“I should go before Geoff gets antsy. We won’t discuss anything without you.” Heath said. Now they heard the television and the video game console power up. “I may need to limit on his use of that. It may become a problem.” Ivy frowned at Heath’s words. She was unsure what he meant, then her mind connected the dots. He spoke about the gaming system. It wasn’t something she expected Heath to focus on. Not this quickly into parenting. “You can do that?” She’d not explored the parental controls yet because other means of control were working. Ivy didn’t expect him to be aware of these things. “There are parental controls, Ivy. We’ll talk about it later if you like. Are you familiar with how they work?” She wasn’t sure if he joked or believed she was stupid. This wasn’t how she expected to wake up this morning. “It wasn’t a priority for me. If I didn’t want him playing with it, I’d take the power cables or the controllers.” Ivy groaned so
“Hey Geoff. Did you remember we’re going to the zoo today? We need to eat breakfast and get ready.” Heath found Geoff playing video games and drew his attention with a reminder of their zoo visit. “The look mom gave you means we aren’t going.” Geoff looked upset and gravely watched the screen. His eyes never left the television, nor did he greet Heath. “What look?” Heath wanted to curse himself for having created a miniature, self-aware duplicate of himself. How did his parents manage him? He remembered, they didn’t. His mother passed him off to a nanny. So, she could go to her social teas and charity work. “Mom’s look meant you did something wrong. Now, you’re in trouble.” Geoff said. Heath laughed ruefully at that. He wouldn’t argue that. Ivy didn’t make anything easy. “What trouble?” Now Heath was concerned. Ivy wasn’t the violent type. He didn’t think she’d changed that much. “An unhappy mom. When she’s like t
Ivy walked from the bedroom to the kitchen. She wore her blonde hair in a high ponytail, a soft pink fuzzy sweater with dark grey jeans. Heath thought she looked dressed for class, not the zoo. Seeing her like this brought back some sweet memories. “Good morning, everyone. Waffles? I didn’t realize we still had some.” “I found them in the freezer. It was easy to pop them into the toaster.” Heath said. He silently questioned his actions. Was something wrong? Ivy shrugged. “Well, they aren’t old. I made them last weekend. It feels longer. They’re better than store-bought waffles and they freeze well enough. Geoff eats so many, I make large batches, then freeze them. That way I’m not making them daily.” Ivy looked to Geoff for confirmation. “Are they okay?” Heath handed her, her coffee. “Great as always.” Geoff busied himself smearing more jam over his second helping. “I didn’t see any syrup. Before I could ask, he took jam from the frid
“Dad? Are you ready to help me get ready?” Geoff poked his head into the bathroom while Heath prepared to shave. “I just need to shave, and I’ll be with you. Come in.” His dad said. He smiled at him before he rubbed an electric razor over his face. “Dad, you do that every day.” Geoff asked. Geoff’s look of wonder and horror amused his father. His mom didn’t do that. Was it a guy thing? Geoff didn’t know about it. “Yes, and when you’re older, you will, too. It’s part of being a man.” His dad found his question entertaining and patted his head. “Do I have to?” Geoff was uncertain about the daily commitment. It gave the impression of being both painful and time-consuming. Like making his bed or tiding up his room. “If you don’t then you’ll grow a moustache and beard. You’ll need to wash them and keep them trimmed neatly.” His eyes widened at his dad’s explanation. Geoff never considered growing facial hair. He didn’t know anyo
Kathy couldn’t believe her luck. She’d been scrambling for a way to fix things or recover from her latest complication in her life. Two of her larger orders fell through, and she wouldn’t be able to make her rent for the next month. Kathy would have to give her two-month notice in and find another place to live. Something she wasn’t looking forward to. There wasn’t any way she could ask for more money for Geoff’s care. She couldn’t use Ivy’s guest room, either. The apartment was too small for everyone and her business setup. They went downstairs and piled into a large car with a driver. Kathy thought it was an Uber, but she soon realized there was another car following them. When she looked at Ivy for answers, Ivy didn’t need Kathy to say a word before she explained. “It’s a security service. Bodyguards are in the car ahead and behind. A few will follow us the entire day and mind the cars. It’s all part of the reason Heath didn’t want me taking public transit
Ivy turned as she left the vehicle to reach for her bag. Heath climbed from the car with the bag in his hands. Their heads almost collided with each other. “I need to…” Her words stopped when their heads narrowly missed each other. “It’s okay. I’ve got the bag. What have you got in this? Fort Knox and the kitchen sink?” Heath said as he pulled the heavy bag out of the vehicle.“I am prepared for whatever comes my way. We’d have short outings because of sunburns, rashes, or blisters.” Ivy glared at him and took the bag from Heath. That bag was her sanity in a sea of uncertainty. He didn’t understand yet. But he would soon enough. Ivy knew outings like this were tactical nightmares that were paved with random disasters. Any potential accident or incident could ruin the day, ending the day. “That thing needs wheels. It’ll ruin your back. Let me carry it. It’s too heavy for you to carry without aggravating your leg.” Heath looked concerned as his eyes w
