Six—Ivy
I
zipped my suitcase and filled the pillow I was stealing with my underwear. I’d been staying in a studio apartment owned by my dad’s firm, usually used to accommodate their out-of-town clients. They had a couple of these studios, and I’d been parked in this one for twenty-two days. And now, it seemed, much to Dad’s disappointment, I was moving into yet another temporary living situation when what he really wanted was for me to go home. I think he finally figured out that wasn’t happening any time soon.
I’d told him I’d only be infringing on Mia Sutton’s hospitality for a short time—just until I figured myself out. Unfortunately, that was provin’ to be my undoin’ , as I was fond of saying to my support group. Damn Tim. Who knew his kick in my gut could have so completely transformed the girl I was into this sad, puffy little invalid? I’m so mad at who I’ve turned into, I could spit. And I’m just so tired. I don’t know what’s become of my dignity or my ability to resist peanut M&Ms. I just know the result is that I can no longer button my jeans, and I don’t even know if I care.
I blew out a breath. I was never going home, but I could just walk out of here and drive… drive somewhere far, far away. The trouble was, wherever I went, I’d have to take me with me. I sat down on the bed and dialed the number my dad had given me. Mia Sutton was out of breath but seemed honestly pleased to hear my voice.
“Ivy, hey!”
“Hi, Mia. I was just letting you know I’m on my way. I wanted to make sure it was still okay. ”
“Oh…of course. But it might be easier if you meet me where I am, then we can go home together. Do you know the MPC campus?” she asked.
“I know where it is…from the other night.”
“Great. I’m playing tennis across from the stadium. That’s on the southeast corner. Meet me there, then you can follow me to Lullaby’s. I’ll watch for you. What are you driving?”
“A silver Honda Accord. You haven’t changed your mind, have you? About me moving in there?”
“No! No, of course not. I…I’m just not sure anyone is home at the moment to let you in the back…where the pool house is.”
“Oh. Gotcha. I’ll be over in a few minutes.”
I hung up feeling like a total loser. That girl should be easy to dislike: she was pretty, perky, talented, annoyingly overly-confident (per Daniel—which I didn’t mind at all because it bugged him so much), and, oh yes, enviably thin. But she’d been so darn nice at her exhibit that I just couldn’t not like her. I pressed #3 on my phone—speed dial for my grandmother—but I just got her machine, so I called Bree. It took her a long time to answer.
“Hey, baby.”
“Hey, Mama.”
“How are you, sweet cheeks?”
“I guess we’re trying something new,” I said.
“A new what? A medication?”
“No. A Mia…”
“Oh…your dad told me about her.”
“It’s just temporary until I find a place of my own. I need you to put some money in my account.”
Mama sighed.
“You owe me two paychecks—and there’s some cash in my top drawer.”
She ignored me. “Ivy Lee, I told you, I’m coming out there in a couple of weeks—Your grandmother is coming with me—and we are bringing you home. Enough is enough. ”
“You can come if you want to, Mama, bring Geneva but I’m not going back with you. I told you , I’m never going back there again.”
“Ivy, that’s ridiculous. This is your home.”
“Mama…”
“Okay, okay. We’ll talk when I get there.”
“Bree!”
She sighed again. “I just miss you, baby. I don’t have to remind you what a nightmare the store is without you.”
“I miss you, too,” I said, pretending her missing me had nothing to do with the store.
“Ivy, if you hate this girl, you know you don’t have to go through with this.”
“I know that Mama. But I already don’t hate her. And I think you should think about hiring some summer help. Transfer thirteen-hundred dollars into my account, please.”
“Iveee…”
“And bring the cash from my drawer with you when you come. I’ll need it.”
“Ivy!”
“I mean it, Mama. I’m starting over.”