Ivy's Twisted Vine Redux Latrivia Nelson (best selling autobiographies .txt) 📖

invitation openly. “You know I want to marry you!” She smiled excessively. “I’ve wanted it for so long.”

“Okay. Great. That’s great news, baby.” Brooks hugged her tightly.

“I can’t believe that this is happening.” Trina felt sheer happiness and utter nervousness in the same skipped breath.

“Well, it is.” Brooks smiled. “We can go and pick you out a ring tomorrow. So you can play the ‘ohh, girl game’ with your friends.”

“The what?” Trina asked dying laughing at Brooks.

“Ohh, girl. It’s so pretty. How much did it cost? How did he propose?” Brooks mocked Trina’ friends in a girly, high soprano voice. “You know what I mean. You know what ya’ll do.”

Trina laughed but still had tears of joy in her eyes. “You’ve made me so happy today, baby.” She kissed his lips tenderly.

“I know,” Brooks said equally as pleased. “You know I got you, boo.”

**

Nicola wanted a drink bad. He had been fighting his urge since the early hours of the morning and as the day progressed so did his thirst. To counter what was turning into a dreadful day, he decided to head to the track field to get some fresh air and do some much needed training.

As he arrived at the East High School track field, he parked his truck on the school parking lot and grabbed his MP3 player and shades. If he couldn’t fight the thirst, he would run from it.

At the starting line, Nicola half-stretched and proceeded with his signature long-stride mile run. As he took in the fresh air, he began feeling at peace. Somehow, the clear blue skies, fresh cut grass and empty track gave him the strength to push past his demons.

To busy running to see that he was not alone, Nicola overlooked the little woman sitting quietly under a tree by the playground just a few yards from the track. Eating a finger sandwich and reading her book club book of the month, Sadie watched Nicola in curiosity.

In all the years that Sadie had watched her only daughter follow Grey aimlessly, she never imagined her straying. Ivy was a faithful girl totally clueless to infidelity. In fact, when she was little, Madison would occasionally call Ivy Little Semper Fi, because once she attached herself to any project or friend, she was hopelessly faithful. And so considering that Sadie knew her daughter better than any of the headstrong men that surrounded her, she had decided that Ivy’s choice was due to some misuse of her trust by Grey.

However, the selection itself amused Sadie. Why Nicola? She had to admit when she first met him, she thought that he was exceptionally charming and attractive, but Ivy had never been a superficial woman, so there had to be more. Now an opportunity presented itself where Sadie could probe into the situation further by way of an unplanned conversation. She watched Nicola run vigorously, tiring out his young body with every stride, and when he was finished, she stood up and approached him as he grabbed his keys off the tarp.

“Excuse me, young man,” Sadie said approaching him.

Bending down on the ground to catch his breath, Nicola looked up shocked to see Ivy’s mother walking towards him. He stood up and wiped the sweat from his brow.

“Mrs. Winters,” Nicola said extending his hand to shake hers. “How is Ivy?”

“She’s recovering well, thanks to you.”

“Well, I’ve been staying away to try to keep the confusion down, if you know what I mean.” Nicola sighed. “Who would have thought that you’d be here today? Memphis is such a small place.”

“Isn’t it? Actually, I had a meeting earlier today over at the Library with my women’s group. Afterwards, I figured that I’d take a break out here at the park.” Sadie looked at Nicola panting and tired, but there was something that only a mother would sense running a muck in his normally pleasant demeanor. “So, how is your day coming along?” she asked offering him a finger sandwich.

“Shitty.” No sooner than Nicola had said his curse word did her realize whom he had said it to. “I’m sorry.” He was embarrassed by his slip.

“That’s alright.” Sadie smiled. “Why is your day…shitty?”

Nicola thought about his response this time, gauging the possible outcomes of being honest at this particular juncture in his day. Finally, he decided to answer. “I want a drink, but I’m trying to fight it.”

“Is this an often urge?” Sadie asked concern.

“Did I just reveal my Achilles heel?” Nicola wiped his face. Did he really care what these people thought of him anyway? They were in love with Grey.

“No.” Sadie walked with him. “When I was much younger and Ivy’s father and I were still together, I use to find myself attached to the bottle as a way to deal with my husband never being home.” She stopped and looked at him. “Thankfully, I caught it before the kids were born.”

“How did you quit?” Nicola was intrigued by her candor.

“Madison saw me through it, but it was my conscious decision to stop. To this day the kids don’t’ know. It was one of our many secrets.” Sadie thought back to her husband at one of the most difficult times in her life.

“Sounds like a good man.” Nicola took the finger sandwich from Sadie.

“Well, the Winters’ family has a way of growing you.” She nibbled on her sandwich.

“Thanks,” Nicola said softly. “I’ll be okay. I’m sure of it.”

“Well, if you ever need anyone to talk to, I’m here,” Sadie said sincerely. “I was a psychiatrist for over twenty years. I retired only last year, and to tell you the truth I really miss it.”

“Don’t be surprised if I take you up on it.” Nicola stopped and smiled gently at the older image of Ivy.

“I look forward to it,” Sadie said bidding him farewell to allow him to go on with his day.

Nicola watched Sadie for a moment, glad that she had come over to talk with him. Who would have ever thought that Ivy’s mother had