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“Hi.”
Am I imagining the wary note in his voice? I sit down next to him.
“Don’t you want to ask me how the interview went? I guess not; after all, you listened to the whole thing, didn’t you?” I challenge him with a look.
“I might have.”
“Why can’t you let it go, Peter? I know you were the one who asked that question about the clinic.”
“I’m not going to lie. Yes, it was me. I think they should pay for what they did.”
“I’m so tired of this.” Tears unexpectedly fill my eyes. “Please stop this. I’m begging you.”
“Why can’t you see that he’s using you, Ivy? They are all using you,” he says.
“Is that why he wants to marry me? To use me further?”
“Fine, I’ll stop, but only because I love you. But I’ll do it on one condition. Do some investigating on your own, and you’ll see that what I’m telling you is true.”
“I will.” That is fair. “By the way, did you get the job at the station?”
He shakes his head. “No, but I’m okay. I have another gig elsewhere.”
“Was my interview a condition for you getting the job?”
Peter looks shamefaced. “Yeah.”
“I’m sorry you didn’t get it, but maybe it wasn’t meant to be.” Despite everything that has happened between us, I feel sorry for him. “I wish you all the best.”
In my room, I sit in front of my computer to write. Writing is my escape, and right now, I need an escape. I hate how sure Peter is that Alec is using me. My rational mind tells me that he has no reason to use me, but a part of me is frightened.
What if it’s true? I’ve allowed myself to dream about our future. How will I survive having my heart broken?
36
Alec
I finish the last of my work and turn off my computer. I can’t fucking believe that at my age I’m this excited over a weekend away. But it’s not a weekend away with just anybody. It’s with Ivy. The woman who has stolen my heart and is the mother of my baby.
I’m leaving work early to have time to pick Ivy up and head to the airport. But before I leave the office, I have one more call to make. My mother picks up her phone in her usual crisp tone.
“Good afternoon, Alec, is everything okay?”
“Hello, Mother, everything is fine. Very fine actually.”
She lets out a sigh. “That is so good to hear. I can’t wait until the risk is completely gone.”
“I think we’re pretty safe. You and Father’s plan was good. It will be difficult to prove there was a mistake when I’m marrying Ivy.” It was actually a genius plan that matched my long-term plan for Ivy and me.
“Speaking of Ivy, her parents are coming down next week, and they’d like our two families to have lunch and get to know each other.”
There’s silence on the other side. When my mother does speak, her tone is guarded. “Isn’t this taking it a little too far, Alec? You’re not marrying the girl, remember? The engagement was to protect the clinic.”
“That was my intention as well, but I’ve realized that I do want to marry Ivy. I love her, Mother. I want her to be my wife.”
She lets out a labored breath as if the very act of breathing is taking all her effort. “Don’t be a fool, Alec. She’s too different from us.”
My muscles tense with exasperation. “Mother, I thought by now you’d have seen Ivy for who she is. Or at least make the effort to get to know her.” Then something dawns on me.
