Chapter 8

The early summer light fell across Harmony and the citizens of the small town awoke. The pier was decked in beautiful ribbons from the week’s carnival, but all was silent there. A lone man quietly made his way through the stands as he looked at the calm Atlantic which fed the harbor.

He stared out, lost in the gentle lapping of the waves on the dock. His pace was slowed and he was in no rush. To any passerby he may have seemed carefree, but remember the saying, ‘ You can’t judge a book by it’s cover.’

The man’s dream state was abruptly cut short. His eyes met hers. She was also alone at the other end of the pier staring deeply into his light blue eyes. Her blonde hair swayed in the breeze as she moved towards him.

Their hands met and he pulled her to him. His lips parted from hers and he whispered her name. “Ivy...”

She kissed him back, “Sam...”

Their passion was in control now, and as the sun kept rising their passion only grew. the sun was too bright now and he couldn’t see her...

“Sam. Sam. Sam wake up, can you hear me!” Sam opened his eyes to see his wife, Grace, looking compassionately at him. “Sam, you were dreaming.” She stated flatly.

Surprised by his trip back to reality he shot out of bed ready to explain, “Grace, I was dreaming about Ivy! But only because of the fire and-”

She kissed his forehead and smiled, “How sweet that you’re still worried about her, you must of been having a terrible nightmare that she was dying.”

“It was a nightmare.” Sam said convincing himself, more than he was Grace. “But it’s in the past now.”

“Well I’m sorry to add to your stressful morning, but Pilar just phoned from the Crane Mansion.” Grace said apologetically sitting next to her husband. “You know how Ivy and Julian were going to be the carnival’s guests of honour?” Sam nodded, as Grace continued, “Well Ivy Crane won’t be able to come... she’s missing.”

Sam choked on his breath. “Ivy’s gone?”

Grace giggled, “Whoa, slow down super cop! Julian saw her late last night and everyone is pretty sure she just went out early this morning. We think she’ll be fine, she took her car keys, so it’s not like she was kidnapped.” Grace shifted into a disappointed gear. “Unfortunately that means she won’t be at the carnival, and she won’t be able to kick off the carnival. A lot of people will be disappointed because they wanted to meet her.”

Grace’s words ran through his mind. Ivy was missing and it was all his fault.

Sam let Ivy sit up on her own and he looked off towards the debris from the fire. In an unattached voice he stressed, “There’s more to life than passion.” Turning to look at her he finished, “But I guess you wouldn’t know that, seeing how empty your life is- and the only enjoyment you get is from destroying my life.”

Sam watched Ivy’s head turn downwards as she clenched her fists. He couldn’t see her face but from the tension in her body he could see how much he had hurt her. “I’m sorry...” He continued, “I didn’t mean what I just said, that was shallow of me.”

“Oh no.” Sam said aloud and shot of the bed. “This is all my fault...”

Grace took Sam by the shoulders. “I know you’re the Chief of Police, but you don’t have to feel responsible for everything that goes wrong in Harmony.”

Kissing his wife on the cheek, Sam made his way to the door. “I’ll meet you at the Carnival.” As he made his way to his car he could only imagine how terrible he had made Ivy feel.

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Ivy and Sheridan through their heads back in joyous laughter. The coffee shop was empty besides the two of them and the employees.

Sipping on her coffee, Sheridan giggled. “That sounds just like Julian. Did he actually do that?”

“He tried!” Ivy finished her coffee with a smile and then added, “But he didn’t get very far.”

The waitress approached their booth and set a check down in front of Ivy. “That’s everything. The last two cups you guys had are on me.” The red headed young girl placed two mints and waited for a thank you.

“Thank you so much for putting up with the two of us.” Sheridan said clasping Ivy’s hands. “And, oh, what time is it?”

“It’s going on 6 am.”

