Chapter 28
Chapter Twenty-Eight
One month later…
Alba sat in her car with the engine off, her hands resting in her lap as she stared at the steering wheel.
She’d been here for five minutes, maybe even ten, but either way it was long enough for the early rush of staff to come and go and long enough for the car park to settle into that quiet lull before the first bell.
She wasn’t just being slow. She was stalling.
She tipped her head back against the seat as she exhaled slowly, closing her eyes while she tried to organise her thoughts.
More specifically, thoughts about Ellie.
That wasn’t new, the last month had consisted of nothing else, but it felt different lately.
Not bad, necessarily, but she’d been quieter. Much quieter.
Over the last week, Alba had felt it creeping in.
It had been subtle at first…a pause where there hadn’t been one before or a heaviness sitting just beneath it.
Like there was something she wasn’t saying.
Alba had mostly noticed it in the way Ellie held onto her a little longer when they were alone.
And then she’d noticed how Ellie would sometimes drift, as though she’d gone somewhere Alba couldn’t follow.
And Alba knew why. Eloise’s birthday was coming up.
She swallowed back that constant ache in her throat and opened her eyes again.
She hadn’t asked, and she hadn’t pushed, because this wasn’t hers to take apart or fix, but that didn’t mean she didn’t want to be there for Ellie.
It also didn’t mean she hadn’t spent the last two days going back and forth in her head, trying to figure out what Ellie needed.
Did she need space, or did she need company? Did she need distraction, or did she need silence? Dinner or no dinner?
Alba huffed and dragged a hand down her face. “I’m overthinking this.”
But was she? Or was she just trying to get it right?
She’d never been in such a dreadful position before with someone she was dating.
The last thing she wanted was for Ellie to think she didn’t care or didn’t understand.
She just…wanted to be there for her in the right way.
If that meant being in Ellie’s space or accepting that she wanted to be alone, then so be it.
She tapped her fingers against her thigh as she glanced towards the school building, her mind already running through the options again.
She could offer dinner. That wouldn’t be odd considering they spent every waking moment with one another lately. Or perhaps she should just let Ellie come to her in her own time, if or when she needed Alba.
Or…
Alba sighed. There were too many ways for her to get this wrong, and she really couldn’t afford to get it wrong. Not with Ellie. She mattered far too much to Alba at this point.
“Right!” She pushed herself forward and reached for the door handle. “Stop thinking and just get on with things.”
That was all she could do. Be there. The rest would follow when it was supposed to.
She stepped out of the car and slung her bag over her shoulder, starting towards the entrance while her mind ticked over in the background.
Maybe you could suggest a nice long walk.
Alba’s pace slowed when she noticed a familiar figure standing outside the front entrance…and then her stomach dropped.
No, no, no.
“Audrey.”
That name left her before she even had time to realise what was happening, her pace now quickening as she approached. Whatever this was, it wasn’t happening today. No way. Alba had too much work to get through, and Ellie didn’t need it. Of all the weeks, this wasn’t the one.
Audrey turned slowly at the sound of her voice, that familiar, cutting smile slipping into place. “Well, if it isn’t my favourite disappointment.”
Alba didn’t rise to it. She didn’t have the energy or the time. “What are you doing here?”
Audrey shrugged, eyeing the building as though she had every right to be there. The same approach she has to everything else in life. “I was in the area.”
“That’s bullshit, and it’s not an answer.”
“It’s the only one you’re getting.”
Alba stepped closer and lowered her voice. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Whatever it is you’re about to do.” Alba’s jaw clenched. “Just…don’t.”
Audrey looked back at her with a hint of amusement. She’d always loved riling Alba up or catching her off guard, but Alba wasn’t standing for this anymore. Not when she knew her ex-wife was here to drag Ellie into something.
Audrey’s brows lifted. “Bit dramatic, aren’t you?”
“No. I’m really not.” She swallowed down the fear and emotion rising up from her chest and sighed.
Audrey would know who Eloise was…or at least what Ellie had been through.
That kind of thing didn’t stay confined to one school.
“It’s Eloise’s birthday this week. Ellie doesn’t need you showing up here when she’s dealing with enough already.
” The words sat heavy between them, but Audrey’s expression didn’t change.
That told Alba everything she needed to know.
