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"She's not really busy." She continues, her voice barely more than a whisper¸ "I'm supposed to tell people she's busy when she's waiting for her lunch to be delivered."
"Gotcha." I wink at her.
I knock softly on Madeline's slightly ajar office door.
"That must be lunch," I hear her say. "Come in."
I push open the door and I'm instantly greeted with the image of Madeline sitting uncomfortably close to Jax at the table next to her desk.
"Ivy! It's you!" Madeline leaps from her seat.
"Hello." The word somehow forms on my tongue and leaves my mouth.
"I thought you were lunch." She giggles and throws Jax a knowing glance.
"I've been told I'm delicious," I say without thinking.
Jax coughs and Madeline laughs a bit too hard. "You've always been such a card, Ivy. That's why we love you so."
I know it's all in my imagination, but I feel as though the walls are rapidly closing in on me. I place the box containing my jewelry on her desk. "Here's the rest of the bridal collection." I push it towards her.
"This calls for a celebration!" She turns to Jax. "Let's take Ivy to lunch."
"No," I say louder than necessary. "I can't."
"Nonsense," she says as she rounds her desk to place the box in a drawer. "It's not open for discussion. This is an important day for all of us."
"I agree," Jax chimes in.
I look directly at him, my breath stopping briefly when his eyes catch mine. He stands and puts on the blue suit jacket that had been carefully placed on the chair behind him.
"I'm not dressed for lunch." I'm hopeful that my hastily thrown together ensemble of jeans, red knit top and black flats will be enough to grant me a rain check.
"You look stunning as always, Ivy. I'll tell Teresa to cancel our lunch." Madeline marches out of her office in the direction of the reception desk.
"I don't want to go," I whisper to Jax as he approaches me.
"I promise it will be fine." He reaches to touch my shoulder.
I instinctively pull back.
"We're all set." Madeline pops up by the open office door. "Lunch awaits."
***
Two hours and a few bites of braised cod later, I'm ready to make my timely exit.
Madeline, on the other hand, has settled nicely into our lunch and into a lengthy conversation about how her divorce and how amazing it's been to reconnect with Jax.
"Can I get you anything else?" The waiter's voice is a welcome reprieve from Madeline's incessant ramblings about herself.
"I'll have another vodka soda." Madeline holds up her empty glass. "What about you Jax?"
"I'm fine." He turns to me. "Ivy?"
"No, thank you." I sigh, knowing that Madeline's desire to have a third drink means at least another thirty minutes of chit-chat with her and Jax.
"Ivy." Madeline turns her attention and gaze on me. "I've always wanted to ask you something."