Ivy didn’t see Parker anywhere. She’d forgotten Heath’s comment about Parker’s different appearance. Wasn’t he working here to organize their entrance and schedule today’s events? What family gathering scheduled events? Kathy wasn’t helpful either. She’d never seen Parker. However, Jones had gone ahead. Ivy would have walked past Parker otherwise. Gone was the professional Parker. Standing there talking to Jones was Parker. With midnight blue hair, hand-painted leather black moto-jacket, and motorcycle boots. He looked like a punk with a chain attaching his wallet to his belt. “Wait, his hair. When did he get an earring?” Heath set Geoff down laughing at Ivy’s confusion, and Kathy’s curiosity in the slim man before them.“I don’t force him to dress professionally at work. He gets a laugh out of how his appearance changes other people’s opinions of his competence. He insists on wearing a wig at work and removes his jewellery w
Monica couldn’t understand. They hit several of her secret social media accounts with violations. Meaning her efforts to go viral went nowhere. She didn’t care about the two lost accounts. Manica would create more. She hated how she’d arranged everything so carefully crafted conversations between the accounts to appear as if the information came from different sources. Sources who compared notes in real time with others on social media. Timing and flow were key. The information couldn’t appear in perfect order.Enough of her posts disappeared from public view. Her social campaign against Ivy failed. The journalist received more attention rather than losing his job for shoddy reporting.What irked her more were the messages questioning where the sudden information came from and the message creator’s motives for bringing this information forward now. It dampened her audience’s interest in the scintillating details she crafted about Ivy and her snot-nosed brat were stealing h
In the school cafeteria, Jimmie Marks cornered Geoff to taunt him with the information he got over the last few weeks about him. Jimmie was told that Geoff was poor and his mother married his dad for his money. “So, you got a stepdad. It still doesn’t count. Your dad didn’t want your mom or you.” Jimmie tried to mess with Geoff and embarrass him in front of everyone who heard him. He’d heard from his housekeeper’s son all about Geoff because he’d gone to school with him. Maybe he was a little jealous because his family hadn’t been invited to the Allerfords summer house for their yearly party. “He’s my real dad not my stepdad. It wasn’t that he didn’t want me or my mom. Don’t you read or listen to the news? You’re so stupid. My ex-stepmom lied to my dad and made him think my mom didn’t want him. She then made it, so my mom had to leave. My mom had enough of the nonsense and left. When she did that, she didn’t tell my dad where she went. His mom and dad made him marry my ex
“Wait, is Alice dating him?” Heath missed a lot because he wasn’t in the trenches like Ivy. It didn’t surprise her he was unaware of Ed’s search for a wife among the female staff. Ivy kept brushing him off, knowing if he chased her, then he wouldn’t chase any other woman. He was a nice guy if the woman wasn’t his wife. Or at least that’s how Ivy saw it. “He’s trying to make his moves on her, that’s obvious. I don’t think he’ll fool her. Maybe she can fix his mistaken beliefs. I lacked the time or interest to try. So, all the power to her if she tries. Though I think she’d be wasting her time.” Ivy leaned back in her seat and explained. She tried to act like she didn’t feel the tension coming from Heath. Ivy couldn’t believe he felt so threatened by what she’d just said. His concern for Alice was decent, she guessed, because Alice was her friend and co-worker. “I’m glad to hear you say that. You had me worried there that you thought I didn’t apprecia
Ivy settled in the limo’s backseat, heading home. What a change to taking the train. It didn’t matter that she didn’t go home at once. It was nice to have someone drive her in comfort. The dark interior and gentle lighting somehow made everything easier. Heath liked them to pick him up as well. The three of them would go home. Kathy didn’t use her beat up old car anymore, because Heath insisted, she use the car he’d bought as a family car to transport Geoff safely. With Parker’s help, Heath had Kathy using a member of their security team to mail her packages and pick up her packages from her post office box. Ivy had to admit Parker played dirty by sending her a glitter bomb she’d opened after she got back to her studio. She called Ivy furious claiming Parker admitted to sending it to prove to her that anyone could send her a bomb. Kathy still felt outraged, even though she understood the point. Ivy could understand her outrage, even though the point
