“I hardly think you’re going to have an emotional scene. Or, at least, not a bad one. Those kids love you,” Annie put in.
This appeared true. Then again, Jason had always seemed totally okay with the idea of Prentice and Elle until he saw Elle in his mother’s bed. Then he seemed unsure and uncomfortable.
Therefore, Elle didn’t trust that the kids loved her either. Maybe they were getting there but she didn’t want anything to derail that.
“I don’t know –” Elle started.
“Well, I do. I’ve known those kids for over two years, Bella. They’ve been through the mill. Now, even Jason seems to have come to terms with what life has dished out and you’ve played a large part in that,” Annie stated.
Elle shook her head. “He would eventually have come around. Prentice would have seen to it.”
Annie shook her head right back. “Prentice had no clue.” When Elle started to defend, Annie leaned closer. “He didn’t, Bella. I’m sorry to say it but it’s true. For over a year Jason showed no signs of healing… until you showed up that is.”
This was, although it was difficult to admit, true too.
“Okay, then I’ve worn everything I’ve brought,” Elle stated somewhat desperately. “I don’t have an outfit to go out to the new Indian restaurant and tell two children that their mother has been replaced with a virtual stranger.”
Mikey’s laughter could be heard over the speakerphone.
Annie’s could be heard in person.
“Virtual stranger,” Mikey mumbled, still laughing. “That’s funny.”
“I know, she’s a hoot, isn’t she?” Annie asked Mikey, also still laughing.
Elle glared at Annie.
“I’m not being funny. I need a decent outfit,” Elle snapped. “Everyone knows that you have to have a good outfit when you face some life trauma.”
“This isn’t a trauma, Bella, this is a celebration,” Annie returned.
“Okay, you need a decent outfit for that too,” Elle retorted.
“I hate to say it, Annie darling, but Bella is so right. She needs a decent outfit,” Mikey threw out.
“Then we’ll go shopping,” Annie replied casually. “Yeesh, this isn’t rocket science.”
Elle didn’t want to go shopping.
Elle wanted to look into buying islands so she could sweep Prentice, Jason and Sally away to one. Prentice could build them a house. Elle could home school Sally and Jason. And the world could stay at bay, no photographers, no Carver Austin, no nothing that would threaten their happiness.
“I know the perfect place!” Annie announced and Elle’s body jolted. “It’s in the next village. They have posh shops for tourists. Fabulous clothes. Gorgeous. We’ll go there!”
Witnessing her friend’s excitement and knowing how much Annie loved to shop, Elle’s heart sank.
It stopped beating when Mikey declared, “When you and Prentice get married, Bella, there better be log throwing.”
Elle stared at the phone with wide eyes and parted lips.
Then she whispered, “Married?”
“Yes, married. You can’t live in sin forever even if it is with a broody-hot guy who, from the sounds of it, is very good at sin,” Mikey noted.
Elle immediately regretted the depth of her sharing.
“Yes, you can, Mikey,” Annie objected.
“No, you can’t, Annie,” Mikey retorted.