From This Moment

by Sean D. Young

  “Let me call Rose and see if the sample centerpieces are ready now.” Ivy picked up the phone and pressed the intercom button to Rose’s shop.

  “Yes, Vee.”

  “Are the samples ready? I have Lauren Kabins in my office.” Rose created breathtaking floral designs, and Ivy was excited to see her sketch in person.

  “I’m almost done. Give me about twenty minutes and I’ll bring it to you.”

  “Okay,” Ivy said before disconnecting the call.

  “Let’s go ahead to choose the invitation and I can have those in the mail by Monday.” Ivy got up from her desk and walked into a room adjacent to her office, pulled a large three-ring bound book filled with samples of wedding stationery from the shelf and brought it back to the office.

  “Did you still want to wait for your fiancée?”

  Lauren gave a sheepish grin. “Would you mind? I really want him to be part of the planning process.”

  Ivy placed the book in front of Lauren and checked her watch as she went back to her chair behind the desk. “Don’t feel bad if he doesn’t come inside, Lauren. Most men don’t really get involved in the planning anyway. They are usually satisfied if the bride’s happy. I have an idea, if he doesn’t show up, he can come to the cake tasting.” She pulled up the calendar to check for an opening. “You guys can come next Monday morning at ten o’clock.”

  At that moment Gwen appeared. “Ivy, Lauren’s fiancée is here,” she said, stepping back and letting a towering figure come forward.

  Ivy gasped.

  Stunned, Ivy scrambled to recover from the entirely unexpected sight of Randall Holloway in her office, of all places. She had no idea that when Lauren said her fiancé’s name was Randall that it would be the Randall she’d known for years.

  A trained professional knew how to handle things like this, but Ivy never thought she’d have to deal with this type of situation. She hadn’t imagined seeing him again. She hoped her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her. The day had turned into a nightmare.

  Smiling brightly, Lauren jumped up and threw her arms around her fiancée. “Baby, what took you so long?”

  Randall kissed Lauren on the forehead, but his eyes were on Ivy. “William needed to talk to me about my new job contract.”

  Taking his hand, Lauren led him over to the other chair in front of Ivy’s desk.

  “Baby, I’d like you to meet Ivy Hart; she’s the woman I told you about.”

  His face blank, Randall extended his hand. “Hello, Ivy,” he said politely.

  Ivy stared at the outstretched hand; she couldn’t believe his nerve. Not wanting Lauren to think she was rude, she accepted his hand.

  “Nice to see you again, Randall,” she said, remaining seated.

  Lauren looked back and forth between Randall and Ivy. “You two know each other?”

  Ivy answered first. “Yes, we went to grad school together.”

  “Wow, how ironic is that?” Lauren said. “You never told me you knew Ivy.”

  “I know so many people, I didn’t think about it,” he said noncommittally.

  Also sidestepping Lauren’s curiosity, Ivy said, “It’s okay, Lauren. Anyway, we’ve got a lot to do, so since we are all here now, let’s pick up where we left off.”

  Chapter 7

  Ivy slumped in the chair behind her desk for more than ten minutes after Lauren and Randall left her office. When she closed her eyes, all she saw was Randall. The broad shoulders, chiseled face and close-cut black hair hadn’t changed in the ten years since she’d last seen him.

  As if seeing him wasn’t enough, putting her hand into the strong grip of his massive hands had almost made her want to throw up. But she couldn’t allow his presence to affect how she did her job.

  Sitting up straight in her chair, she opened the folder with the signed contract, looked over it before picking up the phone to call Jonathan.

  “Jonathan Damon.”

  “Jonathan, how are you today?”

  “I’m good, but what’s wrong with you? You sound funny.” There was a pregnant pause before Jonathan spoke again. “Don’t tell me she didn’t like the menu Marc suggested.”

  “She liked the menu and was very excited about everything. She actually chose the proposal with the food stations.”

