She chuckled, “You didn’t bring the baby.”
“He’s with his father.”
She stopped and waved her nail file at me. “You are telling lies, Miss Ivy.”
“Oh no, he’s back in the picture.”
I took a deep breath. Annie was good for the soul. She could make a person feel beautiful on their ugliest day. Slowly, I recounted the tale without giving her to much information. There was no need to tell her that I was married to the mob.
“Miss Ivy…. what a life,” she just shook her head.
With a gentleness, she began to clean up my ragged cuticles. My hands truly had never looked more busted and ashier in my life. This day had been much needed. I loved Tiberius but he really hadn’t been saying much these days. It was also a welcome chance to get from under Thierry’s watchful eye. When she was done, I promised to get back on schedule and come in two weeks.
“I’ll be waiting,” Annie gave a wave from her desk.
Trey was still getting her nails done when I came by her nails tech’s station. The woman had all her tools out, was barely uttering a word as she attached rhinestone after rhinestone. She only briefly looked up to acknowledge my presence.
“These are my I’m going back to Italy claws,” Trey smiled.
“Holy shit, girl,” I remarked. “They look amazing.”
One hand was already complete and Trey waved them in my face. “Yasss!”
I shook my head and leaned over to kiss her cheek. “As always they’re on me. I’ll see you back at the house.”
I blew her and Annie a kiss before stepping out into the warm sun. Morgan was there in an instant. The moment I got into the car she smiled and handed me a cup of coffee. The smell of pumpkin spice immediately infused the air. Silently, I prayed to God that this delicious treat wouldn’t upset my stomach. I loved Pumpkin Spice but some days, Pumpkin Spice didn’t love my ass and the next thing I knew I was getting an aching stomach.
“How’d you know?”
She smiled at me in the rearview mirror, “Your husband.”
My eyes instantly rolled. “He’s insufferable.”
The pumpkin spice seemed to calm my mind as I scrolled on social media. Girls were getting ready for the last of the cotillions. That brought my mind to Nathan and Elana’s daughter, and I wondered if she had gotten fitted for the dresses I’d sent by and how her lessons were going. Before I could get into it much more, my phone dinged.
Thierry,I thought.
Sliding the button on the flat surface of the phone screen, I came face to face with a picture of Enzo, Tiberius and Thierry near a fountain. Our child was strapped to the front of his chest, and something bloomed in my own as I took in all three of the Scarpetta men. They were smiling.
What’s this?I sent the text and immediately got a reply back.
We knew you and Trey were having a little girl’s day, so the boys are out too.
Smirking, I texted him back.Does he have everything? Do you have the diaper bag?
Of course, my love.
My love?
That’s what you are?
No.
No what? Woman don’t start.
I was a business arrangement, and you know it. We just happen to have a beautiful child no and coparent. Stop making it weird.
You are a tough nut to crack. But I’ve cracked you before, Ivy Knowles-Scarpetta. And you are just that…
