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Meeting Ivy

“Hi, Ian. This is Lynn’s friend from school’s aunt, Ivy Donegan.” Nancy said.

The blonde woman swirled around on her skates. Her green eyes got bigger.

A cold spike shot down Ian’s spine. “Hi, I’m Ian Woodard. Nice to meet you.”

“Chelsea told me all about you.” Ivy said with a smirk as she turned around to continue skating with the others.

Ian gulped and tugged on Steve’s jacket. His brother slowed down and picked Bradley up. “What was that about?”

“She’s the one from the grocery store.”

“Oh.” Steve skated a little slower to let people get around him. “She didn’t seem crazy.”

“Okay, I guess that was a little harsh but I didn’t expect to ever see her again.”

“Well, you might be stuck with her.”

“You say what now?”

“All that fuss that Lynn was making last night. She said she doesn’t want Millie’s son to be her cousin. She wants this one’s niece to be her cousin. She’s the aunt that Lynn has been trying to push to the front of Nancy’s line of introductions.”

“Oh, boy.”

“You can say that again.”

“She’s not wrong about Millie, though. She seemed nice enough but there was definitely something off last night.”

“It’s kind of hard to give her a fair shake with Lynn throwing a wrench in it like she did.” Steve said.

“I don’t know. I had a feeling about her. I tried to keep it light, but I think I had a better time with Niki.”

“I think a lot of people have a good time with Niki.”

“Now, Steve. She’s young and attractive. She can afford to play the field.”

“Either way, it seemed pretty frosty between you two the other night.”

“She’s nice enough. Not quite what I’m looking for, I guess.”

“Do you even know what you’re looking for?” Steve laughed as he bounced Bradley in his arms.

“How did you know Nancy was the one?”

“Well, it wasn’t love at first sight. Don’t get me wrong. She looked fantastic. Still does.”

“But there’s more to it than the looks. I know. If all I wanted was good looking, I’d marry Ivy tomorrow.”

“Wait, are you saying…?”

“No.” Ian took a deep breath. He looked at his brother’s devilish smile. “No!”

“She’s a freelance graphic artist.”

“Hooray for her.” Ian said flatly.

“You think she’s pretty and she comes highly recommended.”

“Second-hand from a Kindergartner playing an angle.” Ian frowned.

“I’m just sayin’.” Steve shrugged and skated a little faster to catch up to Nancy and the others.

“Aw, c’mon.” Ian reluctantly sped up to follow him.

As they passed other skaters to catch up with Nancy and the girls, Ian noticed Ivy peeking over her shoulder at him.

No, it couldn’t be.

“Hey, slowpokes. Where did you go?” Nancy laughed.

“Talking shop.” Steve said as he kissed Bradley on his cheek. “How’s everybody doing?”

“We haven’t taken any more spills.” Nancy cast a worried eye at the wobbly little friends leaning on each other for balance.

“Mommy!” Lynn yelled as she abruptly spun back to face her parents. Chelsea clung tight and the pair of them began whirling like a pair of bolos in flight.

Nancy swooped in and caught them just in time to prevent a fall. “Lynn, be careful. What did you want to ask?”

“Can Chelsea stay over? I want to take her to Sunday School.”

“Oh, we’d have to ask.”

Ivy said, “I can’t make that decision, Chelsea. We’d have to ask your mom.”

“She’ll probably say no.” Kendra said. “She says no to everything that isn’t convenient.”

“If not, maybe somebody could bring her?” Nancy looked at Ivy hopefully.

“Please!?!” Chelsea clutched Lynn as much for balance as to underscore her desire to be permitted to go to Sunday School.

Kendra looked up at her aunt curiously.

“Well, if she won’t let you stay over, I promise I’ll take you to Sunday School.”

“Yay!” Lynn and Chelsea began hopping with joy and collapsed in a heap.

“Oh, no.” Nancy laughed as she slid in to help them up.

Ivy slid in beside them to sweep ice and water from her niece’s coat and pants. “Be careful, silly.”

“Thank you, Aunt Ivy.” Chelsea said, regaining her balance.
“I don’t know, Ivy. Don’t you think she’s a bit young for a sleepover? We don’t even know these people.” Holly said.

“Who’s that?” Frank stirred.

“Go back to sleep. It’s just Ivy.”

“Well, what does she want? Who’s sleeping over?”

“Shh.” Holly waved him down. “Sunday School? Where?”

“Who’s sleeping over at Sunday School?”

Holly just shook her head at him. “Well, you’re there with them. Do they seem normal?”

“Who’s normal?” Frank sat his recliner up and rubbed his eyes.

“Chelsea’s friend’s parents. They invited her to sleep over so they can take her to Sunday School.”

“She’s kind of young for a sleepover.”

“That’s what I said, Frank. Go back to sleep. I’ll take care of this.”

He pushed the footrest down and got up. “Do they seem normal?”

“What are you saying?” Holly’s eyebrows raised.

“I don’t think there’s any harm in letting her sleep over if she really wants to.”

“I’m not sure, Frank.”

He shrugged and headed for the fridge. “It’s your call. I’m okay either way. I’m sure she’ll be fine.”

“Well, what church is it?” Holly asked the phone. “Saint Andrew’s Episcopal.”

“I know where that is. We can take her there tomorrow or, if you want, she can sleep over and we can pick her up from there.”

“She doesn’t have a change of clothes or her pajamas or anything.”

“Well, we can drop a bag off at their place.” He poked around inside the fridge. “Give us a chance to look them over.”

Holly said, “Get an address. Frank wants to drop off an overnight bag for Chelsea.”

Frank whirled around at the sound coming from Holly’s phone. “What was that?”

“That’s Chelsea being happy.”

‘At least somebody is.’ He thought. “Better go pack a bag for her then.”