.

  Chapter Five: Nicola’s Silence

  Chapter 5

  NICOLA’S SILENCE

  “What’s wrong with you, man?” Brooks asked Nicola as he placed his department issued weapon on the countertop of his kitchen table. “You’ve been acting strange since your date with old girl.”

  Nicola looked over and snapped. “Who said that anything was wrong?” He couldn’t bring himself to openly discuss with Brooks all the emotions competing with him since he had been with Ivy.

  “You didn’t have to say anything. You’re my boy. Plus, I’ve just been watching you. It’s like you’ve been in another world or something.” It wasn’t like Brooks to have to pry into Nicola’s relationships. Normally, Nicola would just come out and tell him everything, which was why he was so suspicious now.

  “If I’ve been in another world, it’s only because this whole new Narc-TACT team is getting on my nerves. I’m used to running my own unit with my own guys. Now I have to worry about hot heads from other divisions disobeying my orders because they don’t feel like I’m in charge,” Nicola said in a matter-of-fact tone.

  “Oh, well, actually, I thought it had a little more to a woman considering your job has never bothered you before. Besides, the only other person that you really have to deal with is me. I’m Cobra TACT, and you’re NARC; and we’ve been best friends for too many damned years. So how does our teams make your life any harder?” Brooks smiled mischievously. “You can blame us if you want to, but if you ask you’re your only problem is Ivy.”

  “Why would Ivy be bothering me?” Nicola opened a beer and took a swig as he waited on his food to cook.

  “I don’t know. Maybe she was a little more than you expected? You do have the tendency to underestimate. And I’ll tell you like my momma told me some years back when she found out I was out dipping in high school. She said that every time you lay with a woman, spiritually you have to give something to her, and she has to give something to you.”

  “What are you talking about now?” Nicola asked preparing himself for one of his friend’s outlandish spiritual elucidations.

  “No, this is real. For every woman that you’ve laid with you have to give her some part of you, and she has to give you some part of her.” Brooks smiled. “Maybe what she gave you was a conscious.”

  Nicola chuckled. “You need help. I hope that you don’t really believe that, man. Do you know how ridiculous that sounds?” Nicola continued to argue his point. “First of all, to even try to count the number of women either one of us has been with would take a hell of a lot of time. Secondly, with that many women, you can’t give something to them all, unless you have an STD. And I’m super straight in that area, because I always use protection, and I get tested every six months for ever disease known to man,” Nicola said shaking his head.

  “You’re not listening to me, though,” Brooks said passing Nicola another Bud Light. “You’re not passing something physically. It’s spiritual. And that messes you up a lot more than some STD.”

  Nicola opened his beer and took a sip. “I don’t know why I even bother listening to you, man.”

  “Just ask my momma then,” Brooks said defensively.

  “I’m not going to call your mom! Don’t you see that she just told you that so you would keep your little rocket launcher in your pants.” He chuckled.

  “There’s nothing little about my Kentucky General, and my momma would never lie.” Brooks sat down on the couch and grabbed the remote.

  “Kentucky General?” Nicola shook his head in disgust. “I don’t ever want to hear you say that again.”

  “So what about Ivy? What happened with you two that’s got you twisted?” Brooks could see straight through Nicola’s game.

  “She’s a great girl. We had a good time.” Gulping down his beer, he looked at Brooks. “End of story. There is nothing to be twisted about.” Nicola belched and laid back.

  “I’m just watching how moody you’ve been. Shit, you act like you got some the other night, and I know that Ivy ain’t dropping off a damn thing.” Brooks said as he waited for a response, but seeing that Nicola would not respond, he continued. “Did she?”

  “No, she didn’t drop anything off.” Nicola respected her too much to tell the truth. “The truth is that she was just too damned goody-goody for me. I’m not into trying that hard to get into a woman’s pants. All she wanted to do all night was talk.” He lied with little hesitation. And instantly, he thought back to holding her in his arms. “What can I say? She’s not my type of girl,” Nicola said as an obvious afterthought.

  “I don’t buy that shit.” Brooks surfed through channels and rubbed the ears of his fifty-pound boxer.

  “You act like I give a damn about what you buy.” Nicola paused for a moment. “Hell, did you get some, while you’re all up in my business.”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact I did. Trina came over right after you left.” Brooks laughed. “ And you did too. You can say what you want to but no man in his right mind is just going to come from being with a beautiful woman like that and have absolutely nothing to say.”

