Chapter 22

When she was a young girl, Christmas Eve had been Ivy’s favorite day of the year. More so than Christmas Day. Back then, her parents were still in love. Back then, they liked to laugh. They danced around the living room, uncaring if they had an audience. They had date nights and romantic dinners, and they held hands and kissed.

They’d been in love. Happily married. They had a wide group of friends, and on Christmas Eve, there’d be revolving open houses and Christmas cheer until well after midnight.

It had been a magical time, and to a young child, that one night seemed to last an entire week. Then, one year, everything changed. Her father left. Her mother’s soft touch was replaced with a sharp tongue, and Ivy’s new reality, not unlike so many other kids her age, took hold, and the magic was lost.

“You okay?”

They’d just pulled up to the main house on the Bridgestone ranch. It was ablaze with lights and looked welcoming. She spied a Christmas tree twinkling from the window that overlooked the porch.

Was she okay? No. Ivy was so far from okay that she wasn’t sure she’d find her way back. Mike Paul hadn’t replied to any of her text messages or picked up when she’d tried calling him. She’d left so many voicemails it was embarrassing. Each more pathetic than the last. The ball of anxiety that sat in the pit of her stomach was making her feel nauseous.

She peered up at the house once more, wishing she was somewhere else. There’d be too many people inside. All of them excited about the holidays. For the chance to spend time with loved ones. Her mother was inside. No doubt happier than a pig in shit to have Senator Lafferty and his glamorous wife as her guests.

“This place looks amazing.” Collins Lafferty sat in the back of the truck. She’d arrived in Big Bend around noon, flying in from Japan or Thailand or wherever the heck she’d been working. Ivy hadn’t paid much attention. Collins was younger and bubbly and full of life. A carbon copy of her beautiful mother, she was a nepo baby who made a generous living modeling for all the top brands. She was also the apple of her brother’s eye.

“Are we waiting for the bat signal or something?” Collin’s hunched forward, eyes on Ivy and Kip. Their grandfather was back at Ivy’s place—he’d decided to stay in, so it was just the three of them.

“Ivy?” Kip asked, his expression concerned.

“Let’s go,” Ivy said, reaching for the door. She pasted a smile on her face and led the way inside.

The house was decorated to the nines, and as soon as she walked inside, Nora Bridgestone, Benton’s little girl, came running at her.

“Ivy, I love your dress,” Nora squealed. “Do you like mine?” Dressed in red velvet and matching shoes, she twirled. “It’s like a princess dress. Auntie Scar gave it to me.” The little girl stopped spinning when she spied Collins. “Who are you?” she asked. “I like your hair.”

Collins laughed and held out her hand. “I’m Kip’s sister, Collins. Is this your house?”

Nora nodded. “Do you want to see my bedroom?”

“I…” Collins gave Kip her coat and shrugged. “Why not?”

The little girl happily led Collins up the stairs while Kip took their coats and hung them up. There was music and voices, and folks in the living room gathered around the massive Christmas tree. There were more bodies in the dining room where a table laden with holiday treats stood. Where was Mike Paul? She spied her mother with Kip’s parents in the dining room and automatically turned in the opposite direction.

“I’m just going to…” She pointed toward the kitchen.

Kip slowly nodded. “Okay.” He took her hand and leaned forward. “Go find him. Talk to him.”

Ivy tried to smile.

“I’ll end this right now if that’s what you want.”

“No,” she replied with a small shake to the head. “We’ll tell them Boxing Day. Like we planned.”

Ivy walked down the hall and found Scarlett, Vivian, and Benton in the kitchen. The siblings were bent over the counter, laughing about something. They looked so easy together. So right. It was nice to have family. To have that connection. To know you someone had your back.

She’d always been an only child, so the notion wasn’t a familiar one. Ivy had never felt more alone than she did at this moment. Feeling as if she was intruding on something private, she was about to leave when Benton glanced over his shoulder.

“Hey,” he said with a smile. “Merry Christmas.”

Ivy gave a small wave. “Hi.”

The girls laughed and raised a glass of red punch while Benton walked over.

“Cal and Millie Sue are around somewhere.”

“Yes. She messaged me when they were headed over.” She paused. Licked her dry lips. Then thought fuck it. Ivy cleared her throat and squared her shoulders. “Is Mike Paul with them?”

Benton rocked back on his heels. He shoved his hands into the front pockets of his black slacks and shrugged. “I haven’t seen Darlington tonight.”

