Page 52 of Strange Love

My mom leans in curiously. “What’s up, Honey?”

“She’s become special to me,” I say with a hint of protectiveness in my voice, “and I don’t like it when people judge her based on this.”

My mom’s eyes widen with intrigue. “Okay, now you have my interest piqued.”

“Ivy was abducted when she was twelve years old,” I explain to my mom, a mix of sadness and frustration pulsing through me.

“Oh my God!” my mom gasps, her hand flying up to cover her mouth. “How terrible.”

My heart clenches as I continue, “She was taken by a cult and held captive for four years before she finally escaped and found her way home.”

My mom’s eyes widen in shock and horror as she processes the information. “That poor girl. The things she must have gone through.”

“It was a nightmare,” I say solemnly. “Does any of this sound familiar? I’m surprised you didn’t hear about it on the news.

“You know I don’t watch the news,” my mom admits with a small shrug. “Too depressing. I prefer to stick to my evening soap operas.”

“That’s true,” I say with a small chuckle.

“How is Ivy doing now?” my mom asks with concern.

“She’s good, but things at school have been difficult. People haven’t been very kind to her since she came back.”

“Well, she has you now,” my mom says confidently. “And that makes all the difference.” That’s one thing about my mom that I’ve always appreciated. Given where we come from and what she’s endured as a single mother, she has an unwavering empathy for others.

My mom’s eyes sparkle with excitement as she asks, “So you’re taking her out tonight?”

I nod. “Yeah, we’ll figure something out.”

“I think that’s wonderful, Corey,” she says, her smile widening. “I’m happy for you.”

Her words warm my heart, and I reply, “Thanks, Mom.” Then I add, “Sarah and Ivy have become friends.”

My mom’s expression turns brighter as she exclaims, “That’s fantastic! We’ll have to plan a family dinner soon and have Ivy join us.”

Warmth spreads through my chest at the thought of having Ivy over. “That’d be great,” I reply with a smile, setting my napkin on the table and leaning back in my chair to accommodate the enormous amount of food I just ate. “Do you mind if I take off? I want to give Taz a call and check on him.”

My mom’s brow furrows in concern. “I noticed he wasn’t at the game today. Is everything okay?” I hesitate, not wanting to worry her unnecessarily.

“He didn’t feel well,” I tell her, leaving out that something may be seriously wrong. “I’ll see you tomorrow, though,” I add, changing the subject.

“Congratulations on your game today, Honey,” my mom says with a proud smile. “You know those college letters will start pouring in soon.”

My stomach twists into knots at the thought of leaving home for college, though it’s still months away. It’s always been my dream, and nothing will get in the way. Deep down, I understand what it means, and suddenly, leaving this town isn’t as appealing as it once was.

Chapter 30

“Love Walks In”

Ivy - Age 18, 1988

Despite promising to meet Corey at the diner, he insists on coming to pick me up and greet my parents once again. I never would have guessed that beneath his cocky exterior lurked such a sweet gentleman.

As the sun sets behind the hills, Corey’s car pulls into my driveway, and my parents invite him inside and chatter about the game for what feels like hours. I try to follow along, but the intricacies of the game still escape me, especially the terminology. I make a mental note to go to Crown Books and look for a hockey reference guide next time I’m at the mall.

Once we break free of my house, we head to the quaint diner down the street for dessert. I’m relieved when we arrive, and it’s nearly empty, creating a peaceful atmosphere for just the two of us. It’s been a busy day, and I’ve been dying to find time alone with him.

I order a generous slice of rich, decadent German chocolate cake while Corey opts for a warm, cinnamon-spiced apple pie topped with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream. He insists on sharing, as he always does, knowing that I can never finish my portion alone and he’ll finish both desserts.