  “I had a good time, but we just didn’t click.” Nicola wanted to tell Brooks about his encounter more than he wanted anything else in the world, but it would have only comprised Ivy’s integrity. “Now can we change the subject, please? You’re acting like a little school girl.”

  “And to think that I used to tell you everything. Not anymore though.” Brooks tried to search his friend’s face for clues, but there were none.

  Looking at his partner’s obvious irritation, he concluded that nothing had
happened and was forced to retire the subject. The truth would come out eventually.

  “If you really are worried about the team; don’t be. This new initiative is only suppose to last three years, and then we get a divorce. By then, you’ll be on to bigger an better things, and I’ll be closer to retiring.” Brooks stretched.

  “Man, you’re never going to retire. You love this job too damned much,” Nicola said picking through his food.

  “Speaking of which, has the recruiter called you back yet with your test results?”

  “No, not yet. I think that I did well enough to get into the program though.”

  “I just can’t see you as a fed, man. You’re too unorthodox.”

  Nicola laughed. “I could see myself as a fed, but I could never see your wild ass in a suit.”

  “And you won’t. This is the only blue suit I’ll wear, and I look damned good in it, too. Oh by the way, I meant to tell you, we have a new lead on the McNair case. Carson picked up a new perp just this afternoon. He’s willing to talk in exchange for a get out of jail free card.”

  “What’s his name?”

  “Larry Prichard. Ring a bell?”

  “Nope, but I’ll head back down their and see what he’s talking about after I finish eating.” Nicola belched loudly. “Eww, excuse me.”

  “Head back down there? We just left from a sixteen-hour shift. Why don’t you just talk to him in the morning?” Brooks had learned early in their friendship that Nicola was a hard worker, but sometimes he had to remind him that there was more to life than just his job.

  “What are we holding him on?” Nicola really didn’t feel like going back down to the precinct and interrogating someone at eleven o’clock at night, but he would if it meant getting a good inside tip on the case.

  “Well, there was a raid this evening on a crack house off of South Parkway. They picked about twenty people up on possession, but this particular guy also got a weapons charge, and he’s was already on probation.”

  “If he wants a free ride out, he should be talking to the DA or his lawyer, not me. I can’t do anything for him.”

  “Yeah, well, he asked for you specifically…said that he had something that would blow your skirt up.”

  “And you’re just now telling me?” Nicola would never understand Brooks.

  “Let it wait until tomorrow. Trust me, you’ll just be aggravated if you head back

  down there tonight. Let him sweat a little and put the pressure on him in the morning when you have enough energy to stand up straight.” Brooks yawned again involuntarily.

  “I’m not tired.” Nicola reached over for another beer.

  Brooks looked for fatigue in Nicola’s face but only saw the same arrogant and alert prick. “Yeah, I believe you. You didn’t get a ounce the other night.” Rubbing his bloodshot eyes, Brooks stretched and got up from the table. “You can crash here tonight if you want, but I’m going to bed.”

  “No. I’m going to head home,” Nicola said debating whether or not to take his friend’s advice and wait until the morning to go back down the jailhouse. “I’ll see you later.”

  *

  On the drive home, Nicola recalled his evening with Ivy for the hundredth time. He had tried to block her out of his thoughts and get on with life, but every woman he had passed that day, black and white had reminded him of her in some way.

  Their one night together had been perfect. Nicola was able to be himself and laugh at someone else’s jokes. He didn’t have to play the intellect or the athlete. He was just a regular guy with regular interests and someone appreciated him for being just that.

  What still astonished Nicola was how calm Ivy had been and how levelheaded she seemed when they parted. She leaned over and kissed him gently on his cheek and whispered “Goodbye.” He had wished over and over that she had said goodnight. Goodnight meant that there was a possibility of them talking or seeing one another again. Goodbye was so final, so nice knowing you.

  Pulling into his driveway, Nicola picked up the phone and began to dial Ivy’s number. 2-4-0… He hesitated realizing that he couldn’t bring himself to hear her voice. He quickly put his cell phone away and got out of his car. What if she had really meant goodbye? He was a big boy. He was supposed to be able to read between the lines.

  For once, Nicola was left feeling vulnerable and by a woman that had never experienced anyone but her soon-to be-husband. How ironic? Thinking about how pathetically frenzied he had become, he laughed at himself. “Man up,” he mumbled, tired of wrestling with his thoughts. Maybe a drink would level his thinking?

