“I’m sure.” Ivy smiled cunningly at him as he escorted her to their seats.
“I’ve been here for a while, but not by my own volition. You’re mother insisted that I leave the house this morning. Her boyfriend was coming for brunch. I guess that having me around would put a cramp in their little social.” Madison and Sade had been divorced for nearly ten years, but every time he came to Memphis, they stayed together.
“She’s dating a lawyer now.” Ivy said giving him the update he was asking for in his own way.
“A lawyer? Now see, that is what I’m talking about.” Madison shook his head. “She picks the weirdest men to associate with. You know that everything that they say about lawyers is true.” He lifted his brow as if to let his daughter in on a well-kept secret.”
“Is everything true that they say about doctors?” Ivy smiled.
“What do they say about doctors? Nobody talks about doctors. Everyone loves a doctor.” Madison took a sip of his beer and grinned at Ivy. “Have you met him yet?”
“Yes. Don’t worry. He won’t be around long.” Ivy liked the idea that his father was still in love with his mother, therefore extremely jealous of any suitors. “It’s your fault though. She never would have left you if you had just been around more,” Ivy said to her father in a very matter-of-fact tone. She didn’t hold a grudge against Madison, but every now and then she would remind him of his one big mistake.
“The story of my life.” Madison lifted his glass to her. “When you’re older, you’ll discover that hindsight is 20/20.”
“Anyway, I have missed you.” Ivy’s words warmed his heart as only a daughter could.
“And I have missed you,” he said touching her hand. “How is that soon-to-be son-in-law of mine? He isn’t messing up is he? I already told him that I would break his back in four places if he ever made you cry. ” He liked Grey alright but if he needed to, he would make him disappear over his only daughter.
“He’s just fine, daddy. And the planning is going well. ” Some things were better left unsaid, and Ivy knew it.
“You won’t tell the truth though will you, girl?” His eyes were fixed on her engagement ring. “You’re still blinded by the glimmer of that damned ring.” A smiled crossed his face. “I can remember the day I slid that one carat rock on your mother’s finger. Her eyes watered like she was cutting onions. We were college kids then. Yeah, she was blinded too. It literally cost me one semester of school. She was worth it though. She was sure worth it. And you’re worth it too. Which is why if he starts to treat you like you’re not worth it, you do better leaving him. Don’t sell yourself short, sweet pea. You only get one life, and it’s short as an illiterate man’s novel.”
“Don’t worry, Madison. I know that Grey is the right one. I mean, sure he makes mistakes, but he is as perfect as I would hope for him to be.” Her voice reassured her troubled father and a smile crossed his lips.
“Well, with that said let’s have lunch,” Madison said holding his daughter’s hand.
*
Hours later after a long lunch and running a few errands, Ivy returned faithfully to her midterm papers and study notes. It was a seasonal ritual to spend hours on end preparing for some of the most grueling analytic thinking that her young mind had ever experienced. She sat curled up on the couch under her great-grandmother’s purple and pink quilt with a mountain of books around her and intentions of burning the mid-night oil until first dawn.
Trina joined Ivy in the common area of their little dorm and brought her devoted friend a cup of hot chocolate. Turning down Ivy’s radio, she sat across the room from her and opened her accounting book.
“Doesn’t this music put you to sleep?” Trina asked nuzzling her head against the back of the couch.
“Yeah, but anything with words messes with my concentration.” Ivy paused. “Is there still a bottle of No-Doz in the kitchen cabinet?”
“Last time, I checked.” Getting back up, Trina let out a tired sigh.
“Don’t get up, Trina. I’ll get it,” Ivy said feeling guilty for bothering her.
“No, I don’t mind.” Looking through the crowded cabinet, Trina finally found the small bottle of over-the-counter stimulant. “Are you sure that you want to take one of these things? You’ll be up until sunrise.”
“That’s the plan. I have to finish reading this case so that I can write my analysis. If I don’t, Professor Hughes is going to give me hell. I shouldn’t have stayed out all afternoon with Madison and then running around all evening trying to finalize my wedding dress arrangements.”
“Here you go,” Trina said launching the small white bottle across the room.
Catching it, Ivy immediately opened the bottle and took half a pill with her coco. Hoping that it would revitalize her enough to finish her work, she quickly returned red-eyed and yawning to the task at hand.
Minutes later, Ivy felt her hands moistening. She rubbed them together and noticed that her heart was palpitating. Suddenly she felt jittery and sweat beads began popping up on her forehead.. Worried she looked at the bottle again and then questioned its contents. No-Doz wasn’t supposed to feel like speed, and although she had never indulged in the illegal drug she had a good feeling that it felt like what she was experiencing.
Trina noticed the startled look on Ivy’s face and stopped in her tracks. What the hell was going on? There was a long silence in the room before Ivy spoke, and when she did her voice was weak.
“Something’s wrong, Trina,” Ivy said holding on to the side of the