  “Great, and she’s good with the sides and vegetables, too?”

  “She’s good,” Ivy said, thinking that their client didn’t have a problem, but she sure did.

  “What time do you want me to pick you up tomorrow?” Jonathan asked, changing the subject.

  Ivy frowned; she had no idea what he was talking about. “Pick me up for what?”

  “Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten we are supposed to go on a date Friday night.”

  Ivy smacked herself upside the head. She’d completely forgotten about their date, which now, thinking about it, may not be such a good idea. After the other night and the way that her body betrayed her, she was uncomfortable being around Jonathan.

  All she wanted was peace and harmony in her life. The way things were pre-Las Vegas. It wasn’t One Life to Live or some other soap opera; it was her life, and she wanted to live it peacefully.

  Ivy felt bad canceling the date, but she needed to tell him now, so that he wouldn’t show up at her place on Friday.

  “I don’t think we should go out, Jonathan.”

  Jonathan clenched his jaw. He didn’t know how to read Ivy. One minute she was warm and pleasant, and the next she was cold and distant. He wanted her to make up her mind about the date once and for all.

  “Oh, so you’re trying to back out on me.” He didn’t want to pressure her, but he wanted her to realize what she was doing.

  Ivy sighed deeply. She needed to do something to relax, because coming in contact with Randall made her realize that they had some unresolved issues; she knew in her heart that she would see Randall sooner than later. “I’m just saying, I’ve got a lot of work to do and I’m already tired.”

  “I thought we’d settled those issues earlier this week.”

  “Did we?” Ivy was running out of things to say. “Look, Jonathan, I’m going to be honest with you. I haven’t been out on a date in a while. Most time my work consumes me, and I really like it that way. I don’t risk my heart being broken.”

  “I’m not going to hurt you, Ivy,” Jonathan said, his voice low and husky.

  “We’ve already started out on an emotional roller coaster after our escapade in Las Vegas,” she said.

  “I know it was not my best decision, but I want to get to know you and for you to know who I am on the inside.” Jonathan blew out a big breath. “Ivy, I’m attracted to you. I think you are beautiful, smart and have something to offer a man. I want to be that man.” After a long pause he said, “Now I’ve got my cards on the table.”

  Ivy had no idea that calling him would reveal his feelings. She could no longer deny that she was attracted to Jonathan, but she knew from past experience that attraction isn’t enough.

  “Where do you want to go?” he asked Ivy.

  “I don’t have a preference, Jonathan. You just let me know if I need to dress up or wear something casual.”

  “I told you that you would have the time of your life when you went out with me. I want you to dress up, and not like you’re going to church, either.”

  They both chuckled.

  Ivy had to admit, Jonathan could always make her laugh.

  “Okay, I’ll be ready.”

  * * *

  The next day, Ivy received a phone call from Sally Carter, the reality show producer. She told her that Adrianne and Robert had broken off their engagement, so they would be shooting the premiere episode with the second couple, Marsha Anderson and Blake Moore. Because of the short timeline, they would messenger their information to her to study for the shoot, which would start at seven o’clock on Monday morning.

  Frustrated and amazed at how quickly the television execs switched the couples around like pieces on a checke
r board, Ivy jotted down as much information as she could pry from Sally in order to get a head start.

  She was also saddened when she thought about how Adrianne and Robert must have been feeling. She just knew the two were in love . . . inseparable. Ivy wondered if their being on the show contributed to their ending their engagement. She’d never know.

  Being a professional, she would have to roll with the punches.

  Trying to put the new turn of events in the back of her mind, she logged on to her computer and opened an e-mail from Lauren. She’d sent the names and addresses of her guests, most of whom lived in the area.

  The rest of the plans for Lauren’s wedding were going well. She’d agreed to Ivy’s idea for the perfect stationery and favors. They’d booked the venue, chosen the linens and the menu and ordered the gowns.

  She was about to pick up the phone when it rang.

