“What did you think of him?” Logan asks me after our meeting with a new potential boxing coach.

“He seems good. What did you think?”

“I like him. He’s worked with some of the best boxers in the world. I think he can get you to where you need to be striking wise over the next few months.”

Since returning from Vegas, Logan and I started our training routine and have been hitting the gym harder then ever.

My phone rings, sitting on the edge of the mat. “Hang on one second,” I tell Logan.

“Mr. Hensley,” a familiar voice says, “This is Will from the Terrace. I wanted to let you know that everything for this evening is in order.” I’m stoked for tonight and know that Ivy is going to be thrilled when I take her there. She mentioned this place in passing a while ago and had no idea I was taking notes then.

“Perfect, we’ll be there about six o’clock.”

“I’ll see you then, Mr. Hensley.” I hang up with him and dial Ivy.

“Hey, baby,” she answers breathlessly.

“Hey, what are you up to?” I ask.

“Not much, just wrapping up things at my apartment.”

“Did you talk to your mom about tonight?” I ask.

“Uhh, not exactly.”

“What does that mean?” I ask, getting a little annoyed that communicating with her mom is so difficult.

“I told her we’d like to have dinner with her tonight. And she said she’d think about it. She’s having a hard time accepting things.”

Since Ivy broke the news to her mom of our Vegas wedding everything has changed. She’s no longer willing to work past our differences.

“I’m sorry, baby.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Yeah, it kinda is.”

“No, it’s not. Don’t even go there. I’ll call her later after she has some time to cool down.”

“Okay, you still up for lunch?”

“Absolutely, I need a break.”

We hang up and I stare at the screen on my phone, a picture of Ivy and I the morning after we got married looks back at me. I don’t want this all to fall on her shoulders. She shouldn’t be having to deal with this from her own mother. Stepping out back of the gym, I dial Brenda’s number. We haven’t spoken since the day that she and I argued on the phone a few weeks back.

“Hello?”

“Hi Brenda, it’s Krane.” She doesn’t respond, clearly not happy with me, so I continue doing what I called for. “Brenda, I know you aren’t a fan of mine, but just hear me out, for Ivy?”

She’s still silent and I look at the screen to see she hasn’t hung up.

“Ivy is really upset with what your relationship has become. We both love her a great deal and what you’re doing to her is torture. Don’t make what should be the happiest time in her life miserable. Please, have dinner with us tonight. We’ll be at the Terrace in Long Beach and then you can see yourself that I love her and make her happy.”

The line is silent and I know this time she hung up. There’s really nothing more that I can do. If Brenda is going to hold on to her hatred for me over her love for Ivy, then I just need to make Ivy happy and keep her mind off of her mother.

“Are people staring at us?” Ivy asks, sitting next to me blindfolded as we drive to dinner.

“No, of course not,” I chuckle. “This is normal for New York.” She throws her arm at me to hit me and I grab it. “I might have to blindfold you more often if you’re gonna be this feisty.”

I keep glancing at her as we drive. Her hands are placed so neatly in her lap. She keeps looking around like she can see through the blindfold. Which I know she can’t. I only used it to keep her mind busy, off of the negative shit with her mom.

She’s upset that her mom bailed on tonight, but I’m hoping my surprise will make up for it. Brenda sent her a text message and said she couldn’t come. It pissed me off, so I texted her myself and laid into her saying some things that I’ll never be able to take back. But at least I stood up for Ivy and now she knows how I really feel.

Pulling up to the Terrace, I remove the blindfold. She smiles the second that she sees where we are. As we exit the truck, I hand the keys to the valet and walk around taking Ivy’s hand in mine, never getting tired of how her ring feels against my skin. “You remembered.”

“Of course I did. I remember everything you say.”

The hostess seats us at a table overlooking the vast ocean view of Long Beach, a place that has become both of our favorites.

Taking Ivy’s hands in mine over the table, she looks at me with so much love and adoration. “Thank you for coming out with me tonight. I know it’s hard that your mom isn’t accepting things.”

She smiles and nods, squeezing my hands. “It’s okay. I have to learn to let it go.”

“Nah, she’ll come around, I’m sure of it.”

