Chapter Eight: Grey’s Christmas Gift
Chapter 8
GREY’S CHRISTMAS GIFT
“On the count of three, everyone say cheese,” the small balding Jewish photographer said angling in on the large group as they lined the long elaborate spiral alabaster staircase and circled the gigantic fifteen foot perfectly decorated Christmas tree twinkling under a huge crystal chandelier.
“One, two, three,” the photographer said finally getting the picture just right.
“Cheese!” the group yelled cheerfully in unison.
After the photo session, Ivy retired to the corner of the magnificent grand ballroom and carefully watched her soon-to-be family as they carried on in merry conversation.
It was Christmas Eve at the Henderson’s mansion, a time for joyous laughter and celebration for one of the most powerful families in Memphis. All the Henderson men had returned from their various posts around the country to dote on their lovely mothers, sisters and wives, to bring gifts of prestige to their colleagues, to brag on their tremendous accomplishments and seek approval from the three heads of the family, Mayor Henderson, Congressman Henderson and Senator Henderson.
All four of Grey’s brothers where home. There was eldest son, Bishop Henderson, the lawyer, home from Houston where he had just made partner at the prestigious law firm, Ingle, Davison, Mergein, and Claroborne, whom aspired to one day to be a supreme court justice. He was the only true family man, married to a beautiful doctor with two kids. There was the next to oldest son, Emerson Henderson, home from Quantico where he had just become an intelligence agent for the FBI, whom aspirations seemed unknown. There was Benjamin Henderson, the all too familiar anchor of Channel 4 news in Atlanta, who aspired to be the next Ed Bradley and was already one of the most notorious whoremongers in the state of Georgia. There was Bradley Henderson, the musician, who aspired to teach and be the most humble of the haughty brothers in hopes to hide his impeccable homosexuality. And then there was Grey Henderson, the relentless businessman who aspired to take his uncle’s place as Congressman in the upcoming election. Senator Henderson was retiring due to his failing battle with cancer.
She paused for a second as she watched Grey engaging a small audience of men that had collected in the opposite corner of the room by the oversized fireplace in a small debate. Grey was the meat of the family. He was the only son that chose to stay in Memphis to help maintain the political image of the family. He was his father’s right hand man. He was the investor, the banker, the bean counter, the CFO of the Henderson family. In him, she found very little fault but a great deal of pride, dignity and respect.
As Ivy went over in her mind all of her fiancé’s accomplishments throughout the last few years, she also revisited Grey’s discomfort with choosing to marry her. Maybe all of his hesitation was due to the heavy load that he was carrying? He was such a deserving young man commanded by so many tasks in so many areas. It was stupid of her to think that his reasons for leaving had anything to do with other women. Sure, she had heard the many rumors, but he had denied them with great conviction and tried hand over foot to prove to her that his fidelity was the last thing that she should ever question.
I don’t deserve you, Ivy thought to herself of Grey as she rubbed her stomach. Although the pregnancy was a secret to everyone except Nicola, she felt as though everyone knew. Her fingers were puffy, her stomach pudged slightly and her very aura reeked of malice and deception. It was in her pity party that she caught Grey staring across the room at her sitting alone.
Excusing himself from his following, Grey strolled across the floor to his beautiful socialite sitting gracefully in the corner in her crimson velvet Ralph Lauren gown.
“And how is the lady tonight?” Grey asked flirting with Ivy as he offered her a glass of champagne.
“Fine, thank you.” She took the glass and set it on the table beside her.
“Uh huh,” Grey looked at the glass. “You know, as long as we have been together, I have never seen you turn down a glass of champagne. You’ve been a sucker for it since you were a teeny bopper.”
“Things change,” Ivy tried to smile.
“They do don’t they,” Grey kneeled down and looked carefully in Ivy’s eyes. “You have something you need to tell me?.” Taking the champagne off the table, Grey finished the contents and offered Ivy his hand. “Let’s take a walk.”
“Where to?” Ivy instantly became suspicious. He never liked leaving the crowd in fear that he would no longer be the center of attention. Was it possible that he knew? “If you want to go off and fool around, the answer is no. What would your mother say, if she caught us?” Ivy tried desperately to act as though nothing was wrong just in case Grey was privy to her new developments.
“I don’t want to mess around; I just want to talk with you…. spend a little private time away from everybody for a minute. Can’t we do that?” There was a menace in his eyes that Ivy instantly detected.
“I don’t think I want to,” she said lifting her eyebrow. “What are you up to?”
“Figuring out what you’re up to?” Grey offered his hand again. “Come on. I think that I already know anyway.”
“Oh, alright.” Ivy didn’t want
