Finding James Braddock wasn’t half as hard as talking to him. Mark Van Der Brecken didn’t even know how to start. Standing in front of him was the man he blamed for the fractured relationship between him and his sister, Ivy. Braddock had been gracious. He not only accepted Mark’s request to speak with him but he shook his hand.

Jim was surprised by the request. He remembered Ivy’s admission that Mark refused to come to the wedding so he knew there had to be a reason for his coming to see him. He greeted him as he would anyone else.

The conversation was awkward, with long pauses and unmet glances. Mark seemed unwilling or unable to look Jim in the eye. “Look Braddock….” Mark began. “Jim, please call me Jim.” Mark looked at his Brother in law….”Jim. Ok, Jim. Umm. Look I know I haven’t made things easy. In fact I have been a complete ass since you and Ivy started seeing each other. I hope you can look past all of that...” his voice trailed off and he shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Letting out a big sigh he looked Jim in the face. “I have no idea how to tell you any of this. Hell, I never even bothered to even meet you before now. I guess I need to just come out with it.

Ian called me earlier today to tell me something has happened to Ivy. I don’t have details. You gotta call home, man. “