From This Moment by Sean D. Young Page A

you?”
    Ivy giggled. She moved slightly out of the circle of his embrace and thought about him seriously. He was warm, funny, kind and professional, and she was glad she had a chance to see his sensitive and considerate side.
    She had to be honest with herself. She had only been angry with Jonathan for a short time. He never pressured her and kept their secret. She still had several months before it would be too late for an annulment. Jonathan was nothing like Randall.
    As soon as the thought of him popped into her mind, the anger and sadness returned. Then she thought there still was the issue of Randall. Her gut was telling her that he was going to remind her every chance he got not to tell his fiancée about their past together.
    “What is it, baby?” Jonathan rubbed her shoulders slowly, noticing her distraction.
    Ivy inhaled deeply in an attempt to pull her emotions together. She moved out of his embrace. “I’m sorry, Jonathan.”
    Rubbing her hair to try to soothe her, he cradled her chin between his thumb and forefinger. When their eyes met, he said, “Whatever it is, you can tell me.”
    Scanning the room, he noticed that the other couples weren’t paying any attention to them.
    Ivy laid her head on his shoulder. Jonathan wrapped his arms around her and held her until she had a chance to relieve herself of whatever was plaguing her.
    A short blonde-haired young woman came over to the table. “Would you like something to drink?”
    Jonathan looked over at Ivy, waiting for her response before he gave his order.
    “I’ll have a glass of white wine,” she said confidently.
    “I’ll have the same,” Jonathan added.
    “Are you ready to order?” the waitress asked.
    Jonathan shook his head. “Give us a few minutes, please.”
    The waitress walked away and Jonathan used his right thumb to remove a tear that had slid down her face.
    “What happened? I thought you were having a good time.”
    “You are so sweet, Jonathan,” she said and touched her face with her palm. “I haven’t been out on a date in a long time. The music and the atmosphere are just right.”
    “Well, what’s the matter, then?”
    Ivy wiped her face. “Nothing’s wrong. I just thought about something.”
    Jonathan didn’t believe her. He wanted Ivy to trust him, to tell him how she was feeling, so that he could help her. “I can’t sit here and see that you’re hurt and not do anything. You said earlier that whatever you were upset about had nothing to do with us, so I need to know if someone is trying to hurt you or has hurt you.”
    He hoped she could hear the sincerity in his words. He cared about Ivy and never wanted any harm to come to her.
    “Look, Ivy, your husband is supposed to be your best friend, confidant. You should feel comfortable enough to share anything with me . . . good or bad.”
    Husband? Legally, he was, but that was not at all what Ivy wanted. She wanted so badly to relieve herself of the thoughts and feelings she’d had since Randall showed up at her office yesterday. Why not Jonathan? He’s already carrying one secret, she thought to herself.
    Ivy was too embarrassed to tell her sisters. They had no idea that she was ever pregnant, and she didn’t want them to know how careless and irresponsible she’d been.
    Jonathan gently stroked her back. “Are you ready to tell me?” he asked.
    “It’s about my new client,” she said, moving away from him slightly.
    Jonathan’s face was a mask of confusion. “Ivy, I can’t believe that you’re allowing that young couple’s breakup to get under your skin to this extent.”
    Ivy moved slightly away from him. “It’s not just any client. It’s a little more complicated than that.”
    “Okay, tell me what’s so complicated about it.”
    “The groom used to be my boyfriend,” she said cautiously, waiting for his reaction.
    Jonathan threw his head back and laughed. “What? Are you upset that he’s marrying another woman?”
    Her eyebrows furrowed.