Chapter 34
Elizabeth
In the morning, the birds are chirping a beautiful song outside my window.
The mattress beside me is empty but still warm, telling me that James hasn’t been out of bed for too long.
I crave a moment on my own, so I pull the duvet up to my neck and snuggle deeper into my pillows, listening to nature singing outside.
The world is beautifully quiet, and my body feels relaxed, at ease, a completely different sensation to last night.
I can hear James’s voice in the living room, hushed as he tries not to wake me.
I stretch, feeling my entire body release whatever pent-up energy is left.
Slowly, I get up out of bed, feeling the sun warm my face through the window and the cold wooden floor beneath my feet.
It’s a crisp January morning, the first of the year, but the sky is blue, the same as Theo’s eyes, I catch myself thinking.
I open the bedroom door and lean on the door frame, one hand resting on my belly, watching James dance, uncoordinated, around the kitchen.
The oven is on, filling the kitchen with warmth and the sweet smell of all-butter croissants.
He has his headphones in, so I slide myself into the dining chair and quietly watch with a smile.
Bear trots over to me and, loyal as ever, sits at my feet.
James spins around and jumps when he spots me watching him. He chuckles, cheeks flushing, and pulls an earbud out.
“How long have you been there?” he asks embarrassed.
“Long enough,” I giggle.
James serves croissants on the table with a fresh pot of tea and a side of strawberry jam. We take the morning slowly. Resting is always hard for me. It feels like a small piece of my freedom is being taken from me each time I’m told to sit still. James won’t allow me to lift a finger.
He switches the radio from his headphones to the smart speaker, and the room fills with music whilst James cleans the kitchen.
There’s a lightness about this morning that I have never felt before.
The loneliness I was feeling before is slowly fading.
The world outside my window feels a little less frightening.
“Last night was drama in the Masters household, but before we give you an update on that, let’s play Theo Masters new song, ‘Sunshine Rising.’ Enjoy.”
My song plays out over the radio, but I struggle to register it as the radio presenter shocks me. What does he mean by drama in the Masters household? I replay the message in my head. James spins to face me from the sink, water dripping onto the floor from the wet pan he is holding.
“Elizabeth, stay calm.” He places the plate on the side and strides across the kitchen towards where I am sat.
“I’m sure everything is fine. You know what the news stations are like.
” He puts his hands on my shoulders, but I can’t hear him.
My ears ring, and I can’t tear my eyes from the radio.
The song playing is the one written about me.
The one he played for me before anyone else in the world knew it existed.
His voice fills my cottage, the song no longer a hum, but a beautiful love letter I can’t hear.
I should be elated that my song is on the radio, but fear is beginning to drain my senses.
I stand up from my chair.
“I need my phone, James. Where is it?” He runs to the bedroom and comes bounding in with my phone a moment later. I scroll to Theo’s name. It rings and rings for what feels like an extremely long amount of time. Each second stretching painfully long.
“Why isn’t he answering, James? He’s never not answered my call.” I try again and still nothing.
The jingle for the 9:00am news comes on the radio, and my ears prick up as I hear Theo’s name again.
“James, turn it up.” He reaches for the volume button, turning it louder so we can hear more clearly.
brEAKING NEWS! At 3:00am this morning Theodore Masters was taken away in handcuffs from his family home.
A statement released by his PR team earlier this morning pleads his innocence, however, images released this morning show police cars surrounding his house and Theo being placed into a police car with his hands and shirt covered in blood.
Olivia Masters was taken to hospital in an ambulance.
We are waiting for a statement from her team.
I look at James, my eyes wide in horror. Theo was supposed to have gone to LA this morning. Why did his plans change? I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to do. My mind is running wild with questions, but I can’t seem to find my voice to ask.
“I’ll head up to the hospital and see if I can find out any information.
Stay here and stay calm, please. Elizabeth, you need to rest. I will ring you as soon as I find anything out.
I promise.” He dries his hands on the chequered tea towel and throws it on the side.
He slides his feet into his trainers, grabs his car keys and heads out the door.
3:00 am. He was arrested at 3:00 am. That’s the same time that I woke up panicking in the night. A cold shiver runs along my spine. My body knew before my mind did.
I pace the kitchen as the croissants sit on the table, going stale. My appetite has disappeared, replaced by nausea.
An hour later, my phone rings. I jump up to grab it, shocked to see it lit up with Theo’s name.
“Hello?” I ask, wondering who is going to be on the other end, not fully trusting that it will be him.
“Sunshine… it’s me,” he says softly, reassuring even in the chaos.
I gasp for air when I hear his voice. My heart races and I suddenly feel faint.
Words rush from my mouth, asking if he’s ok, asking what had happened.
“Elle, baby, calm down. I’m ok, I promise.
You need to calm down. This isn’t good for you or Nellie.
” I sit on the sofa and try to slow my breathing.
He’s ok. We’re ok. “I told her, baby. I really didn’t want you to find out this way, but I left her.
” The room spins, and all I can do is press my hand to my mouth.
Words are failing me. There’s so much going on that everything seems so unreal.
“My lawyer in LA found a break clause, and I stupidly told Olivia before I went to the airport. I should have waited until I got back.”
He has left Olivia. I need to take a moment to process.
“Theo… why were you arrested?” Questions about the entire morning are flying around my head in a tidal wave of thoughts.
“The papers are going to say I attacked her.” I don’t ask if he did it.
I already know the answer to that. “When I told her I was leaving, she flew into a fit of rage. She threw everything in sight at my head. The house is trashed. She smashed a picture of us and used the glass to…” I hear the tremble in his voice.
He breathes in deeply, as though forcing last night’s nightmare back into place.
“She slit her wrist, Elizabeth. I had to call an ambulance. I wrapped her wrists as best I could before they came, but of course they sent a police team over too. She’s going to be ok.
” Silence fills the line as neither of us know what to say.
“She can say and do whatever she likes, Sunshine. I stand by my decision. I have no idea what backlash I am about to get, but if my lawyer is right, I won’t be losing anything.
” I flinch at his words. I wish he understood that he doesn’t need anything for me to love him.
There are so many emotions flowing through me. I am crying because of the trauma that both Olivia and Theo went through last night. I am happy that he has finally chosen me.
Us.
Guilt coils tightly in my chest because, whether I like it or not, I am part of the reason Olivia did what she did last night. Olivia had tried to take her own life, and that was partly down to me.
“I have to go. The plane is waiting for me. I still need to fly to LA to finalise the details and make a PR plan. I’ll be home as soon as I can. I love you, baby.” He hears my breath catch on a small sob.
“I love you too, Theo,” I whisper.
“It’s over now, Elizabeth. I’m not going anywhere. You’re everything I’ve ever needed.” The phone clicks off, and I fall to the ground with relief. Bear runs over, and I hold him tightly, my tears soaking into his fur.
“It took him long enough,” I manage.
I keep the radio on all day listening for any updates, but there is such a lack of them, I question whether or not I had dreamt it.
I phone James and tell him everything about my conversation with Theo.
He lets me know Olivia is ok and is being released later today.
I am pleased to hear it, but something is telling me to be cautious.
If Olivia is being discharged, it means she is going home to the reminder of Theo’s betrayal.
I know Olivia will not go down without a fight.
They have been married for over fifteen years.
That is a lifetime of love, secrets, and late-night pillow talk.
I take a deep breath in and exhale loudly, allowing my anxiety to release.
Now I wait. I wait for Theo to come home to me.