Chapter 15
Somehow Ellie made it through the next few days. Somehow she made it through Katie’s exclamations about how wonderful Jason was and about all the fantastic dates she’d had. She even coped with Katie’s pitying talks when she learned about the engagement party on social media.
“Oh my gosh. I don’t understand it. I thought Ethan was really into you.”
“Obviously not.”
“I’m so sorry.” Katie hugged her. “Look, I know you’re a really private person, but if ever you want to talk to me about it, I’m always here for you.”
“Thanks.”
“I can’t imagine how I’d be if Jason was to do something like that to me.”
Yeah, that didn’t bear thinking about. Katie would likely be hysterical, given her propensity to mood swings.
“I think I’d die if something like that happened to me,” Katie continued.
“Do you mind if we stop talking about this now? I’d really rather talk about something else.”
“Oh, but I want you to know I’m here for you. And I’m so sorry that this happened. You must feel awful. I know that I feel awful for you.”
“Way to go to not make this about you,” she snarked.
“Well, pardon me for caring.” Katie huffed off.
Yep. That was a winner of a conversation, although perhaps having her sister ignore her wasn’t such a bad thing.
Yes, she needed to care about others, but she also needed to take care of herself.
And trying to put others first could be wearing at times.
She really needed a break. And preferably not one in the Blue Mountains.
Maybe Emma-Jane would be up for a visit soon.
She mooted the possibility of this with Emma-Jane via text message, which scored an instant yes. That made her feel a little better, as did talking with her sisters on the next sister video call.
“I’m really sorry,” Liv said.
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. He obviously was not Mr. Right.”
“Mr. Wrong, instead.” Emma-Jane’s head tilted. “You know, I think I met his brother at some party Eric took me too. He seemed pretty sleazy, so I’m not surprised it runs in the family.”
“I don’t think Ethan is sleazy,” she protested. “Just maybe caught up trying to please his family.” She ghosted a smile. “None of us would know what that feels like, would we?”
Her sisters laughed. But she didn’t mean to sound disrespectful.
Only that there had been a degree of maternal pressure to adopt Mum’s passion for all things Jane Austen.
And while the other three all had their aspects of Austenites, Ellie had always been the odd one out, with her preference for Japanese culture and manga.
Things that Ethan had said he liked too.
She pressed her lips together. Lord, I really want to stop thinking about him.
“So, what’s next?” Emma-Jane asked. “Want me to finally get you set up with your dream guy on Dream Match?”
“No, thanks.”
“You sure? I got a message from Annabelle a while ago asking about getting on it.”
“Good for her!” Liv said.
“Huh.” Katie frowned. “I didn’t know she had a boyfriend.”
Yeah, that was because Annabelle didn’t.
EJ’s report looked to be old news. Not that she’d share that.
That was for Annabelle to say something.
“Thanks Emma-Jane, but I’m fine.” Or she would be, anyway.
“I think I’ll let you three and Annabelle do the romance thing, and I’ll be the maiden aunt to all your children. ”
Emma-Jane scoffed. “I don’t plan on having any children soon.”
“You say that now. A lot can change.”
“Right?” Liv chimed in. “I think I remember hearing you once say that you never could see yourself falling for Jordan, and look where you two are now.”
“Well, okay. Life has a way of surprising us.”
“Which means all is not lost, Ellie,” Liv continued. “Just because Ethan was Mr. Wrong doesn’t mean that Mr. Right isn’t about to walk through the door.”
“I feel like I’m so hopeless at this that even if Mr. Right were to walk through the door, I wouldn’t recognise him anyway.”
“Good thing I’m here to help her out,” Katie chimed in.
“Mm. I really think you’d be better off leaving it to the professional matchmaker.” Emma-Jane winked.
“I really think it’s time to change the subject,” Ellie said firmly. “So, Liv, any more wedding plans? Are we still looking at a Christmas wedding?”
As if her mother had magically attuned ears to the word wedding, she entered the room. “Oh, are you talking about wedding plans?” She sat down, shifting the computer so the screen faced Mum now. Okay.
The light in her eldest sister’s face had faded a little. “Look, we were hoping, but there’s been a change of plans, and we’re gonna have to wait until summer.”
“What?” Mum exclaimed. “Why didn’t you tell us?”
“It’s only just happened. Apparently Georgina has a bunch of really important exams around then, and Liam doesn’t want her distracted.
She’ll be finished by May, so after then would be better.
And as George is his only surviving relative, he wants to help her feel as included as possible. Which I agree with,” she added.
