LOS ANGELES, U. S. A.
(FLASH FORWARD TO TEN YEARS LATER)
Ivy could barely control the fury as she headed toward her car at the garage were she had packed it. How dare he try to embarrass her in the public? How dare he accuse her when he had disappeared the next morning they had spent the whole night together? She had tried all her best to find him that morning, and even waited for him to return and even after she had found out she was pregnant. If she had ever needed more proof of what type of father Ace Clark could make, she had gotten it. He hadn’t cared about her feelings, hadn’t cared about anything only himself and all he did was used her.
The next time he come around.. Ivy promised that she would hit him with her car if she had to, Clark Corporation Vice President or not. There was no way she would let him get close to her son.
“Mooommmm… Slow down!” Leroy grumbled.
Ivy had been locked up in her thought that she didn’t notice her son scrambling along beside her and her tight hold on his wrist.
Ivy slowed down a bit feeling deeply sorry for her son. “I am sorry sweetie… I.. I forgot your legs are not long as mine but we have to leave right now.. okay? Just hang on that is my car over there.” Ivy said.
“Alright mom but why are you so mad? Is it because of that guy?” Leroy asked as they resume walking, though at a much more sedate rate.
Ace was delayed by a phone call from his mom reminding him not to forget about the party at Anderson’s house at night.
“Sweetie, I am not angry… I just realized that there are some certain things I need to do at home before it gets late.” They lapsed into silence, but Ivy delude herself into thinking that Leroy was going to buy her answer for long.
They got to the car, Ivy thanked and tipped the man in charge of managing the cars at the garage. Ivy hit the button on her car key to unlock her car and then Leroy ambushed her.
“Was that man my dad?” Leroy asked in a low tone.
Ivy stared at him with her mouth open as her brain scrambled for an answer, she didn’t want to lie to him because if she did it would end up hurting her son. She had to admit that Ace Clark was his dad but how could she do that now? He was still a nine years old boy somewhat close to clocking ten so how would she explain what happened between she and Ace and expect him to understand?
“Mom, can you tell me the truth please?” Leroy requested as he nibbled on his lower lip.
Ivy closed her eyes deciding that the truth was the only option at the moment. “Yes my love that was the man who fathered you.” She answered.
“Oh so.. why did he say you did not call him or try to find him to tell him about me?” Leroy asked.
Ivy moved closer to her son, tilted his chin up and he was looking into her eyes. “Well.. you see.. I tried my best to find him but I don’t know why he said that. So I suppose because things…. between us… weren’t really clear and then we went our separate ways even before you were born.” Ivy responded doing her best to tell the truth and trying to make him understand that she wasn’t at fault.
Leroy eyes fell in disappointment. “You always say that I should do my best to say the truth all the time but you lie to me. You said you just met him a while ago at the studio.” He said.
Ivy breathed out heavily afraid that she had somehow failed her son, she wasn’t practicing what she had preached to him. “You don’t have to think about that but my love all I want you to know is we have done great without him right?” She asked.
Leroy shook his head slowly not happy with her response. He gave her a small smile before slipping into the car. Ivy also entered the car quickly when she caught a glimpse of Ace Clark and she drove off. Ivy Rivera looked at Leroy, the expression on his face, more like pain in a smile. She was convinced that her son missed having a father far more than she had ever thought.
Leroy who was always so full of joy and energy only wears this expression on his face at the moment when ever he was hurt. Ivy Rivera remembered that over the years her son had asked her series of questions about his father but she couldn’t say much about him but had made up some kind of stories about his dad. And she had tried her best to tell him good things about his dad.
Ivy had done everything to make up to the fact that he didn’t have a father and she had always thought she had done a pretty job of it. Truth be told, Leroy hasn’t even known he was missing a dad until he went to school and figured out that almost all his classmates had two parents, even if not all of them lived together.
The knowledge hurt to see her son suffering for her mistake. How was she going to fix things? Ivy thought deeply. Part of her blamed her own self for being foolish, her parents for neglecting her and Ace Clark for leaving that day after making love to her.
Ivy tried to find him but when she failed she figured back then that he had only used her. Although she wasn’t aware Ace Clark was the son of a very rich man in Los Angeles when he came to Winslow, Arizona not until today. And Ivy could tell that finding out about Ace Clark would obviously have some kind of effect on Leroy. She had been an idiot. Ivy face palmed herself internally.
Sighing as she drives, Ivy was horribly sorry that her son had been caught in the middle of the whole dirty affair.
Ace Clark waved down a taxi, he entered the taxi and ordered the chauffeur to go after Ivy’s car because going back to the studio to take his car won’t be a good idea. He might miss the chance of getting to know his son today.
“Can’t you go any faster than this?! We must not miss that red car ahead!” He commanded the Chauffeur.
“I am so sorry sir, I can’t go any faster than this because the cops are nearby to apprehend drivers speeding on highways.” The chauffeur replied.
