AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’m confused.” I admit, “I thought there was no full recovery possible for her?”
“There’s nothing certain, but the mind is an amazing thing, don’t you think?” She waits for my nod of agreement before continuing. “One doctor thinks she will be like this forever. Another one thinks her childlike behavior and inability to remember is her mind protecting her from recalling everything she lost in the accident.”
Her words stun me. “Does Ellie know this? Does Lizzie?” I ask, careful to keep my voice low so that neither of them overhear our conversation.
“I haven’t wanted to get their hopes up.” Bea admits, her eyes dropping to the tall glasses of tea still clutched in her hands. She hands one to me and places the other one on the small mosaic-topped table between us.
I guess I can understand that. “So why are you telling me?” I ask.
“I need someone to know,” she admits, “and already I can tell how important you are to Elinor. That will make you important to Elizabeth as well. It is good that you know.”
“I won’t lie to Ellie,” I want her to know that. I will have to tell Ellie. This is something too big for me to keep from her.
Beatriz nods again with a sad smile. “I know. Maybe she will take the news better from you than from me…”
“I think you should tell them both,” John’s voice comes from behind us. I didn’t even see him get up and approach us. Beatriz jumps and gasps, her hand to her throat, turning to look up at him.
“I can’t… they will both be so… disappointed in me for keeping this from them.” She says her voice trembling.
“No, they won’t,” John and I say at the same time. She looks from me to him and something unspoken passes between them. That at least explains why he’s still here… not that I blame him. There is something undoubtedly special about these Lovell women.
Beatriz returns her attention to me, “I will think about it.” She carefully puts a bright smile back on her face and reaches for my hand, “Now, mijo. What are your intentions regarding my daughter?”
I fold her small hand between mine and give her my most self-assured grin, hoping that I’m not messing up by declaring myself too soon. “I plan to make her my wife.”
“Good. That is good,” her smile is genuine as she pushes up to her feet. “No more of the hanky-panky under my roof,” she says seriously, wagging her small finger at me. With her decree made, she walks to her daughters, stooping to kiss their cheeks before standing for a long moment staring at her grandson playing in his sandbox under a weathered play structure in the far corner of the yard. He looks up and waves at her and she returns the gesture before strolling over to her small greenhouse and walking inside. John follows, a look of concern on his face. Ellie and Lizzie whisper rapidly in a mixture of English and Spanish that I catch random words of, watching as he follows their mom inside. They think John and Bea make a cute couple. I smile. They’re right.
Chapter 33
Ellie
The cool shadows of my room wrap around me. There isn’t even a hint of daylight creeping through my window, but I can already hear Mama up rattling around in the kitchen. Probably making the coffee we both rely on to get our day started. I smile up at the ceiling, listening to Auggie’s steady breaths from the other side of the room while replaying the previous day. I wish I was waking up wrapped in Blake’s arms again, but Mama sent him and John out the door right after we finished cleaning up from supper. We talked on the phone until I fell asleep, mid-sentence most likely since I don’t remember saying goodnight. Feeling around blindly I locate my phone between my pillows and check the call log. We talked for more than three hours about everything and nothing. I sigh happily. There isn’t anything that can knock this smile off my face today.
I should get up! The thought explodes in my mind. The sooner I can get to Luminoso, the sooner I can see Blake. If I’m early enough maybe I will even have time to slip into his small apartment and fix him breakfast as a surprise. It’s not like I don’t have a key. Bouncing off the bed, suddenly bubbling with energy, I hurry into the small bathroom to take the quickest shower in history and rush into a clean housekeeping uniform before shrugging into the big cozy flannel Blake left behind. Actually, I didn’t offer to give it back when he was getting ready to leave. It smells like him, clean and woodsy, and I drag the lapels to my nose and inhale deeply, breathing him into my lungs before practically skipping down the hall to the kitchen. I rummage in the fridge gathering up the ingredients to make a simple frittata when I get to Blake’s.
“You’re in a rush this morning, mija.”
I glance at my beaming mother before turning back to the assembled food on the counter and start packing it in a hand-knit shopping bag that I made during the summer for going to the Farmer’s Market.
“If I’m early I can fix breakfast for Blake and me before we have to work,” I toss over my shoulder to her.
“That is good, mija. That boy, he needs your love,” she says, her eyes suspiciously damp.
“I need his too, Mama,” I admit, turning to her again and throwing myself into her arms. She smooths my hair behind my ear and kisses my cheek.
“Yes, you do. Now go. Take the car, don’t waste time catching the bus today.”
“What if you need it?” I ask. I don’t like the idea of leaving her here without transportation.
“I won’t,” a blush spreads over her cheeks. “John is coming by to help me do some work on the greenhouse.”
It’s a valid reason for him to come over. Greenhouses in the desert need to be maintained correctly or else they kill the plants they’re supposed to sustain, and a lot of the work that needs to be done takes more than one person. But still… her blush is a dead giveaway. I’ve never seen Mama blush just saying a man’s name. “He is, is he?” I ask, my voice teasing.
“Si, Elinor,” she shakes her head at my tone. “Now, go. Feed your man.”
I don’t have to be told twice. Pouring myself a travel mug of coffee, I hook the bag over my arm and blow Mama a kiss, grab my purse and keys and hurry out the door with my damp hair still loose around my shoulders.
The barest hint of golden light is tinting the horizon as I pull into the parking garage and locate an open employee spot. Blake is probably still sleeping. I’m almost giddy at the thought of being able to do something nice for him, and even giddier about the possibility that there might be time to crawl into his big bed and really get our day off to a good start. I think yesterday might have made me into a monster! Breakfast can wait…