  “Yes, Gwen.”

  “Randall Holloway is here to see you.”

  Her intuition never failed her. Ivy knew she’d see Randall again sooner rather than later. The cold look in his eyes the other day told her that they still had unfinished business, and that he’d be back without his bride.

  Balancing the phone on her shoulder, Ivy flipped through the appointments. Was it possible that Randall and Lauren had an appointment? She doubted it. He came to see her.

  “We don’t have an appointment scheduled for Lauren today. But send him down.” She didn’t need to tell Gwen that she and Randall had a past.

  Ivy met Randall her sophomore year of grad school at Michigan State University. She majored in communications and he was an engineering major. They dated through college and grad school. She thought she’d found her soul mate. They wrote out their goals and plans for their future together, but all that changed one Thursday night ten years ago.

  Ivy pressed her back against her high-backed antique chair and folded her hands, resting them on the desk. She took a deep breath as she heard his footsteps on the marble floor in the hallway.

  His body filled the doorway, and the determined look on his face confirmed Ivy’s thoughts that he was angry.

  “How can I help you, Mr. Holloway?”

  Randall stopped when he was directly in front of her desk.

  “After all we meant to each other, I’m just Mr. Holloway now?”

  “This is a professional establishment and you are one of my clients. What else do you want me to do?” Ivy replied matter-of-factly.

  “Don’t act like I’m a stranger.”

  Ivy leaned forward. “Randall, what do you want? I know you didn’t come here to talk about us. You’re getting married, remember?”

  Randall sighed loudly. “If you hadn’t walked out on me, maybe you and I could have been married.”

  Now furious, Ivy pointed at the door. “Get out of my office. You’re marrying Lauren in less than two weeks. I wish you both all the happiness in the world.”

  But Randall did not leave; instead he walked around to the other side of the desk and confronted Ivy.

  “What happened to my baby?” Randall asked angrily.

  Ivy stood up, pushing him back and moving to the other side. His nearness was making her feel closed in.

  “What are you talking about, Randall?”

  “Don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about, Ivy,” he blurted, his voice raised.

  Ivy rushed to the door and closed it. She didn’t want anyone to hear his crazy accusation.

  “What the hell do you care?”

  “What happened to my baby?” he repeated.

  Gazing at the man she had once loved with all her heart, Ivy couldn’t believe what she was hearing. He is the one who turned his back on her, and now he had the nerve to come and ask questions.

  “Randall, you don’t deserve to know.”

  Now in a rage, Randall pointed his finger at her. “I have a right as that child’s father.”

  Finally, she had had enough. “Shut up, Randall,” she said. Her words were deliberate, her tone uncompromising. “Just shut up.”

  Brushing aside Ivy’s demand, he kept talking: “I didn’t really want you to get rid of the baby. I was just shocked; a baby at that time wasn’t in our plans.”

  She pointed to a chair. “Sit down and shut up. I have more important things to do with my time than to argue with you about something that didn’t happen.”

  “Are you trying to deny me an explanation as to why you killed my child?”

  “I’m not denying you anything, Randall. I’m actually trying to set the record straight.”

  Collecting her thoughts, Ivy sat in the chair next to him. “See, this is what happened between us that last time. You never listen; you take things and twist them and don’t allow the other person to fully explain. Well, today you are going to hear the truth about what really happened the night I came to your apartment.”

  She waited a moment to see if he was going to interrupt her again.

  “Two days before I came to your apartment, I took a pregnancy test. When it came back positive, I didn’t know what to do. I couldn’t tell anyone, so I kept it to myself, trying to decide how I felt about it.”

  Randall started to speak, but Ivy held her hand up to silence him.

  “Let me finish. In my own way, I had to come to terms with the idea of having a baby. It was not in our plans, but things happen. I thought we loved each other and that love would be enough to love our child. I came over to your apartment that night to tell you. Your first words were ‘get rid of it.’ ”

  Leaning forward, Randall made a feeble effort to explain himself. “I didn’t mean what I said. I was just caught off guard, surprised.”

