“All right, you made your point,” Ben remarks, talking Tim down while tugging on his sleeve. “Now let’s get something on that eye of yours before you’re not able to see out of it.”
“I’m not leaving her alone with him,” Tim insists, trying to stall.
“Tim, please!” Ivy responds softly.
He’s well aware that he’s on the losing end of this battle. There’s no way she’s going to choose him over me. Whatever move he was trying to make on her, he can just forget it. That’s as far as he’s ever gonna get with her. From now on, I’m not letting her out of my sight.
Tim keeps muttering to himself as Ben drags him out of the room. I hear Ivy take a deep breath when their heavy footsteps creak above our heads as they trudge up the stairs.
I keep my head turned. I can’t bring myself to look at her. She waits a minute before coming over to me, and I try not to read too much into her hesitation. She exhales again before running her fingers through my hair. Her touch is soothing, familiar. I just want to melt into her as she wraps her arms around my head. And that’s when I finally relax as she shushes me to be quiet, telling me that everything’s going to be okay, reminding me to breathe.
I collapse against her. The simple pleasure of hearing her voice is all I want. She clings to me, not letting me fall. God, I’ve missed her so much. My hands feel numb from punching Tim. So I grope for her blindly, grabbing on to her floppy pajama bottoms before spreading my palms over her hips.
But there’s something I have to do before this goes any further.
Slowly, I draw my head away from her embrace, finding the courage to finally meet her eyes. Her hair hasn’t been combed and her face is all tear-stained, but she has never looked more beautiful.
She stands, bracing herself against me. Her breath hitches when I gently start unbuttoning her shirt, but her eyes never leave my face. I stop partway up, raising the bottom half of her cami up and over her baby bump. Dropping down, I run my hands across her stomach, feeling her shiver against my fingertips. Looking up at her, I place my lips on her bellybutton, kissing the child that’s growing within her, the miracle we created.
“I will never ask you to choose again,” I say solemnly, my voice nothing but a whisper.
Ivy starts to cry in earnest, placing her hands atop mine.
“You are my heart now. Whatever happens to you happens to me.” I kiss each one of her knuckles as she sighs deeply, like she’s been longing with all her soul to hear me say these words. “I know I’m not as brave as you are, but I promise to try harder.”
“Eric, stop. You’re the bravest man I know,” she proclaims with a tender fierceness, tears shining in her eyes.
“I’m just so afraid of losing you,” I mutter, breaking down.
“Oh, Eric,” she whimpers, sobbing right along with me. “I know, baby… I know.”
I lean back against the wall, guiding her onto my lap. We don’t say anything more. We just sit there and hold each other, savoring the moment.
I don’t let my mind drift to whatever it was I interrupted between her and Tim. I don’t dwell on the fact that she’s wearing his shirt and they were having a cozy breakfast together. All I know is I’m taking her far away from here and she’s never going to see him again. Not if I can help it.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been in Tim’s family homestead. I remember spending every Memorial Day here at his uncle’s annual barbecue back when he still owned the place. Christ, it looks exactly the same—the faded rooster design on the wallpaper, the brass pots hanging by the stove. Tim hasn’t changed a darn thing. It’s like he found a way to make time stand still. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Tim’s always been nostalgic like that, refusing to let go of the past.
Ivy stirs in my arms, blinking up at me. Her fingers trace a path down the side of my face, along my jawline, and over my chin.
“I’m only gone a week and you think you can start growing a beard?” she teases, her eyes red from crying.
“Well, hunting season’s coming up—” I protest lightly.
“Don’t even think about it,” she chides.
“What do you say we get out of here?” I nuzzle my face against hers, tickling her with my stubble. “Let me take you home… Then you can do whatever you want to me.”
She laughs and it’s like music to my ears. “As tempting as that sounds, I should probably thank Tim first and not just sneak out the back door.” She sees my eyes darken at the mention of Tim. “Especially since, thanks to you, there’s not much of a door to sneak out of.”