She must have changed her dress a dozen times before she settled on one. Red with gold trim. She knew she would have to change again for Toni's wedding, but somehow this was the dress she had to wear when Jim came back. After all it was her "Lucky dress". She wanted for him to see her in it and remember.

She had worn it the day she first saw Jim, nearly a year and half ago. She had been on her way to see David. She had bought the dress earlier that day. They had an argument the evening before and David had hit her, so she left. After she got home she convinced herself that she deserved it, that she should make it up to him. So she went shopping for a new dress and made herself up.

Her first impression of Jim was that he was the most amazing thing she had ever seen. There was a strength inherent to his very being. He had a black eye and she though perhaps he had been mugged. But then how does someone like him get mugged?

She dropped her purse and the contents spilled onto the sidewalk. He stopped to help her pick it up. The touch of his hand against hers sent shivers through her. She thanked him for his assistance. As he was walking away she called after him. "I don't suppose you'd want to have dinner with me, would you?" He stopped and looked at her then pointed to himself. She nodded yes.

During the course of the evening she learned a number of things about him. He was soft spoken, but the strength she had sensed upon first seeing him remained apparent. There was a sadness behind his eyes. She was almost happy to be told he was a part time boxer and therefore hadn't been mugged. Maybe most importantly, he didn't have someone waiting for him. Part of her from that moment on desperately wanted to change that.

Ivy never did go see David Van Ryan, that night or any night after that. She avoided his calls and refused his flowers, eventually she moved and contact ceased.

Jim Braddock had remained part of her life. They had established a quiet routine together, walks in the park quiet, dinners out or at her place, the occasional movie. He always had a gentle way of talking, he was quiet most of the time, but when he spoke his words meant something. He was someone she could always count on. While she had been distressed to learn about the fight, she knew he had reasons behind everything he did. She trusted those reasons, she trusted him.

Ivy was waiting in the lobby of Millie's Boarding house when he pulled up in his rented car. She rushed out to greet him, and was at the car before he even had a chance to open the door.

He gave her a quiet smile as he got out of the car. She stood there shaking as if she couldn't decide if he was real or not.

"Hello Mrs. Braddock"

"James Braddock you're late. I think there were bets being taken as to whether or not you were going to make it at all." She motioned towards the boarding house.

Jim caressed her face before kissing her. "I couldn't have stayed away a second longer, " he whispered. She melted into his embrace. Upon hearing a door close she turned around to find Jeffrey Wigand on the porch.

"Jeffrey, my Jimmy is back". She said rather breathlessly.

"Ivy, as if anyone could think differently from your smile" Jeffrey replied.