Ivy jumped up in frustration. “Oh no. The carnival starts in a little while, and Julian and I promised we’d be there. Which means-”

“Julian’s already up and looking for you.” Sheridan finished with a worried look on her face.

The two paid the waitress and exited the small coffee shop in a hurry. In their car, a brand new Honda S2000, Ivy looked affectionately at her sister-in-law. “Sheridan, thank you so much for everything.”

“I still can’t believe my father and Mr. Winthrop broke you and Sam Bennett up-” Sheridan stopped to think for a moment. “Well, actually, I guess my father and brother have been trying to do that with Luis and I.” Sheridan rummaged in her purse and took out the gold locket and handed it to Ivy.

“I’m glad you found it and not Julian or Alistair.” Ivy said, imagining the destruction that would follow had her husband found it. “Sheridan... this really isn’t my place but please don’t give up on Luis. There are things you don’t know.” As the two women drove along, back to the mansion, Ivy stared out at the passing scenery. The two had been out all night after Sheridan had confronted Ivy about the locket. Still, Ivy had convinced her that she did want to marry Julian and that her love of Sam was just a bitter sweet memory.

Breaking the silence, Ivy giggled. “I must look a fright. We rushed out so fast last night that I didn’t even get to put on make-up.”

“Julian will love you anyway.” Sheridan offered as they pulled into the Crane driveway. Just as they had expected, Julian followed by Pilar and Ethan came rushing to greet them.

“Mother. We were all so worried.” Ethan lovingly pulled his mother into a hug, and the two stayed that way until Julian pulled them apart.

He wasn’t furious, or even annoyed. Julian stared at his wife with genuine relief in his eyes. And Ivy? Her eyes were sad. All this worry from a man she truly despised. All this love from a son that she had lied to all his life.

“Darling, where did you go at such a terrible hour?” Julian then turned to his ‘son’ and instructed him to go call the police and tell them the good news.

Ivy was shocked. “You called the police?”

“Julian got up to apologize about the way he had acted, and you weren’t there. We’ve been looking for you for three hours.” Pilar informed her, and she continued, “Mr. Crane called me only a few minutes ago though.”

Ivy’s heart beat faster as she stared at her husband. Had her love for him really changed him? Was he also playing a game with her?

“Ivy, come inside and have something to eat. Then you can tell us where you’ve been.” Julian took Ivy’s arm and led her inside where she broke down in his arms and cried.

He held her close, acting as a life preserver, making sure she wouldn’t drown in her own tears. After a moment, Ivy looked at him.

“Julian, I have something to tell you.” Ivy was about to tell Julian all her lies, she was about to say everything when the door flew open.

“Sam Bennett? What the hell are you doing in my house?” Julian raged, still holding Ivy.

Sam was taken back. There she was, safe and sound. He was filled with happiness, to see her okay and... alive. Julian’s voice snapped him back to reality when he shouted, “Answer my question you fool.”

“I...” He begun, forgetting and stumbling on his words. “I was told Mrs. Crane was missing and I came here to... ask you some questions. I see now that she is fine.”

Sam found himself wanting to leave the mansion then and there. Although he would never say it, and he could never admit it- he felt some sort of strange jealousy seeing Ivy embracing her husband, as he dried her tears.

“I’ll see you both at the carnival.” Sam left, without another word and vowed to himself he would tell Ivy that Kay would not me a bridesmaid in her sick wedding. That way, Sam could be free of that poison itch forever.

With Sam gone, Julian was curious to hear what his wife wanted to say. They wordlessly sat down on the sofa, and Julian asked, “What were you going to say before we were so rudely interrupted?”

A panicked Ivy thought quickly. Thank god Sam had interrupted them, or Ivy would be out on the street at this very moment. She needed to clear her head. Ivy (like the author!!) was torn between Sam and Julian.

“I was just merely going to say that Sheridan was upset about Luis, and that’s why we were talking all night. It’s a lot of stress.” She had lied again, no wonder her son was a lawyer.

