“I’ve really got to go, Nancy. Talk to you soon.” Ivy quickly disconnected the line. That woman was an instigator if she’d ever known one. Ivy had never met someone so desperate to toot their own horn. It was pathetic. On and on and on she went about how wonderful she was. As if no one in her life had ever done it for her.
A small but stinging ache snuck into Ivy’s heart at the thought. That was probably true. And didn’t Ivy, as wonderful as her family might be, relate to that very thing? She was the youngest, after all; every accomplishment she’d made was old hat. There were always bigger and better things happening.
If she were being honest, it’s what made this promotion so important. Ivy had been dying to share some spectacular news with her three siblings—the pediatrician, the lawyer, and the dental hygienist.
Which reminded her of all the texts she’d missed.
Ivy hurried through them, hoping to get the gist without having to read each and every text. Danny, her oldest brother, had set things into motion with a picture of the twins in matching Christmas PJs. Ronny sent a family pic, complete with his wife Joelle, their baby, and an ultrasound to represent the one on the way. Her only sister, Jackie, sent pics of her and her new husband, Paul, a staged kiss beneath the mistletoe. Happiness and Christmas joy oozed off each photo. Each family was, in a word,perfect.
This was yet another demonstration of how…behindIvy was in the game of life.
Her shoulders slumped. Her chest ached.Oh, no.This is how her slumps began. If she let it, this very moment could disrupt that neatly stashed fear of hers. A fear based on years of dating experience—a practice she’d hit pause on over the last year and a half. It was just that, in her experience, men were only interested in the beginning.
Once she let them in, once she really opened her heart to them, they lost interest. The most recent and traumatizing example was her relationship with Matt Shields from Channel Two—he’d thoroughly broken her heart. He’d told her, of course, that he didn’t want to be tied down, but then he’d gone on to marry just six months later.
The fear was then, that if she ever let anyone see that deeper side of her, they’d lose interest.
Which is why you’re not even dating right now, Ivy, so get over it.
That was true. She’d hold tight to her no-dating-until-she-got-her-promotion policy, which took any shred of pressure or false hope off her back. So…back to the texts.
A deep sigh slipped through her lips as she scrolled past dozens of oohs and ahhs over the pictures until she spotted her name in the mix.
Danny: Where’s Ivy?
Ronny: Probably working.
Jackie: She is. But she said she’ll be here in time for the Christmas Eve party.
Dad: She better be.
Mom: She will be. She’s just trying to get that promotion. Let’s all send prayers and good thoughts her way while she travels.
Danny: Is that real mistletoe, Jackie? Taya says she wants some.
The conversation went back to the mutual adoration of everyone and their families. Even Mom and Dad got in on the action and sent a picture of the two cuddled up with hot cocoa, the old Christmas tree with its handmade ornaments in the distance.
Ivy ignored the small prick of loneliness she felt while scrolling past the images. She had a career to focus on before she even thought about love, she reminded herself. To satisfy her family members, and to show that she was, in fact, doing important things of her own, she snapped a picture of herself on the plane with the small window at her back.
Ivy: Entering a winter wonderland to interview potential bachelor number five for America’s Looking for Love show. I love the pictures of you all. See you on Christmas Eve.
She hit send, sighed out a deep breath, and muted the text conversation to prevent her phone from buzzing while she hurried about the airport to catch her cab. At once, she thought back on her conversation with Easton Sparks, her next and final subject.
I’m sure I’ll find some way to keep you warm.Too bad he’d had to spoil his otherwise good first impression. The guy’s picture and bio had seemed so promising too. Turned out he wasn’t so different from the others. She recalled the way Leonard, the pro football player from Phoenix, rested his hand on her knee as he came up beside her on the bleachers.“How about we go back to my place and I’ll show you my trophies…”
Had she come off as a woman who’d actually say yes to that proposal? It was insulting. Sure, he had a lot of great qualities, but his let’s-hit-the-sackcome-on was anything but flattering. Then there was the cowboy; he hadn’t missed his chance to ask her out either, though he’d been more respectful. Even the gambler had rolled the dice, asking her to stick around and be his good luck charm through his upcoming rounds of blackjack.
Of course, she couldn’t flatter herself over encounters like that. First of all, these men didn’t even know Ivy. And second, they wanted to get on the show, which meant they were looking for an “in.” Not that she could blame them. Of the four candidates, only the teacher from Wyoming hadn’t come onto her. Though the man had spoken so quietly she might have missed it if he had.
A dose of pity rushed through her at the recollection. The poor guy might know how to address a classroom of middle school kids, but speaking directly to a woman with a camera had proven to be a different story. She doubted he’d go into the show’s final round, but she’d been wrong before. Sometimes the network was less interested in perfect matches than they were in entertaining television. Sadly, one didn’t always equal the other.
Hopefully he’d end up with the right woman eventually.
Similar thoughts filtered through Ivy’s mind as she retrieved her luggage, weaved her way out of the airport, and stepped onto the bustling sidewalk. She shivered, immediately assaulted by the frigid air. Hadn’t her time in Montana and Wyoming prepared her enough? Talk about terrible. Another mean shiver rocked her body as she propped her carry-on bag onto her standing suitcase and hurried to unzip it before her fingers froze.
Ivy had been foolish to think the name brand coat she’d bought in the sunny city of LA would protect her against the elements. Made of faux leather, the tan coat might be better called a jacket were it not for the fuzzy layer of white lining the inside. A lining that made it feel soft and warm in the toasty LA climate. Sadly, it was not made for weather like this.
Luckily, she hadn’t spent a whole lot of time outdoors during her trip thus far. After each interview, she’d been quickly ushered back to her hotel in an amply heated cab. True, she wouldn’t be staying in a hotel tonight; instead, Ivy would head straight back to LA where frostbite and flurries did not exist. She could hardly wait.
