Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
ONE WEEK LATER
Ellie
I was so heartbroken I could barely breathe. Each day I woke up was a struggle. But I had no choice because there was work to be done. Five new clients contacted me for website designs that I needed to work on, and I had a painting to finish. I’d spent most of my days locked up in my apartment because I didn’t feel like going out and dealing with the real world. After I reluctantly told Joni what happened, she lectured me like I knew she would. But then she showed up at my door with my favorite pizza, a large bag of my favorite chips, and a gallon of my favorite ice cream. Then she spent the night and sat up with me while I cried on her shoulder. I’d been through heartbreak before, but nothing like this. I’d never felt so empty inside, and I hated him for doing this to me.
I had been working on a website design all day, and I was hungry, so I got up and went over to the refrigerator to grab something. When I opened the door, I stared inside the empty refrigerator. Grabbing my phone, I thought about placing an order for take-out. But I’d eventually have to go food shopping at some point. After slipping on my shoes, I grabbed my purse and headed to the grocery store to pick up a few things. As I picked out some apples and placed them in a bag, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Turning around, I froze when I saw Henry standing there.
“Hi,” he signed. “Can we talk?”
“Are you following me?” I signed without speaking because I didn’t want to cause a scene in the produce section.
“No. I just stopped to get a couple bags of spinach, and I saw you standing over here.”
“Leave me alone,” I signed and threw my bag of apples in the cart.
Suddenly, I felt his hand lightly grab my arm.
“Ellie, Kirsten’s baby isn’t mine,” he signed. “She slept with someone in Chicago when she was on a business trip.”
“Then the two of you are made for each other,” I signed.
“Ellie, please.”
“NO! I thought you were different from every other guy out there! I gave you my heart, and you took it and smashed it into a tiny million pieces,” I signed, and people stared at us as they walked by.
“The last thing I ever wanted to do was hurt you. I would do anything for you, Ellie. Anything.”
“Then you should have told me about her so I didn’t have to hear it from your mother. Just leave me alone, Henry. Please.” I took my cart and walked away before he saw the tears in my eyes.
After I paid for my groceries, I stepped outside and saw Christian standing there.
“Hi,” he signed with a smile. “I’ve been instructed to take you home.”
“Thanks, Christian, but I’m fine. I can get home myself.”
“Henry’s not in there. He took a cab back to the office.” I read his lips as he took my bags from me.
Rolling my eyes, I slid into the back, where Henry’s scent filled the space. The same scent that lingered on my sheets even after I’d washed them. Tears stung my eyes like they did every day since we'd broken up. Christian pulled up to the building, climbed out of the vehicle, and grabbed my bags from the trunk. He walked me into the building, and after pushing the button to the elevator, he handed me my bags.
“Thank you,” I spoke.
“You’re welcome,” he signed.
“You’re getting pretty good at that.” I managed a smile.
“Henry’s been teaching me a few of the basics.”
I kissed him lightly on the cheek and stepped into the elevator.
“I’ll see you around, Christian.”
Henry
When I returned to the office, June alerted me that my father was waiting for me.
“Shit.” I handed her the bag with my spinach in it. “Can you put this in the refrigerator in the break room for me?”
“Of course.” She gave me a friendly smile.
Taking in a deep breath, I stepped inside my office.
“Dad,” I spoke as I took a seat behind my desk.
“Hello, son.”
“What are you doing here in the middle of the afternoon?”
“I wanted to talk to you about everything that’s happened.”
“Well, I’m really in no mood to rehash any of it.”
“I’ve put the company transfer on hold for the time being. I’m not sure you’re in any position mentally to take over considering?—”
“If you’re referring to Kirsten, I’m very mentally prepared. Finding out that baby wasn’t mine was the best news I’ve heard in a long time.”
“I’m not talking about her. I’m talking about that deaf girl.”
I stood up and slammed my fists on the desk.
“Her name is Ellie!” I shouted. “And she’s a kind, caring and beautiful woman. But you don’t have to worry about her anymore, thanks to you and Mom, because she hates me and wants nothing to do with me.”
“That was all your mother’s doing. Besides, you’re better off without her. Deaf/hearing relationships never work.”
“Really?” I narrowed my eyes at him. “And you’ve been in how many in your life?”
“Don’t get smart with me, son.”
“Is that what you would have told Abigail if she were still alive?”
“Your sister wouldn’t be stupid enough to date a hearing person.”
It took everything I had not to grab him by his shirt and punch the shit out of him, father or not.
“All I’m saying is you’ll eventually thank your mother. Anyway, I have to go. We’ll discuss the transfer another time when things are right, and you are calmed down. As for now, things will remain the same. We’re going to the country club tonight. Why don’t you join us? Maybe you’ll meet a nice girl that will help you get over Ellie.”
“I can’t. I’m going out with Ben and Frankie tonight.” I lied.
“Another time, then.” He got up from his seat. “Now I have to go talk to your sister, who ran up a monstrous charge at the Plaza.” He shook his head as he walked out of my office.
Grabbing the coffee mug I had sitting on my desk, I threw it in a fit of rage, hitting a picture on the wall as both the picture and the mug shattered.
“Henry, are you okay?” June asked as she came running into my office.
“That man infuriates me,” I shouted.
“I’ll give maintenance a call and get them up here to clean that up.”
“Thanks, June.” I let out a sigh.
I needed to get Ellie alone somewhere and talk to her. Somewhere where it was just the two of us without any distractions. I couldn’t live my life knowing she hated me. I’d already hated myself for hurting her so badly, and I needed to make things right. Either the plan I was crafting was going to work, or she’d end up hating me even more.