“Oh, Nicky,” Ivy whispered wiped his tears as her own flowed down her cheeks.
“Do you love me enough not to marry Grey today?” Nicola asked on baited breath.
“Yes,” Ivy said finally shedding all of her fears.
“Good,” Nicola said bending down on one knee. “Do you love me enough to marry me?” He opened his palm with Sadie’s wedding ring and looked up her. “Please, Ivy Marie Winters be my wife.”
“Yes,” Ivy said nearly ready to faint. “Yes,” she said again. She allowed him take off her engagement ring and place his ring on her finger. Weak with all of her emotions, she fell to her knees in front of him. Unable to control his desire, Nicola pulled her near him and kissed her softly, lovingly allowing himself to be as he had never in his life been.
Just then, there was a knock on the door. Ivy looked up realizing where she was. She looked at Nicola who helped her to her feet. Ivy knew without knowing that it was Grey on the other side of the door. She took Nicola’s hand.
“I have to do this alone,” she said asking him to excuse her for just a moment.
Nicola understood and kissed Ivy one last time before he went to the door and unlocked it. As Nicola opened the door, Grey looked on confused. His eyebrow lifted and then his mouth dropped. Even as he was about to tear through Ivy’s heart with his own dagger of truth, it was in him to question why Nicola was there. But Nicola looked at peace, and excused himself with only a nod to Grey.
“Ivy?” Grey said walking in.
“Grey, we have to talk.” Ivy said standing in the middle of the floor transfixed by the ring on her finger.
“I know.” Grey didn’t bother to close the door behind him. “I’m sorry, but there isn’t going to be a wedding today.” Grey allowed the words to sound cold as he was frustrated by Nicola’s presence. He waited expecting there to be some sudden plea Ivy, but she only looked up a him and smiled.
“Yes, there is going to be a wedding today,” Ivy said walking up to Grey. Taking his hand, she gave him back his ring and smiled. “Nicola and I are getting married.”
Nicola stood outside of the door in shock. Wait! Today? Yes, today! It made sense to him too. It had to be today. They had to put this all in order now. He leaned against the wall for a moment pleased with her strength and confident that she could handle the situation on her own. Finally, he left her to end her relationship with Grey while he went to inform their families.
“What did you just say?” Grey asked confused.
“You came here to break it off with me, didn’t you?” Ivy asked finished him.
“Yes, but…” he sighed. “Oh, hell. Why shouldn’t you? I’m not in love with you, and you’re not in love with me.” He managed to shrug off his smug exterior.
“I already know,” Ivy said smiling. “You and I both know that this is the right thing to do. You were only marrying me for your reasons, and I was only marrying you for mine. But neither has anything to do with love. I thank you for standing by me as long as you did, but it’s time for both of us to move on with our lives. I have my sons to think of you and you have your career. Two different paths really.” She hugged him lightly and patted his back reassuringly.
“You don’t have any idea how hard I thought that this was going to be. My brothers attacked me before I got here. I’ve been on the phone with my mother for like twenty minutes,” Grey said as Ivy laughed.
“I’m sure that she’s happy that we’re breaking this off.” Ivy said aware that his mother never liked her. “And so is my father.
“Yeah, she was pretty excited. You have my total support.” Grey said touching her chin. He looked at her seriously. “And you have my respect.”
“That is very good to know, Grey.” Ivy had new strength. “Well, if you don’t mind. I need to get myself ready to get married.”
“Alright. I’ll go and tell everyone who doesn’t already know.”
“Thanks,” Ivy said watching him leave.
“Hey, Ivy? What we went through…it was worth it. I mean, it wasn’t a total loss. We learned so much about ourselves and what we really want out of this world. Right?”
Ivy thought hard about what he was saying for a moment and then grinned. “Yes, Grey. It was worth it.” Ivy said smiling at him.
“I think so, too.” Grey said looking at her once last time. “Take care of yourself.”
“You too,” Ivy said bidding Grey farewell.
***
The guests stood as Ivy and Madison entered into the sanctuary. She tried to keep from stumbling under the heavy weight of her reality. Her father held up her, strong in his grip. She had spent more than an hour in the chambers with Sadie, Liz and Trina trying to pull herself together. Now, she was about to face the man that she truly wanted. She eyed him down the isle, standing at he alter looking statuesque. She couldn’t wait to have him in her arms once more. She couldn’t wait to Mrs. Nicola Michael Agosto.
Most where in awe of the last hour of gossip. News had spread beyond the church that Ivy was to marry Nicola Agosto today instead of Grey Henderson, and in necessary response, the Henderson brothers had locked the doors of the church to keep the news media from bombarding the holy event. All three families felt as though they were in a surreal state, but for all that was lost, there was twice more gained.
Grey and his family sat
