Page 28 of A Twist in Fate
My mom has one arm wrapped around me and the other round Daisy, holding us closely, in front of the fire. Daisy keeps leaning forward because she is roasting marshmallows until they catch fire because she believes it is more fun that way, even if she won’t even eat it. Charlie was playing music but is now cuddling with Twig, showing him off to the younger children who seem especially interested. All the families are all sitting peacefully in the setting sun, holding their children before they have to leave soon. Violet is asleep, laying across one of the logs and her head in her dads lap. Miles and Theo keep chasing each other with sparklers around the fire, which I am pretty sure will lead to anaccident sooner rather than later, but everyone seems so at peace I almost can't tell them to stop.
Beside Daisy, Bailey and Ivy sit together, huddled in a blanket, roasting their own marshmallows. They instantly got close from the moment that Ivy had arrived here but now, it was as if they were sharing the same mind, every single time they were together. They would say almost full sentences at the same time and giggled every few minutes as they spoke in hushed voices. I lean forward ever so slightly as I hear Ivy's laughter erupt once again. Her bright smile spreads right across her face, lighting up my heart. The glow from the fire covers her face, highlighting her freckles and the few brighter strands of hair that fall from her two braids and around her face.
This past week has been one of the best of my entire life. All of the children have been ridiculously excited to see their parents and almost every activity we have been doing is either something for the parents or something we would be demonstrating today. Four out of the seven last nights, I have stayed in the same bed as Ivy, holding her until she fell asleep, and I’d wake up with her in my arms still. She always has her head into the crook of my neck and the last time she had to wake me up was because Ididn't hear the alarm go off. She woke me up by peppering my kisses from my neck up to my cheek. I loved it. It made me think about a possible future. It made me believe for just a moment that is what it could be like to wake up next to her every day. It made me wonder what it would be like to love her.
An impossible future.
“Holding you like this reminds me of when you were little,” my mom says, and I turn my focus towards her. She notices where I was staring and gives me the same look I have been given all day. “Honey, this is not fair to any of you. You're just going to be hurt." I face away from her, staring into the fire as the small fibres dance in the air. Any happiness I was feeling entirely dissipates at her words.
“I'm okay with being hurt in the end. For now, it is worth it,” I say, not trying to stop her. I know she already knows. She could always see right through us. Dad could too.
“I wish I was just talking about you, sweetie, but your sister will be hurt and most importantly, that girl will be the one who is hurt more than anyone. She is already leaving her best friend. It will be ten times as painful if she has to leave the man she is in love with.” Luckily forus, Daisy is not paying attention to us at all, so I continue to speak in hushed tones.
“Ivy is not in love with me.”
Mom turns her head around for a moment, focusing on something quickly before turning her attention back to me. “Did she tell you that? Because that girl looks like she's in love, honey. I know how it feels. I know what it looks like.” Confused, I spin my head around Ivy and she's looking at me. She has the same shy smile on her face, and her cheeks are growing pink. She turns her head back to Bailey, but I don't miss the way her eyes flicker over to me every few seconds and it feels as though I cannot tear my eyes away from her, but I force myself to.
“I miss Dad,” I say, refusing to think about Ivy leaving any longer but also just telling the truth. While I was only 12 when he died, I'd like to think this would be a situation that he would help me with. He was great at giving advice and I was easily able to talk to him, especially when I needed it.
“I miss him too.” She pulls me in tighter, her cheeks pressed against mine. “You know, I said this thing between you and Ivy will only get you hurt but that is only if you give up on it. If she's worth it and you make it work, I will always support you." I face my mom and put an armaround her. I never noticed when I got taller than her, but I have been for a long time, despite her being 5 '9. “She is very beautiful, and I bet your sister will become excited after obviously ignoring you for a while. She can be so dramatic but, in this case, I think she would understand and get it.”
I don’t reply, just staring into the fire. Would something long distance work between us?
“Bailey!” Mom calls to her side, “Do you think it would be a good idea to invite Ivy over for dinner tomorrow?” She then turns her attention over to Ivy whose face is flushed ever so slightly. “Ivy, I'm having Lucas and Bailey over for dinner tomorrow. I am making pasta, and I'd love for you to come. We could even play a board game!” My head spins right over to my mom.
Ivy. In my house. Where I grew up.
This makes everything feel entirely more real. The house has a few old family photos with dad and any stories I have told her, which was okay because it felt as if she didn't fully know. She was not from here, so she was the only person in the town who didn't know every moment of my life since I was born.
Ivy looks down and then smiles over to me and mom. “Thank you so much for offering and I would really wantto but Charlie probably can't have three of us off in the evening.”
Charlie, who clearly heard our conversation instantly perks up with Twig still in his arms. “Oh, don't worry. You can go too, Ivy. It is your first time here, and it might be nice. I'll set up a movie for all the kids in the hall and if you leave at dinner, I'm sure we can handle them without you.”
“Are you sure?” Ivy asks.
“Of course,” he replies.
“Then it's settled.” Mom claps her hands together, smiling around at us all. “Ivy, I can't wait to show you where these two grew up! They spent years running around that house and I spent those years constantly chasing them.”
Ivy giggles at her words and I allow myself to stare for a moment as her laugh draws my attention. The few waves flowing around her face paired with the smile that spreads across it is stunning. She is stunning and it is not just how stunning she is that captivates me so much. It is the way she can make me open up without even thinking about it. It is the way she will be in a mood if she doesn't have time for breakfast in the morning. It is the way she holds a bubble of sunshine and happiness wherever shegoes. It glows around her in everything she does. When I hold her in my arms when she is anxious, the warmth from her movestoward me and into my heart.
Fuck. What is wrong with me?
I think I'm falling in love with Ivy Banks.
CHAPTER 16
Ivy
Song 16
We hug now – Sydney Rose
29/07
I smooth down the sides of my dress and slip on my shoes. The children had just run off to eat dinner which meant that we would be leaving anytime soon. A couple of months ago, I would be excited to go see where Bailey grew up and spend time together at her house as if we were the type of best friends who lived a couple minutes from one another, but right now I'm nervous to even walk outside my door. This whole evening is something I am excited about because I can see where two of my favourite people have grown up, but it feels too personal. The feelings I have for Lucas are already too complicated and I am worried that this will only make them even worse.
I stare at the mirror in front of me for a moment before I have to leave and take in myappearance. The long white fabric of my dress flows down my ankles and has small floral details across the bottom. I'm just wearing basic trainers, and my hair is down, the fresh waves more defined than when I first arrived. My hair is much curlier now, holding golden highlights that reflect the sun, and my skin has turned a darker bronze with even more freckles head to toe. Watching myself in the mirror, I trace them slowly across my arm with my finger, the same way Lucas had done two nights ago. The morning light had peered through the room and lit up his face as he did. My makeup is applied lightly, like usual, but the blush I use now is only enhancing the flush I have thinking of him. I take a deep breath, grab my necklace sitting on the bedside table and clasp it around my neck before rushing out the door.
