Dreams~Shadows of the Night (24 page)

“I don’t think
these legal threats and hostility are
coming from Josh. I’m almost certain his mother has put the ideas in his head,” she said,
while
gathering up a few
more
toys and other essentials
for
the bag.

“Considering the way she treated you when you tried to contact him
earlier
, and now
all
this
turmoil
makes me dislike her all the more. I can’t understand why she insists on wanting to hurt us. We would have happily shared Tommy with her.”

“Ivy Dallas doesn’t believe in sharing.”  Catherine’s
voice cracked with anger as her
hands tightened on a toy
soldier
.

>>>>dreams<<<<

Ivy was rolling out pie dough when Josh silently entered the kitchen. He cleared his throat to alert her to his presence. She looked over her shoulder and instantly smiled.

“Why Josh what a lovely surprise. Why didn’t you tell us you were coming?”

“As you said, it’s a surprise.” He came further into the kitchen, and she lifted her cheek for a kiss. He gave her a quick peck before stepping back.

“Where’s Dad?”

“Out fussing in his vegetable garden, Ivy said, wiping her hands on a towel. We can have a nice private visit. Would you like something to eat or drink?”

“No thanks. I’m not here for food or drink. Sit down, Mom. I need to talk to you.”

Her eyebrows slowly drifted upward,
taking in the
full view of her son.

“Oh? What about? Nothing serious I hope.”

“Please.” He
added
, point
ing
to a chair.

She sat while he stood leaning back against the counter gripping the edge with both hands braced on either side of him. His body remained taut; his eyes watchful.

“You seem upset.” she
observed while
star
ing
at him.
H
er expression twisted into a hostile mask. “Don’t
tell me
that troublemaker Catherine has been bothering you again.”

“Why did you make up all those lies about her?” he asked, fighting to keep his voice level
.
Shocked at the hatred in her eyes, he wondered how he’d missed it before.

Josh felt as though something fetid had crawled inside him making his gut churn with nausea. Unable to contain his inner rage any longer, he surged forward and slapped the flat of his hand on the table with enough of a bang to make Ivy jerk back in her chair.

“Don’t call her that! And stop your lying, damn it! Can’t you see how this charade of yours demeans us both? Do you have any idea how difficult it is for me to stand here and tell myself that I still love you knowing how you tried to destroy my happiness?”

She shook her head in a quick denial. “I did not try to destroy it. I was trying to
preserve your chance to be happy
. I wanted to ensure myself that you’d have a decent future ahead of you.
Catherine puts you in jeopardy, but you don’t seem to realize that.”

“Mother, all she’s ever done is try to love me. You’ve got to stop blaming her for my mistakes. Catherine is not responsible for any of the things that happened to me.”

Ivy stood up so quickly her chair rocked perilously back on two legs.

“Oh yes she is! You would never have taken that job if you hadn’t wanted extra money to marry her.”

“
She didn’t know about that until I got back and she did beg me not to go. I could have borrowed money if I really needed it, but I went because it was something new and I was feeling bored at work. I took the job because I was so egotistical I thought I could
leave her dangling until I got back. As usual, I was only concerned with what I wanted.”

“Why shouldn’t you be? You have every right to do what you want without having to answer to her. She’s obviously been chasing after you from the first moment you stepped into her hospital.”

“I was the one doing the chasing. I chose her. I was lucky to get our first date.”

“Bad luck, if you ask me. I don’t care what you say, she doesn’t deserve you.”

“You have it all wrong. I’m the one who doesn’t deserve Catherine.”

Now it was Ivy’s turn to smack her hand on the table.

“How can you say that when you almost died because of that woman?” she shouted displaying her own fury.

“You’ve got it all wrong. I stayed alive because of her. Even in my amnesia my subconscious mind knew she was one of the main reasons I wanted to live. If I’m fortunate she’ll forgive me for doubting her and give us another chance to be together.”

Ivy let out a derisive snort.

“Where was your precious Catherine when you were so ill?” she practically snarled. “I was the one who nursed you back to health, not her.”

“Only because you wouldn’t allow her to come here.” He raked a hand through his hair. “Do you know how humiliating it was for me to have to go crawling like some beggar to strangers trying to glean information, so I could find out the truth? I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to forgive you for lying to me about Catherine’s supposed affairs.”

She started to speak, but he held up his hand to cut her off.

“I want no more of your lies. I don’t know how you can live with yourself knowing you deliberately used Tom, especially knowing he was dead and unable to defend himself. It makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it,” he said not bothering to hide the revulsion he felt.

“You weren’t here when they came to stay. I could see he was attracted to her. I’m still convinced they carried on with each other.”

He blew out a hard breath fighting to keep his temper in check.

“You don’t give up, do you? Now I see that you hated Tom, too. How it must have galled you all those years that I wanted him for my friend.” Josh stared at her as if he was seeing a stranger. “I never realized what lengths you were willing to go to in order to have your own way.”

She reached out to him, but dropped her hands when he stepped back out of reach.