Geoff enter his new school. He realized his insignificance among the other kids in school, but this time, he wasn’t alone. Three kids he met at the cottage a few weeks back were with him. They were his friends; they said to him. He’d accept it because his dad said he needed to make friends to learn to be like him. “Thanks for bringing me, Kathy. We know where we’re going.” Kathy blinked at Geoff in surprise. Geoff desired to appear as a helpless child, needing help to navigate the school corridors. “Okay, quick check then. Have you got your bag, water bottle, lunch, phone, and hat?” “Yup.” Geoff said. He insisted on wearing a fedora he found as his dad unpacked a box of old clothes. “Okay, then go seize the day and try to avoid getting in trouble. Don’t forget your security is in the parking lot. No leaving the school grounds without them and they’ll bring you home. Parker is with your dad today and I’m getting my workroom se
Heath watched Ivy lose her confrontational nature, and that sexy hidden kitten came out to play. He loved it, because when this happened, she had no limits. He panted as she opened her blouse to reveal she wasn’t wearing a bra. Her hands moved to his waistband and Ivy had the air kissing his cock in moments before she was kneeling between his thighs, sucking on him like he remembered she used to do. His eyes devoured the sight of Ivy’s glistening lips bobbing on his hardening shaft. “Babe, slow down or the enjoyment will end too soon. You know I’ll want a good long taste of you too. God, you remember how good that is,” Heath said. He felt himself gasped as her small teeth nipped at his foreskin. His thighs shook a little. She’d barely gone down on him, and he wanted to lose himself. “Enough. I hope you have got no panties on either, or I’ll rip them apart to get to your cream.” Ivy resisted when he tried to pull from her mouth. She teased him by hol
Ivy and the other wives could head off for several potential disasters. Finally, she witnessed Heath’s efforts to make the day of a dream come true. Thankfully, the wedding planner realized how dated and difficult achieving this was to arrange. In the end, Heath got what he wanted, and Ivy understood him better. He’d kept a storage space of things he couldn’t part with that she’d left behind when she’d left. One of which was a dream book all about her dream wedding. She’d made the book about a decade before she met Heath in her teens, like many girls. So, it was out of date by the time she’d met him. The only reason he’d known about the book was she’d found it one day and told him about it. But she’d forgotten about it. With help from her new friends and the planner, they could achieve their goals. Ivy got stronger and walking became easier. She returned to work and life continued. Geoff now seemed content with his two reliable parents.
The weekend had been going well. The men didn’t disappear, as Ivy believed. They’d stayed close to the house and the kids. Ivy learned that this was normal. The men in Alec’s circle tended toward wanting to foster family bonds and friendships with people who had similar interests. The men all found they disliked how their parents raised them, and this was their answer to their problem. “You don’t know how glad we are. It’s you here and not her. Is it okay if we mention her? I don’t want to make you feel awkward.” Ivy sat outside on the patio after a rather enjoyable dinner. Heath had stayed true to his word, and the men were watching the kids play beside the lake. “It’s fine, I guess. Some argue I don’t consider her as much as she considers me. So, please understand, I probably won’t have much to say about her.” “You’re not angry at her for messing up your life?” “I’m sorry? Messing up my life. How? Everyone has r
Ivy couldn’t believe how present Heath became. Present for Geoffrey and herself, that is. He’d planned everything and stunned her when he revealed how he’d remembered her dream wedding one evening. He’s changed from the man who only cared about marriage paperwork. But what had Ivy scratching her head was he’d written it all down and he wanted her to review it to ensure her wishes hadn’t changed. Or she preferred a newer style. Her preferences and opinions now took a precedence they never had before. Heath ensured that she and Geoff enjoyed the best at the Allerfords’ beachfront event. Heath went with Geoffrey shopping for clothes, as well as for school supplies. Geoff looked like an entirely different child, right down to his expensive new haircut and running shoes. Ivy initially dismissed it, as Geoff naturally outgrows clothes and requires haircuts. That happened to boys his age. She’d finish but clothing in one size to buy
“Really?” Geoff was sure his dad would have limits. Geoff just needed to figure out what they were. His dad would surely appreciate his lack of tantrums and materialistic desires. At least not yet, anyway. Perhaps when he discovered what other children possessed. But right now, he enjoyed having his own gaming space and a lot of rooms to himself. Stop using the dining table for art and having to clean up before and after meals. “In the past, I used to dictate and control you and your mother’s actions and choices. Now is different and your mom and I decide together. But I have the connections and influence, so I’m the one that makes things happen. The young man will prioritize school, grades, and friendships. Learn from me to network and build connections for your family’s future. Remember the job I’m taking over from your grandfather?” They both wrinkled their noses when a member of the hospital staff pushed a cart by them with something smelly in it.