Her face fell.

“Not yet, anyway. Mike Paul has his own schedule. I’m sure he’ll be along soon.”

“You’re right. I’m sure he wouldn’t miss your open house.”

Benton didn’t miss much and seemed to be considering something.

“Jus say it.” She stared at the lapel of his dress shirt. No way could she look him in the eye.

“The two of you have been circling each other ever since you came back to town last year.” Benton’s quiet voice touched something inside her, and Ivy felt a shift. It was subtle, but that ball of anxiety lessened a bit. “Now, I don’t know what’s up with you and this Lafferty guy, but you’re wearing a ring that says something. And if that something isn’t real or at least enough of a something to last, then it’s time to let it go. Life’s too short. Don’t waste time on the stuff that doesn’t matter. If you love Mike Paul, then be with him because I know he wants to be with you.” Benton kissed her forehead and then looked over his shoulder. “You girls need to stay out of the punch.” He stepped away. “Chin up, Wilkens. It’s Christmas Eve. All kinds of magic happens on a night like this.” He winked. “Or so I hear.”

Benton headed to the front of the house, where the majority of the folks were gathered.

“You want some?” Vivian held up a crystal glass.

“No, you girls have at it. I’m going to find Millie Sue.”

Ivy left the kitchen, but she was restless and couldn’t handle a crowd. She grabbed her phone and sent Kip a text.

Is he here yet?

After a few moments, Kip replied.

Haven’t seen him.

The Christmas music, the buzz of voices, the Lafferty family, and her mother—all were waiting for her at the other end of the house. But she wasn’t in the mood for any of it. At least, not yet. Out of sorts, she turned and wandered into the mudroom. She stood there for a few seconds, then pulled on a pair of boots that were two sizes too big and an old coat that drowned her. She left the house, wandered down the path, and eventually found herself at the barn.

Ivy let herself inside and listened to the quiet. There was the odd nicker from one of the horses, but other than that, it was silent and peaceful. It was exactly what her soul needed because she was sad and melancholy. In a weird headspace. The feeling grew as she slowly walked the length of the barn. One of the horses, a grey-speckled stallion, poked his nose over his stall. The nameplate read Star Lord. She ran her fingers over his muzzle, which made her think about the gentle touch that Mike Paul gave to the animals in his care.

Why wasn’t he answering her? Had he given up on them before they had a chance to start? Was her complicated and messy personal life too much for him?

“You look like you’re carrying the weight of the world.”

The deep voice startled her, and the horse sensed it. He backed into the shadows and disappeared from view.

A man stood a few feet from Ivy. He was tall, well built, and dressed smartly in black slacks and a black silk button-up. His hair was on the long side, thick and wavy, his features dark and handsome. There was something vaguely familiar about the man, but she couldn’t quite place him.

“It’s quiet out here,” she responded.

“It is.”

“Who are you?”

The man cracked a smile, and that feeling of familiarity intensified.

“Colton, but most folks call me Cole.” He winked. “Save for my mother.”

It dawned on her then. “You’re a Bridgestone.” His features were a mashup of Cal and Bent.

“I am. Second removed or something like that.”

It was coming to her. “From Texas.”

He nodded. “Born and bred.”

“I think we met when I was fifteen. You came to the ranch for the summer, and all the girls wanted to play with the new shiny toy.”

“You wore glasses and had a salty mouth.”

“That’s impressive.”

To her surprise, he shrugged. “I don’t forget a face. Especially one that’s as cute as yours.”

“Why are you out here and not inside?”

“I don’t like crowds. What’s your excuse?”

“I needed some space to think.”

“Anything I can help you with?”

“No. I’ve got to figure this one out on my own.”

Cole finished the glass of whiskey in his hand. “I’ll leave you to it.” He left, and the sadness she’d felt earlier intensified. It pushed on her chest and made it hard to breathe. Ivy hung her head and closed her eyes.

What the hell is wrong with me?

“I’ve been looking all over for you. And if it weren’t for that nice gentleman from Texas, I wouldn’t have known you were out here.” Diedre Wilkens’s voice cut through the quiet.

Ivy held her eyes closed for a few seconds longer and then turned around. She didn’t have it in her to fight. And that’s what they did, she and Diedre. If Ivy said white, her mother said black. If Ivy found something funny, her mother thought it was in bad taste. On and on it went. But it hadn’t always been like that.