“Are you sure?” Julian probed.

Nodding falsely, she lifted herself off the sofa. “I’m a mess, I’ll go clean up and meet you down in breakfast at quarter to nine.”

‘Keep it together Ivy’, she told herself as the climbed the staircase. ‘You want Sam, you need Sam. You hate Julian... you love Sam.’

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“Give it back!” Jessica screamed as she chased her sister down the stairs. “Give it back! I know you took it!”

Uh, morning at the Bennett House. Jessica had awoke to discover her revealing video had vanished. The culprit? Of course it had to be Kay! Jessica ran angrily after her sister into the kitchen. Kay dashed around the table pulling out chairs to block Jessica’s path.

Jessica simply kicked over the obstacles, as she pursued her victim. Kay stopped in the middle of the kitchen to face her sister. “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. I didn’t take any stupid video tape.” Thinking for a moment Kay picked up a knife. Holding it in the air she teased, “Did it have something to do with your scheme to kill Ivy Crane? ‘Sis I hate to tell you, but just go for the direct approach and stop with all your elaborate schemes.” With that, Kay held the knife to her stomach to show what she meant. “Then, after you go to jail, I’ll get my own room!”

Jessica had reached her sister and she began to shake her. It was all an accident waiting to happen. Two angry teens, no parents, and a knife. Jessica held tightly onto Kay as they wrestled to the floor, and Kay struggled to get free.

Their screams had echoed through the house and Grace followed by Charity ran into the kitchen. Only Charity, by means of her premonitions, knew what would happen next. The knife dug sharply into Kay, and she let out a blood curdling scream.

Minutes later, Eve Russell arrived. Grace had called for her, after examining the wound herself. Luckily, it appeared to both women that the knife had hit mostly a fatty area on Kay’s upper thigh. It wasn’t a deep wound, just one that hurt Kay like heck. She was laying stretched out on the sofa, as Eve tended to the cut.

“You are one lucky kid, Kay.” She said, “It’ll be soar for a day or so but-”

“Will she ever walk again?” Jessica asked, sobbing uncontrollably in Grace’s arms. She hated her sister, but at the same time she felt awful. If her sister was a gimp for the rest of her life, she’d never forgive herself.

Eve laughed good naturedly at Jessica’s question. “Kay could walk now if she wanted, but it’s best to get some rest.”

The mood in the room quickly changed when Sam came in. He looked at Kay, and her bloody bandage, then at Jessica’s wet eyes. “What on earth happened?” Rushing to Kay’s side he grabbed her hand.

“Jessica and Kay were fighting, Kay had a knife in her hand. She claims she was going to cut an apple for breakfast. The knife hit Kay’s upper thigh, but it’s not a bad cut. Kay will be fine.” Eve replayed what Grace had told her, adding her own information on Kay’s injury.

“What!?”

“Take it easy honey.”

“Why were you fighting?” Sam was angrily pacing the room, “And Kay you’d better be telling the truth about that apple!”

The girls said it was just play fighting and nothing bad was intended. The room had quieted down and Grace looked at the clock. “Oh no! I’ve got to get to the pier! Kay, will you be okay here alone? Of course you will. Sam? Go get ready, how’s Ivy? Will she be there? Eve, thank you so much, Jessica you come when you’re ready.” Grace bolted out the door, stopping only to hear how Ivy was doing. And then she was gone.

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Kay was still lying on the sofa, only now she was fast asleep. Sam was brewing some coffee in the kitchen and Jessica was stressing over her lost video tape. She searched everywhere in her room, and then made her way into other rooms.

At the carnival, Ivy and Julian made their way to the main stage. Ivy was dressed in a sleeveless, navy dress. She wore her hair upon her head, in a neat little bun. As the two greeted the commoners of Harmony, Ivy was informed of Kay’s incident.

“She’ll still be coming to the wedding, right Grace?” Ivy asked, worried her plan to make Sam jealous would fall through.

