Chapter 18 #2
Ellie shook her head. “For weeks I’ve had this pressing on me, and had I been at liberty to speak of it, I could have provided proof enough of a broken heart, even for you.”
Annabelle had bitten her lip, her gaze swinging between them as Katie wrenched out another gulping sob. “I’m sorry, I didn’t know.”
Remorse filled her. It wasn’t her sister’s fault that their very different personality types meant they expressed their disappointment in different ways. Ellie stretched out her arms, and Katie rushed into them with a hug.
“I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry,” Katie sobbed. “I’m always forgetting how much you and others have done for me.”
“Well, maybe it’s time for you to do something for someone else. And focusing on others will help you not focus on yourself so much.”
Katie nodded, then turned to Annabelle. “I really didn’t mean to take advantage of you.”
“No advantage taken. Like I said, I’m happy to help.”
“And I’m sorry your heart was broken too.”
Annabelle shrugged. “These things happen. But I’m sure, like Ellie said, there’s a purpose in this, and God has something better planned for us. We just gotta keep trusting, right?”
Katie nodded. Then lifted her chin a fraction. “Right.”
Ellie studied her sister, knowing she’d been a little harsh but also knowing that it had been truth that needed to be spoken. “I think we should make a pact to pray for each other.”
“Good idea,” Katie said.
“I already do,” Annabelle said.
“Well, I already do too,” Ellie admitted, “but I figured that it was good for Katie to do.”
Annabelle laughed, and this time Katie smiled, which felt like such a win that Ellie willingly hugged her again. “I love you.”
“Love you too,” Katie murmured into her shoulder.
Annabelle lifted her mug of hot chocolate. “Then let’s see what God has in store for us.”
Ellie lifted her mug and clinked. “Bring on the good plans, God.”
Katie nodded. “Amen.”
Charlene’s challenge to him last Friday had kept Ethan company all week. He wasn’t without resources or research skills, and after all the machinations of his family, it was time to turn the tables and see what he could do. Which meant going to see his sister on Friday morning.
She opened the door. “What are you doing here?”
“Talking to you,” he said, entering and giving her a hug that obviously took her by surprise.
She frowned at him. “Why?”
“Because for some reason it feels like you’re not answering my calls.”
She blushed.
“So, that was a yes then?”
“I—I was just about to go out.”
“Great. Then this won’t take long at all. Where did you come across Ellie?”
“Who?”
“Elinor. The woman you and Dad don’t want me with. I need to speak to her.”
“Why don’t you have her details?”
“I did, and then I lost my Instagram account. It locked me out.”
She rolled her eyes. “You have always been pretty bad at technology.”
“I have,” he agreed. “Which is why I want your help to find Ellie.”
“You didn’t get her phone number?”
“We were communicating via Instagram.” Hadn’t he made that clear? “So as soon as you tell me where you found her, I’ll get out of your hair and you can get on with the rest of your day.”
She frowned again. “Hm. I can’t quite remember.”
“That’s weird. Oh well, I guess I’m gonna have to go stay at your holiday house until I find her.”
“What? No. You can’t do that.”
“I think you’ll find I can.” He folded his arms. “Of course, it would be a heck of a lot easier if you just told me the truth.”
“Fine then.” She shrugged. “She worked for some landscaping company. I can’t remember the name.”
He doubted that very much. “And where was that landscaping company based?”
She waved a hand. “Somewhere in the Southern Highlands. I don’t remember exactly where.”
He blew out a breath. Surely there had to be fewer landscaping companies than there were cafés. Maybe he could just call them all and see. His latest Google search had gotten nowhere.
He studied his sister. “Francine, why do you hate me?”
“What? That’s not true.”
He shrugged. “You seemed determined to spoil my happiness. I just don’t understand what I’ve done wrong to upset you so much that you would want to do this.”
She glanced away, her mouth a flat line. Shook her head.
“What?”
She heaved out a breath. “You’ve always had it easy. You never understood what Rob and I had to go through.”
“Had to go through? You make it sound like you grew up in poverty instead of having a fantastically blessed life.”
“Blessed.” She rolled her eyes. “Do you know what it was like having to be Dad’s perfect little daughter?”
“No. But I know what it’s like to feel I’ve needed to be Dad’s perfect little son.”
She continued as if she hadn’t heard him. “Always having to smile. Having to play the game. Make the connections. Do the parties. Get the money. Get the donations. I’ve done that all my life.”
“I know. I have too.”
She shook her head. “No. You don’t. You seem to operate on this different plane.
Like none of this matters to you. And I don’t understand that.
And it freaks me out and makes me jealous because I don’t want to have to care about this either.
And yet I feel like I’m stuck in this situation where I have to constantly do whatever Dad wants so he’ll be pleased with me. ”
Wow. He stepped back, studying his sister with new eyes. He hadn’t realised just how self-aware she was.
Maybe she hadn’t intended to spill quite so much truth either, as she looked shocked at her admission. “Forget I said that.”
“I will never forget you said that. Because that is the truth, isn’t it?” He leaned forward and did something he had never done before. He grasped her hands.
“What are you doing?”
He eyed her steadily. “I want you to hear this. You and I, and yes, Rob, we are never going to measure up to Dad’s expectations.”
“What? But I married Wayne just like he wanted me to, and—”
“And I know that has not always been easy, but I think it’s time for us to be honest about things. And the truth is our father is a narcissist. He’s corrupt. He’s not interested in the welfare of others but only in how things benefit himself.”