Chapter 15
Alex
A strange feeling of unease roused Alex from his slumber.
He ached all over, but that wasn't what had woken him up.
It was the pretty brunette standing just inches from him.
The stranger gazed at him with her big blue eyes, a shade Alex felt he'd seen many times before.
His head was spinning, and he could hardly keep his eyes open.
Panic was not far away. Who was she? Alex didn't let anyone into his room, so how had she ended up here?
“Ella, give him time to wake up.”
The teenager stepped back, and Alex glanced towards the door, where Jade and his mother were standing. Jade's smile reassured him. She had the same calm aura as Elena. Ella, on the other hand, seemed to be a live wire.
“Hey, Alex, I've come to see how your wounds are. Can I come in?”
Alex nodded. She gave the young girl a heavy look before coming to sit on the edge of the bed.
“This is Ella, my goddaughter. She's going to help me clean your wounds, if that’s alright.”
“I don't mean to be rude, but why would I accept this?”
His mother was about to protest, but Jade waved her off. “I'm training her in first aid. Don't worry, she knows what to do. If at some point you want her to stop, I'll do it.”
Alex hesitated. This kid had waltzed into the one place where he felt he was in control.
And now she was going to treat him, even though she looked younger than he was.
Seeing Ella's hopeful gaze, Alex felt himself accept.
Something was endearing about her that made her look like an overexcited puppy.
She smiled and came to stand beside him.
Ella cleaned his wounds and re-bandaged him.
Jade was right. The kid knew what she was doing.
Elena knocked on the door. The room seemed brighter now that she was there. She stopped dead in her tracks when she saw Ella. The moment the brunette became aware of Elena's presence, her grip on his shoulder tightened, and Alex groaned in pain. This girl had the strength of a bull.
Ella let go, covering her mouth. “Sorry...”
Ella kept fidgeting like a hyperactive child, and Jade beckoned her to leave. She ran to Elena and jumped into her arms. His friend was taken aback, but returned her embrace. Tears glistened in her eyes.
“What a coincidence!” Jade mused, all smiles.
Alex knew from the look on the doctor's face that she'd planned the whole thing.
He just didn't know why. After Ella released Elena, she never let her out of her sight.
Elena rubbed her eyes, a shy smile on her lips.
She sat down on the edge of the bed, and Ella leaned against her.
The three of them watched Alex with the same piercing blue gaze.
They all had very distinct faces, but their eyes were a family heirloom.
Elena and Jade had thin faces and high cheekbones, and Ella had well-defined eyebrows and a full mouth.
But where Elena's nose was thin and straight, Jade and Ella's were small and round.
“How do you feel?” she asked.
“Alive.”
Jade cleared her throat before turning back to her niece. She had something planned. “Lena, this weekend we're celebrating the wedding anniversary of Grandma Louise and Grandpa Francois. Did you know?”
All traces of colour in her face vanished, giving way to sadness. She shook her head. Alex took her hand to comfort her. She in turn squeezed it. Elena hadn't seen her family since her brother's funeral, three years earlier. Her mother hadn't let her.
“You should come. They miss you so much. I'm sure it would be a nice surprise.”
Jade was good at playing on people's heartstrings. This caught Ella's attention. She begged Elena with her eyes. “Please come! We have so much to talk about.”
Elena wasn't going to resist her for long.
Alex was surprised to hear that her voice was deeper than that of her aunt and cousin. More mature. “I don't know if this is a good idea.”
“I think you should go,” Alex said.
He knew how much she missed them. Elena turned to him, questioning him with her eyes. She was asking for his opinion. He nodded to reassure her.
“Too bad you can't come with me.”
Alex smiled at her. She’d be okay. Elena was a fighter, she just had to realize it.
***
Elena
I was nervous, and by nervous, I didn't just mean a racing pulse, but also nausea, sweaty palms, and being unable to hold still for more than two seconds.
How was I going to tell my mother I was going to see my family this weekend?
She'd never explicitly forbidden me to see them, but she'd clearly told me to avoid Jade and my grandparents whenever possible.
Why? I didn't know. All my life, I'd been very close to my grandfather and aunt.
After my brother's funeral, everything had changed.