  “I think you have selective memory. You never said you were surprised, and you sure didn’t act like it.”

  Releasing a frustrated sigh, Randall reached over to touch Ivy’s hand.

  She snatched her hand away. “Don’t touch me, Randall. I need to finish what I have to say. Remember when you tried to stop me from leaving and I slipped?”

  “Yeah, I rushed to you, but you refused my help and got up and left. I even ran after you, but you kept moving without looking back.”

  “I know. I was fine until later on that night. I fell hard down that flight of stairs. My knee was paining and I hurt my elbow from the fall. During the night, my stomach started cramping and I knew I had to get to the hospital right away.”

  Rising, Ivy went over to the window as the pain of that evening came rushing back. Tears came to her eyes, despite her efforts to keep them back. She’d finally gotten the chance to tell him what happened, but she left out one little detail. She’d gone to her regular doctor as a follow-up and was told that she had a weak uterus and would have possibly lost the baby anyway without medical intervention.

  Randall came over and stood behind her. Gingerly, he began massaging her shoulders.

  “Please don’t tell Lauren about what happened between us.”

  Ivy jerked away from him, moving swiftly to her desk. “Do you think I could be that indiscreet, that insensitive, that unprofessional?”

  She picked up the files on her desk and began shuffling them aimlessly, finally adding, “I think you should find another coordinator. This isn’t going to work.”

  Not waiting for a response, she dismissed him by picking up the phone and pressing a button.

  “We’re done here.”

  Chapter 8

  There was something wrong and Jonathan knew it as soon as he walked into Ivy’s condo Friday night. The energy in the room had dwindled from his last meeting three nights ago. It was quiet and Ivy seemed sad, but not the sad that he saw in her face the day she summoned him over to her house. Even then there was plenty of fire, but tonight it was as if someone threw water on the burning flame.

  As soon as she opened the door, she offered him a seat and disappeared down the hall without another word.

  He wanted to go after her, to hold her, to caress her, to make her feel be
tter, to take away the hurt he saw in her eyes.

  “Is everything okay?” he yelled.

  “Yes,” she shouted back.

  Jonathan didn’t believe her. He’d been around her long enough now to know that her mood had changed from yesterday.

  As Jonathan waited for Ivy, he looked around the living room and admired the décor. Directly off the entry, the room was both open and intimate, as well as being immaculate.

  She’d chosen contemporary furnishing in deep brown colors. The warm camo-green walls and eggshell-colored trim created a great backdrop for the large pieces of artwork that hung on the wall.

  Not wanting to wait any longer, he stood to his feet and walked toward the hallway, so he wouldn’t have to yell, but she appeared before he could get any closer.

  “Wow, you look fantastic.” He couldn’t believe Ivy had let her hair down. He really liked the loose, wavy curls that framed her face. It made her look sexy. Right then, he could imagine running his fingers through it.

  “You did all this for me?” he commented, hoping to get her to smile.

  Ivy turned her eyes upward and swatted at his arm. She blushed, which made Jonathan’s heart smile. He didn’t want to see her upset.

  Picking up her hand, he twirled her around so he could get a better look at her outfit. “Every man in the restaurant is going to be envious of me.”

  “Jonathan, you are so crazy.”

  “No, I’m serious,” he said pulling her to his chest. The top of her head met his chin. He bent down and kissed her hair.

  Ivy looked up and met his intense gaze. They stayed that way for several moments.

  “Needed a hug?” he asked her.

  When she remained silent, Jonathan slowly pulled her closer to him; if she wanted to resist, he’d let her go. Moments later, he could hear her exhale.

  When he released her, Jonathan stepped back and lifted her face with his hands so that he could see her eyes. “Whatever’s going on, it’s going to be okay.”

  Ivy only nodded, turned and walked away.