A fire in Minneapolis had Baxter on edge all day. Based on what the fire chief told him, the sprinkler system kept the damage to the break room. Thanks to a toaster, the sprinklers and smoke, the area would require extensive cleanup, but no one was injured. Ironically, much of the liability sat on the head of the tenant, an insurance company.

Joe joined the call from his office and before Baxter could suggest it, Joe said that he would fly out to see the damage for himself.

Baxter knew his father would expect him to go. When Philip appeared at his office door, Baxter was mentally calculating how quickly he could fly out and turn around to come home. He had a request for construction bids going out in two days and needed to make sure everything was in order.

"Are you planning to go?"

"Can we send Kasper?"

Philip smirked slightly as he shook his head. "I'm afraid they'll try to make us liable."

Baxter had put the call on hold. He turned back and pressed the button to return to the call. "Chief, what was the cause?"

"Looks like a toaster. Flame shot out of it."

"Was the wiring the cause?"

"The final say is up to the inspector. It was an old appliance that they probably had never cleaned."

"I need to know the minute you confirm the cause. Thanks for your time."

The call ended, and Baxter sighed. "I guess I should check it out myself."

Philip said, "I'll go. I wouldn't mind getting away."

"But Mother won't let you."

"Your mother needs to relax. My doctor never told me I couldn't travel. I haven't been on a plane since the trip to Vail."

Tate appeared. "Am I interrupting?"

"What is it?"

"This." She stuck her phone out. He read the screen. "How would they know Mother hasn't accepted Ivy?"

Tate shrugged. "A leak."

"Danielle! Have you seen this?"

She shook her head as she bit her lip. "Ivy called, but I told her you were busy."

"Dammit. I have to call her. Dad, if you want to go with Joe, I won't argue." When Ivy answered he demanded, "What the hell is wrong with that jerk?"

Her voice shook. "I called you to warn you."

"But you didn't say it was an emergency."

"You were busy. I'm on the train. We can discuss it later."

She hung up, and he looked at his phone with fires both literal and proverbial at every turn. His personal one had to wait in line. It served his mother right, although he couldn't figure out how it leaked. Maybe someone saw his mother avoid him and Ivy at one of the recent events they had been to since the gala.

The architects were waiting to complete the specs. Danielle joined them when he opened his door. "I'm sorry I kept you waiting. I've been putting out fires all day."

Danielle had her laptop so she could record changes to the final document. They debated some minor items as they moved through. The process was long and tedious. He would need to hire a project manager to handle future building renovations, but this was his very first, and it had to turn out okay.

Danielle gave him a private look, which meant something else was going on. If anyone else answered her phone, the messages went straight to her.

He stood. "Can we take a break?" He opened his office door. "Donna, please provide our guests with some refreshments?"

They left his office, and Baxter closed the door. "What is it?"

"Your mother called and requested a meeting with you at six o'clock."

"Will we finish by six?"

She scrolled through the document. "Maybe. I made the arrangements for your father and Joe to fly out in the morning."

"Maybe Kasper should go too. He might learn something." Baxter used to travel with his father. He remembered his first fire. The stench of the charred remnants of the gutted suite stayed with him. Furniture and equipment contained chemicals that were poisonous when they burned. He shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Do you need something for your headache?"

He looked up at Danielle. "No, just for this day to be over and to go home to see Ivy." But he had to see his mother first.

Danielle nodded. "Should we bring them in?"

"I'm ready." He had a déjà vu of the union negotiation with Ivy.

At six-fifteen, he slid into the backseat of the car. "I need to go to Walnut Street."

He looked at his phone. Elena had texted him. Ivy never went home to Sinclairs. He opened his app that let him find the location of phones. Doyle was at home, one relief unless she was aggravating their mother. Ivy was in Cambridge.

"We'll need to go to Cambridge when I finish with my mother."

"Yes, sir. I saw the newest gossip. I didn't..."

"I never thought you had. I trust you." Macintyre liked Ivy and would never hurt her.

His last visit home was to the kitchen. He made a batch of pad Thai to take to Ivy's childhood home. He had liked her parents, after all they had raised Ivy. Carl had welcomed him. Baxter worried she would feel less welcome in the home he grew up in.

Percy opened the door. "Welcome home, sir."

"Thank you. I'm sure you know my mother wants to see me."

"In the parlor."

Sharpening her claws, Baxter mused, but any amusement disappeared. "Hello, Mother."

"You're late."

"I'm always late. I could have worked another eight hours, but I'm here."

"I'm very displeased with your father's plan to travel tomorrow. It should be you."

Baxter put his hands up. "He offered. I would have gone although I have pressing business here. Is Kasper home? I plan to suggest he goes with dad."

"You can discuss business with your brother later. I called you over to tell you once and for all you need to stop seeing that, that..."

"What? What were you going to call the woman I love?"

"Love. Love is understanding your background and the demands it imposes."

"Ivy does. You don't understand why dad needs to go to St. Paul."

