Ivy’s Divine Revenge

Chapter Five

Ivy

After a surprisingly good night of sleep I woke up with a plan to take down my husband and I realized that taking on this task was probably going to be like a looming mountain that I had to tackle without any mountain climbing tools, it was simply daunting and dangerous and I would be lying if I said I was not afraid and anxious.

I sent a text informing Sean that I would be going to my parents and I would be back home later, checked out of the hotel and went to my car and drove straight to my parents house, I knew Sean would still be at home at this point and I was still not ready to see him, I still have not summoned enough mental strength to watch him lie and pretend when I know the vileness that lays underneath, I calculate that by the time I get home he will be at work and I will have the house to myself for a few hours before he gets back.

As I pull up to the driveway of my parents palatial home I notice the old but clean truck belonging to Millicent parked out at the front, as park beside it and climb down to make my way in I don’t give the truck a second thought, I headed down the corridor to my father’s office and open the door without knocking, I take a couple of steps in and realized that my father was not sitting behind his huge mahogany desk.

As I turned about to leave the room I heard a shuffling noise behind the desk and I walked towards the sound inching towards the desk in wonder, as i leaned to take a peak around the corner of desk a tall man stood up abruptly from the ground and startled by the strange person I screamed loudly in fright, startled by the stranger’s sudden appearance the tall man pulled off his headphones and spun around and locked eyes blue like the sky with mine and my heart dropped to my belly while my mouth went dry.

“Beau?” I whispered in shock and his lips curved in a beautific smile and he took two steps away from behind the desk and gathered me in his arms in a bear hug and as I melted in his arms I almost sobbed in nostalgia when his fragrance that reminded me of the treehouse that he had helped his father had built for me one summer hit my nose. He drew away and examined me thoroughly and I stared back at his chiseled face as his eyes roamed over my face, he was even more handsome than before but I could also see a hardness in his eyes that I did not recognize, he had a full beard which hid the cleft I knew was there and I yearned to touch his face.

I remembered the last time I saw him after he had just turned eighteen and went off to join the marines, it had been eight years since and all of the feelings I had for him that I thought I had buried deep down rose up to the surface once more and I suffocated them.

Beau’s parents had worked on my family’s ranch, his mother Millicent was still my parents housekeeper so we had practically grown up together, Beau had been more like my brother than my friend he used to tease me a lot and pull my hair when we were children but he took care of me, when I realized I was in love with him I felt awful, he looked at me like a little sister and there was no way he could ever think of me any other way and hence I had been resigned to live my fate of being allowed to only love him as a brother.

We were still in each other’s arms when my father came bursting into the room and I stepped out of Beau’s arms reluctantly.

“Are you okay honey, I thought heard you screaming?” My father asked in concern as he looked from me to Beau.

“It’s nothing dad, I came in looking for you and when I thought Beau was an intruder I was a little startled.” I explained as I walked up to him and laid my hand on his arm in reassurance.

“You call that a little startled?” Beau teased and I rolled my eyes at him.

“When did you get back Beau? Last I heard you were across the world some place or the other.” I asked off handledly even though I knew exactly where he had been as I usually asked his mother for updates on him.

He shrugged, “I came back yesterday, got by this morning because my mother told me one of your father’s drawers was not rolling smoothly...” then he turned to my father, “...I am all done Mr A, should not be giving you any more problems.”

“Thank you so much Beau, that drawer almost drove me crazy.” He replied.

“You are welcome Mr A, i will just let you folks get on with your business, I have to drive my ma to town...” then he turned to me and gave me a smile, “...it was really nice seeing you after so long Vy.” He said, using his nickname for me from all those years and I got choked with emotion and had to clear my throat. “It was nice to see you too, Thank you for helping my dad Beau.” He nodded then left my dad and I standing alone in the office.

“You know, I did think that you two would get over yourselves and end up together, shame.” He said as he went and lowered himself into an armchair.

My eyebrows shot up all the way up to my forehead as I sputtered at what my dad had just said and I chose to ignore him rather than address it, I took a seat in the armchair beside my dad and laid my head on his shoulder, enjoying the feel of his strength for a minute.

“Did you know Beau was going to come back? Why is he back?” I asked, sitting up and looking at him.

“No, I don’t even think Millicent knew that he would be coming back home now because of his mother, you know he was always so protective of his mother, after his father died I believed maybe he would come back but after all those years passed I thought maybe he had decided that is where his life I, he came back so abruptly, I think he might be done with the marines.”

“Do you think he will be around for a long time?” I questioned further.

“I don’t know Ivy, are these not too many questions for a married woman to be asking?” He raised his eyebrows dubiously.

I blushed red and pushed his arm playfully, “how can you even say that dad, I was asking because the farm needs a new foreman, Jose is leaving soon, remember? We are going to need a replacement and who better than Beau? He has worked here before so there would be no need for any real orientation and he is like family, he probably needs a job.” I said.

my reasons for wanting Beau around were not strictly for altruistic reasons, after I had gotten over my shock of seeing my childhood crush in my father’s office I had seen the opportunity before me and I refused to let it slip past me, I had been an awkward child and teen and he he had been my buddy and he humored me and helped me get into mischief on occasion when we were younger and I hoped that I could recruit him into my grand scheme, I also hoped I could depend on his expertise as someone who has been in the military.

“Hmmm, what if he does not want to stay here?” My dad asked, warming to my idea.

“It won’t hurt to ask him anyway, if he says no then we know we have tried.” I encouraged.

“Sean called last night, he said you did not able to come back, are you alright?” He asked with concern.

I looked at him and nodded, “I just got tired so I decided to sleep in a hotel, that is where I am coming from.”

He looked at me unconvinced, “if Sean did anything to you you would tell me, wouldn’t you Ivy? You are sure you are taking your vitamins?”

I hesitated for a moment and contemplated telling him about it all but I decided against it, I did not need to drag my father into this mess that I had made by myself, I would have to clean it up before I let him know so instead I nodded and hugged him, grateful for his warmth and concern.

“Where is mom?” I asked.

“Your mother is down at the church, she is hosting that mayflower funding so she and the members of the committee are ironing issues that concern that matter.”

I chuckled, at his resigned tone my mother was on board quite a number of causes so she was always busy preparing some launch of the other, she never had time for me or my dad. I was relieved because I had no desire to face her, her standards were exacting and I usually fell short of it, she had wanted a perfect beauty pageant daughter but had instead gotten a needy bookworm, she was relieved now that I at least had a supposedly rich and handsome husband, when she had met him she had instantly been won over while my dad still tottered on the fence.

I gave the drugs for the horses then I got into my car and drove off to my house, I prayed all the way that Beau would be home for long, i really needed someone in my corner and i had always been able to count on Beau, maybe he would come through for me once more. When i got to the house i realized that I had taken the remote to the garage door indoors so i parked the car in front of the garage and went into the house, as i began to climb up the stairs to my bedroom i was stopped by Sean’s voice and the hairs on my arms rose.

“Ivy you are home at last.”