Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
L acie was desperate to see Ellie and her mother, but wanted to be strong for her. She found a bathroom, thankfully empty, and allowed a few tears to flow. Not too many, then she’d be all red-faced and they would know something was up. She could contact Nathan later and try to talk to him again, explain in more detail about the past few months and how overwhelmed she was trying to make the right decisions. He was right though, he had bared his soul, and he didn’t seem like he had done that with anyone in a long time, if at all. Somehow, he’d trusted her right away, and now that trust was ruined.
Oh, what a mess!
She splashed water on her face even though as a beauty therapist she never did such things, water dried out the skin, and her hydrating face mists were much better. But now was not a time for such minor concerns. She was tired and achy from the flight, and her heart was shaken up. She swiped on some berry tinted lip gloss and pressed her lips together. Dabbed a bit of concealer under her eyes, and took a confident breath and readied herself for seeing her sister.
She texted her mum to let her know she was on her way up to the ward, and when she reached the right level and stepped out of the elevator with her luggage, her mum was there waiting with open arms.
Lacie practically collapsed into her and, so much for freshening up in the bathroom, the tears started flowing again. ‘I missed you.’
‘Oh, my darling, look at you.’ She placed her hands on Lacie’s arms and stepped back, admiring her growing belly. ‘I could have come down and helped you with your luggage.’
‘No need. I’ll have to get used to carrying a baby around soon enough.’ She smiled. ‘How is she? She’s not asleep, is she?’
Martha shook her head. ‘She’s as well as can be, considering. Oh, Nathan was just here, did you happen to see him?’
‘Yes, but we had a bit of an… anyway, that’s a topic of conversation for another day. Can I see her now?’
Martha led Lacie and her luggage into Ellie’s room.
Ellie tried to sit up, her tired grey eyes widening. ‘Oh wow, you’re really big now.’
‘Hey, El, don’t get up.’ She went straight to her sister’s side. ‘Oh, Ellie.’ She wiped her sister’s hair from her forehead. ‘I wish I’d called you that night. Wish I’d been able to help you.’
‘You did, it’s just… it was just too hard all at once. I’m so sorry.’ She sobbed. ‘And you came all this way! I’ve made a big mess of things.’
‘No, no, you haven’t. Family comes first, and I’m here because I want to be.’ She sat on the side of the bed and hugged Ellie, whose tears moistened Lacie’s cotton top.
‘Everyone is being so supportive. Nathan even came and gave me a book he said might be helpful.’
Lacie eyed the book on the nearby table. Her heart rose up then plummeted. He was such a caring person and she’d let him down.
‘I’m just so embarrassed,’ Ellie whispered. ‘I didn’t mean, I mean, I didn’t know…’ Her eyes welled up again, and Martha joined Lacie at the bedside. Ellie looked Lacie and then her mother in the eye. ‘I didn’t want to die, I just wanted the pain to stop!’ Tears burst forth and Lacie held her sister, trying to keep her own tears contained as her heart ached like never before. Martha rubbed Lacie’s back with one hand while massaging Ellie’s hand with the other.
‘It’s okay, sweetheart,’ Martha said. ‘We understand. You don’t have to feel embarrassed or ashamed. And we’re going to get you the right kind of help so you can find a way through all of this.’
‘And we’ll be with you every step of the way,’ Lacie added.
Ellie nodded in appreciation and her sobs eventually subsided.
‘Well,’ Lacie said, ‘I’m glad you have a book, because I found this at the airport.’ She retrieved a bookmark from her bag and handed it to Ellie. It had encouraging words on it for those going through challenges.
‘Thanks, Lace.’
Martha popped it inside the book, and told Lacie to sit on the chair next to the bed. ‘I’ll go get you something, love. Are you drinking coffee? Or tea, hot chocolate?’
‘Hot chocolate, thanks, Mum.’
‘Me too, Mum,’ Ellie said. ‘I think I’m allowed, as long as it’s not too hot?’
‘I’ll check with the nurse on the way out. Ellie’s on a special diet for a couple of days while she recovers,’ she told Lacie.
Lacie felt a glimmer of hope that if her sister felt like a hot chocolate, it might also mean that she felt like she could move forward, heal, and focus on living. It was only now she recalled times when her sister had not seemed excited about certain special foods or drinks, or doing something fun, or seemed disinterested in general. Why hadn’t she seen the signs?
‘How long are you staying?’ Ellie asked.
Lacie shrugged. ‘Haven’t thought that far ahead. My only focus was getting here. I’ll have a think after a few days.’
‘Thank you for coming.’
‘I couldn’t not. And anyway, I think our family reunion wasn’t long enough, so I thought I’d fix that and get back on over here!’
‘I’m glad you did,’ said another voice at the doorway.
‘Penny!’ Lacie got up and embraced her other sister.
‘Ooh!’ She patted Lacie’s belly. ‘How beautiful.’ Penny glanced at Ellie. ‘You’re looking much better than yesterday, El.’
She must have looked pretty bad, then, as Lacie had been pained to see her sister looking so drained today.
They chatted about less serious things for a while, had their hot chocolates when Martha returned, and Lacie yawned.
‘I can take you back to South Haven for a rest soon if you like,’ Penny said. ‘I don’t have to pick up the kids till later but happy to drive back whenever you need to, you must be exhausted from the flight.’
‘It’s okay, I can stay with Ellie.’
‘No, you go rest, please,’ Ellie said. ‘I’ll be fine, and I’ll still be here tomorrow so you can come back then. You have my unborn niece or nephew to look after too.’
‘True. I am tired. Okay then, I’ll catch up on sleep and see you again soon.’ She kissed her sister’s forehead and hugged her mum, and walked out the door with Penny. She was reluctant to leave Ellie’s side, but now that she’d seen her and was reassured she’d be all right, she did need to take care of herself too. Ellie wouldn’t just bounce back, she knew that, but she hoped by being here she would garner strength from everyone’s presence and support, and know that she was very much wanted in this world.