The Kane Cross (Cross 1)

52 - Sweet home

Make sure you read yesterday's bonus chapter.

Ivy stretched and woke up in an empty bed. As she opened her eyes, she looked around the room. The newly painted sage walls still gave off a paint scent, but they hadn't wanted to wait to move in.

Ironically, neither had many belongings. Baxter had more clothes than her, but at least her number of gowns exceeded his tuxedos. Her shoe collection was growing. Baxter encouraged her to shop, and she hated to disappoint him, as she told herself she hadn't changed.

A nervous energy propelled her out of bed. They had a housewarming/tree trimming planned for later. At least, the house looked perfect, since they had barely lived in it for a day. It had only taken two days for the design team to paint the walls and place the furniture. When Ivy entered the finished home, she couldn't believe it was hers. She could never have imagined the professionally placed accents. It looked like a showplace, but it was her home.

Ivy had conceded and allowed the designer to arrange the tree delivery. She knew setting it in the stand and putting on the lights were the hardest parts. Her parents had argued through the entire process for years until they bought an artificial tree. Carl agreed because live trees were expensive to throw away after a few weeks. Ellen agreed so she would never be yelled at with sticky pine pitch on her hands.

The designer let Ivy know how special she was to have her design their house. Carol Keene Designs was the best in Boston, which was not knowledge Ivy would ever imagine needing to know. Carol, herself, took on the project even as she referred to it as the busiest time of the year. Ivy was certain Carol did it to keep in Amelia Kane's good graces. The joke was on her because Amelia would probably be happier if the designer had refused.

Baxter's mother was between a rock and a hard place, not accepting Ivy privately, but making sure no one knew. It defeated the 'she's not one of us' argument. Even Carol Keene treated her respectfully. At all the Christmas parties Baxter had taken her to the hosts and other guests had accepted them as a couple. There was one last party on the twenty-third which Ivy didn't want to think about. It was for Kane Properties and all Baxter's relatives would be there including cousin Ned.

First, they had to survive the housewarming. If it were only for Baxter's siblings, she wouldn't care. Baxter had insisted they invite everyone important to them, except one. Because they had invited his mother, they had not invited Eleanor. However Elena and Joseph were excited to attend, as were Freya and Joey. Most importantly, her parents were coming. It would be the first time they stepped into her new life. Feeling ashamed, she had taken her mother shopping for an outfit. Ivy feared she would show up in an ugly Christmas sweater without realizing it was ugly.

Ivy walked down three flights of stairs to the kitchen level. The narrow home had six floors including the basement. Although it cost millions, it was not in the league of the Sinclair or Kane houses, but it was in one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Boston.

The large gourmet kitchen was empty, but the light to the basement stairs was on. Ivy walked down the finished steps. On one side was a bedroom with a private entrance, they wouldn't need it for years, assuming they had a live-in nanny. The other room was an exercise room with a sauna. The previous owners included the equipment in the sale.

She stopped short as she watched Baxter running on the treadmill. He looked like he could win the race with his rapid, graceful strides. He smiled at her, but his ear buds were in. Hopefully, he was listening to music and not Dani.

Of course, he invited his assistant. Unfortunately, Jimmy had made an excuse. He promised to stop by soon for a tour and a drink. He had hardly been home. It was just as well he wasn't attending because Freya might embarrass herself.