Page 34 of Tempest

“Fine,” Ivy muttered.

Leaning over, he kissed her quickly. “Thank you.”

Ivy turned back to her food and started talking to herself. Nothing she was saying was very complimentary, so he ignored it. “Honey, can you pass the bacon?”

The plate slid in his direction, and he swore she suggested a very odd place for him to put it. Laughing, he grabbed two pieces, sat back, and enjoyed the delicious pancakes she’d made. Ivy was strong-willed, but he was stronger. Always had been, always would be. It would be best if she learned that now. There were a few areas that he would never compromise on, and this was one of them.

***

Grams walked in the back door and called out a loud hello. “Ivy, I need you to fix my makeup. I have a lunch today with all those old biddies from the garden club.”

Her eyes bounced between Ivy and Ryan as she came into the kitchen. “Why are you two acting like it’s the O.K. Corral and this is a standoff?”

“Ryan was being a little heavy-handed earlier, and I’m trying not to be mad at him.”

“Doesn’t seem like it’s working,” Grams responded.

Ivy stood and picked up her plate. “It’s going to take a while.”

Laughing, Grams parked herself on the chair next to Ryan and studied him. “He doesn’t seem too worried about it.”

“I’m not,” he replied. “We’re working out our differences. I figure it should take us five years or so. Your granddaughter is stubborn and used to getting her way. That doesn’t always happen in a relationship. I figure we have about a hundred fights ahead of us before we get things worked out.”

“Well, that’s true,” Grams responded. “Ivy, make some fresh coffee.”

“How can you agree with him?” she wailed. “I’m your favorite person in the world. You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“I am. But he’s right. You’re stubborn, just like me and your mama. The part about getting your way is also true because you’re smarter than most people. You just talk whoever you’re having an argument with to death. They give up because they can’t take it anymore. You’ve finally met a man who is your equal. Enjoy this, Ivy. Not everyone is so lucky.”

“I’m not feeling lucky,” she replied as she turned around and started making a fresh pot of coffee.

“You will as soon as you get started on those four boxes of condoms that you bought at Fabar’s the other day.” She ran her eyes up and down Ryan and patted his arm. “If I were you, I wouldn’t wait. It’ll make Ivy a lot more open to your ideas.”

The coffee he had in his mouth was spit across the counter when Grams offered her last piece of advice. “Uh-huh,” he said once he could breathe again. He glanced up and caught Ivy’s smile, and they laughed together. It wasn’t every day that you could end an argument with a suggestion from Grams that getting it on was the answer to your problems. He stood, collected his plate, and kissed Grams on the head. “I have never heard better advice in my life.” Before he grabbed a bunch of paper towels, he kissed Ivy on the neck. When she let out a small sigh, he did it again.

Grams clapped her hands and smiled at them. “That’s what I’m talking about.”

Ivy handed her grandmother a cup of coffee and laughed. “Why are you such a fan of Ryan?”

“He’s the first man you’ve brought around who is as smart as you, and as strong as you. In fact, he may be stronger. Which is what you need.” Putting her hand up, she stopped Ivy’s protest. “Honey, I know that goes against your idea of how things work. But trust me, a strong man is a pleasure and privilege. He’s going to do everything to make you happy, and there’s not much more you need to be happy in life.”

Ryan wiped the counter and prayed she listened to her grandmother. The part that Grams was leaving out was that Ivy had all the power, no matter how strong he was.

It seemed that she had never had a man show up for her and want to take care of her. So having him here must have been hard. Well, it was like anything new. It just took some time to get used to it.

Turning around, he started on the dishes while Ivy discussed the fish fry at church with her grandmother. It seemed that everyone brought a dessert, and she was trying to figure out what to make. As he did the dishes and looked out the window, he laughed to himself. The woman who had caught his attention was nothing like the woman sitting with her grandmother, deciding what to make for the church fundraiser. How in the hell did he get so lucky?

***

“Are you heading out?” Ivy asked as Ryan returned from the guest house.

“Yeah, I’m taking Colin back to get his car at the restaurant.”

“He’s a good boy,” Grams commented, as she remained still while Ivy applied her makeup. “He got the short end of the stick when it came to family. Ivy had her mama and me, so she was always going to be okay, no matter what her daddy did. But poor Colin’s mama wasn’t that strong. After Bill left, she just about fell apart. That boy practically raised himself.”

Ivy stood back and studied her grandmother. “It’s true. Frannie was a sweet woman, but gullible and soft. Colin was on his own from about junior high on. It’s a miracle that he’s turned out as well as he has. Everything he’s accomplished, he’s done on his own.” Pulling out the powder, she dusted a little across Grams’ skin. “My baby brother is going to turn into an amazing man. He just has to forgive Daddy so he can become his own person.”

The back door opened and Colin walked in. He looked at the group and waited. “What are you all talking about?”

---