CHAPTER 29
JESS
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
The house was rattled by the violent slam of the door, which was then pierced by a mournful cry that could only signal a shattered heart. "What is happening?" Blake asked, her voice laced with concern as she awoke from her nap with Jess.
"Nothing good," Jess answered promptly, springing up to pull on her cotton sweatpants.
The two girls rushed downstairs and found Ellen on the floor by the front door, held by Taylor.
The moment Jess saw Taylor, their eyes met, and Taylor silently mouthed "Roxy" to her.
Her sister had cried before, but this time was unprecedented.
It was worse than when Leah's announcement of her move to LA ended her relationship with Ellen.
Jess quietly approached Ellen and Taylor before kneeling in front of her, causing Ellen to look up.
"Jessie," Ellen choked out between sobs, "she acted like I didn't even exist, like I wasn't important.
She just… decided I wasn't worth a sign of life.
" Taylor held her tighter. Jess reached for her hand. "I am so fucking stupid."
As soon as Ellen spoke, Jess reacted—it was a firm boundary for her she couldn't ignore. "This is not allowed. You can feel angry, heartbroken, betrayed, and even homicidal, but you don't have the right to call yourself stupid in your own fucking home. Not on my watch. Am I clear?"
"Jessie, she just left me without a word, as we were about to..."
Jess cut her off, not wanting to cause her more pain. "I know, Ellen. I know." She took over from Taylor and wrapped her arms around her. "She is the dumb one for not seeing how great you are."
"I want to hate her," Ellen confessed, her voice trembling with unshed tears, "but I am incapable of doing so." She broke the hug and leaned against the door, her back straight.
"I love her," she whispered, her voice trembling with affection. "I love her so much."
Taylor kissed the top of her head. "It's going to be okay, Twinie." She looked up at Jess. "Roxy asked her for an hour of her time tomorrow, and she said yes."
Jess's eyes widened. "Okay, I see. You're a brave, pretty lady. You'll get to ask her all your questions."
The sobbing decreased. "I simply don't get how she can come back and pretend nothing happened."
"She can say anything she wants, but you're the one who gets the final say," Jess chimed in.
Ellen looked up at Jess for the first time. "Do I, really?"
"Hell yeah. She made this shit show. Not you. If she wants to speak again, she needs to earn it."
Taylor rubbed her back gently. "Tomorrow, you'll get your answers. Whether or not they're enough is up to her."
Ellen closed her eyes. "I need to hear them, but I'm scared."
"And that's exactly why you're not alone. We're here for you. Taylor, Blake, and me," Jess said.
Ellen's stare jumped to Blake, sitting opposite, which gave the three sisters the space they needed.
"Blake," Ellen said. "Why are you keeping your distance?
Come here." But Ellen didn't wait; she joined Blake and wrapped her in a hug, a gesture that sent comforting warmth through Jess's chest. "Thanks for being in our family, Blake. "
Blake swallowed hard, and Jess saw her blink rapidly, as if trying to hold back her tears. She nodded back once to Ellen.
Everything was still for a brief, delicate moment. Should one of Caldwell’s sisters break, the others would stay strong together around her.