Ivy’s early years were significantly impacted by her parents’ divorce. Her father’s adultery and her mother’s eventual transformation into a shadow of her former self served as harsh memories of those formative years. Ivy was unable to leave their house because of the adultery’s lingering shadow.
Ivy was troubled by her background and worried that her marriage might end in the same way. Her parents’ relationship left her with significant scars, which made her wary of ever giving her all to anybody else.
Ivy admitted, “I don’t think I’m going to get married, Mom,” one day while they were baking together and her words had weight.
Her mother wavered. “Why on earth not?” she said in a tone that mixed alarm and interest.
“Look at you and your dad,” Ivy shot back, her voice sorrowful. “It’s impossible for me to know for sure if my partner is cheating on me.”
Her mother’s response, which mixed assurance with humor, provided a small break from the serious conversation. “Not every man will be like your father,” she said with a giggle. “Love, you have greater things coming your way. Nevertheless, you are aware of what not to do today.
Even though her mother had encouraged her, Ivy was concerned she may suffer the same kind of hurt as her mother.
Ivy found out throughout the years that she was hesitant to show people her sexual side. She was afraid to show vulnerability and to let someone in just to be let down or tricked, so she stayed aloof and protective.
However, as the years passed, she got to know a man named Jordan and grew to admire him.
After introducing himself as Jordan, the two of them started food shopping.
She responded, against all of her own self-imposed rules, “Ivy.”
Jordan was her husband four years later.
Ivy’s mother once informed her over the phone, “I told you, Ivy, not everyone is like your father.” She was right; Jordan was a truly amazing man who loved her unconditionally.
Years later, a typical morning brought Ivy’s misgivings back to mind. Her husband usually handled the morning drop-offs, but that day was different.
As Ivy went upstairs, she noticed Jordan in the kitchen. He said he couldn’t, and when Ivy reminded him that he was supposed to, he requested her to drop off their daughter, Mia.
“Mom needs me to take her to the doctor this morning before work,” he said, planting a kiss on her cheek. “She’s afraid she might faint, so she’s getting tested.”
Ivy agreed, understanding her husband’s close bond with his mother, who depended on him constantly for assistance.
Not a word of trouble said until then. But while Mia and her daughter were eating pancakes that Jordan had cooked for them for morning, Mia turned to face Ivy and asked, “Can I see your hand, Mommy?”
Mia gasped when Ivy extended her hand to her. “Mum! “Remove your ring,” she commanded. “You should wear it at home only.”
At Ivy, the girl’s remarks generated bewilderment. Who told you that, Sweetie? “I always wear my wedding ring,” she said, bending down to her daughter’s level.
Every morning, Dad removes his ring and stashes it behind the closet. Each and every morning.
“Tell me where,” Ivy inquired.
Before we go, you may also place yours at this spot. My father always places it here before we see Linda.
Linda? Linda, who is she?
“I want to look like Linda when I grow up because she’s so beautiful,” Mia remarked. “Mom, her hair is so long and gorgeous.”
Concealed like a shameful secret, the truth about the ring suggested a reality Ivy wasn’t prepared to confront.
There was Jordan’s ring inside the box. Mia was being honest. Ivy felt like her world fell apart at that same instant. Does she think she’s living her mother’s life? Did Jordan betray her? She continued thinking about all those questions.
Ivy chose to follow Jordan the next morning because she needed to know for sure what was happening behind her back. She watched him park his car close to a house that she had never seen before.
Ivy watched in quiet anguish as Jordan met the enigmatic woman at the door with a loving embrace as she parked a safe distance away. Her greatest fears were confirmed as she saw what looked like a knife piercing into her heart.
Ivy fled to the privacy of her own house, her mind racing with a flurry of feelings, unable to take the crushing weight of betrayal. The hours seemed to go on forever as she battled her inner anguish, vacillating between facing Jordan and keeping her concerns to herself.
Ivy made a choice that would alter everything out of desperation. She followed him once again after taking Jordan’s ring from its hiding place with shaking hands. She found the will to go inside the home when she noticed her husband entering this time.
But when she peered into Jordan’s eyes, she saw uncertainty instead of remorse, which was unexpected.
Jordan? What is happening? She enquired.
Ivy, oh! Why are you in this place? He cried out, tugging on his paint-splattered overalls.
Ivy said, “I could ask you the same thing.”
“This is our new residence,” he acknowledged. “Aunt Rose gave it to me. I wanted to provide us more room for Mia and, should we want to have other kids in the future. Working on it myself has been my focus.
Ivy was unsure about her ability to trust him.
It was then when a woman entered.
“Just you by yourself, Jordan?” Ivy inquired.
Linda is who she is, according to Jordan. She is the designer of the interior. She is the daughter of my boss and is working on her first major project out of our house.
“It’s wonderful to finally meet you, Ivy,” Linda said, giving Ivy a firm handshake. “It has been an honor to work on your house. Jordan talks about you and Mia solely.
“Mia and Linda have met,” Jordan clarified. “We had a brief meeting to decide on Mia’s preferred pink shade for her room.”
Ivy felt a feeling of relief sweep over her as Jordan revealed the truth about his actions, mixed with a twinge of guilt for having doubted him. She knew then that her worries had been unwarranted and that Jordan was not the person she had imagined him to be.
When she later told him about his ring, Jordan said that he had been taking it off while working since it was hard to clean when he spilled paint on it.
Ivy resolved to never allow doubt obscure their love again and to put all of her confidence in Jordan, even in the face of uncertainty, as she gained a renewed sense of clarity. And Ivy realized that their relationship was closer than ever as they sat in the kitchen together, enveloped in their family’s love.
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