Page 32 of Decked Out with Ivy

Cody glanced over at Ivy who was approaching a woman in scrubs. Her brown hair was tossed into a bun, and she had a red scarf wrapped around her neck. It was the perfect festive complement to her green scrubs.

Did he really just think that? Ugh. Maybe Ivy was wearing off on him.

Ronnie: You got that?

Cody sighed and typed back.

Cody: Sure.

The pictures of him and Ivy walking down Main Street must not have come out yet. So at least he had time before Ronnie got on his ass. He only hoped the pictures didn’t create a narrative that turned them into the bad guys.

He didn’t want to think about photo ops or any of that nonsense. All he cared about was the smile on Ivy’s face.

“Cody.” Ivy waved him over. “I’d like you to meet Layla. She’s Bex’s sister-in-law.”

“Another Marshall,” Cody said, holding out his hand.

“There are a few of us. Not as many as the Hayes’ or the Parkers, but enough.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

“Likewise. My sister-in-law says the verdict is still out on you, but since you’ve been seen around with Ivy, Red Maple Falls’s very beloved Christmas Queen, I hope the tabloids are not to be believed.”

“Most of it is bullshit.” He had no idea what the tabloids were saying today. Ronnie didn’t send him any pictures or articles, but she seemed to be happy.

“I figured. The stories they’ve come up with about my entire family have been ludicrous. I can’t believe once upon a time I believed them.”

“Sometimes there’s a nugget of truth,” Cody admitted. “But most of the time, they’ll manipulate a headline to make a sale or get a click.”

Layla closed her eyes and shook her head. “Freida, I swear if that is a candy bar you’re pulling out of your wheelchair, we are going to have a problem.”

Cody’s head turned to where Layla had directed her threat. An elderly woman covered from her neck down in tattoos sat with her arms crossed in a wheelchair. It was a sight a person didn’t see every day, and he imagined the woman had been a total badass in her prime.

Another elderly woman in a wheelchair with large, black-framed glasses and more bracelets than a Taylor Swift concert rolled up alongside her. “It’s a Snickers. I saw her steal it from the nurses’ station.” The woman gestured toward the station in the middle of the floor, her arm of bracelets clacking together.

“Ethel, you traitor,” Freida grumbled.

“She’s a friend. A good one,” Layla said. “You know you can’t have sugar.”

“How many years is it going to take off my life? I’m practically knocking at death's door. Just let me enjoy what time I have left,” Freida said.

“Even if it adds another day, we’ll take it!” An elderly gentleman shuffled up behind Freida’s wheelchair.

Freida waved her hand in the air. “Don’t start with that ooey gooey nonsense.”

“Albert is right, Freida.” Layla extended her arm, palm up. “Now give me the chocolate bar.”

“Or what?”

“Or I won’t let you listen to the caroling.”

“You’ll be doing me a favor,” she scoffed.

Cody stepped forward. It wasn’t his place to intervene, but he could amp up his charm and help Layla out. “But I was so hoping to sing for you,” he said, taking Freida’s hand in his and placing a kiss on her knuckles.

“If you weren’t so handsome, I’d tell you to screw off.”

Cody smirked. “You think I’m handsome?”

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