Chapter 40 – IVY
Chapter
Forty
IVY
Three months pass before Venom feels ready to go into Evelyn’s room and sort through her stuff.
It still smells like her, and not that mothball old lady scent. The room smells sweet like honey and sugar and spices. Probably due to all the baking and cooking she loved to do. And for the first time, I smile at the good memories instead of the tragic end she had.
I look over to Venom who still stands in the doorway, taking everything in. Stepping closer to him I hold out my hand. “Together.”
He takes it and I lead him further into the room and we slowly begin to pack up her belongings, smiling and laughing at certain things that bring us a flashback.
“Look, her sweater is still stained from that night you threw a meatball at her.”
“I think she was actually upset with me for wasting one of her famous meatballs.”
I laugh. “I can’t imagine her ever really being mad at you.”
“One sure way of that was to fuck with her food. I learned that early on. One time she was so upset with me, she refused to cook her Italian dishes for a week. Let me tell you about suffering…”
I look back down at her sweater. “She really did love cooking for us.”
“And teaching you.”
Smiling, I remember all the moments she took the time to teach me how to cook, even writing down the recipe so I would remember all the details. I’ll cherish those recipes forever.
I open her bedside table and laying on top of a notepad, is an envelope with the name MARCUS written across it in Evelyn’s handwriting.
“Uh, Venom, I think this is for you.” I turn to him and hand him the envelope.
VENOM
They say the hardest thing in life is having to say goodbye to someone you love. They’re wrong. It’s having to carry on without them for the rest of your life. Feeling their loss every single day, every minute, wondering when the pain won’t feel so all-consuming.
I stare at the envelope for a moment then look back at Ivy. “She always called me Marcus...” I take a seat on the bed and then open it to see a handwritten letter.
I take a deep breath, then begin to read.
Dear Marcus,
If you’re reading this, that must mean I’m dead.
I do hope I went peacefully in my sleep due to old age but regardless, I will be happy to be reunited with my dear Frank.
I hope you know you were like a son to me.
Frank and I tried having a baby but after a few years, we found out I was infertile.
It was a devastating truth we did not expect but we channeled our love into the restaurant.
That became our baby, our pride and joy, and I know others could taste that in our food.
When Frank passed, as you know, I lost all hope and will to live.
I had no one to care for, no one to care for me.
But then you took me in and brought something into my life I thought I’d never have.
A son. And for you, my boy, I wish you happiness and love.
I hope one day you find someone who fills that hole inside you, makes you want to retire and choose love over all else.
Marcus, please know, you deserve happiness and love, and when you find it, hold it close and never let it go.
I love you always,
Your Ev
I clench my jaw to suppress my emotions. Too many damn emotions. Ivy seems to take notice and grabs my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
“You alright?”
“I will be. Here, take a look.” I hand Ivy the letter and she quickly reads it and then throws her arms around me.
“I was right, by the way.”
“About?”
“She really did care about you. I told you I could tell from that very first day by the way she looked at you with a mother’s love.”
“Seems you have a way of seeing people also. Although, I knew. Deep down I always knew, just didn’t want to admit it to myself.
” I run a hand through my hair. “I’ve never known love in my life, only pain.
That is until Evelyn and you entered my world.
” I put a palm to Ivy’s face and push away her hair with my other. “I’m nobody without you, Ivy.”
“You’re the notorious Southern Poisoner. You’re someone known and feared,” she says proudly.
“It’s nobody I want to be if I don’t have you.”
She reaches out, placing a hand to my face. “You have me, Venom. I’m not going anywhere. It’s you and me, forever.”
“Good, because if I need to put a damn leash on you, little beast, I will.”
She laughs and kisses me. “I believe you. But maybe I can put a leash on you and take you for a walk around the greenhouse.”
I smirk. “If you feel so tempted, do so at your own risk. I’m not one who can be tamed by simply being leashed.”
“Neither am I.” She grins wickedly and my chest flutters.
“I might have said once that I wanted to tame you, but truth is, darlin’, I love you just as wild and beastly as you are.”
Her lips crash to mine again and I scoop her up, carrying her out of Evelyn’s room. What I want to do to her should not be done in there.