Ivy had found a small quilt shop and purchased all her supplies; when Jim took her to Coffs on a day trip a few days after Toni and Richie got engaged. She was worried that she might have miscalculated the yardage but as things turned out she had just enough. After putting the last few stitches in place she looked at the finished product.

She smiled as she smoothed out the hand embroidered the label on the back:

From This Day Forward

Tonia D. Stanley and Richard M. Roberts

December 20, 2008

So much had happened in the short time since she began the quilt. When she purchased the fabric she had no idea that Jim was going back to New Jersey or about his pending bout. She thought about all the tears she shed while she was stitching together the pieces, all the times she pricked her fingers while quilting it. She was glad it was finished before Toni and Richie left for their honeymoon, she wanted to be able to give it to them in person and it looked like today would be her last opportunity.

"Jim are you ready to go?" she asked rather absent mindedly.

"Been waiting on you baby" he said as he came over and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"It came out real good. I think they'll like it."

Ivy smiled at Jim as she slid the quilt into a gift bag. She wondered what colors she should use for her and Jim's quilt. "Probably greens' she said aloud.

"What Baby?"

Ivy looked at Jim suddenly aware he was talking to her.

"Oh. nothing. I was just thinking out loud."

When they arrived at Toni and Richie's Ivy was having second thoughts.

 "Jim maybe we should just put it on the porch."

"We could have done a drive by and hurled it out the window if you wanted to. Ivy the quilt is beautiful why are you so nervous?"

"I don't know....Toni said no presents and she has been dealing with all the wedding arrangements, her family and then there is what happened to Richie's office..."

Jim leaned over and gave her a kiss. "Ivy, Toni is your best friend and you worked very hard on that quilt... I really don't think she is going to be upset with you for doing it. Besides since they are leaving to spend New Years in Sydney and then going on their honeymoon this might be the last time we see them."

Jim held the gift and rang the door bell. Ivy stood a few feet away. Richie answered the door with his customary smile.. "Hey guys come in Toni's in the kitchen.."

Jim turned and looked at Ivy. "Are you coming?"

Ivy nodded and headed into the house, while Jim waited. Richie gave Jim a puzzled look.. Jim just shrugged his shoulders, "Don't ask, I haven't figured it out myself."

 Upon entering the kitchen Ivy saw Toni seated at the table. "So is the coast clear?" she asked as she gave Toni a hug.

"Cleared out and flown away, oh it's good to see you Ivy grab a cup and join me I just made this pot of tea." Toni was clearly glad to see Ivy and very happy to see the smiles back on her face.

"Sorry we didn't call or anything earlier. Jimmy was sort of out of commission for a few days after the wedding." Ivy smiled. " I don't think I have ever seen him in one place for even half that long before. So how is married life treating you so far?" Ivy asked as she sat down at the table with her tea.

"I hope Jimmy is doing okay now, poor guy he must have been in agony through the wedding. Married life, I'm loving it. I wondered if I would feel any different you know...and I do, we both do...ain't it grand?" Toni said with a smile.

"He is much better now" replied Ivy with a guilty smile. "I don't think he will ever say a thing about how it felt. He did a good job convincing me it was nothing much until I saw it myself. He tells me they're mostly just cracked, only one was broken. As if that is supposed to make me feel better about it. You know he is still expecting to get that earful from you." Ivy took a sip of her tea then added some honey.

"Why do they have to be so macho it only makes us worse. I won't deny the man his earful, I may be forced to add to the list" Toni broke a scone into and slathered on strawberry jam, "I won't be too hard on him only because he's yours"

"You don't know how happy I am to hear that Toni" said Jim as he entered the kitchen followed by Richie. Jim smiled at Toni before he bent down to kiss Ivy's cheek. A slight grimace crossed his face as he stood back up. "So Ivy are you going to stall in here all afternoon or what?" Ivy shot Jim a look. "Richie did you see that look? I'm in trouble now" Jim laughed. "Come on Ivy get it over with you'll feel better."

"Okay now what is going on...Richie?" Richie held up his hand indicating it had nothing to do with him. "What in heaven's name are you carrying around Jim?" asked Toni finally noticing the large wrapped bundle in his arms.

"Jimmy why did you bring that in here?" Ivy asked her voice tinged with embarrassment, her face flushed.

"Was I supposed to leave it in the car?"

"James Braddock you know what I am talking about. Why did you bring it into the kitchen?" Ivy's face was deadly serious.

"Ok, now I know I am in trouble. Maybe we should all move into the living room then?" Jim gave Ivy a sheepish grin as he carried the package into the living room.

Ivy sat silently staring at her tea cup a moment. Then shaking her head she looked at Toni. "He knows how to push my buttons sometimes. But I can't stay mad at him."  Ivy stood up and rinsed out her cup.

"Ivy, do you still want to put it on the porch?" Jim called from the living room. Ivy's face went crimson. "Toni can we go get this over with? I don't think he is going to let it alone."

"Ivy...what in the world is going on I haven't seen you this nervous since you went for your first job interview?" Toni follwed Ivy into the living room totally baffled. What was Jim playing at now?

In the living room Jim was sitting patiently on the sofa with the package beside him. He smiled at Ivy as she entered the room and patted the sofa next to him "I saved you a seat." Once Toni and Richie were settled in thier seats Ivy picked up the package.

"Toni I know you said no presents. But...you guys are leaving for your honeymoon soon.I don't suppose New Jersey is in your vacation plans and I have no idea when we would be able to visit again." Tears began to cloud Ivy's vision, trying to blink them away she continued. "So I wanted to give you something." Ivy handed the package to Toni. Tears now streaming down her cheeks. Jim stood up and put his arm around her and kissed her temple.

"Ivy what have you done?" Toni unwrapped the quilt and tears started up in her eyes, she knew Ivy quilted and knew this was truly something special as she spread the quilt out, "oh Ivy...this is too much," Toni put her arms around Ivy and they both stood together crying.

Richie picked up the quilt and noticed the embroidery on the back, he looked up and smiled, "thank you Ivy, did you see this Toni?" he held up the  message for Toni to read.

"How absolutely perfect Ivy, I love it," Toni sniffed smiling along with her tears.

"At least I wasn't busy pining away the whole time while Jim was gone. Oh, heck. I'm going to miss you guys so much when we leave." Ivy said  as she tried to wipe away her tears. Jim handed Ivy and Toni tissues. "Ivy if you want to brave the plane again. I promise I'll bring you back sometime." he offered. Ivy slipped her arms around him and laid her head on his chest as he embraced her. "Thank You Jimmy" she whispered.

"See they liked it no more tears, baby." Jim said as he wiped some of the tears from her face.

"Ok group hug' Ivy called. "That means you too Richie."

Richie felt a little awkward but slid his arms around Toni and Ivy. Toni wiped her eyes and dabbed at her nose with the tissue, "Ivy you know you are the sister I never had and I am so gonna miss you, Jim you got to double promise you'll bring her back and  I'll let up on the earful you know you deserve for all the worry you caused us...yes us." Toni widened her eyes and smiled. "And as for the plane, I so hope you can find some meds you can take Ivy, the thought of you being so sick again just tears me up."

"Ivy maybe we should look into that before our return trip" Jim said as he found his way back to the sofa. 

Ivy gave Richie a extra squeeze before sitting down beside Jim.

Looking at Toni and Richie she smiled. "I am glad we all became friends."