Free From This Moment by Sean D. Young Page B

in Taylor, but she was thankful that they hadn’t run into each other before yesterday. She didn’t want any part of him.
    Taking her black leather coat from the hanger, she handed it to Jonathan. “I’ve never been there before. Do you go often?” She slipped into it while he held it for her.
    “I’ve been a couple of times, but not lately. I go there when I want to show a beautiful woman a good time,” Jonathan said as he watched Ivy pick up her hand bag.
    He followed her out of the door and out to his vehicle.
    Jonathan opened the passenger side door and helped her up into his black Range Rover. Closing the door, he trotted around to the other side and climbed inside, started the truck and they were on their way.
    * * *
    Glancing at Ivy from time to time, Jonathan noticed she’d gotten quiet again. Suddenly, it came to him that maybe someone in her family had found out about their marriage.
    “Ivy, can I ask you a question?” He glanced over at her, then looked back at the road.
    “Sure, what is it?” Ivy turned her body in his direction.
    “Did someone find out about us?”
    “Oh, no,” she said, and then paused before saying, “Unless you told.”
    Jonathan reached over and gently picked up her hand. “No, I didn’t. I promised you that I wouldn’t. I only asked because you seemed upset, so I thought one of your sisters found out.”
    “No, it’s nothing like that,” she responded, then turned away looking out the passenger side window into the night sky.
    They road silently, until Jonathan pressed the button on the console and the smooth sounds of Will Downing filled the air.
    The words of the song seemed to soothe her, and he saw her lean back and relax. Seeing her this way made him want to fix things, to reassure her, but not with words. He took a chance and reached over, picking up her hand and firmly squeezing it for reassurance.
    “What was that for?” Ivy looked over at him. She knew all too well that he was trying to be a friend.
    ”I know there is something bothering you. I understand if you don’t want to share it with me, but know that I’m here for you if you want to talk.”
    Suddenly, out of nowhere, tears sprung up in her eyes. She didn’t dare blink because they would surely spill down her cheek, so she looked the other way until she composed herself.
    Then turning back to him, she said, “That’s sweet, Jonathan, but I’m fine. Really.”
    Jonathan took his eyes off the road momentarily to look at her. “Okay, good. I don’t want people to think I’m a bad date.” He chuckled, hoping she would laugh with him, but she didn’t.
    “Babe, can you get three dollars out of the cup holder for the toll ahead?” he asked as he approached the Chicago Skyway. He really didn’t need her to get the money, for he always kept it in the cup holder so he could access it easily. He wanted to keep her interacting with him.
    Ivy adjusted herself in her seat, reached down between them and retrieved three one-dollar bills. She handed them to him.
    “Thanks.”
    “Jonathan, tell me about Andy’s. What kind of food do they serve?”
    “It’s not a real fancy place, but they have great appetizers, salad, sandwiches, pasta, pizza, steaks, ribs and chicken. The food’s pretty good, but I think the music is off the hook.”
    “Is that why you chose this place for us?”
    “Yes, I thought we’d have a little candlelight, food, conversation and music. Just a relaxing evening since neither one of us have to work tomorrow.”
    Ivy sighed. “It feels good not to have to get up early in the morning. But the show’s producers are sending me information on a new couple for the taping on Monday.”
    “What happened to the other couple you were studying?”
    “I was told that they canceled their engagement, so they couldn’t be a part of the show. Remember, it is reality TV, so the couples had to be getting married for real.”
    “Wow, that’s too bad.”
    “It really is. When I met