Eloise

Chapter 33

Chapter Thirty-Three

Alba had never been particularly good at doing nothing.

Even now, on a quiet Saturday morning with nowhere to be and nobody expecting anything from her, she still found herself looking around the house for jobs that didn’t actually need doing.

The dishwasher had already been loaded after breakfast, and the laundry basket was empty; she’d even walked Colin twice.

And now here she was, standing in the living room window with a coffee in one hand, contemplating whether the kitchen cupboard above the fridge needed reorganising.

“For the love of God, will you please sit down?”

Alba glanced over her shoulder. Ellie was curled into the corner of the couch with one of Alba’s hoodies wrapped around her. Her reading glasses sat low on her nose as she looked up from the book in her lap.

“You’ve been wandering around this house for twenty minutes looking for something to do.”

“I have not.” Alba rolled her eyes. “I was just making another coffee.”

“You’ve already had two.”

Alba frowned. She’d definitely had more than that. “It’s three, actually. This is my fourth.”

Ellie sighed. “Exactly. You’ll be bouncing off the walls soon.”

A smile tugged at Alba’s lips. God, she loved this.

Not the grand moments or the drama, not even the incredible sex that still left her wondering whether she’d somehow hallucinated the entire relationship to date.

Just…this. Saturday mornings with coffee while Colin was snoring in the middle of the floor.

The normality of it all as Ellie sat there, looking entirely at home in Alba’s house.

She crossed the room and dropped onto the couch beside her, and as always, Ellie shifted closer.

Six months ago, Alba would have spent an entire weekend analysing whether Ellie sitting a little closer than usual meant anything, but now…

Ellie practically lived in her lap, and no, Alba was not complaining about that.

She slid an arm around Ellie’s shoulders and pressed a kiss to her hair. “What are you reading?”

“Nothing exciting.” Ellie tilted her book towards Alba. “I had high hopes…but as always, miscommunication.”

“Babe, you’ve cried twice.”

Ellie laughed. “That doesn’t mean anything. I can be very sensitive when I want to be.”

God, she never wanted days like this to end. Days when she felt safe not only in herself and her home, but her relationship too. It had been so long since Alba had felt entirely at ease.

Colin lifted his head from where he was sprawled out on his bed, deciding that nothing important was happening, and immediately went to sleep again.

Lucky bastard.

Just as Alba was beginning to think that she might finally convince herself to relax, the doorbell rang. Once, then twice…only it was far longer the second time. She frowned. “Are we expecting anyone?”

“No. Not that I can recall.”

Lois usually sent a message before she came over, and delivery drivers tended to leave any parcels and run. The doorbell rang again, so Alba sighed and pushed herself up off the couch. “If it’s someone trying to sell me double glazing, I’m releasing Colin.”

Colin didn’t even open his eyes, but Ellie smiled. “I’ll back up your story, don’t worry.”

Alba wandered down the hallway, not particularly bothered by who it was at this point. They’d interrupted her morning regardless. But then she looked up, and the sight through the frosted glass of the front door stopped her heart.

No, no, no. Not today. Not here. Not ever.

Alba froze when the shape beyond the glass shifted. It was a familiar silhouette…but beside it, a smaller one. Possibly canine.

She slowly unlocked the door, and the moment it opened, Audrey’s perfume hit her. It was that same expensive scent she’d once associated with home, but now it just made her want to close the door in her face. “How the hell did you find out where I live?”

Her ex-wife looked tired. Older, even. “The internet is a wonderful resource.” She held out a lead. “Take him.”

Alba lowered her gaze to where Ralph was looking up at her, his tail wagging furiously.

His entire body wiggled as Alba crouched.

“Oh, my God! Ralphy boy!” He launched himself at her, and all that time apart vanished in an instant.

She wrapped her arms around his neck as he buried his face against her shoulder, tears burning unexpectedly behind her eyes.

“Oh, mate.” Ralph whined, and it instantly broke everything inside of her.

God, she’d missed him and she hadn’t realised just how much until this exact moment.

She felt Ellie behind her and glanced over her shoulder. She’d stopped halfway down the hallway, confusion etched on her face before she spotted Audrey. Her expression changed completely, the softness of those beautiful blue eyes now replaced by a fierce protection. “What’s going on here?”

Audrey scoffed. “I see she’s still around.”

Ellie’s jaw visibly tightened, so Alba rose to her feet and cleared her throat. “What are you doing here?”

Audrey folded her arms. “I brought your dog back to you.”

