Her Heart's Desire

“Ivan, what a nice surprise,” she gushed. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”

Tiffany walked up behind Ivan. She stopped next to him.

All pretense of calm left Debra’s face. “What is she doing here?”

“Debra, I’d like you to meet Tiffany—my girlfriend.”

She eyed Tiffany. “I know who she is. I saw her on your social-media sites—” She stopped short.

Ivan frowned.

“Hello, Debra,” Tiffany said.

Debra ignored her. Instead, she turned to Ivan. “I’d ask you to come in, but the house is a mess.”

“We’re not staying,” he replied. “We need to talk. Would you mind if we sat on the porch?”

“No, of course not.” She turned around and headed back to the house. Ivan and Tiffany followed.

Debra sat down. She regarded Tiffany. “So, why are you here?”

“I came with Ivan, of course.”

“Yes, but why? I’m sure what Ivan and I have to discuss can’t be your business.”

“He is my business.” Tiffany replied.

“For the moment, it seems.”

“Enough,” Ivan snapped. “This isn’t a social call. You’ve been calling Tiffany’s cell phone, and it’s going to stop. She’s done nothing to you, and I won’t have her harassed like that.”

Debra shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Ivan pulled out his cell phone and hit a button. Debra’s house phone started ringing.

Ivan’s expression turned glacial. “You want to try that again?”

“Fine. I did call her. Can you imagine how I felt seeing her all over your social-media pages? I admit it was wrong, but I wanted to make sure she was aware of the…understanding between us.”

“There is no understanding between us, Debra. That ended the moment you threw me over for Brian.”

“You’re right. It was wrong of me, and I’m sorry I hurt you. I loved my husband, Ivan, but he’s gone. You’re the only connection to him that I have left. He spoke about you so much, and he loved you like a brother,” she cried. “It was only natural that I’d turn to you during my time of grief.”

“Does manipulating someone qualify as grief?” Tiffany inquired.

Debra turned on her. “What do you know about it? How dare you come in here and judge me.”

“I know that you used Ivan for financial support, while purposely distorting his kind heart and sense of obligation as some rekindled love for you. Go ahead,” Tiffany demanded. “Tell me I’m wrong.”

Debra’s face turned a mottled red. She lunged for Tiffany, but Ivan was faster. He jumped up and blocked her path.

“I want you off my property,” Debra said to Tiffany, “or so help me, I’ll have you arrested for trespassing.”

“We are leaving,” Ivan said. “I’m done, Debra. Our financial arrangement has concluded. Don’t contact me or Tiffany ever again. Do you understand?”

“You promised,” she cried. “You promised that you’d take care of me, you promised that you’d be there for me, and this is how you repay me? How you repay him?”

Ivan was barely able to contain his anger. “Tiffany,” he said calmly. “Can you give us a minute?”