The cars on the highway slowed down to follow the traffic light sign.
Ace Clark clenched his fist. “You can’t walk away from me Ivy or Bethany.” He said to himself.
The chauffeur pressed his horn slightly for the car in front to move when the light signaled green.
“You have my child.. so you can’t get away from me.” He said in a tone that was low but furious.
Ace Clark reached for his cellphone in his pocket and dialed Arthur’s number which he picked on the second ring.
“Hello bro, where are you? I just found out that you left without your car.” Arthur said.
“Oh.. yes.. I think it broke down because I tried starting it but it didn’t work. Don’t worry about it, I already called the auto shop to come fix it.” Ace Clark lied and trying to relax in order not to sound suspicious.
“Oh alright please don’t tell me you called to remind me about the wine you want to give to your father in law.” Arthur chuckled.
“No I didn’t call for the wine.” Ace said.
“So what?” Arthur asked.
“I told a friend about Ivy just now and so I think she might be needing her help with a birthday shoot for her son.” Ace lied again.
“Oh.. thank you Ace for recommending Ivy to your friend.” Arthur said.
“Alright so can you please share Ivy’s number to me so I can send it to my friend?” Ace asked.
“Okay I will send it right away.” Arthur Young answered.
“Alright, thank you.” Ace Clark said before disconnecting the cal.
He heaved a sigh of relief that Arthur did not question him about who the friend was.
Ace heart felt at ease when Arthur didn’t question him more about his friend who needs Ivy’s number.
Ivy pulled up in front of her apartment. Ace ordered the chauffeur to stop and paid him before alighting from the car. He caught up with Ivy and grabbed her by her upper arm.
“Do you really think you can walk away from me like that?!” Ace demanded his voice low and furious.
Leroy was still in the car staring at his dad. Ace tone sent shivers down Ivy’s spine.
“We haven’t settled anything yet. We need to talk.” Ace asserted.
Ivy glanced into the car, caught a glimpse of Leroy’s rapt face. She wasn’t going to take Ace on, not now where her son could hear everything and pierce how angry she was at his father.
Ivy jerked free and turned to face Ace. “So what do you want?” She asked.
“I just need you to admit that you are Bethany.” Ace answered.
“Fine since you want know, I am Bethany the same girl you-” Ivy stopped abruptly and calmed after taking a glance at Leroy again.
She breathed out. ” I think it is not time to deal with this. Leroy is watching and the last thing he needs is to see two of us fighting.”
And then Ace knew the boy was truly his son. Slowly his hands and jaw relaxed and then he blew out a loud breath and said. “We need to talk.”
She wanted to disagree but one look at her son changed her mind. Leroy’s fascination with Ace was not hard to miss. Swallowing the bitterness that welled up inside her, she answered. “Yeah I guess we do need to talk.”
“And when will that be?” Ace demanded.
“I don’t know… maybe in a few days.” Ivy responded.
Ace shook his head in disapproval and said with a screwed up face. “I want to talk to you today – right now.”
Ivy eyebrows snapped together. “Remember you are getting married soon and I have a lot to do concerning your wedding pictures. So if you want to talk to me, you have to work around my schedules.” She replied.
“Beth – Ivy please leave my wedding plans out of it. You have my kid and you are telling me about schedules and weddings?” Ace argued with a deep frown grazing his face.
“How about tomorrow afternoon?” Ivy asked.
“No, I want today.” Ace grounded out the words in a voice so harsh.
The car door cracked open. “Mom, I will just go inside now.” Leroy said.
Ace and Ivy’s head snapped sideways to look at him. “Yeah sweetie go ahead, I’ll join you very soon.” Ivy replied.
Ace watched Leroy bound up the steps to their apartment.
“Okay.. Fine.. what time tomorrow?” Ace asked but Ivy was lost in thought as she stared at her son as he walked into the house.
She had spent so long loving her son, closing her heart towards men because of what she still felt for Ace and wishing she would find him. And so long hating him because he had left after making love to her that it was almost impossible to give him even the slightest benefit of doubt now but she would for her son’s sake. She would give Ace a chance and pray to God that she wasn’t making another mistake with his wedding on the way.
“Ivy?” Ace called out her name snapping her out of thought.
“Oh… sorry.. you were.. saying?” Ivy requested.
“What time should we meet to talk tomorrow?” Ace repeated.
“Why don’t you just come over tonight around nine? Leroy usually goes to sleep around eight, we can talk then.” Ivy responded.
“Alright, I will see you by nine.” Ace replied.
Ivy nodded her head in response. There was nothing left to say and neither of them made a move to leave. Instead they both stood there looking at each other, the past yawning between them until Ivy’s phone ringed.
“I should go ahead now.” Ace mumbled.
Ivy nodded and without another word. And as she walked away, Ivy prayed again that she wasn’t making the biggest mistake of her life.