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Authors: Tracy Anne Warren
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Malynn. Congratulations.”
“Zack’s really happy for me, even if it is killing him that he lost our bet. You know the one we made years ago about who’d step up to the big chair first?”
Ivy did know. Madelyn and Zack had been business rivals working for the same advertising firm when they’d fallen in love. Despite their undeniably successful marriage, their competitive streaks remained firmly intact, even with each other.
“So what’d you win?”
“A bottle of hideously expensive French champagne,” Madelyn crowed. “Since I switched firms, seems the grass turned greener on my side first. It won’t be long before Fielding and Simmons movesZack up too. Although he’s making noises lately about quitting to become a house husband.”
Ivy snorted, imagining her robust brother-in-law pushing a vacuum cleaner, washing dishes, and chasing after a pair of energetic toddlers full-time. “That’ll be the day.”
“Oh, I don’t know. He adores our babies, so much sometimes it surprises me. Says he wants to have another. I told him fine so long as he agrees to be the pregnant one this time.”
“But you’re considering it,” Ivy said, hearing the wistful tone in her sister’s voice.
“Yeah, I’m considering it.”
Ivy smiled at Madelyn’s obvious contentment.
From the background she heard a flurry of high-pitched childish squeals, followed by the noisy thunder of tiny running feet and the stomp of bigger adult ones.
Madelyn laughed. “The troops have returned all scrubbed and polished. Apparently, they’re being chased by a terrifying monster.” A loud, playful masculine growl came clearly through the phone.
More screams erupted, then a series of helpless giggles and cries of “No, Daddy, no tickle.”
Ivy grinned at the hilarity.
She and Madelyn firmed up the time for their lunch date, then discussed the progress Ivy was making on her painting. The talk wound around until it landed on their mother’s annual Fourth of July party, now less than a month away. Every year for as long as Ivy could remember, Laura Grayson had hosted a lavish party at the family home in Connecticut. This year would be no exception.
“What are you bringing?” Madelyn inquired. “And please don’t say brownies, since it’s the only decent from-scratch dessert I can make.”
“I’m not bringing brownies, so you’re in the clear.” Ivy paused, twisting a piece of her long hair around one finger. “Actually, about that . . . I might not be able to make it this year.”
A long moment of surprised silence followed. “What do you mean, not make it?”
No one missed Fourth of July at their parents’ house, certainly not family members. It was an understood rule.
Ivy stifled a sigh, sorry she’d brought it up. But, she reminded herself, if she couldn’t tell Madelyn, she’d never be able to tell their mother. “I have other plans . . . friends, you know, here in the city. They’re throwing a big party and want me to come.”
It wasn’t a lie. Well, not exactly. Neil and Josh were throwing a big party and they had invited her. But the person she was actually hoping to spend the holiday with was James. Of course she couldn’t tell Madelyn that. Her sister might be understanding about most things, but she doubted Madelyn would approve of her pursuing the man who’d once been Madelyn’s fiancé, even if Madelyn had ended up jilting him.
“So,” her sister wanted to know, “have you told Mom yet?”
“Not yet. Working up the nerve.”
A hearty laugh sounded over the line. “Good luck. You’ll have to let me know how it goes. She still brings up the Fourth that I
deserted
the family for Daytona Beach.”
“That’s ’cause you went down there with Derek Childs. She never approved of Derek Childs.”
“With good reason, I later found out. He was a two-timing creep, but that’s beside the point. The point is you and this party. What’s up? Some new man in your life? One who might just
“Zack’s really happy for me, even if it is killing him that he lost our bet. You know the one we made years ago about who’d step up to the big chair first?”
Ivy did know. Madelyn and Zack had been business rivals working for the same advertising firm when they’d fallen in love. Despite their undeniably successful marriage, their competitive streaks remained firmly intact, even with each other.
“So what’d you win?”
“A bottle of hideously expensive French champagne,” Madelyn crowed. “Since I switched firms, seems the grass turned greener on my side first. It won’t be long before Fielding and Simmons movesZack up too. Although he’s making noises lately about quitting to become a house husband.”
Ivy snorted, imagining her robust brother-in-law pushing a vacuum cleaner, washing dishes, and chasing after a pair of energetic toddlers full-time. “That’ll be the day.”
“Oh, I don’t know. He adores our babies, so much sometimes it surprises me. Says he wants to have another. I told him fine so long as he agrees to be the pregnant one this time.”
“But you’re considering it,” Ivy said, hearing the wistful tone in her sister’s voice.
“Yeah, I’m considering it.”
Ivy smiled at Madelyn’s obvious contentment.
From the background she heard a flurry of high-pitched childish squeals, followed by the noisy thunder of tiny running feet and the stomp of bigger adult ones.
Madelyn laughed. “The troops have returned all scrubbed and polished. Apparently, they’re being chased by a terrifying monster.” A loud, playful masculine growl came clearly through the phone.
More screams erupted, then a series of helpless giggles and cries of “No, Daddy, no tickle.”
Ivy grinned at the hilarity.
She and Madelyn firmed up the time for their lunch date, then discussed the progress Ivy was making on her painting. The talk wound around until it landed on their mother’s annual Fourth of July party, now less than a month away. Every year for as long as Ivy could remember, Laura Grayson had hosted a lavish party at the family home in Connecticut. This year would be no exception.
“What are you bringing?” Madelyn inquired. “And please don’t say brownies, since it’s the only decent from-scratch dessert I can make.”
“I’m not bringing brownies, so you’re in the clear.” Ivy paused, twisting a piece of her long hair around one finger. “Actually, about that . . . I might not be able to make it this year.”
A long moment of surprised silence followed. “What do you mean, not make it?”
No one missed Fourth of July at their parents’ house, certainly not family members. It was an understood rule.
Ivy stifled a sigh, sorry she’d brought it up. But, she reminded herself, if she couldn’t tell Madelyn, she’d never be able to tell their mother. “I have other plans . . . friends, you know, here in the city. They’re throwing a big party and want me to come.”
It wasn’t a lie. Well, not exactly. Neil and Josh were throwing a big party and they had invited her. But the person she was actually hoping to spend the holiday with was James. Of course she couldn’t tell Madelyn that. Her sister might be understanding about most things, but she doubted Madelyn would approve of her pursuing the man who’d once been Madelyn’s fiancé, even if Madelyn had ended up jilting him.
“So,” her sister wanted to know, “have you told Mom yet?”
“Not yet. Working up the nerve.”
A hearty laugh sounded over the line. “Good luck. You’ll have to let me know how it goes. She still brings up the Fourth that I
deserted
the family for Daytona Beach.”
“That’s ’cause you went down there with Derek Childs. She never approved of Derek Childs.”
“With good reason, I later found out. He was a two-timing creep, but that’s beside the point. The point is you and this party. What’s up? Some new man in your life? One who might just
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