“Please don’t look at me like that, darling. It’s never been about what I wanted. You’re my son. I needed to protect you like any mother would that loves her child.”

“I know you thought you should shield me like you’ve always tried to do, but it has to stop. Your interference has put my future in jeopardy. I’m giving you fair warning, I don’t ever want to hear you say another disparaging word about Catherine again. If you do, I really will be dead to you.”

Genuine tears began to run down Ivy’s cheeks and dripped off her chin. She used the hem of her apron to wipe them away.

“You wouldn’t be saying these cruel things to me if you knew
the
agony I suffered thinking you had
died in that horrible jungle.”

“I’m sorry for the pain I caused you, but you have to move beyond that now.”

“You know what you mean to me, Josh. I only have your best interests at heart.”

“I wonder.” His eyes probed deep. “Or maybe it’s more what’s best for you.”

“What would you expect the way you’ve been carrying on with your trumped up stories? I’m not a little boy. I’m a grown man. I need to fight my own battles. You can’t keep me tied to you forever,” he said forcing himself to use a more gentle tone.

“I wasn’t trying to do anything of the kind and in time you’ll see I’m right about Catherine. I chose Robyn for you because she’s the perfect girl for you and she deserves your allegiance considering all the years she’s waited for you to marry her.”

“You chose her? Do you have any idea how ridiculously archaic that sounds? I’ve never wanted to marry Robyn and you were wrong to make her think otherwise.”

She reached for him and this time he allowed her to clutch his arm.

“But . . .”

A tall figure stood in the doorway partially hidden in shadow.

“Let him go, Ivy.”

She snatched her hand away and spun around at the sound of her husband’s
quiet voice.

“What are you doing sneaking in here? I don’t appreciate being startled, John.”

“I am not sneaking, Ivy. I do believe I still live here.”

Her eyes snapped with impatience.

“
Josh and I are t
rying to have a conversation. A
private conversation I might add
. I would have let you know
if you were needed here.
”

“I’ve heard enough to know what’s going on. You didn’t want me because you knew I wouldn’t approve.” He then looked at Josh. “You go to Catherine with our blessings.”

Ivy shrieked her
displeasure.

“No! I’ll never give my approval to that woman.” She pulled on the front of Josh’s shirt. “Don’t listen to him. Your father has no right to try and shove Catherine down my throat. I will not tolerate being anywhere near her.”

“I said let him go, Ivy.” There was steel behind his voice now.

She pulled her hands away from Josh and turned at John’s unaccustomed commanding tone. She stared at him with astonishment clearly showing on her face.

“What on earth has come over you? You’ve never spoken to me like that before and I don’t have time right now to deal with whatever you think you’re doing. Now go back to your squash and tomatoes and let me work out this little misunderstanding with Josh.”

He came fully into the room and stood gripping the back of a chair until the tan skin covering his knuckles turned white.

“I’ll thank you not to dismiss me in my own house as though I were some pesky child.”

“Oh for heaven’s sake,” she ground out
with irritation. “You don’t understand what’s going on as usual. There’s a history here you know nothing about.”

“Because I haven’t said anything before doesn’t mean I don’t know what you’ve been doing. I understand more than you realize and I won’t stand by while you distort things to suit your own needs. Josh has a right to live his life without your interference.”

“I know what’s best for my son and I don’t like you butting in,” she admonished.

“He happens to also be my son too, and at this point I don’t care what you think.”

Josh looked from one to the other and frowned.

“I had to come here and try to clear some things up, but I didn’t mean to cause trouble between you two.”

“You needn’t concern yourself about us. You have more important matters to take care of. You go find your Catherine and make things right with her. She’s a good woman and I’d like to see you have her in your future.”

“I’ll not have you speak for me.
I forbi
d you to go to that woman, Josh,
”
Ivy said.

“You forbid me?” His expression mirrored his frustration. “What part of me telling you I’m a grown man didn’t you understand? I do happen to have a mind of my own, and it’s about damn time I start making my own decisions without you butting in. You’ve got to resign yourself to the fact that I love Catherine and I want to be with her. Now let’s leave it at that before we both end up saying something even more regrettable.”

She snorted out a harsh laugh while pointing an accusing finger at both men.

“What’s regrettable is how gullible you both are. If you had listened to me you wouldn’t have allowed yourselves to be duped by that lying bi . . .”

“That’s enough!” Fury racing through his blood, eyes black with rage, Josh thrust himself toward Ivy making her stumble back. “I told you not to talk about Catherine like that. You’re slandering the woman I love. It’s like plunging a knife into my heart when you insult her, and if you really do love me as much as you claim, you wouldn’t say such awful things.”

John stepped between them and touched Josh on the arm before Ivy could say anything else.

“I think it’s time for you to leave now.” He looked over his shoulder and gave Ivy a warning glare when she started to speak.

Josh felt his insides clench. If he hadn’t been a part of it he wouldn’t believe he’d actually had this shouting match with his mother.

“I’m sorry for the way things have gotten so out of hand. That wasn’t my intention when I came
here.”