Ivy’s childhood was heavily affected by her parents’ broken marriage. Whenever she would recall those young days of her life, there was a painful reminder of her father’s affair and her mother’s subsequent transformation into a shadow of her former self. The specter of infidelity loomed over their household, casting a shadow that Ivy couldn’t escape.
Haunted by her past, Ivy couldn’t cope with the fear that history would repeat itself in her own marriage. The wounds of her parents’ relationship ran deep, leaving her wary of ever fully committing to another person.
“I don’t think I’m going to get married, Mom,” Ivy confessed one day as they baked together, the scent of freshly baked cookies mingling with the weight of her words.
Her mother paused. “Why on earth not?” she asked, her tone a mixture of curiosity and concern.
“Look at you and Dad,” Ivy replied, with a sadness in her voice. “I’ll never be certain if my husband is cheating on me or not.”
Her mother’s response was a mixture of laughter and reassurance, a fleeting moment of levity in an otherwise heavy conversation. “Not every man will be like your father,” she chuckled. “There will be better things for you, love. And anyway, now you know what not to do.”
Despite her mother’s words of encouragement, Ivy couldn’t get rid of the fear of being hurt like her mother had been.
As the years passed, Ivy found herself hesitant to open up to anyone romantically. The fear of vulnerability, of letting someone in only to be disappointed or betrayed, kept her guarded and distant.
However, as years passed by, she met someone, a man named Jordan that she started to like.
“I’m Jordan,” he said, as they both did their shopping at the grocery store.
“Ivy,” she replied, breaking all the rules she had for herself.
Four years later, she and Jordan married.
During an occasion, Ivy’s mother said to her over the phone, “I told you, Ivy, not everyone is like your father.” And she was right, Jordan was indeed a great guy that loved her unconditionally.
Years later, what started as a typical morning, reminded Ivy about her reservations. Her husband typically handled the morning drop-offs, but that day, it was different.
As Ivy walked up the stairs, she noticed Jordan in the kitchen. When she mentioned to him that he’s supposed to drop-off their daughter, Mia, he said he couldn’t and asked Ivy to do it.
“Mom needs me to take to the doctor this morning before work,” he said, pecking her on the cheek. “She’s getting tests done, worried she might faint.”
Ivy agreed because she knew how close her husband was with his mother who always turned to him for help.
Until then, nothing spoke trouble. But then, as Ivy and her girl was having their breakfast, the pancakes Jordan made for them, Mia turned to Ivy and said, “Can I see you hand, Mommy?”
Ivy showed her her hand, and Mia gasped. “Mom! Take off your ring,” she said. “You’re only supposed to wear it at home.”
The girl’s words caused confusion at Ivy. “Sweetie, who told you that? It’s my wedding ring, I always wear it,” as she knelt to her daughter’s level.
“Dad always takes his ring off in the mornings, and he puts it behind the wardrobe. Every morning.”
“Show me where?” Ivy asked.
“You can put yours in here before we go, too. Dad always puts it here before we go to Linda.”
“Linda? Who is Linda?”
“Linda is beautiful, I want to look like Linda when I grow up,” Mia said. “Mommy, she has such long and beautiful hair.”
The truth about the ring, hidden away like a guilty secret, hinted at a reality Ivy wasn’t ready to face.
Jordan’s ring was inside the box. Mia was telling the truth. At that moment, Ivy felt like her world collapsed. Could she be living her mom’s reality? Was Jordan cheating on her? All those questions kept crossing her mind.
Ivy needed to be sure what was going on behind her back so she decided to follow Jordan the following morning and saw his parking his car next to a house she had never seen before.
As she parked a safe distance away, Ivy watched in silent agony as Jordan greeted the mysterious woman at the door with a warm embrace. The sight pierced through her heart like a dagger, confirming her worst fears.
Unable to bear the crushing weight of betrayal, Ivy retreated to the solitude of her own home, her mind consumed with a whirlwind of emotions. The hours stretched endlessly as she wrestled with her inner turmoil, torn between confronting Jordan and burying her suspicions deep within her heart.
In a moment of desperation, Ivy made a decision that would change everything. With trembling hands, she retrieved Jordan’s ring from its hiding spot and followed him again. This time, she gathered the strength to enter the house she saw her husband walking in.
However, as she looked into Jordan’s eyes, she saw something she hadn’t expected—confusion, not guilt.
“Jordan? What’s going on?” she asked.
“Oh, Ivy! What are you doing here?” he exclaimed, pulling on his overalls that were covered in paint.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Ivy responded.
“This is our new home,” he confessed. “I inherited it from Aunt Rose. I wanted us to have more space for Mia, and maybe for another child if we decide to have another baby. I’ve been working on it myself.”
Ivy didn’t know if she should trust him.
Just then, a woman walked in.
“Alone, Jordan?” Ivy asked.
“This is Linda,” Jordan introduced. “She’s the interior designer. She’s my bosses daughter, and she’s using our home as her first big project.”
“It’s so good to finally meet you, Ivy,” Linda gushed as she shook Ivy’s hand. “It’s been a privilege to work on your home. Jordan only speaks about you and Mia.”
“Linda has met Mia,” Jordan explained. “It was a quick meeting to decide on which shade of pink Mia wanted for her room.”
As Jordan explained the truth behind his actions, Ivy felt a wave of relief wash over her, mingled with a sense of shame for doubting him. In that moment, she realized that her fears had been unfounded, and that Jordan was not the man she had feared him to be.
She then told him about his ring and Jordan explained that he had been taking it off while working because he poured paint on it and it was difficult to clean it.
With a newfound sense of clarity, Ivy made a vow to herself and to her marriage—to trust in Jordan, even in the face of uncertainty, and to never let doubt cloud their love again. And as they sat together in the kitchen, surrounded by the warmth of their family, Ivy knew that their bond was stronger than ever before.
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