There were only four days left to their honeymoon and now James Braddock was faced with a dilemma. Ivy getting sick on the flight delayed things at the beginning and now her friend Toni planning to get married in about four weeks. He would have to make a plan B.

He knew Ivy wanted to be at the wedding for Toni. But staying at the boarding house for another month was not possible. Let alone paying for the car and everything else. If Ivy was going to stay in Australia he needed someone to watch out for her. He would have to talk to Richie.

Jim suggested a daytrip in Coffs. Ivy wanted to look at some dress shops, while she was shopping Jim decided to fuel up the vehicle and contact the airline about the return tickets. Finding that they can be used anytime he felt a little easier. After having a nice dinner together at a restaurant they headed back to the Glen. Ivy was chattering about the plans for Toni’s wedding most of the way. As they reached the outskirts of the Glen, Jim pulled the car over and stopped.

"Ivy we have to talk about what you want to do. Do you want to stay for Toni’s wedding? If you do we are going to have to work out how to make that happen."

Ivy looked at Jim with stunned silence, wide eyed. So this is why he was so quiet over the last day or so, she thought to herself.

‘Jim. I…" she bit her lip trying to think of something to say. Of course she wanted to be at Toni’s wedding, but she knew they were supposed to be leaving in a few days.

Sensing her inner turmoil Jim took her hand in his. "Ivy it is Ok if you want to stay. But if you do we have to talk to Toni and Richie before we make any plans. Ok?"

Ivy shook her head yes while trying to hold back tears. Pulling her over towards him in the front seat he wrapped his arms around her and held he close. Rubbing her back to soothe her.

"Let’s go swing by Toni and Richie’s and see if they’re in, OK? "

Ivy nodded as she settled in the seat close to his side.

When he rang the doorbell at Toni’s Jim hoped they were home. He was relieved when Toni answered with her usual smiles. "Hey Toni. Is Richie here? Jim asked. It felt odd asking for Richie in a way. Almost like going over to a friend’s house and asking their mother if they can come out and play. Toni indicated Richie was in his weight room.

"Ivy, Go ahead and talk to Toni about what we discussed in the car" he told her as he headed off to find Richie.

"Jim what brings you here?" Richie asked surprised to see him.

"Richie I need to talk to you about some arrangements for Ivy. She wants to stay for your wedding and I need to make arrangements in case she needs anything."

"Whoa, slow down. Start at the beginning. What is this about Ivy and the wedding and arrangements?" Richie was concerned about his friend now. He sat down on a nearby weight bench leaving Jim the chair.

Jim sat down heavily and sighed. "It is this way Richie. Ivy wants to stay for the wedding. I have to get back to Jersey to take care of a few things to allow her to do that. I’ll come back before the wedding so we can attend together and I can be with her on the return flight. After the flight here I am pretty sure she won’t be to crazy about the idea of flying back alone. In the meantime in case she needs medical treatment or something else I need someone to be able to act on my behalf as well as contact me. Also in case something happens to me I need her to have access to my estate, we didn’t have time to take care of that before we left. Can you help me? " Jim looked at Richie unsure of what reaction to expect.

Richie thought Jim looked drained. "Sure Jim. Meet me in my office and we will iron everything out. Are you sure she is going to agree to staying without you?"

"Don’t know. But there is no way we can swing another trip down in a few weeks. It is going to be tight as things are. Ivy seems to be enjoying her time with Toni and I’d hate to take that away from her."

Ivy and Toni were in the kitchen discussing what Ivy knew about Jim’s plan, which wasn’t much. But she was excited about being able to stay to help plan. "It’s almost like when we shared that apartment in Jersey City. Except your house is in a better section of town and decorated much nicer." Ivy gushed. It was so nice being able to spend time with Toni again. She had forgotten how much fun they used to have together even just talking.

Jim and Richie came into the kitchen after they finished their discussion in the weight room. Jim came over to Ivy and gave her a hug. "How’s my girl doing?" he asked.

"Oh Jim. Toni and I were talking and I’m so happy we can stay." She replied as she squeezed him tight.

Jim shot Richie a glance that did not go unnoticed by Toni.

"Well Ivy maybe we should go back to the boarding house and see about dinner OK?’

Toni could tell by the look exchanged by Jim and Richie something was going on.

"Nonsense you’ll eat with us" Toni stated authoritatively. "I was about to start making dinner anyway."