Chapter 10
ten
ROWAN
“Surprise,” she says with a shrug, stretching the word out nervously. She shifts from foot to foot, waiting for their reaction.
I stay close behind her and lower the suitcase to the oak floor. Ellie’s parents sit at the white marble kitchen island, drinking their coffee.
Ellie’s mom, Helen, goes from calm to pure shock and surprise. She sets her mug down with a soft click against the counter and rises from her chair. Her light brown hair that falls just past her shoulders sways when she moves toward us. Her smooth, glowing skin makes her look younger than she is.
“Honey, what are you doing here?” she asks as her brow furrows. “Is everything alright?” Ellie’s mom grabs her arms and scans her eyes up and down.
A small tug pulls at her corner lip. “I’m fine, mom.”
“What brings you all the way home? Did you fly here?” her dad asks.
If her parents knew she was coming home and found out she planned on driving from New York to the West Coast, they would have bought a plane ticket.
“No, I drove here.” She tilts her chin up.
“ You drove?” Ellie’s mom shouts.
“Sweetie,” Ellie’s dad says, “let me hug our daughter first, and then you can interrogate her.”
Jake smiles down at his daughter and brings her into a bear hug. His body towers over her, and Ellie smiles brightly. His arms tug her into his strong and sturdy build.
“Hello, my sweet girl. I’m so happy to see you,” her dad says softly before giving her a kiss on the top of her head.
Growing up, watching the bond Ellie and August shared with their dad always tore at my heart. Jake was the kind of father who would do anything for his kids—a kind of love I would’ve given anything to have with my own father.
The last memory I have of my dad is him kneeling in front of me, telling me that he and Mom were splitting up and that maybe he’d see me around–maybe.
I remember running after him, begging him to take me with him, but he didn’t look back. He just kept walking, and when he got into his car, I yelled and cried, hoping he’d change his mind. I sat on the front porch, sobbing, convinced he’d come back for me.
He never did.
I’m pulled back to the present when Ellie says, “Hi, Dad.”
Jake pulls away, and her mom cuts in, “So, is this just a surprise visit?” Helen pulls Ellie in for a hug and rocks her back and forth. She pulls away, looks down at the suitcase, and then looks at me. “Hello, Rowan.” She smiles and opens her arms to greet me with a hug. “How are you?” She pats my back softly.
One thing I really like about Helen and Jake is that they are always very welcoming. They’ve known my mom and Aunt Rosey since they were teenagers themselves since we all grew up in Dove Point.
And, unfortunately in Dove Point, everyone knows my story. Something I was never able to keep to myself for protection. After word spread, Mom didn’t let it get to her. She held her head high, putting on a strong front, while I would hear her softly cry in her room at night.
Helen and Jake were there for her the next day. They came by with dishes of food, making sure that me and Addie were taken care of while my mom grieved her failed marriage.
“Do you want to sit down?” Jake asks.
Her dad somehow always knew when Ellie went through something. She walks next to her dad into the living room, his arm wrapped around her shoulders, comforting her, while her mom follows behind them.
“So, what brings you all the way home?” Helen asks.
She sits on the powder white sofa chair, crossing her legs as she pulls down her maxi dress to cover her feet and then rests her hands on her lap.
I glance at Ellie, sitting beside her dad on the other end of the sectional. I watch her throat bob as she swallows, her shoulders tense. She meets my gaze, and I give her a small, reassuring nod as we communicate in that same unspoken way we always have been able to.
You can do this, Ellie.
“Before I tell you, I need you to promise me that you will listen and not interrupt me. Not until I’m finished talking.” She raises her brows.
Her dad and August agree and give her a hesitant, worried smile. Then we all turn to look at her mom.
“Okay, okay.” Helen holds up her hands, “I won’t say a word until you’re done talking, sweetie.” She motions, zipping her mouth shut.