Amelia dismissed him. "She can't be trusted. Leaking private family business."

"Mother, Ivy didn't leak the fact you don't like her. You did."

"I never!"

"You never bad-mouthed her to your friends or changed the subject when someone mentioned me and Ivy?"

"I'm sure people noticed you avoiding your own parents. Don't point fingers." Amelia never backed down. A trait he got from his mother.

Baxter stood tall. "It happened and so people know the truth. I'm sorry if you feel embarrassed."

"Move home and everything will be fine."

"Mother, no. When rumors spread about Jimmy and I, we go out for a drink. I would never ask Ivy to do that. As for moving back, we're closing on our own home next week. The designer is hard at work furnishing it."

"You? Together?"

"Yes, mother. It is not uncommon for couples to live together. I plan to marry her, but I keep hoping you'll change your mind about her. I love you, even though you've hurt me, and I would like you to support my marriage."

"Don't think about it without a prenup."

"Mother, I'm still your son. Ivy expects it. I have to go. Having her personal life splash for the public upsets her. Where is Kasper? Percy!" The butler appeared quickly. "Is Kasper home?"

"Yes, he's upstairs with Miss. Doyle."

Baxter ran up the stairs two at a time. Doyle's door was closed. He rapped on it before opening it. The twins jumped up. "Baxter! Mother's angry."

"I know but it's her fault. Kasp, I need you again. Dad's traveling to check out a fire. I would feel better if you went with him. Mother would too."

"Wow! Guilt trip." Doyle laughed.

"It's a day trip. You'll leave early and be back the same night."

"Fine. For dad."

"Thank you. I have to go see Ivy, before she hates me."

Doyle laughed. "Never. It almost makes me believe in the stupid cross."

Baxter laughed. "Don't wear it to see your dealer."

Even Kasper laughed at his remark. As Baxter walked down the stairs, Percy held the front door open and his father appeared in the hall. He stopped. "Kasper is traveling with you."

He smiled. "Did you come to ask him?"

"No, mother summoned me to tell me to give up on love. My answer will always be no."

Philip looked sad. "Sorry, son."

Baxter left through the door without responding. Could his day get any worse? He rehearsed his apology as he rode across the Charles River. Macintyre opened his door, and he ran up the steps and knocked.

Eleanor opened the door. She looked thinner. "Baxter, she's in the kitchen. I'll go to my room."

"Thank you." He had never been inside before. Even nicely decorated, Baxter couldn't think about his father spending time in Eleanor's apartment. He frowned remembering his father had stopped visiting.

Ivy looked at him with wide glossy eyes. "You can't do it, I understand."

"There is nothing to understand, except I came to take you home with me. To our temporary home. I was just thinking of him here. They are not us. I love you and am sorry I sounded short. Also, I admit I was very frustrated, but not with you. With the amoeba and with work issues. There was a fire in one of our buildings this morning. I was in the middle of dealing with the fallout.

"Was anyone hurt?"

"Thankfully, no."

"Is the building going to be okay?"

He nodded. "Yes, but are we okay?"

"When will this end?"

"When we are a boring married couple. I told my mother about the house."

She smiled. "You did?"

"Yes. Can I touch you? I need you."

She stood up from her place at the table and entered his outstretched arms. With his face tucked against her neck he breathed her in. He sighed. "I feel better already."

"When will you realize you can do better than me?"

"Never. I have loved you since Aspen. I just didn't realize it. Say goodbye to Eleanor."

Ivy yelled, "Bye."

She called back. "Bye, daring. Baxter, be good to her."

He nodded and frowned. If only his mother was more like her. Once in the car, he listened as Ivy greeted their driver. "You know I considered asking him out when you were dating Silly."

He rolled his eyes. "To get information from him about my date?"

Ivy shook her head. "No, because I needed to forget you and he's a good-looking guy."

Baxter addressed his driver. "Are you listening to this?"

"Yes, sir. I mean no, sir."

Baxter couldn't be mad they were talking about Macintyre. "And why are you telling me this now?"

Ivy bit her lip. "When you yelled at me, I wondered if he could help me move on."

"Not if he likes his job," Baxter barked.

Ivy sighed. "I was worried earlier because your tone made me cry, just now it didn't."

He nuzzled up to her ear. "I can use it later when we have make up sex."

Ivy pulled back. "Did you see the news about Jimmy pulling out of a deal?"

Baxter smiled. "He may be bluffing. Either way, your friend is going to be in trouble with daddy."

"He's not my friend. He might have been in school with the twins. Maybe he holds a grudge."

"I'll ask them, but not until Kasper gets back from Minneapolis."

"Doyle might be more honest if I ask."

Baxter made a fist. "If the jerk hurt my sister."

"Relax. I just meant because you're you. We love you, but you can be too serious."

He pouted. "I hope you love me more."

"Differently and very much more." She sucked on his lip. He would walk into Sinclairs with a hard on.

Thanks for voting ⭐️