Chapter 15

Ella

I hurried into the house and ran into Millie who was standing around waiting like the driver had called her. He probably had, and I wiped my eyes determined to be strong.

Millie’s voice was full of concern. “What happened?” She put her hands on my arms, and I took a deep breath, snubbing from the tears I’d shed in the car.

“The twins fired me. Aiden Prince chose to dance with me and not them, and they had told me he was off limits. Supposedly, Sadie liked him. But he hadn’t told me anything like that. We were having a lovely time, and he even kissed me. We talked about my mother and her jewelry, and then I went down to find the twins with it on.” I felt like I was rambling but I opened my purse to let her see what they’d done. Her eyes widened as she saw the jewels. “I made them give all of this back to me and threatened to involve the police. They fired me.” I knew I was repeating myself and I tried to catch my breath as I took a seat on the bench in the foyer.

“You’ll be fine. I wouldn’t worry about them.”

“I lost my ring, too.” I held out my hand and showed her the place where and should be. “There’s a part of it missing.”

“Yes, I remember when your father gave them to—

Millie stopped and pulled her lips in tight as if she'd said something she shouldn’t have. “My father?” I gave her a sideward glance.

“Jesus,” she mumbled and then she met my eyes with a soft look of regret. “I suppose I’ve been waiting for the day I’d let that slip.”

“Let what slip, Millie? Did you know my father?” She gave me a knowing look, and I started to shake. “Tell me who he is!”

“I remember the day your mother decided to make that piece. She’d taken all three rings that your father had given her and made them into one. She’d known it was finally over and thought the piece would be symbolic.” She stared off at the front door as if she didn't see it, and instead her head was full of memories.

“Who is he?” Something in the way she was acting, my suspicions started growing.

“My son met your mother a long time before she introduced him to Nola. They were sweethearts, and he even proposed to her a few times. But then Nola asserted herself in the middle and before I knew anything about it, she, Nola, and Scott had themselves a love triangle. It nearly killed their friendship, but your mother tried to step out of the way. But she was too late. And by late, I mean she was pregnant with you. Well, Scott was going through a rough time with his demons, his addictions, and she didn’t know if he could be a good father. You came, time passed, and by the time he cleaned up enough to be worthy of being your father, Nola was pregnant with the twins. He cleaned up and was in love with your mother, but by that time he wouldn’t leave Nola. Not with two little girls, not when your mother was already making money and making a name for herself. He loved her too much to bring her down.

“So, she let it go, let Nola have him even though they were in love and Scott didn’t even fight for her?” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, but even more than that what it all meant.

“Don’t be angry with your father, Ella. He’s loved you since the day you were born, and he’s looked after you. That’s why he wanted to take you in, and of course, Nola agreed. She doesn’t know you’re his, Ella. She and your mother were friends. Best friends, and even though your mother and her had your disagreements, she’d do anything for you.

“She doesn’t know?”

“No, it’s the reason Scott and I have kept this all a secret. She’d try to ruin us, Ella. You mustn’t tell her.” I stared at Millie and realized something that hadn’t dawned on me before.

“Millie, you’re my—

“I’m your grandmother, yes.” She nodded her head and pulled me into her arms so tight I felt like I’d break. “I’m so sorry, Ella. So, so sorry.” Millie wept and I held her for a moment thinking of my eyes and how much like Scott’s they were, how familiar he’d always been and how he always had looked at me with fondness and told me how much I reminded him of my mother. He’d loved her.

“Nola is going to be mad. She’s going to want to kick me out when the twins come home.” I pulled away from Millie and was suddenly dizzy. “The twins. They’re my half-sisters. I’d never noticed any resemblance with the two girls and myself, but then they’d been perfect little carbon copies of their mother, and I’d looked like mine, save for the eyes, which were so clearly Scott Blue’s.

“I’m sure it’s all quite a shock, but I want you to know something. This is my house. Mine and my son’s. I put the secure loan on it long before he and Nola ever became a thing, so you may stay here as long as you like.”

“Will he ever tell Nola?” I thought it only fair to let her know about me, and then she could make her own decision about what to do. “I mean, I was here first, my mother had him first, right?”

“He was with Nola when you were conceived if that’s what you’re asking. It’s a strange relationship, designed to give Nola her way. I’ve promised Scott I’d never tell, so if you want her to know, you should talk to him.

“This is all a bit too much.”

“I know, and I’ve wanted to tell you a million times. I’ve always known I’d slip up one day. I am getting older and am not as sharp minded as I used to be, and well, quite honestly, I’m glad it happened. You don’t know how long I’ve wanted you to know.” I wanted to be angry, but it had been a long night, and I loved Millie so much, I could never hate her.

My mother hadn’t ever told me either, and though I felt a touch of bitterness from the situation, I just wanted to let it process—let the whole night process, but then as I headed upstairs, I heard a car out front. I gave her one last hug and turned to go upstairs.

“I need to be alone.”

I walked upstairs to my room and then stepped out on the small balcony to peer up to the stars. It seemed like only minutes ago I was with Aiden on his own, looking up at the stars and hoping he’d kiss me again, and now I’m back home, sister to the two twin brats, with my father downstairs somewhere playing his guitar.

I leaned my head on my arm, resting an elbow on the railing when I saw car lights approaching. I wondered if it were the twins returning home in the limo, but it wasn’t. I didn’t recognize the car, but then it stopped, and Aiden got out.

I leaned over the railing. “What are you doing here?” I snapped.

“Please come down, Ella. I need to talk to you!”

“Go away, Aiden. I’ve nothing else to say to you!”

“There’s been a misunderstanding. Would you let me come in and explain?” He peered up at me and I glared down with my arms crossed in front of me like my guts were going to fall out if I didn’t hold myself together. “Please, Ella. I have your ring.”

Knowing he had my ring, I wanted to run down, but instead, I took my time responding. “Fine, but only to get my ring. I have nothing to say to you. It’s been a really shitty night!” I couldn’t even tell him why.

“Just please come down.” He looked around the yard as if he were embarrassed.

“Fine. Give me a minute!” I took a deep breath and went downstairs, passing Millie on the way. She’d heard everything and gave me an encouraging look.

“Be easy on him and hear him out. Don’t let those twins knock you out of something wonderful. He came all this way.”

“He’s playing games.” I wasn’t in the mood for more games, secrets, or lies.

“How do you know that? He seems pretty serious to me.” She gave me a lingering glance and then turned to walk back upstairs.

I walked to the front door and opened it, crossing my arms and leaning back against the jamb. “Where’s my ring?”

He searched my eyes a moment and then looked to the ground. “I came because I want a chance to explain.”

“I’ll give you a chance to talk, but I want my ring. And after you’ve said your piece, you can go.” I met his eyes and kept my tone hard. I wasn’t going to give him room to play any more games with me. My heart couldn’t take it.

He reached into his pocket and stepped forward, offering it to me, but as I reached to take it, he grabbed my wrist and pulled me close. I tugged back, but couldn’t break loose of his grip.

“Ella, don’t.” I searched his eyes, and he took my hand, then he lifted to his mouth and kissed it.