Ellie sits up straight and clears her throat. She tells them everything she told the group at the brewery. She again holds herself together through the entire story, just like at the brewery. She mentions the stress at work and feeling run down. There was a moment where she paused before she finally told them about Charlie. When she’s finished, she looks at me and I give her a reassuring smile.
“Are you okay?” August asks first.
August wasn’t the type to react quickly. During any situation, whether good or bad, he listened, asked questions, and ensured that the person was okay. In contrast, I had to control everything in me not to get up and drive my ass across the country and beat the shit out of Charlie. Keeping my facial expression in check when I’m angry is hard when someone I love is hurt.
“I think so. It all kind of happened so fast, I don’t think I’ve processed anything yet. I just...left.” Ellie’s eyes turn glossy.
“Are you two broken up then?” Helen asks.
Ellie nods quickly before looking down at her lap.
Jake places his hand on her shoulder and says, “You did the right thing. I’m glad you decided to come home, even if it’s just for a little while. Is there anything you need from us?”
“Well, now that you’ve mention it. I kind of need somewhere to stay. I was hoping I could crash in the guest house,” Ellie says wearily.
“Of course,” her dad replies.
He pushes a hand through his salt and pepper hair and then folds his arms across his chest. It looks like he has a lot more he would like to say but thinks better of it.
“And what about work? What’s going on with that then?” Helen asks.
“I don’t know, Mom. It’s only been a couple of days since it all happened. I just want to get settled and just spend time with everyone.”
Jake stands from the couch, and Helen follows his lead. “We’ll get everything set up for your stay. I’ll grab your favorite knitted blanket in the upstairs closet and make sure you have that.”
“I’ll go grab some things for you from the store,” Helen chimes in. “Give me a list of things you will need.”
“Mom, you don’t need to get me anything. I just need somewhere to sleep.” Ellie tilts her head, exhausted from the conversation already.
“You sure you don’t want to stay in your old bedroom?” August leans against the wall in the kitchen with his arms crossed and smiles.
“And sleep in my very tiny childhood bed? No thanks.” She turns to her parents, “I’m not gonna lie, I was kind of dreading this conversation with you guys.”
“You mean you were dreading the conversation with Mom.” August smirks.
Ellie narrows her eyes at him. “Shut up.”
August chuckles and shakes his head. “It’s good to have you back, Ellie.”
“Ro.” Ellie turns to me. “Thank you for everything.” She grabs my hand and squeezes it.
I shrug. “It’s no problem. I actually need to head out and see my mom and Aunt Rosey.”
Ellie and I start to walk toward the front door. I don’t have a reason to see my family, but I can feel myself starting to get attached to Ellie, and I can’t let myself do that. I need to keep reminding myself that she’s only here for the summer and that we’ve both moved on.
Or at least convince myself that I’ve moved on.
“Can I see you tonight? At the brewery?” she asks.
“Always, El.” The corner of my mouth tips up.
“August.” I turn to him. “I’ll see you around.”
Her brother walks toward me and holds out his hand to pull me in, slapping his other hand on my back. “Always a pleasure. I’ll probably see you tonight too. Enjoy a couple of beers.”
Ellie points to August. “Oh, I’ll just ride with you then.”
August rolls his eyes dramatically before saying, “I guess you can come with me.”
Ellie gives August a playful shove, and he staggers back, though he’s a foot taller than her. She’s stronger than she looks. “Shut up, you love me.”
August grins and pulls her into a messy headlock, ruffling her hair. Ellie squirms, shouting at him to stop, her voice a mix of annoyance and affection. “You smell terrible, August! God, how long did you run for?” She wiggles in his grip, trying to break free, then turns toward their parents. “Mom! Make him stop!”
Her dad chuckles from the kitchen and gives her an amused look before focusing on his laptop on the kitchen counter.
“Alright, that’s enough. August, let go of your sister,” Helen says from the kitchen sink.
I watch the scene unfold, a warm feeling settling in my chest. It’s chaotic, it’s loud, but it’s perfect.
And it’s so good to have her home.