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“What else was I supposed to do? You didn’t answer my calls.” Elana shrugs and turns to stare out the window.
“I was busy.” And not about to get her hopes up before I was sure I could get Alice Witmore to sign those contracts.
“Right.” Her shoulders are up, and I can feel the tension radiating off her.
“And then you turned in your notice, effective immediately?” I’d almost had a heart attack when Hilda told me. Thankfully, she hadn’t forwarded anything up the chain, and I’d asked her to hold on to the letter for a few more days. And called and put in a good word for me with Mrs. Pierce. Who knew the two of them had become fast friends after Mrs. Pierce’s visit to Wilmington?
Elana shrugs. “I figured I’d get a head start on rebuilding my life.”
“You have a life. In Wilmington.” With me. At least that’s what I hoped.
Elana laughs. There’s no joy in it. “For another couple of weeks until the studio is sold, maybe. Then what am I supposed to do?
“You knew I was working on fixing that.” I wish she would turn around and face me.
“Right. Not hearing a word from you for five days definitely helped me believe that.”
“I stayed in touch with texts,” I say.
“All five of them, letting me know you were too busy to talk. Besides, after that stunt you pulled with the real estate guy, I wasn’t sure you’d come back.”
“What are you talking about? Chris needed to take some pictures to use as a comp for a place he’s putting up for sale.” It should have been a quick visit. Thirty minutes max.
“That’s not what he told me. The guy said he couldn’t wait to put your house on the market.” Elana turns and glares at me.
“I’m sure he did. He’s been talking my ear off about the profit I could make.” I shake my head. “And I made it very clear that I have no interest in moving. It’s why I pulled every string I could find to get our next season green-lighted.”
Elana stands in front of me, frozen. I wait patiently for the news to sink in. “You got her to sign the contracts?”
I nod my head. “And talked her into an option for at least two more.”
“I’m not losing my job?” Elana looks at me, disbelief written all over her beautiful face.
“Not on my watch. And Hilda is putting everything into motion to hire everyone else back.”
I take a step back when she barrels into me. “Are you absolutely, one-hundred percent serious about this?”
“I can show you the contracts.” I wrap my arms around her and hold her close, reveling in the feeling of holding the woman I adore in my arms.
“I believe you,” she says.
We stand there for a good long while, holding on to each other.
A knock on the door makes me take a reluctant step back. “Are you two lovebirds ready to rejoin the party?” Mrs. Pierce asks.
Elana laughs and grabs my hand. “I think we are.”
We walk hand-in-hand into the backyard, all eyes on us as we stroll down the garden path.
“Everyone, I have an announcement to make.” Elana’s voice rings loud and clear across the grassy space. Her training as an actress makes her voice carry all the way to the back of the property.
“What are you doing?” I whisper.
“This is my coming home party, Ryan. I’m assuming I’m staying in Wilmington,” Elana says. “Though finding a new place to rent is going to be a pain.”
“I have some thoughts on that,” I whisper back. If it were up to me, she’d be moving into my place. There is plenty of space, and a separate bedroom for her. For now.
“What’s the announcement?” someone calls from off to the side.
