The Ties That Bind Part 4
Storm Warning (Rachel)
Ivy argues on the phone with Glenn on the ride back to the Church. I can no longer make out the words because exhaustion is claiming me. My eyes flutter shut and I drift off feeling safe, loved and content.
Consciousness comes gradually. First with memories of sleeping in Ivy’s arms while she softly sings Red Ribbons to me, then the sense of loss as slides out of bed kissing me gently on the cheek as I moan. Sitting up, my eyes adjust to the minimal light leaking around the edges of the leather curtains. I can’t help but notice the outlines of the neat piles of my clothing waiting to be put up once space is made for them. Looks like she was busy before leaving, there is no doubt that Ivy isn’t in the Church. I’m a little miffed.
Stretching, I slowly get out of bed, our bed, put on Ivy’s black silk robe and pad out the door and toward the kitchen. I need another cookie, some juice, food and a steaming cup of coffee. Good thing I tie the robe closed before reaching the kitchen as Glenn sits at the table waiting for me. Anger, fear and disgust play across his face as he sees me before being quickly hidden behind his professional Law Man mask.
Ignoring him, I go to the fridge and get out the orange juice and take it back to the table. I plop down in Ivy’s chair taking a long pull straight from the carton. The silence is tense, but I won’t be the one to break it. Glenn is here uninvited; it is up to him to speak.
“I needed you last night,” he finally begins. His voice is tight with suppressed anger. I can guess why since he stares at the bite on my neck instead of looking me in the eye.
“I’m not at your beck and call, Glenn. I’m entitled to a personal life,” is my only reply. I refuse to be ashamed of my bite. His attitude has me in full Alpha Bitch mode so I turn slightly to give him a better look at Ivy’s claim on me. The challenge is implicit in my stiff posture, he backs down.
“Rachel, I know you have a life but crime doesn’t punch a time clock. The wing of the gallery that was broken into contained objects donated from various private collections. Some of them are said to have…unusual histories,” Glenn states simply.
“Nothing seems to be missing. Mr. Iverson gave me a full inventory and I want - scratch that - I would like you to take a look at the copies in the folder and see if anything jumps out at you,” he finishes. He gets up from the table and heads for the front door.
I put down the juice carton and open the file. Inside are pictures and brief descriptions of each peace. A niggling starts in the back of my mind. There is something familiar here; I just can’t remember what it is.
“Don’t wait until it’s too late, Miss Morgan,” is the last thing I hear as the door closes.
Storm Warning (Ivy)
The sun is shining and I wish that I was on my motorcycle instead of driving the Mercedes. But with errands to run, the nightwing is too impractical. All I want is to be finished and back at the Church with Rachel. Two hours in my lawyer’s office leaves me in desperate need of relaxation. I glance at the large manila envelope containing all the paperwork and sigh. Thank God I will never have to go through this again. Spotting an empty parking space, I pull in and kill the engine.
I run into the Mall and head straight for Midnight Star, a boutique specializing in women’s evening wear. There are two dresses waiting at the counter for me and I have my credit card out before I even get there. My intention is to pay for the dresses and get back home before Rachel wakes up. I remember the first time with Skimmer, waking up alone and wondering if I had just been used.
The clerk gives me the total and I wait for my card to process. The hair on the back of my neck stands on end. Somebody is watching me. I calmly sign the receipt and take my purchases.
“Ivy, we need to talk,” my father’s voice calls in soft command.
Damn it back to the Turn, I didn’t want to deal with this now. Turning from the counter, I follow my dad to an out of the way bench near the Mall entrance. Neither of us sits, we just try to stare each other down.
“Your mother is very displeased with you. I know you love the Rachel, but making that Witch your Scion was foolish. You know there will be consequences,” he breathes wearily.
He holds up a hand to cut off my argument. “I am man enough to admit that you are a better person because of Rachel Morgan. She completes you in a way that nobody else can. For those reasons alone, I accept the life you chose, even though I do not understand it.”
I smile as he kisses my forehead. Never in a million year did I ever think my father would say something like that. We leave the Mall in a companionable silence that I know can’t last. My Runner’s instincts have me on alert because there is something a little too casual about my father’s demeanor. They prove right when he whispers in my ear as I get into my car.
“Things have been set into motion that you cannot understand. Keep Rachel on a short leash, or your mother will. This is your only warning.”