“Fine by me.” Alba gripped the lead tight and guided Ralph inside, closing the door over. “Bye then.”

Audrey shoved her foot against the door and glared at Alba, and Ellie instantly stepped forward. She wasn’t inserting herself or doing anything to escalate the situation; she was simply making it clear that Alba wasn’t standing there alone.

Audrey’s eyes landed on Ellie, and a sneer followed. Then she looked back at Alba. “I hope you’re happy.”

She was. She was deliriously happy, and she had been for months now. “I’m very happy, actually.”

“You cost me everything.”

Alba laughed. The audacity was genuinely impressive. “I cost you everything?”

“I lost my department head role.” Audrey’s voice rose. “I’ve spent months being investigated because of complaints.”

“Well, maybe if you didn’t behave like a twat, there wouldn’t be any complaints.”

“I’m moving. Leaving the area.” Audrey’s eyes glistened. “Did you know that?”

“Why…would I know that?”

Audrey scoffed. “Do you even care?”

“Um…no.” Alba looked back at her, frowning.

For years, she’d felt intimidated by Audrey.

Controlled by her moods and careful around her reactions…

but not anymore. That realisation felt surprisingly freeing.

“I don’t wish anything bad on you, but I’m not responsible for the consequences of your actions. ”

“I hate that you’ve won.”

Alba blinked. Won? Was that honestly how Audrey saw it? Relationships and marriage…love. Was it all about winning and losing to her? Jesus. Maybe that explained everything.

“I haven’t won anything.” Alba’s voice remained calm and steady. “I just stopped letting you make me miserable.”

“You think she’s better than me?”

Alba felt Ellie stiffen beside her, but this wasn’t Ellie’s fight.

It never had been. Alba stepped forward and smiled.

“I don’t think anything. I know.” Audrey froze, clearly expecting hesitation, but there wasn’t any.

“She’s kinder than you and more compassionate.

” Alba looked her ex-wife up and down, disappointed that they’d ever met.

Audrey had brought nothing to Alba’s life.

“She’s certainly more emotionally mature than you.

” Audrey’s eyes widened, but Alba didn’t stop.

“And do you know the biggest difference between you and Ellie? She actually wants me to be happy.”

Those words landed like a punch to the face. Audrey could deny it, but Alba knew her well enough to know when something had hurt. And that had done the trick once and for all.

“If that’s all, I have things to do.”

Audrey stepped back and lifted a hand, eyeing Ellie. “You’re welcome to her. Good luck. She’s a fucking weirdo.”

Ellie moved around Alba and took the few steps down to the garden path, her hands now shoved in her pockets.

“I don’t know who you think you are, but you won’t stand there and criticise the woman I love when you’ve been dropped from your position at work for being a disgusting human being.

Turn around, leave, and don’t fucking come back! ”

Ellie turned and strolled back up the path, guided Alba and Ralph further inside, and kicked the door shut. Alba, highly aroused by that side of Ellie, stared back at her, mouth agape.

“Are you okay?” Ellie asked as she stepped closer and laid a hand on Alba’s waist. “Don’t listen to anything she says. I love you, and I love everything that you are, Alba.”

“I… Yeah.” Alba swallowed. “F-fine, yeah.”

“Good. Now, I believe this chap has some reintroductions to take care of before I cuddle all of you for the rest of the morning.”

Alba stepped closer and kissed Ellie, for the simple reason that she had nothing else to say. As she pulled back, Ellie gripped her jaw gently, drew her in once again, and smiled into another kiss. “Don’t ever think for one moment that I take in anything that woman says, okay?”

“Okay.”

“I mean it, Alba. I’ve never come across anyone who thinks so highly of themselves when in reality, they’re irrelevant.” Ellie stroked her thumb over Alba’s bottom lip, melting her entirely. “This…what’s happening here? It was meant to be.”

God. When Ellie said things like that, Alba wanted to offer her the entire world. No other woman had ever brought that out in Alba. Ellie Hamilton was built differently, though, and right now…she was Alba’s entire universe. “Are you ready for the mayhem to begin?”

“Baby, I was born ready.”

Ralph leaned against Alba’s leg and barked once…agreeing with Ellie already. Alba was in trouble with these three in her life, she just knew it. “Let’s do this!”

The park was busier than usual this weekend.

Families occupied the playground, while children darted between swings and climbing frames…

their parents sitting nearby with takeaway coffees, and a football match was taking place over on the far side of the field.

For once, Ellie didn’t find herself watching any of it and wishing her life was different.

Her attention was fixed firmly on the woman beside her instead.

