Page 47 of Sins (The Sins Trilogy 1)
Chapter Nineteen
Ivy
A few days later, when Tony’s off at the boxing gym, I get an email from the tattoo shop I found on the other side of town. I read it while sipping grapefruit juice, leaning against the kitchen counter. The artist has come up with a gorgeous design, one that says exactly what I want. She suggests I put it near the pulse point on my left wrist.
Left is your heart side. When your man kisses you there, he can see the tattoo and feel your pulse. When he holds your hand, he can press his wrist against yours. Or you can do it. Very intimate and special, like secret communication between the two of you, she wrote.
It makes sense. And I like what she said about how it can be a kind of private communication between us. I can already imagine us, our hands linked, and every time I press my wrist against his, he’s going to know how much he’s loved all the way to the bottom of his soul.
Also, I just had a cancellation, so can fit you in right now if you want.
I text, I’ll be there ASAP, and start toward the garage.
“Ivy, do you have a moment?”
I turn at Aunt Margot’s voice, clasping my hands together out of reflex. She’s been avoiding me since the night Tony and I first slept together, which is unusual, since she likes to chat at least once a day. I’d bet my right hand she knows what’s going on. Nothing under this roof stays secret from her, not for long, anyway. I hope she isn’t stopping me to interfere in my relationship with Tony. She can hate him and avoid him if she really wants, but she can’t tell me how to feel or act. I’m not her, and I won’t hurt Tony for her, even if it lands me on her “bad list,” as Harry likes to put it.
“Sure,” I say.
“There’s a piano quintet performance this Saturday evening at the St. Agnellus Community Center. I know it’s very short notice, but their pianist is sick and won’t be able to perform. It would mean a lot to them if you could fill in. They’re playing Dvorák’s Piano Quintet in A major.”
I start to say okay, then remember the trip with Tony. “I’d love to, but I’m afraid I can’t help this time. Sorry.”
Aunt Margot’s face goes still like a marble mask, and somehow it’s scarier than overt disappointment or anger.
“Surely you can learn the piece in the next couple of days,” she says finally.
“That isn’t the problem. I’ve actually already preformed it. It’s just that…” I take a deep breath. She’s going to know soon enough, so I might as well tell her. “I’m going to be out of town this weekend.”
“You are?” Two delicate eyebrows arch over rapidly cooling eyes. “I had no idea.”
“Tony and I are going to visit his friend.”
“Tony.” She says the name like it’s some kind of curse. “Is he the one who gave you that pendant?”
Unconsciously, I run my fingers over the gorgeous medallion. It’s warm from my body heat. “Yes. He designed it himself. One of a kind.”
Her eyes narrow. “I suppose that explains the smile on his face when he was leaving for the gym.” Her voice makes me tense. I don’t like the weird, hateful undertone.
“He’s happy. Why do you make it sound like that’s a bad thing?” I ask, genuinely confused and wanting to get to the bottom of this horrible enmity.
“Because I’d rather have him suffer the way I do.”
I inhale sharply. Aunt Margot’s voice is so brittle and hateful. “He’s your son.”
“And? I have two other sons, both of whom are perfectly happy.”
“How can you say that? Why do you hate Tony so much?”
Her eyes glitter like sapphire and emerald. “He killed my Katherine.”
“It wasn’t his fault!” I fling an arm out, slashing the space between us. “It was an accident. A hunter made a mistake. How can you blame Tony for that?”
“You know nothing, Ivy. You weren’t here.”
“No, but I read the articles about the accident. None of them even hinted he had anything to do with it. So what if he was there? How does that make it his fault?”
“So you think he’s a poor little victim with a mean mommy?” Aunt Margot sneers.