She was a beautiful woman, her trim figure nicely dressed in a cream silk top and dark green slacks. Her hair was pulled into a loose knot, her makeup flawless, and for once, her eyes didn’t spit fire at Ivy. For once, she looked almost human.

“I needed a moment,” Ivy replied, attempting a smile.

“Don’t do that,” her mother said, taking a step forward. “Don’t lie. What is going on with you? Why aren’t you inside with your fiancé and his family? It’s odd, and everyone is asking after you.”

The knot in her throat gave way, and Ivy swallowed it whole. It was like a dam broke wide open, and she couldn’t stop the flow of words.

“I remember when you were happy,” Ivy said softly.

If her mother was shocked by her statement, she didn’t show it.

“Have you been drinking?” Diedre asked sharply.

“No.”

Her mother’s eyes narrowed, and she walked over to Ivy. “Are you high?”

Ivy smiled at that. “No.”

“Then you need to snap out of whatever this is and go back inside. Lord knows what your fiancé is thinking.

“When did you stop being happy?”

Diedre looked confused. “What are you talking about? Are you sure you’re not high?”

“Did Daddy always cheat?”

The blood slowly left her mother’s face, and Diedre’s small hands fisted at her side. “What did you say?” she whispered so fiercely her words dropped like stones.

“I’ve known for a long time.”

“Why are you bringing this up now?” Diedre’s chest rose and fell. “I don’t want to talk about it Ivy Lynn.”

“You have a choice, you know.”

“A choice?” Her mother’s voice rose. “This is...not the time.” She smoothed out the top of her pants. “You’re being silly, and you need to come inside.”

“You have a choice to be happy. Why aren’t you taking it? Why does he still have all the power?”

“What are you going on about, Ivy? I am happy. I have a nice house, and I don’t want for anything. I have more money in my bank account than I need. It was the least your father could do.”

“Those are things.”

“Yes, they are. Important things. At least, to me.”

“I want more.”

“You are engaged to a fine man from a fine family. What more could you want?” Her eyes narrowed a bit. “This is about Mike Paul Darlington.”

“It is.” Ivy nodded. “But it’s also about letting myself have the one thing that can truly make me happy. The one thing I’ve been pushing away for over a year because I didn’t believe in him or me. I never believed in love. Not the kind that lasts. But seeing Millie Sue and Cal find their way back to each other was inspiring. I want what they have.”

“Is that what this is about? Love?” Her mother made a disgusted sound. “The kind of stuff you see in the movies isn’t real. Men cheat, Ivy. It’s an innate part of them. They can love a woman and still cheat. It’s the way things are. The way things have always been.”

“I’m sorry that Dad broke your heart into so many pieces you’re still trying to put it back together. But Mike Paul would never do that. He’s not wired that way.”

Diedre took a step back, her composure slipping a bit. “Who told you about the cheating?”

“It doesn’t matter. Not anymore.”

Ivy would never tell her mom about the night she’d walked into her father’s condo and found him and Val together. The young woman, barely eighteen, had been half-naked, pressed up against a wall with her father. It had been the night before graduation, and her world had shattered. The next day, Cal had left for Nashville, and Ivy had joined him.

“The engagement is over, Mom. Kip and I are just friends. Nothing more.”

“You’re sure about this.”

“I hope you’re not too disappointed.”

“Oh please, his father is a bore, his mother is stoned on valium, and his brother and that wife of his are even worse. Honestly, the whole bunch could disappear, and I wouldn’t care. Though I do like Kip.” Her mother shivered. “You’ve picked an awkward time for all of this. You know that, right?”

Ivy nodded but remained silent. She had nothing else to say.

“It’s cold out here. I should head back inside. Benton’s put on such a lovely spread.” Diedre paused. “Are you coming with me?”

“I’m going to go and find Mike Paul.”

She waited for the pushback, but there was none.

“I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Diedre left her alone, and Ivy pulled her cell from the pocket in her dress. Still no message from Mike Paul and everything she’d sent him was still marked as unread. She stared at the phone, her forefinger rolling over his name, and then she called Kip.

“I need the keys to the truck,” she said when he answered.

“I left them in the console.” A pause. “Are you leaving?”

“I am.”

“Can I end this thing now?”

“You sure can.”

“I’ll let them down gently. And Ivy?”

She was headed for the truck. “Yeah?”

“Go get him.”