The Kane Cross (Cross 1)

The minute he heard his mother's voice, Baxter closed the distance to Ivy's side. Standing at the door to his home, his parents smiled at him. Ivy had her mouth open slightly as she tried to smile through her surprise.

With his arm drawing Ivy to his side, he motioned. "Welcome to our home. Come in. I'll take your coats."

He didn't want Ivy playing the role of butler. The room had gone unusually quiet. Only Milo's chattering continued.

"Son, thank you for inviting us."

"I'm glad you came." He didn't offer a tour.

Elena hadn't asked for one either, but she had come down to the kitchen to say hello. His siblings had made themselves at home. Both the twins had eyed the bedroom with its own entrance. His commanding voice made Ivy smile and blush. "Neither are welcome to live here."

Ivy slipped away to stand by her parents, and Tate walked over to her parents. "Kasper is pouring."

"Your father needs a soft drink. I'll have wine." She looked at Baxter. "You chose it."

He smiled. "It's Ivy's favorite." He introduced her to it in Aspen.

Amelia looked around. "Who did your decor?"

"Carol Keene. She went out of her way to accommodate us."

"As she should. You're a Kane."

"I promised to have some publicity shots done. Doyle can take them after the engagement."

"And advertise that you live here unmarried."

"Not for long, but yes, mother it's a new millennium plus a few decades. Nobody cares anymore."

"I'll greet Elena. Who are the other people?"

"Ivy's parents and her friends."

Philip squinted. "Her parents." Amelia walked away. "Dad, remember Ellen said she knew you. She might have dated someone in your crowd."

He nodded. "She did."

"Do you remember her?"

He nodded. "She looked like Ivy, but with darker hair. I didn't see it."

"How do you know her?"

"I. I wasn't supportive. She has every right to glare at me as she is doing now. It was before I met Ellie."

"Who was it?"

"I'd rather not say."

Baxter sighed. "I should thank you for any role you had in ending it, because it brought me Ivy."

Philip looked around. "Can we talk privately?"

"My office is upstairs." He led his father to the floor with the living room. Baxter's eyes lingered over the tree and wondered what his mother would say about decorating it. "In here." Baxter closed the door and the two men sat. The room was bright and airy and the complete opposite of his father's dark study. "How did you get her to come?"

"I told her the stress of the rift wasn't good for my heart."

Baxter smiled. "I'm glad you came."

"She would never make a scene even when she sees this." Philip reached into his pocket and took out a velvet box. "Your grandmother, my mother, always said this was for your bride, as long as the cross brought you together."

"It definitely did, although I feel as though I would have felt the same without it."

Philip nodded. "The cross is magical. Believe me. My heart has held a love for almost forty years. Even when we were apart."