32. Elle
Hanging up from my call with Jami, I couldn’t help but feel relieved and for the first time since Jake went ‘missing,’ safe. Safe from his horrible treatment and mental abuse and happy that the evidence Jami uncovered would make sure Jake stayed in prison for a long time to come.
“What’s the news buttercup?” mum asked joining me in the family room when she saw I was off the phone.
“You tell me Gigi, weren’t you eavesdropping?”
“Well yes I was Ellie, but I didn’t hear what Jami had to say, just you,” mum answered me without a shred of embarrassment for listening in on my conversation.
Laughing I patted the seat cushion beside me to join me.
“Well, Jake had been a very bad boy,” I began dramatically, “Jamison said in the boat was two duffle bags. Heroin, weed and meth apparently.” My nonchalance was my go-to coping mechanism when talking about uncomfortable topics. My husband being a drug trafficker was more than uncomfortable. It was downright mortifying.
“Is that all?” Georgina clucked not missing my subterfuge one little bit.
“No mother, there was more. Jake is also stupid it seems. In the boat was also a lot of my personal items he took when he broke into my house.” For that I was grateful for my soon to be ex-husband’s stupidity. Replacing linens and furniture was easy but my Gran-Gran’s antique lamp and her pearl and opal bracelet and matching ring were irreplaceable. It was just good luck that he had yet thrown them away or sold them. Whatever the reason he had for still having them I wasn’t interested, all I wanted was to have them back.
“Gran-Gran’s jewellery?”
“Found in the boat. Jamison said I can have it all back he just isn’t sure when, but it shouldn’t be too long.” I assured mum. Her mother was our heroine, our grand mistress and someone we adored. For Jake to deliberately take possessions he knew were so dear to me just another reason to hate him and get him out of my life for good.
“Have you contacted your solicitor chickee?”
“It’s Saturday Georgina,” I replied drolly, “It can wait until Monday, plus I don’t want to talk on the phone, I want to go into her office.”
“Fair enough, Ellie,” mum agreed with me, patting my knee. “You know your daddy is out in the back shed waiting for you, your sisters are already out there.”
Dropping my head to my mum’s shoulder, I smelled the familiar scent of her favourite perfume. “Hmmm, that smell always makes me think of when me, Gissy and Claude would sit on your bed and watch you do your makeup at your vanity.”
“You three loved doing anything that made you late for school,” mum chuckled, laying her head on mine and sat there with me in silence for a few minutes. But Georgina being who she was, couldn’t stay quiet for long. It wasn’t in her, which was why she could never make a good serial killer.
“Chickee, I need you to listen to me and hear what I am saying.”
Sighing in defeat I nodded against her shoulder. “Yes ma’am.”
With one hand on my knee and the other one around my shoulder holding me to her, Georgina started with her words of Blessing wisdom.
“Darlin girl we can’t help who we fall in love with. Some of us get lucky and find the right one the first time, I fell in love with your daddy the second I laid eyes on him, Claudia too found her one and only the first time.” Tears gathered behind my eyelids, but I held them back because I knew Georgina had even better things to say yet.
“You and Gisele weren’t as lucky but that doesn’t mean there is anything wrong with either of you. It means there was something wrong with the men you chose. Gissy has found her one in Detective Jury, and I know out there is yours. You are one of the strongest women I know Elle Naomi Blessing and you will come out of this bump in the road thrown at you with dignity and your heart a little bruised but not battered.” Pressing a kiss to the top of my head, the beautiful smell of her perfume and face cream swirling around me.
“Don’t let that hard shell close you off to the beauty of falling in love with the right man, my darling girl. Don’t let Jake’s ugliness turn you cold, because you have a lot of love to give someone who is deserving of your love. All you have to do is believe and have faith.”
Taking in everything my mum just told me, I sniffled and let a few tears fall down my cheek.
“Do you really believe that mummy? Is there someone out there who wants to love me … really love me?”
“With my whole heart chickee. With my whole heart. I love you and your sisters with a fierceness that cannot be explained with words. There simply aren’t enough or one that comes even close. What I can tell you is you my sweet tough daughter have a heart of gold. Pure and extraordinary, just like me.” A chuckle bubbled up my throat, the reaction Georgina was going for by adding her last comment. It worked because it was true. My mother was extraordinary and her love for her children was pure.
“Thank you, mum, I really needed to hear that,” I whispered honestly, this time not hiding behind my hard exterior.
“Now,” she said loudly gently pushing me off her. “Go out to the shed and let your daddy see you are okay. That man has been driving me crazy all day, getting underfoot while waiting for you to come to him.”
Laughing, I stood up then reached down to the coffee table for the tv remote and automatically handed it to her.
“Yes ma’am,” I said again, leaving her to herself and the tv. “Love you to pieces woman,” I said as I walked out of the lounge.
“Love you back together again chickee,” she replied before the famous opening credit music of Jaws came from the tv.
My mother might appear crazy and a complete lunatic to many, but to me she was in her own words … extraordinary but still crazier than a headless chook.
I walked into the shed to the sounds of laughter from my sisters and father and Elvis blaring from the old school speakers in the corner of dad’s man cave, or as we sisters like to call it his haven from his wife.
Georgina didn’t approve of the dusty rugs, or the tattered old couch dad saved from the tip years ago. He deliberately kept it dusty and smelly just so she stayed inside and out of his way.
“Here she is,” Claudia shouted over Burning Love, dancing over to me and pulled me inside. “Where have you been chickee?”
“Talking with Jami about the case, then Georgina had some words of wisdom she forced me to listen to before ordering me out here,” I answered with an eye roll, but still I smiled at Claudia and then Gisele. Her radiant face smiled back at me, and I had to chuckle. Mum was right. My baby sister really had finally found love with Jami.
Turning to my father I walked straight into his open arms and sighed when he closed them around me.
“Hey sweet Ellie,” he whispered, his voice low and worried.
“Hey daddio,” I whispered back, giving him a tight reassuring squeeze.
“Have you worked out what you’re going to do?”
“Apart from getting a divorce asap? No dad I haven’t, but I’m in no rush.” I said believing what I was telling my father. I really had no clue where to go as far as relationships went. Maybe I wasn’t cut out for being a spouse or part of a couple. Right now, all I wanted to do was get my home back in order and enjoy time with my family. That was all I could concentrate on for now.
“I’m always here for you Elle Naomi, always and always,” dad said gruffly, not used to expressing his emotions even though he lived in a house full of women.
“I know daddy, and I’m always here for you.” I promised and getting a smooching kiss from him.
“Okay enough of the sad faces,” Claudia shouted, going over to Gisele and grabbing her by the hand and bring her back so the three of us were in a circle. “Time for the Blessing girls to get their dance on!”
Gisele giggled but still looked at me with a question in her eyes.
“All is going to be fine, chickee. I promise.”
All I had to do was believe Georgina was right and someone was out there waiting to fall in love with me.
Maybe.