“Maybe, but for tonight, can we not talk about her anymore? If she wanted to be here, she could.”

“Of course.” I take her hand and bring it to my lips. She touches my cheek and asks, “How was training today?” rubbing her thumb under a small cut I got from sparring today.

“It was good. Logan’s bringing on a new boxing coach, so between Logan and him, I should be more than prepared for my next fight.”

“I have no doubt you will.”

The waiter takes our drink order and we continue our conversation. “That’s the plan. Did I tell you Ling called and wanted me to take a fight tonight?”

“Shut up!”

“I’m serious, I guess he didn’t get busted after all.”

“What did you tell him?”

“I told him about my contract with ACM and he said no one would ever know if I kept fighting with him.”

“Oh my God!”

“I know, so I hung up and blocked his phone number. I don’t even want ACM to think I’m talking to someone like that.”

“You told them that you used to fight underground, right?”

“Yeah.”

The waiter sets our drinks down and as he turns away, both Ivy and I are shocked to see her mom standing at the table.

“Mom!” she blurts out stunned. “I didn’t think you were coming.”

“I wasn’t,” Brenda adds drily.

“We’re so glad you’re here,” I respond hoping that we can settle this shit with her once and for all. I gesture her to sit and she does right across from me.

Taking Ivy’s hand in mine on top of the table, I squeeze it to give her some reassurance. The metal of my wedding band catches Brenda’s eye and she looks off, taking in a deep breath of air.

She looks down, like she’s holding back tears while we wait for her to say something.

“Mom, Krane makes me really happy.” Ivy takes her other hand and grabs her mom’s.

She nods, trying to keep the tears at bay. “I can see that.” She looks at me briefly and then back at her. “I arrived before you both did tonight and watched you interact. It’s not that I don’t want to accept this, I’m just having a hard time understanding how the two of you can act like Zoë never existed.”

“Why would say that?” Ivy asks, clearly hurt by her mom’s words.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Brenda, Ivy and I both love Zoë and miss her so much.”

“If you did, then you wouldn’t have gotten married.”

“That’s not even fair to say,” Ivy says. “I fell in love with Krane, the same way that you fell in love with Daddy, you can’t control that.”

“Don’t compare him to the man your father was, Ivy.”

“No, Mom, I will. Krane has been the most amazing man in my life since I lost Daddy. Why do you think we’re having dinner in Long Beach?” She shrugs her shoulders and Ivy says, “Don’t you remember every summer that we spent here growing up? This was Zoë’s favorite place in the entire world, and the night she passed, she’d asked Krane to take her here the following day.”

“She did?” Brenda asks stunned at learning this new information.

“She did,” I confirm. “But unfortunately that never happened and we all know why. However, I still came and continued every morning for six months. Then one day, I brought Ivy here and I shared the story with her. Brenda, it wasn’t long until I fell in love with Ivy, right out there on that beach.” I point to the dark sand lit by the moon. “We both have a hard time believing that wasn’t Zoë pushing the two of us together.”

Ivy and her mother are both crying. This is not the way that I saw this evening going, but all I can do now is try and salvage it. “You don’t have to like me, or even accept me. But please, don’t take your anger out on Ivy.” Brenda nods once, and turns to pull Ivy into a hug. I take this moment to slip away and give them a few minutes alone.

Walking to the front of the Terrace, I look out at the beautiful place and catch sight of Will walking into the restaurant. He walks to me and says, “How’s dinner?”

“I’m not sure we’ll be eating.”

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, just a little family drama.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay.”

“While I have you alone, here are your keys.” He passes me the ring of silver keys and pats my back. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks.” I shake his hand and look over at Ivy as she and her mom are talking. She sees me and waves me back to them. Walking back to the table, I place my hand on Ivy’s back. “Are you guys okay?”

“Yeah we are.”

Brenda looks at the both of us and says, “I’m sorry for the things I’ve said and for the way I’ve acted.”

“I think we all are. But the past is the past. Eat dinner with us, Brenda, and let this be a clean fresh start.”

She agrees and right away I can see the smile growing on Ivy’s face. This is going to take a lot of work to break down her walls, but for Ivy, I’ll do anything.