“Whatever you think you’re doing, whatever point you’re trying to prove, this really isn’t the time. ”
“Funny.” Audrey tilted her head and smiled. “I don’t remember asking you when the right time was.”
Alba’s stomach twisted. Audrey had always had a cruel streak in her, Alba had seen it firsthand on so many occasions now, but this?
With Ellie? Surely not. Surely Alba hadn’t dedicated so many years of her life to a woman who could turn in an instant, uninterested in who could get hurt in the process.
“Please, just leave it. For once, just leave it alone.”
“You’re very protective all of a sudden.” Audrey stepped a little closer, lowering her voice so only Alba could hear it. “I knew you were fucking her. You’re so predictable.” Audrey’s eyes flicked over her, assessing and calculating. “So, come on. What exactly are you to her now, Alba?”
Alba held her gaze. “Someone who cares about her.”
“Are you…or are you not together?” Audrey stepped closer again, almost sending Alba stumbling back.
“Why do you care what I’m doing with my life? Why do you give a shit who I’m dating? I thought you’d moved on and your life was amazing now?”
“Oh, it is. But we’ll see how long your relationship lasts with Ellie Hamilton. If I have things my way, it’ll be over within the next hour.”
A rush of blood went directly to Alba’s head. She knew what Audrey was capable of, and she knew she never backed down. This day was going to destroy what she was building with Ellie, and Alba knew it. “Don’t do this, Audrey. Not today. Not…this week.”
“Aww. Poor little Alba.”
“I don’t give a fuck about me, you’ll always be hanging around like a bad smell while you try and ruin my life, but Ellie doesn’t deserve this. She’s hurting, and she’s grieving. If you’ve got any respect at all, you’ll turn around and walk away.”
“And see you run off into the sunset with a woman who is worth ten of you?” Audrey scoffed. “I don’t think so.”
“I’ll walk in there right now and end it with her if you agree to leave her alone.”
Audrey glanced past her and towards the doors, where the first wave of students was beginning to gather.
For a second, Alba thought she might actually agree and leave, but then Audrey stepped around her and glanced back over her shoulder as she reached the reception area.
“Try not to embarrass yourself when you’re begging her to take you back later. It’s very distasteful.”
Fuck!
Alba watched her ex-wife walk through the doors in slow motion, her heart situated in her throat. She’d always known this would happen, but as the last month had progressed with no contact from Audrey, she thought maybe she’d finally tired herself out and moved on.
But as Alba watched the door close and Audrey disappear out of sight, she knew exactly what was going to happen today. Ellie Hamilton was going to walk away from what they’d so beautifully shared lately.
Ellie placed the receiver back down, exhaling slowly as she leaned back in her chair and pressed her fingers to her temple. Her morning had already been filled with things pulling at her attention. It wasn’t even nine yet, and too many conversations had required her to be composed and capable.
And underneath all of it…was Eloise.
She was always there, just beneath the surface, but this week it was becoming overwhelming. It wasn’t necessarily consuming her like it once had, but Ellie could feel it, and she was worried that if she didn’t focus soon, she was going to blow at the slightest thing.
Ellie swallowed and reached for the file on her desk.
She’d even been quiet around Alba this week.
She’d smiled and laughed when she was supposed to, but quite frankly, some nights she didn’t feel as though she was even in the room with her.
She wasn’t sure if Alba had noticed, but even if she had, she wouldn’t point it out. She was a sweetheart like that.
Okay, just focus.
A shadow fell across the doorway, but Ellie didn’t look up. Whoever needed her now could wait until she’d done whatever else was on her list. “Give me a second, and I’ll be with you.”
She frowned suddenly. Something didn’t feel right.
The presence…didn’t feel right. Ellie lifted her eyes, and everything within her went cold.
Audrey Seddon was standing in her doorway with a visitor lanyard hanging neatly from her neck, looking entirely too comfortable in Ellie’s usually calm space.
She blinked repeatedly, hoping that Audrey would somehow disappear, but sadly, she didn’t.
“What are you doing here?”
Audrey’s lips curled into a faint, knowing smile as she stepped fully into the room. “Nice to see you too, Ellie.”
“I didn’t agree to an appointment with you.” Ellie pushed back from her desk and rose slowly. “Nor do I recall you requesting one.”
Audrey glanced around the office and shrugged. “I didn’t think I needed one.”
“Well, you do.”
“And yet,” Audrey sighed as she opened her arms. “Here I am.”