“She’ll be fine in a day or so. You can stop by and see how she’s doing before the ceremonies start here. I believe Sam’s there, so he could let you in.”

Ivy was thrilled by Grace’s offer and turned quickly to Julian, who was swarmed by a bunch of angry cannery employees. “Darling, I’m going to go pay a surprise visit to Kay, she’s feeling a bit under the weather. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“You can’t leave me alone with all these peasants. They’re only seconds away from clawing me to shreds.” Julian pleaded.

Ivy patted him on the cheek. “Sink or swim, darling. Sink or swim.”

The Crane limo pulled up in front of the Bennett house. Ivy got out and straightened her dress. The door was ajar and she let herself in. Kay was peacefully asleep on the sofa. “Well, I don’t want to disturb her.” Upon hearing a noise in the kitchen, Ivy made her way to the room. Sam was there. More handsome than ever, sipping his coffee as he skimmed the morning paper.

“Hello.” Ivy greeted slyly as she pulled up a chair at the kitchen table.

“Ivy... I need to appologize for what I said yesterday. I was a jerk to say those things, please forgive me.” Both of them were shocked by his instant confessions, and Sam watched Ivy’s mouth curve into a tight smile. He knew as well as she did, he was playing right into her game. Remembering his vow he instructed, “On second thought, come with me.”

Like a little lost puppy, Ivy willingly followed Sam into the laundry room. He slammed the door behind them and locked it.

“How kinky,” She grinned, licking her lips as her eyes poured over his body. “I forgive you already.”

His voice came defensively, and unusually loud. “You will not have Kay in your wedding. Keep my family out of your sick affairs. I said it yesterday and I upset you, well I’m saying it again.” His eyes betrayed him, though, as they grazed her body too.

Paying no attention to his words, she pulled him close to her. “You want me as much as I want you.” Her lips brushed his neck before landing on his lips. When they parted she said, “I know what you said yesterday, but I know that you were hurt.”

“Hurt.”

“You’re aching to walk down the aisle with me for real. I’ll forgive you for what you said...” He let her remove his shirt, and kiss him. He found himself kissing her back, more passionately than ever. The electricity flowed freely between them and they both fell onto a mound of clean laundry.

Directly upstairs, Jessica’s search came to a halt. Her eyes searched the room for a minute before landing on the ventilation system. She was startled by the heavy breathing and murmurs from below. Pressing an ear to the vent she could make out some key words: ‘Ivy’, ‘Sam’, and ‘no’.

Jessica was initially disgusted, but she knew this was her chance. Running to the laundry chute she could hear everything they said.

“Sam, if you want me, take me.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes you can...”

Her brain was pounding and she finally went quickly to her room to grab the tape recorder. She fastened a piece of string to it and went back to the laundry chute. Quietly, and ever so carefully she lowered it down the chute.

Their conversation lasted approximately 2 minutes more, and ended oddly with Ivy. “Well, it’s been fun Sam, but obviously you don’t want me. I gave you your chance.” Sam was shocked to hear Ivy ending things. She brushed herself off, and went towards the door. “My life was empty without you Sam, you knew that. But now, I have Julian. Believe it or not, we’re getting married again.”

As Ivy left, Sam was left alone. Was Ivy sending out a plea for help? Did he want her to stop the wedding? Or was she seriously just giving him his last chance to admit how he felt about her. It felt like he had just lost her again, and it was eating him up inside. What was up? What was down? What was going on?

Outside Ivy was asking herself those same questions. Maybe that was her chance in there to finally have Sam. This time, however, it felt so wrong. Maybe she didn’t want Sam to stop her wedding by loving her.

She paused for a moment before getting back into the limo. “I love you Sam, and I always will. But you’ll never give up your life and Grace just because your a little jealous. I was a fool to ever think so. I’m going back to Julian, we’ll renew our vows, and you and I will have been totally ripped apart- again.”