Now that I was about to see them again, I didn't know if it was a good idea.
After all, I hadn't heard from them in three years, and the Christmas and birthday cards had stopped coming.
“Stop pacing like that. You're like a caged lion.”
Except that I felt more like the lamb that would be thrown to the lion once I left the Niessen home. Alex got up and stopped in front of me. He was grimacing from the pain.
“You should lie down.”
Alex ignored my words and placed his palms on my cheeks. His gaze was calm and benevolent, and a small part of my unease dissipated. How he did it was a mystery.
“It's time for you to think about yourself and what you want in life. Your mother made her choices, but she can't make yours. Do you want to go to this family party?”
I'd wanted to see them for years, although I'd never dared. I hadn't dared go against my mother, and I hadn't dared tell my family how out of control my father had become. Alex was right. It was time for me to think about myself. I nodded, unable to answer.
“Then go.”
“What if they don't want me?”
“Jade and Ella want you. If your family is as caring as they are, you'll be fine.”
I hugged him without thinking. He winced but hugged me back.
“Sorry...”
“You Fleureau ladies are all brutes.”
If only he could come with me. I had become far too dependent on his support. I really had to learn to cope on my own, but I felt invincible when Alex was with me. The doorbell rang and my pulse quickened even more. I knew I was going to disappoint my mother, and I didn't feel ready to do so.
“Don't worry, I'm with you.”
***
When I walked into my grandparents' kitchen, all eyes were on me. My grandfather frowned, and one of my aunts shook her head disapprovingly. I felt like a deer caught in the headlights. Coming here had been a mistake. Why had I thought this would be a good idea?
“What are you doing here?” an uncle asked.
I shouldn't be surprised. It was delusional to think they'd all be happy to see me; of course, they wouldn't be delighted at my sudden presence.
I was a stranger to them now. The anguish that had settled in my chest was starting to suffocate me, and my head was spinning.
For a brief moment, I hesitated to call Alex. I had to get out of here.
“Stop tormenting her!”
I looked up at the person who'd just spoken. Grandma Louise. Tears shone in her eyes. Without hesitating, she hugged me, her peony perfume tickling my nose. She smelled just like I remembered. My eyes stung. God, how I'd missed her.
“My little girl, I'm so happy to see you.”
She let go of me and looked at me from every angle. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Aunt Laurene and her husband watching us warily, but I decided to ignore them.
“Maura finally let you see us again?”
So she knew... I shook my head. To be honest, Mom had tried to forbid me from coming.
Alex had stood beside me despite the pain he was currently in, a reassuring hand on my back.
His warmth had given me courage when I'd finally said, “It's my family and I want to go and see them.
So either you let me go, or I'll jump out the window and go anyway.” For many long seconds, she stared at me in silence, then gave Alex a confused look.
My friend didn't flinch. Unlike me, Alex wasn't intimidated by my mother.
And if it hadn't been for him, I'd probably have chickened out without saying these things.
“No, she didn't want me to come.”
Grandma's face showed her disappointment, but she maintained her smile. “I shouldn’t be surprised,” Grandma admitted, pinching my cheek affectionately. “Ever since Jade and I tried to get you out of there, she's held a terrible grudge against us.”
I frowned. “You wanted to take me in?”
“My dear, we all know that Frank and Maura weren't good enough for you.”
For years, I'd thought my mother was afraid someone would find out about my father.
When what she really wanted was to keep me close?
This revelation baffled me. If only they'd been able to get me out of there.
Grandma beckoned me to follow her. We sat down at the kitchen table, and at no point did she let go of my hand.
She changed the subject. “You've become a beautiful young woman.”
“I'm just trying to look like you, Grandma.”
Her laughter sounded like a melody. One that I had missed terribly. “Look at that, what a charmer.”
My grandfather mumbled something incomprehensible before leaving the room.
If only I hadn't been such a coward, I could have visited him sooner.
I rubbed my eyes with my sleeve. Mick had always been the smooth talker in the family.
Finding myself here at our grandparents' house without him was strange, but I didn't want to live without them anymore.
“Do you think Grandpa will forgive me?”
“Of course, he will. You've always been his darling little girl. He just needs some time.”