He didn’t get a chance to finish his sentence because Ivy launched herself at him and threw her arms around his neck.
“That’s exactly what I had in mind,” Jack said, kissing her cheek as he returned the embrace. “I’m never letting you out of sight again.”
“I’m pretty sure I can live with that.”
“Oh, man,” Max muttered. “Now I’m never going to get my pies.”
Twenty-Four
“What are you doing?”
Ivy jolted at the sound of Jack’s voice and pressed her hand to her heart as she glanced over her shoulder to watch his approach. “I … was looking for you.”
Jack rolled his eyes as he joined her behind the large tree on the edge of the police station’s property. It had been three days since Frank and Marcia Simpson were taken into custody and almost every waking hour since had been a busy one. Jack and Ivy were able to spend time together, but it was hardly of the quality nature.
Marcia, of course, denied knowledge about her husband’s deeds. No one believed her, and when questioned about Noah she maintained he was her son even after a DNA test proved otherwise. She also denied knowing why her young son was riding a painted bicycle – one that used to be pink and belonged to Jessica Stamper – and claimed “the real culprit” was obviously trying to frame her. Frank volunteered details on Marcia’s plans for Jessica. He said if he was going down, she was going down with him. Marcia didn’t take that well and finally started spilling information on her husband, including the fact that he raped two other teenagers in a neighboring town ten years before. They’d turned on each other, and neither of them showed signs of shutting up.
The media fascination’s with Jessica was still fervent, but with Frank and Marcia’s twisted tale coming to light, the reporters focused more on them than the teenager. It wouldn’t last forever, but it was a nice respite for the traumatized girl.
“You haven’t answered my question,” Jack prodded, resting his hand on Ivy’s waist as she turned her attention to the park across the road. “What are you doing?”
“I’m waiting for you,” Ivy lied. “I thought we could have lunch.”
“Uh-huh.” Jack wasn’t even mildly convinced. “I suppose the fact that Jessica and her parents are meeting Noah for the first time on that blanket over there has nothing to do with it, right?”
Ivy blew out a weary sigh as she watched the small family – Noah accompanied by a state social worker – timidly approach each other about a hundred feet away. “I just want to make sure they’re going to be okay,” she admitted after a beat. “I didn’t know what Jessica was going to do with the information about Noah … and I’m still unsure how this is all going to play out.”
“If it’s any consolation, I talked to her parents and they’re going to take it one day at a time,” Jack said, briefly pressing his lips to Ivy’s cheek before letting his gaze rest on the family reunion. “It’s not going to be easy … and everyone is going to need a lot of counseling … but I think it’s going to work out.”
“What about Marcia and Frank’s other kids?”
“They’re going to an aunt in Ohio,” Jack replied. “She never liked Marcia, but she seems like a good woman. It will be better for the kids to move to a place where no one knows who their parents are.”
“Are they still blaming everything on each other?”
“Yes,” Jack answered, bobbing his head up and down. “Frank claims the Devil made him do it and is obviously going for an insanity defense because he says Marcia is the Devil. Marcia is going for a battered wife defense. It won’t work for either of them.”
“And you?” Ivy prodded. “How are you after everything?” They hadn’t really talked about what happened, the fact that he heard Ivy scream his name in his mind, and she wasn’t sure how to proceed.
“I don’t know what to think about that,” Jack admitted, brushing her hair away from her face. “It’s weird and I’m still trying to understand it. I’m thankful it happened because it led me to you, so I’m going to let it go for now.”
“Are you okay with that?” Ivy bit her lip, momentarily worried.
“I’m okay with you,” Jack replied, love washing over him. He didn’t know when he realized it – perhaps during his fervent race through the trees to get to Ivy – but he was over worrying about when he would tell her he loved her. He knew it would happen at the right time, and he was content to wait for it rather than force a situation neither of them was ready for. “I’ve known for quite a while now that you’re magic. This is just further proof of it.”
Ivy smiled as Mitchell scooped Noah up in his arms and caused the boy to laugh as he swung him around like an airplane. “I think maybe we’re magic together, Jack. I don’t think it’s just me.”
“I think it’s mostly you,” Jack clarified. “I don’t care how it happened. You’re okay. Jessica is okay. Things are as they should be.”
Ivy wrenched her eyes from the touching family scene and focused on Jack. “Do you still think we should force ourselves out into the real world more often?”
“Oh, no,” Jack said, grabbing her around the waist and snapping her body close to his. “In fact, I have good news. I’m off for the day and do you know what that means?”
“That we have the whole weekend to be hermits and never leave my house?”
“Exactly!” Jack planted a scorching kiss on Ivy’s lips before separating. “Now, come on. We need to stop at the store so you can get stuff to make me a pie, and then I’m thinking we should lock all of the doors and hide all of our clothes and just play the magic game with each other this weekend.”
Ivy grinned as she slipped her hand into Jack’s and fell into step with him. “I hear magic games are better when nudity is involved.”
“That’s what I’m counting on, honey,” Jack said, squeezing her hand. “Now, come on. Show me your magic.”
The big questions of the day were still out there – and her connection with Jack continued to grow – but Ivy was perfectly happy putting off heavy discussions for a later time. Jack’s smile was all she needed this weekend.
“What if I make you a mushroom pie?” Ivy teased.
“Life is full of compromises, honey,” Jack replied, not missing a beat. “Something tells me that as long as I have you, I can put up with anything.”
“That was a good answer.”
“It’s going to be a good life,” Jack said. “Now, come on. Lay some blackberry pie on me, woman. I’ve earned it.”
“Your wish is my command.”
Jack grinned. “And that’s the best thing I’ve heard all day.”
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Acknowledgments
I’m a romantic at heart. A true romantic. I love the idea of a happy ending, so much so I have trouble writing a sad one. The world is sad enough. I like escaping in fiction. That’s just me. I like sarcasm and snark – but I’m not sure a sad ending is in me. If you’re looking for an edge like that, you’re probably looking in the wrong place. Just FYI.
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
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Books by Lily
Harper Hart
Hardy Brothers Security
Deadly Intentions
Deadly Intuition
Deadly Illusions
Deadly Proposal
Deadly Prospects
Deadly Ever After
Deadly Honeymoon
Deadly Questions
Deadly Addition
Deadly Vacation
Deadly Secrets
Deadly Storm
Deadly Dealings
Deadly Christmas
Deadly Desperados
Deadly Arrival
Deadly Rivalry
Deadly Memories
Deadly Adventure
A Maddie Graves Mystery
Grave Homecoming
Grave Insight
Grave Delight
Grave Misgivings
Grave Concerns
Grave Discovery
Grave Decisions
An Ivy Morgan Mystery
Wicked Days
Wicked Dreams
Wicked Times
Wicked Places
A Harper Harlow Mystery
Ghostly Interests
Ghostly Issues
Ghostly Deceits
Wicked Warning (An Ivy Morgan Mystery Book 5) Page 20
