LOS ANGELES
IVY RIVERA HOME
“And when I got my first job as a waitress in a bar, I thought things would get better but it didn’t. I became a homeless teenage pregnant girls and for sometimes I had to sleep secretly at the bar. I worked overtime and even went to night school because I had hoped that soon everything would fall into place for good. Through it all, the life I was carrying kept me going throughout those time.” Ivy said in a tight whisper as she wiped her tears.
“And then after sometime of hardship everything had fallen right into place for Leroy and I.” Ivy sniffed as she breathed in and out.
“And now.. you are.. saying I should go to where I never felt loved?” Ivy asked Ace a question but a response never came from him.
Ace knew this woman’s life standing in front of him was fraught with anger towards her parents. Ivy waited for a response and somehow it felt like a heavy height had just been lifted off her shoulder.
Ace Clark held her right hand and lead her to the couch and he made her sit in it. Without saying a word, he walked back into the kitchen but he soon came back around with a glass of water in a tray.
“Here drink up to help you relax.” He instructed her.
Ivy accepted the glass of water and she gulped down the whole liquid. Ace took the glass from her and set it on the tray that was sitting on the table.
Ace heaved a loud sigh as he settled down beside her on the couch. He turned Ivy so she could look straight into his eyes. “So how do you feel now?” He asked.
Ivy Rivera is a tough cookie who has been on her own since she was little. She wasn’t loved by her parents and the whole town looked down on her. After everything she went through, Ivy did not only survive but she also flourished as a successful photographer and film producer without much help from anyone.
“Do you feel better now after letting everything out?” Ace reached out to wipe the tears that strayed down her cheeks.
She felt relieved pouring out her mind to Ace Clark. But words has failed her and all she could do was cry.
“I am sorry for everything you went through in life. It must have been hard for you to survive all by yourself.” Ace embraced her.
Ivy sobbed as she held on to him tightly. She needed all the comfort his warm embrace was bringing to her body and soul. And she was glad that he had listened to her. Ivy sobbed out loud.
“Everything is fine now.” Ace mumbled.
And it took Ivy about an hour in crying state before Ace managed to calm her down. He withdrew from the embrace and reached out to wipe her tears with his fingertips.
“Ivy, I am sure that your parents must be having regrets for how they treated you. I mean.. just take a look at yourself, you are doing well in your profession. You did a great job at raising a child. Just think about it, my love.. you have managed to break free from the legacy of being a bad luck which you never were. So my love, it’s high time you forgive your parents if not anything but for Leroy’s sake.” He stopped and hoped for a response but nothing came from her.
“You have no idea of how much Leroy is wishing to see his grandparents.” Ace squeezed her hands gently and brought them to his mouth for a quick kiss.
“And don’t forget that I will always be here for you. And I also want a forever with you. I want to get married to you the right way and we can have more kids.” Ace Clark said with a small smile on his face.
“So what do you say?” He asked.
He is right. She should let go of the past and focus on the future with the man she loves so much and with her son that means the whole world to her.
Ivy swallowed hard and held on to Ace Clark’s hands. “Will you come with me to Winslow?” She requested.
Ace smile grew broader, Ivy was coming around. It was a positive response.
“Anywhere you want to go, I will be there too.” Ace Clark answered.
“Alright.” Ivy shook her head. “I will visit Winslow to pay a last respect to my father and also give him a befitting funeral.” She added quickly.
Ace Clark leaned in and kissed her forehead. “I will give my support.” He cupped her face as he looked into her eyes. His gaze traveling over her whole face.
“Thank you for everything.” Ace muttered as he brought down his mouth on hers.
Ivy let him in and kissed him passionately. But all of a sudden she felt nauseous, bile rising up her throat which caused her to push Ace away from her.
Ivy hand shot straight to her mouth as she raced into the kitchen and threw up the food from last night into the sink.
Ace Clark was right behind her. He opened the tap and helped sprinkle water on her face.
Ivy rinsed her hand after cleaning up her mouth. She was feeling uneasy and irritated. Ace reached for her forehead but he withdrew his hand immediately with a wide eye.
“You are burning up. How are you feeling?” He asked, looking worried.
“I just feel dizzy..” Ivy answered in a low tone.
“You can’t walk by yourself.” Ace said.
“No.. no.. I am fine. I must have -” her sentence was cut off when Ace carried her in bridal style.
“You look pale all of a sudden..” Ace said as he started the walk to the bedroom.
“I.. I.. must have stressed myself too much lately.” Ivy replied.
“You think so? But you haven’t been doing much work lately aside cooking and I help out most times.” Ace Clark countered.
“Come on, Leroy is a whole lot of energy. I have to put up with his disturbances and his school works and you don’t help with that at all.” Ivy replied as Ace laid her on the bed.
“I am always busy with the files from the offices during those times.” Ace covered her up with the bed covers.
“That’s right. And I am not complaining. Seriously Ace, you have been really helpful to me and Leroy.” Ivy admitted with a sincere look on her face.
“I am glad to help you. And I will keep on being helpful to you once we get tie the marital knot.” Ace got into the bed next to Ivy.
“I had a dream.” Ivy said as she snuggled closer to him with her head resting on his chest.
“Tell me about it.” Ace requested.
“A wedding with you and we were about exchanging our vows.” Ivy narrated her dream to him.
“You were pregnant?” Ace gasped when Ivy told him her condition in the dream.
“Yes I had a baby bump in my white wedding gown.” Ivy replied.
“Sound good to me. I mean, I want to be a father again and this time I won’t miss the diaper days, first tooth, first step and first word. I’ll be present in everything.” Ace said with excitement in his tone.
Ivy yawned out loudly.
“Babe, we should visit the hospital to have you checked tomorrow.” Ace Clark said.
But Ivy was slowly drifting off into a deep sleep. She managed to hum a response.
“Good night love.” Ace Clark mumbled with a kiss in her hair.