"What in-laws... who are your wife. You better watch yourself in front of my mother and grandparents. My grandpa chased my father out with a shotgun."

Noah didn't say anything, he thought what he would do if Ivy's grandpa took out his shotgun. It certainly wouldn't be a first for a gun to be pointed in his face. But it would be a first that he would allow it. He certainly wouldn't be as cowardly as Ivy's father and run. He looked forward to meeting her family as he would learn more about her.

​​

He was silently contemplating as he made his way first into Milltown Cemetery. He had never visited anyone that had passed before but he thought it may be something Ivy needed to do but she would need the support to do.

The cemetery was surrounded by grass fields and the graves looked cold and sombre against the sunny skyline. Ivy hated coming here and she had put off coming here for years. She didn't like to visit as she had nothing good to say to her mother.

Her father had used her business acumen to further his business and tried to marry her off to Cole. Her father relied on her mother and then her for the business, he didn't have the quickness or the smarts for the business to flourish on his own. Ivy had thought about going back and taking over but she refused to see Cole and the business deal they had was about to expire so there was a possibility to return to the family business.

She wondered if her father even remembered today was her birthday or even missed her mother. He buried his head in business but now she wondered if it was his way of coping. He never took a lover or a wife it showed that he had loved her mother deeply. Thinking of her mother she remembered she didn't bring any incense or flowers.

"We didn't stop and get flowers or incense." Ivy turned to Noah and he just looked over to Thomas.

Thomas walked towards them with a bunch of beautifully arranged flowers. The flowers were all white Lily's, baby's-breath and white roses. White roses evoke reverence, humility, innocence, and youthfulness she thought it was extremely thoughtful of Noah to remember. Her mum had died young so they were the perfect flowers.

She wondered who chose them, she never received any flowers from Noah, not that she minded though. She felt the coldness in his apartment and it ended up being her job to fill it with the needed warmth and homey touches.

"Thanks." Ivy took them from Thomas and they all headed inside the cemetery. They followed Ivy. Her footsteps were small and heavy as she dreaded coming here.

She stopped at a large black granite gravestone. It had white roses engraved on the stone along with her mother's name. She bent down on her knees and lay down the flowers. Thomas handed her incense and she lit it.

"Hi mum, it's been a while. I'd like you to meet my friends. This is Thomas he likes to be a spy and follow me around and this is Aiden he is very intelligent and loyal. Mmm". Looking up at the man she loved she didn't know what to say when she faced her mums grave again.

"Hi, mother I am your son in law. Don't worry I will take care of Ivy now." Noah's voice was loud and clear, it was another confession and it had left her feeling stunned.

Ivy stood and rubbed her mum's name on the gravestone and stood up before walking away. She couldn't stay any longer or the grief of losing her mother would start to eat her up again.

After leaving her mums grave Ivy was quiet and this was the first time Noah questioned himself. Maybe he should have brought her somewhere with a beach or with beautiful sites. He looked at her closely as she watched the scenery.

"Thanks". Ivy's small voice rang out and Noah was then sure he made the right choice.

"Don't thank me for anything I do for you." He didn't want thanks he just wanted her and that's all.

Noah drove for fifteen minutes and went down a long windy lane, as the lane opened up there was a cherry blossom tree in front of a white house. Ivy sat up in her seat seeing the familiar house.

"Why are we at my grandparents?".

"For your birthday."

"Do they know I'm coming?."

"No".

"What do I say about you and the cars and … Well, everything. They won't like another wealthy CEO after what my father was like towards my mum. The first and last time my dad showed up here my grandpa chased him out with a shotgun."

Noah laughed at that. "Ok say I'm your boss and you're giving me a tour as I am looking to invest here."

"You do think of everything. Fine but we aren't staying long."

Noah and Ivy got out of the car and they headed towards her grandparent's house. She was excited to see them again as it had been years but also she was anxious. What would they think of Noah? Ivy walked up the small steps and knocked before walking straight in.

"Nana, grandpa its Ivy."

A tall thin old lady with white well-styled short hair came out into the hallway. She wore a mint green blouse with a pale purple scarf around her neck and a long beige skirt with flat shoes.

"Ivy, welcome home come in and your friends too please make yourself at home."

Ivy followed her nana into the living room and she saw her grandpa sitting in his favourite chair when he saw Ivy his indifferent face turned into a smile.

"Little star your back, sit."

Ivy's grandpa served in the military and he still had a strong body and good posture. He sat in his armchair and was smiling at Ivy. He always had a soft spot for her he called her his little star because the night she was born he was happily celebrating when he saw a shooting star fly across the sky and so made it her nickname. He wore a white shirt and black trousers as he was still used to dressing formally every day.

Ivy sat and gestured for the others to follow her. Noah chose another armchair and Thomas and Aiden checked with Noah before they sat on the smaller sofa. Ivy then got up and helped her nana bring in a pot of tea, cups and buns and set them on the coffee table. Ivy then served everyone tea.

Noah smiled at how obedient his lover was, she turned into a cute little girl in front of her grandparents.

Her grandpa coughed and Ivy scratched her nose as she was about to lie.

"Nana, grandpa I would like you to meet my boss Noah and my colleges and friends Thomas and Aiden. We work for Noah and we are here to look around, he was interested in investing in this location."

Ivy looked ar her grandparents to see if they bought her lie or not then she turned to the others.

"This is my nana Sheila and Grandpa Charlie. They are my mum's parents."

A chorus of greetings then rang out. Ivy's grandpa didn't take his eyes off Noah though, he had been in wars and seen a lot of people in this lifetime, he also saw through Ivy's lies.

"Let's take a walk."