  Pulling his tired body out of his truck, Nicola grabbed his backpack and walked sluggishly to his front door. Noticing that one of the floodlights in his garden were out, he sighed heavily and reminded himself to change it in the morning before heading downtown. As he entered his quiet, empty home, he closed the door softly and pealed out of his heavy black steel toe SWAT boots and sweaty white gym socks.

  Leaving his shoes at the front door, Nicola dropped his backpack in the coat closet and yawned as he made his way to the kitchen. Looking into his refrigerator he discovered that there was nothing inside except one beer. Damn it, he had forgotten to go grocery shopping again. Grabbing the lonely beer, he closed the refrigerator door and grabbed a bag of potato chips off the counter.

  Nicola walked quietly through his home observing in the dark with only small nightlights to guide him his perfectly organized home. It was a shame to have such a nice place and no one to bring home to it. Climbing his stairs with his bag of potato chips clutched tightly to him, he tried to fight his tiredness. When he got to his bedroom, he pulled off his uniform quickly and dropped it on the floor beside him. Turning on the television, he laid his head back on the soft goose down pillows and breathed in heavily feeling his body finally relax. As he closed his eyes, without any intention or focus, the familiar trace of Ivy’s body came to mind.

  “Ivy Winters,” Nicola said under his voice as he felt a strain in the small of his back. He would definitely never forget her, but one thing was for sure. He had to move on and quickly, and there was no better time than to start right then.

  Picking up his phone, Nicola ignored the beeping signal indicating that he had messages. Who could he call at this time of night? Most of the women that he knew had to be in the office early in the morning. Kate? No. Liz? No. Erica? No. Rita? Maybe. He dialed her number. Hearing her voicemail pick up, he hung up. It was probably best she didn’t answer. She liked to stay up after sex talking about absolutely nothing for hours.

  Lifting his tired head, Nicola turned up the volume to television. “What’s on tonight?” he said to himself switching from channel to channel.

  Suddenly his cell phone rang. Looking at his caller ID, he saw that it is was Rita returning his call. He smiled deviously. He might as well get up and take a shower, because it appeared he would be up all night talking about nothing after all.

  Chapter Six: Ivy’s Truth

  Chapter 6

  IVY’S TRUTH

  We’re finally back on track….

  Ivy relished in the thought. Feeling accomplished in her relationship, she counted the days down faithfully now that Grey was back in her life. It had been a long month of exile, but the makeup had been all that she could hope for and more. Grey had been extremely understanding lately and incredibly helpful with the planning of their wedding. He seemed eager to marry her, the way that he did when they first became engaged.

  “I can’t believe we have less than six months before our wedding,” Ivy said crossing another day off of her calendar.

  “Good, that means I only have six more months to put up with you,” Trina said printing off the last of her report for Dr. Peterson’s class.

  “Now you know that you’re going to miss me,” Ivy said disregarding Trina’ tone.

  “Hardly.”

  “Whatever. If I’m not around, who is going to be here to make sure that you do your homework?”

>   “No one, that’s the whole point.”

  “Anyway, I’m about to head out. I’m already late. Call me on my cell if you need me.”

  “Alright. Say hello to Madison for me.” Trina put her report its presentation binder.

  “Will do.”

  Grabbing her purse, Ivy headed out of the house to meet her father for lunch. He called the night before and asked her to meet him at Mischas’s restaurant so that he could give her the check to pay for her wedding dress. Happily, she agreed considering that it had been nearly a month since she had talked to him. Plus, she really missed him.

  Lieutenant Colonel Madison Winters, M.D. was the only man she had ever truly loved more than Grey. He put on his military face around others, but around her he was just a Creole boy from Louisiana, who liked to fish off of riverbanks and drink moonshine out of a pitcher when no one was looking. He had been her best friend for many years and her personal confidant.

  In fact, two weeks before Grey proposed, Madison asked Ivy was she ready for marriage, because he thought that Grey would ask at any moment. And one week before she and Grey broke up he had asked was everything going well in their relationship. Although, she was clueless as to how her father knew so much about her life, she only hoped that he wouldn’t pick up on Nicola. She didn’t see how he could, but somehow Madison always surprised her with his ability to acquire “sensitive Intel”.

  Walking into the dimly lit restaurant, she was greeted by her father who stood at the bar with a glass of beer in his hand watching ESPN and talking to the bartender. As he turned to see her approaching him, he opened his arms with total approval and hugged his only daughter warmly.

  “Little sister,” he said throwing a five dollar bill on the bar table. “So good to see you.” Madison had always called Ivy little sister, because she always been so mature for someone her age, and he had always been so immature for a man of his.