If she’d learned anything since meeting Alba, it was that life was what you made of it…

and no amount of moping would bring Eloise back.

Alba’s fingers were threaded through hers as they followed the winding path around the edge of the lake, Colin and Ralph trotting ahead as though they’d never been apart.

Ralph was carrying a tennis ball, Colin was carrying a stick, and neither of them seemed remotely interested in swapping.

It was one of the healthiest relationships Ellie had ever witnessed.

Alba side-glanced at Ellie and regarded her with a wary smile. “I’m sorry about this.”

Ellie frowned. “About…what?”

“You know…” Alba nodded towards the dogs. “Ralph.”

Ellie stared at her, then laughed. “You’re apologising for a dog?”

“He wasn’t exactly part of the original package.”

“But he’s a part of you, so he was always going to be welcome.” Ellie didn’t care who or what came with Alba. She just wanted a future with this woman. “Do you want to talk about what happened today?”

“What happened when?”

Ellie gave her a knowing look. “When Audrey turned up on your doorstep…”

“No. I have nothing to say about her. She’s not a part of my life, and so long as she stays away from me, I don’t care where she is or what she’s doing.”

“Okay.” Colin chose that exact moment to abandon his stick, sprint directly into a muddy puddle, and emerge looking thoroughly pleased with himself. “Well, I was just about to mention how perfect the boys are together, but I think it’s best if I say nothing.”

“Colin’s favourite game is to play the swamp monster. I’ve given up trying to stop him. He’ll end up dragging me in with him one of these days.”

Ellie laughed. “Now that I’d love to see.”

They continued walking hand in hand, and Ellie found herself unable to stop smiling.

She felt ridiculously happy lately. Even today, when Audrey had shown up and tried to cause trouble, Ellie had taken it all with a pinch of salt and refused to let it lower the mood.

It wasn’t necessary, not when she was experiencing a kind of happiness she’d forgotten existed.

Just months ago, she’d sat alone in her office, wondering why Alba had suddenly stopped speaking to her, and now she was holding her hand in the middle of the park while their dogs walked ahead of them. And yes, she meant their dogs.

“You’re doing that thing again.”

Ellie’s gaze shifted towards Alba. “What thing?”

“Smiling to yourself.”

“What can I say?” Ellie lifted a shoulder. “I have a lot of reasons to smile these days.”

“Aww, babe. That’s lovely.” Alba squeezed her hand and leaned into Ellie, sighing with contentment as they watched Colin and Ralph zooming about on the dog field. “Thank you for having my back earlier.”

Ellie lowered a kiss to Alba’s hair as she rested her head against Ellie’s shoulder. “Always.”

God, she adored Alba, and she would move heaven and earth to make her happy.

No ex-wife could ever bring this down. Not on Ellie’s watch, and not with sheer lies.

You’re happier than you’ve been in a long time.

That realisation still hit her out of nowhere at times.

Like now, pausing beneath a canopy of trees while Alba’s dark hair danced in the breeze and sunlight filtered through the leaves above them.

Just looking at her made Ellie feel lighter.

She turned to Alba and reached out a hand, brushing her knuckles against her cheek. “You’re so beautiful.”

Alba’s eyes softened. “Careful.”

“Why?”

“Because if you keep saying things like that, I’m not going to be held responsible for whatever happens next in public.”

Ellie’s pulse skipped a beat. “That sounds like a threat.”

“Maybe it is.”

Ellie leaned in closer. “Promises, promises.” Ralph suddenly barked, and Colin responded with one of his own, then both dogs took off running. Ellie groaned. “There they go.”

“They’ll be back.” Alba waved a hand. “Don’t worry.”

“They’re heading directly for that woman eating a sandwich.”

Alba watched them disappear around the bend. “Ah.”

“I feel like you should sound far more concerned than you actually do.”

“They’ll be fine, babe. Trust me.”

Ellie did trust her, but she didn’t trust Colin and Ralph to leave the poor woman eating her lunch alone.

She was still shaking her head when Alba slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

The movement caught her by surprise. It wasn’t that Alba rarely touched her—quite the opposite, actually—but moments like this still had the ability to stop her in her tracks.

“Do you,” Alba whispered, “want to know a secret?”

Ellie tilted her head. “Go on…”

“I’m really happy. Stupidly happy.”

The sounds of the park continued around them, with children laughing and dogs barking…life just carrying on around them. Ellie lifted their joined hands and pressed a kiss to Alba’s knuckles, a gesture she’d stolen from her months ago now. “I’m really happy, too.”