“But we’d made plans to come over for Christmas,” Mum complained. “I really feel like you should reconsider.”
“No, Mum. This is what we’re doing,” Liv said firmly. “And to be honest, the Hall will look a hundred times better in late spring or summer than it will in the depths of winter.”
Mum sighed. “I suppose that is something, at least.”
“I’d really like it if you could all come on board with this, please,” Liv said. “I don’t want to have to regret this or feel like I’m going to second-guess my decisions. I need your support.”
“You’ve got mine,” Ellie said.
“And mine,” Emma-Jane added.
“I don’t mind missing an English winter,” Katie said. “We can enjoy another summer Christmas.”
“Mum?” Liv said.
“Oh, very well.” Mum drooped. “Change the date if you must.”
“Thank you for your understanding.” Liv said, with not a little irony.
“Hey, it’ll be okay,” Ellie soothed. “Our plane tickets have a free date change.”
Mum nodded. “That’s a relief.”
“Hey, I need to go soon,” Emma-Jane said. “Big day tomorrow.”
“Me too,” Liv added. “But I mean it. I do appreciate you all understanding why this had to change.”
“You’ve got to do what works for you,” Ellie said. “And if that means it’s all too hard and you have to elope, then that’s okay too.”
“Elope?” screeched Mum. “There is to be no eloping for any of my daughters.”
“Aw, come on, Mum,” Ellie teased. “Don’t you want Liv to be happy?”
“I do, but she needn’t feel that eloping will make her happy.”
“It might make Liam happy,” Emma-Jane said with a sly wink.
“Oh my goodness! If I didn’t love the boy and I didn’t know you were teasing, I might get very upset right now. I don’t want any of my daughters turning out like poor Lydia. I didn’t raise my girls to be a Lydia in this world.”
Ellie bit back a laugh. Mum was a little too easy to tease. “Seriously though, Liv, if there’s anything we can do, let us know. And when you have a new date for us to save, let us know ASAP so we can rebook our flights. Okay?”
“Will do. Thank you.”
Liv’s expression held relief, and Ellie realised that this must have been a hard decision, despite Liv and Liam wanting to support Georgina. Still, kindness and grace and understanding were what helped the world go round.
As Katie started talking about Jason again, Ellie’s mind drifted to other understanding people. Like Nicola, who had proved herself an understanding boss on Monday when she’d asked how the party had gone and Ellie had been forced to admit what happened.
“You mean Francine only wanted you there to rub your nose in this engagement?”
She’d shrugged. “I don’t know what her real motive was, but it definitely wasn’t about needing lights in the garden. She had enough there to run her own Vivid festival.”
Nicola huffed. “Well, it’ll be interesting to see how she plans to take this forward. I’m inclined to triple the fee I was going to ask because she’s clearly proved herself manipulative.”
Ellie had winced. “I don’t want this to cause trouble for you.”
“Oh, I think this woman has proved to be trouble for both of us, so I don’t mind causing her a little bit of pain.”
That was the Christian spirit. Not that Nicola was one. Yet. Still, maybe that was part of Ellie’s mission field. She might not be saving the world via youth work, but God could use her wherever she was. “I truly don’t want you to worry about this, Nicola. I’ll forgive her.” One day.
“Well, that’s very noble of you. And while half of me is inclined to say go face your demons and prove that this woman doesn’t bother you, another part of me values you too much to let you go through such a thing.”
“I appreciate that.”
And Nicola had kept her in the office and refused to let Ellie have anything more to do with Francine, even when she called and demanded to speak to Ellie.
“Why?” Nicola asked bluntly, having put the call on speakerphone.
“Because I have unfinished business with her.”
“I think the person you’re supposed to be doing business with is me,” Nicola snapped. “Do you mean to say that all this time you only wanted to use my services because of one of my employees?”
“Well, er—”
“You’ve been wasting my time, is that it?”
“I needed her to understand that she shouldn’t think she can embroil herself in my brother’s life.”
“Is this the brother who just got himself engaged? I fail to see how Elinor can get in the middle of that. Now, you’ll have to excuse me, as I have real work to do. And I would appreciate prompt payment of my invoice.”
Nicola ended the call and glanced at Ellie. “Did that sound okay?”
“Thank you. But I’m not sure if you’ll see your payment.”
“Then she’ll see my lawyer. Honestly, what is it with people who think they can control the world and control people just because they have money?”
“That’s usually how it works.”
“Hmm. Well, let’s focus on what we have to do now. How are you going with that drawing of the Japanese bridge the Honeymans wanted?”