Icing Ivy Read Free Page A

teacup. “Dinner in twenty minutes.” She walked into the kitchen and stopped to glare at Nick’s books and papers strewn all over the table. Jane heard her open the back door. “Master Nicholas,” Florence called out into the garage. “Put down the snow shovel and come in here. Your homework is all over the table, and from the looks of it, none of it is done.”
    â€œTake it easy, I’m coming,” came Nick’s voice, followed by a giggle from Florence.
    Laughing herself, Jane headed for her study off the living room to start making phone calls. The first would be to Adam, to tell him she’d decided to help him out.
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    It was a few minutes before nine that evening when Jane put down the phone, having successfully recruited six instructors for the fiction writers’ retreat.
    The phone rang. It was Ivy.
    â€œI had to tell you how terrific it was to see you again, Jane. I hope we can be friends again, after everything that happened. I mean friends like the old days. I didn’t get a chance to say that to you today, but I don’t blame you at all for Marlene’s death. I miss her terribly—she was all I had—but I know that none of it was your fault.”
    â€œThank you, Ivy, I appreciate your saying that. Of course we can be friends again.”
    â€œI’m so glad. There was something else I forgot to ask you today. How is little Nicholas?”
    â€œNot so little anymore—ten and a half years old.”
    â€œHe can’t be. I’d love to see him,” Ivy said wistfully.
    â€œI’m sure you will one day soon.”
    â€œMmm. It must be nice for you to have him with you at Christmas. I mean, now that Kenneth is gone.” Kenneth, Jane’s late husband, had died a little over three years before.
    â€œYes.” Jane felt uneasy. “Will you and Johnny be doing anything special for the holidays?”
    â€œHe’ll be away. Business trip. He says he can’t get out of it. You know how it is.” Ivy let out a sigh. “This will be my second Christmas without Marlene. I suppose one day I’ll get used to it.” There was a long silence on the line.
    Alone at Christmas . . .
    â€œIvy,” Jane blurted out, “why don’t you spend Christmas out here with us?”
    â€œWith you? Why, Jane, what an idea. But I couldn’t—I’d be in the way.”
    â€œNo, you wouldn’t. We’d love to have you. You’ll get to see Nick, and you’ll love Florence—she’s Nick’s nanny, and a wonderful person.”
    â€œIf you really think it would be all right . . .”
    â€œOf course I do.” Then Jane thought of something. “One thing, though. Right after Christmas—next Wednesday—I’ve got to go to a retreat I’m helping organize.” She told Ivy all about it. “But we’d still be together during the holiday.”
    â€œTrue. Hey, Jane, do you think I could come on your retreat with you? I’m taking that week off from work. Wouldn’t it be a gas?”
    Jane frowned. “I don’t think that would be possible, unfortunately.”
    â€œYeah, I’d be in the way, I suppose.”
    â€œNo, it’s not that.”
    â€œI could help out,” Ivy said eagerly. “Hand out paper and pencils, things like that. I’m very organized, as you know.”
    Jane had never thought of Ivy as being especially organized. She made no comment as to that. “I’ve never been to this lodge. I’m not sure there’s room.”
    â€œI guess you’d have your own room, huh?”
    â€œYes, I imagine.”
    â€œThen we could room together. It would be like the old days at school. Wouldn’t it be fun? Just you and me, hanging out in our jammies, eating Cheese Curls? What a way to spend the holidays. No chance I’d be lonely then.”
    Jane’s heart went out to her old friend. How