Chapter 6
Chapter Six
Nellie
I awoke early on Christmas morning to a quiet apartment.
It was disconcerting, the silence. I hadn’t realized how used to random noises I was until I moved.
It was much quieter in the bachelor apartment over Parker and Tabitha’s garage than it had been in the basement apartment I’d lived in for so many years.
I lingered in bed for a little while, doomscrolling on my phone while I slowly woke up. I didn’t have anywhere to be until later, so I was in no rush to leave the warmth and comfort of my bed.
Usually, I’d guzzle back a couple black teas while I went about getting ready for my day, but since learning about the pregnancy, I’d cut caffeine out.
The first week after I’d found out, I had read far too many articles online about pregnancy and endometritis, and I was terrified to do anything to increase my risks of complications. They were already high enough.
It was why I didn’t want to be around Noah.
Being around him made me think about the possibility of this not working out, and that scared me.
I was doing my best to do everything I was supposed to, while not thinking about the pregnancy too much.
I was eating all the right food, taking prenatal vitamins, drinking plenty of water, and not over-exerting myself.
I knew worrying wasn’t going to help, so I’d done my best to put the whole situation out of my mind and focus on other things; things that I could control, like unpacking and making this place more of a home.
But part of focusing on what I could control also meant finding a new job, and now that I was unpacked, that was the next thing on my to-do list. No matter what the future had in store for me, I’d need a new job to pay my bills and get the hours I’d need for maternity leave.
Again, I thought about Noah’s offer to work at his family’s resort. If I removed the whole complication of our past and my current situation, I had to admit, it sounded like a pretty good opportunity. It might be office work, but there was always the possibility for other jobs at the resort.
Last night, I’d researched the Whimsical Woods Resort and noticed that in addition to cottage rentals, they ran programs for guests. They needed help in the main office now, but perhaps down the road, they’d be open to me helping run some of the programs—or maybe even creating my own.
My phone started vibrating in my hand, alerting me to the fact that my parents were calling me for their annual Christmas chat. “Hello?” I answered.
“Merry Christmas, Ellen!” my mother said, using my full given name. No matter how many times I’d begged growing up, my parents refused to call me anything but Ellen. “Are you still in bed? You sound half asleep still.”
“I’m up, actually!” I replied. “I haven’t used my voice yet today. Merry Christmas.”
“Oh, good. You don’t want to waste the day in bed!” Mom lectured, and I exhaled slowly.
“I won’t be. I’ve got plans later, so I’m about to do a little baking.”
“What plans do you have? With a boyfriend, perhaps?” Mom asked, forever inquiring about my relationship status.
It bothered her that I never spoke about any serious relationships.
She thought I’d have my whole life figured out by now, and maybe be married with a kid or two.
After all, she’d been married at my age, even if her and Dad hadn’t had me until much later. She’d also had her career.
“No, actually. I’ll be joining Sage at her aunt and uncle’s house for Christmas dinner. I, uh, moved to Hartwood Creek last week.”
“Really?” Mom sounded surprised. “Why on earth would you do that?”
“I liked the town when I visited, and figured it was time for a change of scenery.”
“Did you have a job lined up?” Dad asked, ever the pragmatic one. I rolled my eyes, thankful they couldn’t see the action.
“Not yet, but I—”
“Foolish to have moved without having a job lined up,” my dad interrupted. I could practically hear him frowning. “Does a small town even have employment opportunities for a recreational therapist? You didn’t have luck in Guelph.”
Dad’s comment stung, but he wasn’t wrong.
“Do you need money, Ellen? We were planning on sending you a wire transfer as your Christmas gift, but we can send more if you need.” Mom added, going straight to assuming the worst.
“It’s okay, Mom. I have a lot saved up, and I have an interview tomorrow that looks very promising.”
I was only telling her this to appease her, but naturally, Dad wanted to know more. “Where abouts? Not another coffee shop, I hope.”
My barista job hadn’t been much for them to brag about.
“No, it’s for a job as the receptionist at a cottage resort here in town. They offer recreational programs for guests too,” I said, hoping that was enough details to satisfy Dad’s curiosity and Mom’s assumptions. It was.
“Excellent. Good luck, Ellen. Let us know how it goes! Oh, and tell Sage and her family we said hi and Merry Christmas,” Mom said.
