CHAPTER 3

LEAVING EUROPE

IVY'S POV

"Mommy, I wanna see Daddy," Noah says, his big grey eyes looking up at me, so full of hope it breaks my heart.

It's been seven long years since I left Los Angeles, since my life there fell to pieces. I swore I'd never go back, not when there's nothing left for me there. But here in Europe with my best friend Sarah, things are better. Easier.

Today is Noah's seventh birthday, and I promised him he could make a wish. I thought for sure he'd ask for his favorite sandwich cake, or maybe a trip to Wonderland Park with Sarah. But no. He asks for something else entirely.

"That's my wish," he says, his little voice so certain.

"Oh honey, you gotta pick a different wish," I tell him, trying to keep my voice light. Noah's always asking about his daddy, wanting to meet him. But how can I explain what a monster his father was to me? How he threw me away like garbage?

"But why can't I see Daddy? You said I got grandmas and grandpas. Why can't I meet them?" Noah asks, his face scrunched up in confusion.

He's not wrong. I feel a lump in my throat as I remember my own parents turning their backs on me when I needed them most. Kicking me out when I was at my lowest. How do I make a seven-year-old understand that?

"We'll talk about that another day, sweetie. Today's just for you. And Aunty Sarah's coming over too!" I force a smile, hoping it'll cheer him up. But Noah's not buying it this time.

Just then, my phone starts buzzing. I grab it quick, praying it's Sarah. But the voice on the other end... it's one I haven't heard in forever. One I never wanted to hear again.

"I-Ivy?" It's my mom. She sounds like she's barely holding it together, her voice shaking something awful. After the way she treated me, I can't imagine why she's calling now. Especially today.

"Mom?" The word feels strange in my mouth after so long. She bursts into tears, and I feel my own eyes start to sting. Part of me wants to cry with her, but I can't forget how much she hurt me. How she hated me for choosing the man I loved.

When she finally catches her breath, she tells me the news. My dad... he's gone. Just like that. And she wants me there. Needs me there. I hang up, feeling like the room is spinning as I collapse on the sofa.

That's where Sarah finds me a minute later, her arms full of presents for Noah. "Where's the birthday boy?" she asks, grinning ear to ear. But then she sees my face, and her smile fades. "Ivy? What's wrong?"

I hardly ever let myself get upset in front of Noah. I try so hard to be strong for him, to give him all the love I never got. Even though his daddy was an absolute monster, I won't let that poison how I am as a mom.

"My mom called," I whisper, feeling the tears start to spill over. "She said... she said my dad died."

Sarah nearly drops the gifts, her mouth falling open in shock. My parents haven't so much as checked on me once since I left LA. I can't understand why my mom would call me now.

"Oh, Ivy. I'm so sorry," Sarah says softly, sitting down beside me.

I shake my head, brushing away my tears angrily. "Don't be. It's not like they'd care if it was me in the ground. They never gave a damn about me." I spit the words out, hating how true they are.

Sarah takes my hand, squeezing gently. "What happened? Did she say?"

I nod, swallowing past the lump in my throat. "He was shot. And she says... she says I need to come home. For the funeral."

"I think you should go, Ivy," Sarah says, her voice quiet but firm. "I know it hurts, but... he was still your dad."

"You know what they put me through, Sarah! How can you ask me to go back there and face them after everything?" I yank my hand away, anger flaring hot in my chest as I jump to my feet.

Sarah stands up too, her eyes sad but determined. "Sometimes we have to do hard things, Ivy. Not for them, but for us. For closure."

I spin around to argue, but she keeps going. "And what about Noah? His grandpa's gone, Ivy. You know how much he's always wanted to meet his grandparents. Can you really take that chance away from him? What if something happens to your mom too, and he never gets to know her?"

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. It's not fair to put this on me, not after they ripped my heart to shreds. But she's right about Noah. My sweet boy who's always dreamed of having a big family to love him.

"Using my son against me? Low blow, Sarah," I mutter, but there's no real heat in it. I know she's just trying to do what's best for us. For Noah.

She gives me a tiny, sad smile. "I'm not saying you have to forgive them, Ivy. But this is bigger than what happened before. It's about giving Noah a piece of where he came from. Of who he is."

I close my eyes, taking a deep, shaky breath. The thought of seeing my parents again makes me feel sick. But for Noah... I'd walk through fire for that boy.

"Okay," I whisper, my shoulders slumping in defeat. "For Noah. But I swear, Sarah, if they so much as look at me wrong..."

She pulls me into a tight hug, cutting off my threat. "I know, honey. I know. But you're stronger now. They can't break you anymore."

I wish I could believe that. But as I go to find Noah, to tell him we're going to LA, my heart feels like it's being crushed. He's so excited, bouncing off the walls like he just won the lottery. All I can do is pray that this trip doesn't shatter the fragile peace we've built. That it doesn't break my boy's heart the way mine was broken.

But as we pack our bags and head for the airport, I can't shake the awful feeling that we're walking straight into a hurricane. One that could destroy everything I've worked so hard to rebuild from the ashes.

God help us. Please, just let us get through this in one piece. For Noah's sake.