Page 175 of Ink Me Three Times
“Hey, stranger,” I say, leaning back in the swing.
“Ivy,” she breathes, her voice smaller than usual, like it’s holding back more than she’s letting on. “I’m so sorry I’m late. Thank yousomuch for letting me stay here, even on your big weekend. Everything just… exploded at work. I feel like I’m barely keeping it together.”
I frown, immediately sitting up straighter. “Olivia,” I say softly, “you sound like you’re about to crumble. What’s going on?”
There’s a long pause before she finally speaks again, her voice edged with exhaustion as she trudges onto my porch.
She slumps into the chair next to me, her entire body sagging. “I don’t know. I feel like I’m doing everything I can and it’s just… not enough. I’m burned out, Ivy. I don’t even know what I’m doing anymore. It’s like I’m just treading water, trying not to sink. And I’m sorry for bringing this bad mood into your wedding weekend, but I can’t escape it.”
The words hit me harder than I expected. I know this feeling, all too well. The weight of the world pushing down on you, your shoulders aching from carrying too much, your chest tight from trying to breathe through it all.
“I get it,” I say quietly, rubbing my hand across my forehead. “I really do. You’ve been burning the candle at both ends for so long, it’s no wonder you’re feeling like this.”
She lets out a long sigh, a sound full of frustration and hopelessness. “I don’t even know where to start to fix it, Ivy. Everything’s… it’s just all too much.”
I pause for a moment, considering her words. Then the most obvious solution in the world hits me.
“You need to move here. Seriously.” I say it without hesitation, the words tumbling out as if they were waiting to be said. “Coyote Glen. You need a break, Liv. And you need to come see me. For more than just a weekend.”
She’s quiet for a moment, probably processing what I’ve just said. “What, like… for how long?”
“Not forever. Just long enough to catch your breath. You’ve been running yourself into the ground. You need some space, some time where you’re not constantly on the clock. I’m serious, Liv. Come stay with me. You can help with the babies, or just kick back and do nothing. I don’t care. But you need to step away. For you.”
Another long silence. And then, finally, her voice breaks through, softer this time. “I think… I think I need that. I think you’re right.”
I smile, feeling a weight lift off my chest. “Then it’s settled. You stay here, we’ll get you some real rest. And you’ll get to help with Mia, Lucy, and Max. They’ll keep you busy.”
Olivia chuckles softly, the sound music to my ears. “Okay. Okay, I’m in. I’ll look at my schedule. See what I can sort out.”
“Perfect. And when you stay here,” I add with a grin, “I’m putting you to work. I need someone to chase after Pickle, and I’m sure you’ll be great at it.”
“Ugh. I don’t even know what to say. I feel like I’ve been drowning for so long and I didn’t even know I needed a lifeline.”
“You’ve got one now,” I say softly. “And I’ll be here, every step of the way.”
There’s another brief pause, and then Olivia’s voice is warmer, softer, like a weight’s been lifted. “I’m so thankful for your. Oh, and by the way… congratulations, Ivy. You deserve all the happiness in the world, and I’m so happy for you.”
I feel a lump form in my throat, and I swallow it down, blinking back the unexpected tears. “Thank you, Liv. It means alot to me that you’re here for it, even if it’s causing problems at work to be here this weekend.”
“You’ve got a beautiful life ahead of you, Ivy. And I think it’s only going to get better from here.”
I smile to myself, the warmth of her words wrapping around me in a hug. “Yeah, I think so too.”
The sun’s dipping low, casting everything in that golden haze that makes you think you’ve wandered into some cheesy romance movie.
The air’s crisp, as if it’s been inhaling pine trees and freshly fallen leaves for weeks.
If there’s anything I’ve learned in my time here, it’s that Coyote Glen sure knows how to make a moment look picture perfect, even if it’s only on the outside.
I stand at the edge of the yard, my fingers curling around the stem of a glass that’s mostly filled with the tiniest sip of something strong. I don’t know why I’m holding onto it so tightly. Maybe it’s the anxiety that’s taken permanent residence in my chest. Maybe it’s the fact that this whole day is still kind of surreal.
But, damn, this is real.
The wedding is small, the way I always wanted. No huge ceremony, no frills, no bridal party drama. Just us. Our little chaotic, mismatched, and occasionally dysfunctional family. And somehow, in the middle of all this madness, it feels exactly right.
I glance over at the babies, who are peacefully napping in a playpen, because why wouldn’t they? Mia, Lucy, and Max are thepicture of perfection, and I still can't quite wrap my head around the fact that they’re mine. That they’re ours.
Penny’s running around the yard, tossing flower petals in the air like she’s at some fancy garden party, not at her mom’s wedding. She looks up at me, that mischievous grin of hers lighting up her face, and I feel a tug in my chest. That girl... I’ve always known she was something special. She’s going to change the world, and none of us will be able to stop her.
