right now. Tell him my plan. However, I get a feeling that he won’t approve. He’s a good friend, probably my closest friend, and he wouldn’t judge me for my actions, but he didn’t grow up in foster homes like I did. He doesn’t know what it feels like to be powerless. To want something and someone this bad.
I’m pretty sure Tom doesn’t understand it either, but at least he won’t protest. So I email him instead.
I have a job for Ella Davies. Get in touch with the college tomorrow and set up an urgent meeting as soon as possible with the historical society.
Tom’s response is nearly immediate. I wonder if he ever sleeps. He assures me he’s going to get on this first thing in the morning.
Now I can most definitely not sleep. I feel the adrenaline pumping in my veins. I’m so close now. If I play my cards right, I might be able to see Ella in just a few days.
The only thing I can hope for is that she won’t hate me for it.
4
Ella
Hudson is up on my shoulders and we’re picking blackberries from the bush in the garden. I can hear my phone ringing in my pocket so I have to put him down before I answer it. Hudson clings to my legs, asking to be lifted up again. I stroke his hair, trying to calm him.
“Yes?”
“Ella. Hi. It’s Mary Delaney from—”
“Mary, hi, it’s good to hear from you,” I say, cutting her off. Of course, I know who she is. I’ve been working closely with her ever since I became president of the historical society.
I did get in touch with her recently, too, shortly after my return from Europe. I just wanted to put the word out there that I was looking for some interesting work. Well, any work. It’s been two weeks of me just sitting around doing nothing.
It’s not been terrible, in all honesty. I’ve had a chance to reconnect with Hudson and help out Gigi in looking after him. My parents keep calling too but I’ve been putting off going to visit them. I don’t know how I will face them. Just when they were expecting a proposal and a formal wedding announcement, I broke up with Rodney and pushed off to Europe. With no explanation and no apology. I know they’re disappointed and full of questions.
“Ella, I just wanted to get in touch with you regarding a job opportunity that’s landed on my desk recently.”
“Oh, wow! Mary, thank you for thinking of me.”
“It pays well and it’s probably just the kind of work you’d be interested in.”
“Oh yeah? What is it?”
“Research based. Investigation into the family history of a businessman.”
“Okay, yeah, that does sound good. Which family is it?”
“I’d say they’re not exactly well known. It’s not a historical family or anything like this. This gentleman just wants to find out everything he can about his family. Apparently, he lost them a long time ago. It’s really quite sad.”
Mary is speaking while I rack my brain. It seems like interesting work but not something I’ve ever done before.
“I’ll have to look into resources.”
“You’ll have access to our library, of course. He is willing to make a large donation to the historical society, apart from paying you a sizable figure too.” Mary is almost at the brink of chuckling at this point. I can sense her utter joy. “Oh please, Ella, say you’ll do it. In fact, he has asked for you specifically.”
“For me? Where has he heard of me?”
“Probably because you were president and maybe he studied your academic records, but yes, he did ask for you.”
I lick my lips nervously. Although I don’t know how much this job is actually going to pay, it has to be better than my complete lack of income right now.
“I’ll do it. I’ll go over to your office this afternoon and we can discuss all the details. I’m looking forward to it.”
Mary is happy, and I can feel some relief too. I lift Hudson up in my arms as soon as I end the call. He wants to pick more blackberries from the bush, but I rush into the house with him.
“Gigi!” I’m shouting her name. She’s on the phone with her father but ends the call when she sees me running towards her.
“What happened? Are you okay, baby?” As a mother, her first thought is of her son.
“Hudson’s fine. Everything’s fine. Everything’s great!” I hand him over to her.
“What’s going on? You