“I think you’re right,” Ivy says. “Remember when we met and became friends super fast? I was excited and yet wary. Other than Bridget, I hadn’t made a single close friend since college, and those were temporary friends because we didn’t really keep in touch after graduation. So it was weird and wonderful to suddenly have someone else I could count on and who loved me unconditionally.” She pauses to glance over at me, and the affection on her face makes my throat tighten.
“But just like no one really tells you how hard it is to make friends as an adult, they also don’t tell you how hard it is tomaintainthose friendships. Bridget and I were together almost all the time until she met David. I was thrilled for her, and yet envious because I missed how things were and I wanted what she had. And then just as we found a new sort of balance, I met Hugh and things were thrown off again. And around the same time, I became friends with you and Piper. Plus there’s Celia and our formerly complicated relationship that turned into a strong bond. I love you all so much and I just want to make sure I’m being a good friend.”
I slide to the edge of my seat so I’m closer to her. “Are you kidding? You’re an amazing friend. Always have been. You co-run this whole huge operation, help Bridget with the PR,andhelp with the bookstore. I think we all understand the amount of time that takes and the pressure that comes with it.”
She smiles weakly. “Thank you. I mean, of all the‘problems’to have, this is obviously minor.Wah, poor me, I have too many friends and not enough time.”
I laugh. “I’m in the same boat, so I totally get it.”
“Well, as long as you keep rowing with me, I know we’ll stay afloat.” She scrunches up her nose. “Was that too cheesy?”
“Not at all.” It’s actually the perfect analogy. Maybe I should hop off this merry-go-round I’ve been on and jump into a boat where all the people I love are helping me row. “Not to change the subject abruptly, but I really should get back to work. I just have one more question: did you ever talk to Hugh about the baby thing?”
Ivy drains her coffee and sets the cup on my desk. “I did. We decided we’re going to put off having kids for the next two years while we get the Village running smoothly, get married, travel a bit, and settle into our lives as a married couple. When the two years are up, we’ll reassess, see how we feel, and decide if we’re ready, want to put it off longer, or not have kids at all.Butwe also promised each other if in those two years one of us makes up their mind definitively one way or the other, we need to talk about it.”
“Very mature,” I tell her, nodding my approval.
“We thought so.” She shoots a grin my way and pushes herself to her feet. “I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever find love, and then Hugh came along and changed my world. I want to enjoy our time together just the two of us before we potentially add another human life into the mix.”
“You mean you want to keep having lots of sex and travel whenever you want to and spend all your free time with your super hot husband?”
Now it’s Ivy’s turn to snort. “You know me too well.” She presses her lips together and her eyes drift past me, seeming far away. “There are people who say it’s selfish when a woman decides not to have a baby. But I think it’s more selfish to do something out of a sense of obligation. I would never want a child to feel unwanted or resented, because I know how that feels.”
“I don’t believe for a second you’d ever make a child feel that way, Ivy.”
Her eyes snap back to mine. “Oh, I know. If we everdohave a baby, I’ll love it wholeheartedly and give it the best life possible. But you know what I mean.”
“Yeah, I do.” I likely would have grown up that way if my mom hadn’t adopted me. I stand and face Ivy, holding out my arms. She steps into them and we hug each other long and tight. “I hope you know even if you agreed with ‘those people’ and thought it was selfish not to have a kid, you’reallowedto be selfish. It’syourlife.”
“Andthat, Meredith Cormier, is just one of the many reasons I love you.” Ivy steps back, planting a loud kiss on my cheek. “I need to go. Thanks for the coffee and chat. They were both much needed.” She heads for the door and spins around before she reaches it. “We should do a double date! I need to meet Kieran immediately, and you know Hugh will want to meet him too. IsayI’m going back to work, but I think we both know I’m headed straight to Hugh’s office to tell him all about your new boyfriend.”
God, I love her. “Okay. Talk to Hugh and I’ll talk to Kieran and we’ll figure out a time.”
She narrows her eyes at me. “You’re not just saying that, right?”
“Of course not. You and Hugh are my two best friends. Iwantyou to meet Kieran.”
Her smile lights her whole face. “Okay, good. Let’s aim for this week or next.”
“You got it. Say hi to my favorite Scot for me.”
She opens the door and sends me a little finger wave. “Will do. Love ya!” she calls over her shoulder.
“Love you too,” I say, even though she’s already gone.
