Chapter 9 - A NEW FOUNDATION
With the legal battles behind us and Marcus’s inheritance finally released, we were able to begin planning our long-term future.
Instead of buying a massive, intimidating mansion like the one Dolores lived in, Marcus and I decided to invest our money into something that reflected our values.
We bought a beautiful, four-bedroom craftsman-style home set on two acres of land at the edge of town. The house had a wrap-around front porch, a massive oak tree in the backyard perfect for a tire swing, and a bright, sunlit kitchen with windows that looked out over a blooming meadow.
Most importantly, the house was located five minutes from one of the best public elementary schools in the state—a school with an incredible art program that Ivy was desperate to join.
For two months, our weekends were filled with paint cans, home improvement projects, and moving boxes.
Tessa came over every Saturday to help paint the living room walls a warm, butter-yellow, while Marcus built a massive, custom wooden bookshelf in the study to hold my nursing textbooks and Ivy's growing collection of storybooks.
One Saturday afternoon, while Marcus was out in the backyard installing the tire swing under the oak tree, I stood in the doorway of Ivy's new bedroom.
The room was completely transformed. The walls were painted a soft sky-blue, decorated with painted clouds and wooden shelves holding her dragon drawings. On her desk sat a framed photograph taken on our wedding day: Ivy in her pale pink flower-girl dress, standing between Marcus and me, holding the microphone with both hands, her eyes wide and brave.
Ivy walked into the room carrying a small cardboard box filled with her favorite stuffed animals. She set the box down, walking over to the window to watch Marcus testing the rope on the tire swing outside.
"Mommy?" Ivy asked softly.
I walked over, kneeling beside her at the window seat. "Yes, baby?"
"Is Grandma Dolores ever going to come to our new house?"
My heart gave a quiet, gentle thump, but there was no fear left in it—only a calm, steady clarity.
"No, sweetheart," I said gently, smoothing back her curls. "Grandma Dolores has some growing up to do. Sometimes adults have hard feelings inside their hearts that make them say mean things, and until they learn how to be kind, it's safer for us to keep our distance."
Ivy looked out the window at Marcus, who waved up at her with a big, goofy grin, motioning for her to come try the swing.
"That's okay," Ivy said simply, her green eyes clear and untroubled. "We have enough love in this house anyway."
She kissed my cheek, turned on her heel, and ran down the stairs, her small feet thumping happily against the new wooden floorboards as she rushed out into the sunlit backyard to join her father.
I leaned my forehead against the windowpane, watching them through tears of pure, unadulterated happiness.
Ivy ran across the grass, throwing herself into Marcus's arms as he caught her, lifting her high onto the tire swing. His laughter drifted through the open window—a warm, rich sound that filled every corner of my heart.
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She was right.
We had enough love in this house. We had more than enough.
