WRONG NUMBER

12. You know

A few seconds later, a tall, well dressed man opened the door and gave them a welcoming smile. He was in his late 40s, with pale blue eyes and his hair, were dark brown, slightly brindled with gray.

"Come in and I am Linden's father." He said with the ever remaining welcoming smile on his face as he extended his right hand for a friendly handshake, she took his hand and shook it firmly. Ivy thought that she had never heard anything as generous as his voice. He moved back a little, letting Ivy and Linden go inside.

He pushed the door closed behind them. "It's good to see you," he said and then he jokingly added, "I am the head Cowden here, but girl, you should call me Bills," This brought a shy smile and a nod from Ivy.

"Chloe is so excited that you'll be spending the Christmas with us, Ivy," William said after a few seconds, when they were already seated on the sofa. "It's been quite a while since Linden has brought anyone home to meet the family."

"She is just a friend, Dad," he muttered with a snort, "No need for the lot of you to get worked up." His face flushed crimson as he pulled the sleeve back down.

"Excuse me, Dannie," Ivy's eyes grew wide as she looked at Linden in shock. "There's plenty of reason for them to get worked up! I'm a wonderful guest!" Ivy joked with her growing confidence.

Linden twisted to look at her and thought she had grown even more beautiful as her blue eyes sparkled and she gave a cheeky grin, suddenly then, Linden needed a moment to collect him, Ivy was about to spend the Christmas with his family and Linden suddenly and desperately wanted her to like them. He tried to settle the anxious feeling in his gut.

But soon after that Chloe finally came out of the kitchen with hot coffee and a tray full of cookie, "I was making this for you and hope you like it Ivy," She says setting the tray on the table. When her hands were free, Chloe pulled Ivy into a strong hug and kissed her cheeks as if they'd known one another for years and years. Ivy couldn't say she minded. She was missing this love for long time now, and so she let her be comforted by Chloe's presence.

"Ivy, I'm so happy you're here," Chloe grinned at her and patted her back. Her twinkling brown eyes and beaming smile reminded Ivy of Linden, and now she could definitely tell where he got his those beautiful chocolate eyes that had always held such a spark or passion or affection.

"Thank you, Mrs. Cowden, I am happy to be here." she grinned back. "Otherwise I would just be home by myself, lonely and pouting all day long."

"No, don't say that, and it's Chloe for you" she brushed away Ivy's thanks and wrapped her arms around Linden's waist soon he put his arm around his mother and he leaned his head on her shoulder. And Ivy tried not to get jealous or envious at sight of mother's adoration. "I'm just so glad Linny finally found someone to bring home again. It's been a long time!"

"Mom, please stop, you're embarrassing me," He calmly pleaded. "We've been here for like ten minutes, we should something else and Ivy is just a friend."

Ivy rolled her eyes and at same time she felt a little bit sad but couldn't point out why. She really didn't mind their assumption that they were dating but again she remind herself that they just meet a day ago.

"Okay Linden" Chloe gave it up but shot Ivy a sly wink. "Why don't you go up and see why your sisters are taking so long to get ready while Ivy and I put some more cookies in the oven." She detached herself from Linden and walked away without waiting for a response.

It was really hard not to laugh, "Okay Danny, do as your mother said" Ivy kept lip pressed to stop her from bursting out laughing. "Your mom is so charming, I now I got where you inherited all your charms from," Ivy patted his back as Chloe had done to her. She allowed herself a second to watch Linden's face light with surprise at the compliment before she wandered off to find Chloe.

As she walked in the kitchen, she turned the corner and spotted a dog chained up under a table, a beautiful Golden Retriever. It had lovely gold fur that was like soft feathers falling down along its side. The dog barked happily and danced a few steps upon seeing Ivy.

"Seems like not Linden but even his dog likes you, he is Breezier the smartest dog ever," Chloe said, her lips curving into an irrepressibly happy smile. Ivy smiled back at Chloe and then walked toward Breezier with her hand out so that he could smell her. He gently sniffed her hand and soon started to lick it. Breezier could tell she was a good ... "You're beautiful" Ivy said as she brushed his fur.

For several minutes Ivy continued petting him or brushing her fingers in his fur, not taking her eyes off him. Chloe watched them with tenderness in her eyes. Chloe thought her son found the one he had been looking for.

"Mom tell Linden not disturb me," A teenager girl said breathlessly as she into the kitchen, followed by a small little girl. The older one looked more like Linden's father with big pale blue eyes but platinum bleached hair, and little one was very cute exact copy of Linden other than the dirty blonde hair.

"Hi, I am Casey," The teenager smiled, "And you must be Ivy! Linden has told me about you."

"And I Leah, Linny's favorite sister and he called me Lei so you can also call me Lei," Leah said with a voice that matched her face. Ivy thought she must little chatty, but the cute chatty. She couldn't help but to start giggling at Leah's cuteness and kneeled down, pulling Leah in her arms so that she would be on the Leah's level

"Ivy, you have got a cute smile," Leah cooed like a big lady with her still childish voice. The whole room burst into a roar of laughter at the sight except Leah, who couldn't get why everyone was laughing.

"Well that makes sense, your smile must led Linden to bring you home for the for the Christmas dinner. I'm just surprised, because he's told me just a few offhand comments about the girl he sneaked out meet at the middle of the night," Ivy swallowed a lump of emotion trying to process everything Casey's just thrown at her.

"Cass," Linden's low, gruff voice came from behind, scolding his sister. She looked over Casey's shoulder to see Linden making a threatening eye contact with his sister.

"Okay sorry Ivy," Casey said with a smirk, it was the cheeky and adorable smirk and then she laughed as she bound toward Linden. "You look like an angry puppy; I was just kidding with your friend." Soon Linden angers melted. Ivy felt pang in her heart as she wished she had a family like Linden, so lovely, bonded and caring. As if sensing her thoughts, Linden looked up and met her eyes with a small smile. He untangled himself from his sister and moved to stand behind.

Chloe was about to say something when the oven buzzer went off signaling that the biscuits were done. So she set the cookies on a cooling rack; she turned off the oven and put away her oven mitts.

Then she turned toward them to speak to them again.

"Linny, why don't you take Ivy upstairs and show her your room, I am sure she'd enjoy seeing your photography and there you two can have some privacy too," Chloe said with a teasing smirk, trying to cheer them up. And all Linden wanted to say was NO! Because he brought Ivy home to meet his family and so that she can have a family time Christmas. They weren't a couple; he thought he knows that he will never win her over, because she just isn't into him like that.

But before Linden could object that, "okay, Dannie let's see your photography skills" Ivy clapped with excitement rising in her voice and Linden just nodded in reply.