“I will. It’ll be nice to not spend it alone,” the comment fell from my lips before I could call it back, and I felt momentarily guilty about it. I tried not to hold things against my parents, especially because I knew they loved me, in their own way.
I don’t even think the dig registered, though. My mom went on to talk about their plans for the day, and I let my thoughts drift.
When I was born, Mom was forty-two and Dad was forty-five. They’d been married for twenty years before they had me. I was the only thing in their entire life that was unplanned and unexpected.
My parents were so accustomed to their life as it was, that they never really adjusted to having a child around. Our relationship had gotten better the older I got, because I’d learned what to expect from them and what they expected from me in turn.
They were both in their seventies now. I saw them roughly once a year when they returned for a few weeks in the summer. They’d rent the same fancy cottage up north, owned by their politician friends, and invite me up for a couple of nights.
“The weather is perfect,” Mom cooed, bringing me back to the present conversation. “You should really try to come out and visit again, you could use a beach vacation.”
“She should focus on finding a new job, Beatrice,” my dad grumbled.
Yup, he was definitely not impressed with me for my brash decision to move without first securing a job.
It was predictable, and shouldn’t have hurt as much as it did, but no matter how old I got, my parents’ disappointment was difficult to handle.
I sighed. “Dad’s right, it’s not a good time for me to travel right now,” I said. Despite the heaviness I felt, I was thankful for the excuse. I wouldn’t be going on any kind of vacation any time soon.
Heck, I had no clue how to even tell them about my biggest predicament. Forget not having a job; I was knocked up.
Inhaling slowly again, I centred myself; I didn’t have to worry about that yet. The time would come when I’d have to fess up and admit a night of reckless decisions led to a baby, but that moment wasn’t today.
“Well, your mother and I were about to go have breakfast.” Dad said, signaling that the call should end.
“Have a Merry Christmas, Ellen. We’ll talk soon,” Mom added.
“Merry Christmas, Mom and Dad. Talk to you later,” I said right before they disconnected.
I sighed. I’d tried once to show them how to FaceTime. I’d even bought them an iPad and set it up for them, wanting so desperately to at least see their faces every once in a while, but they couldn’t understand the concept, and had refused to learn.
Sometimes Mom would send pictures over email. I supposed that was better than going a full year without seeing their faces, but it still hurt.
At four o’clock on the dot, I was walking up the front steps of the elegant white house that Sage’s aunt and uncle resided in, holding the gingerbread bundt cake I’d spent the day making and the gifts I’d purchased.
Ed and Emelia’s house was only a few blocks away from Parker and Tabitha’s place, nestled on a beautiful lot surrounded by tall pines and birch trees. A fresh cover of snow blanketed the yard and rooftop, making it look like the ideal Hallmark movie set.
I rang the bell, and it wasn’t long before the door was swinging inward to reveal Sage. She threw her arms around me, hugging me and wishing me a Merry Christmas, and taking some of the bags off me.
Sage led the way into the beautiful house, pausing in the living room to set my bags of gifts under the tree and introduce me.
I’d met Ed and Emelia during my brief visit over Halloween, but I hadn’t met any of Sage’s cousins or their partners. I greeted Joseph, Livia’s fiancé, and Patrick, Madeline’s husband, as well as nix and Ed, then Sage put her hand on my elbow and led me down the hall toward the back of the house.
We passed an elegant dining room, the table set and ready for people to gather around. Everything looked so warm and cozy, and Christmassy.
We stepped into the gourmet kitchen, finding Sage’s cousins and aunt busy prepping for dinner. The kitchen was stunning. Heck, the entire house was stunning, like it should be featured in a holiday décor magazine. Even the white sand-coloured cabinets were decorated with garland and bows.
Sage’s aunt stopped stirring the pot of gravy, turning away from the five-burner gas stove, and greeting me with a bright smile. “Nellie! It’s so good to see you again. Merry Christmas, love!”
“Merry Christmas, Mrs. Alcott.”
“Oh, please! Call me Auntie Em,” Emelia insisted, waving away my formalities with her hand.
“Okay…” I said, trying to push down the welling emotions that her maternal warmth coaxed out of me.
I wasn’t used to it, and it made me feel homesick for something I’d never really had to begin with.
“Well, thank you for letting me crash your holiday dinner. I brought gingerbread bundt cake,” I added, setting the cake down on the granite countertop.