Shawn
“Ella, do not even think about doing what I think you are about to do,” I whisper, trying not to attract the attention of Clarissa or her evil daughters. “We need to think of something more logical.”
“Like what?”
“I can call the police.”
“No,” she cries. “Please don’t do that, Shawn.”
“Then, I’m coming up there to get you.”
“No, it’s too dangerous,” she says in a hushed tone. “Stay where you are. If you get hurt, you won’t have a career, and I don’t want to be the reason that happens.”
“All I care about right now is you, so stay where you are, Ella. You will only end up hurting yourself. I will be fine. For once, just listen to me.”
“I can come to you. Maybe meet you halfway. Would that work?”
Judging by the height of the patio on the second floor, I can use the table beneath it to climb up the back of the house and rescue Ella. I cannot believe it has come to this.
What kind of person would do this to a young girl, especially one as sweet and innocent as Ella?
Here, I’d thought my dad was an asshole for walking out on my mom and me when I was a kid, but at least he did us a favor by leaving. Putting up with Clarissa’s shit hasn’t made a bit of difference in Ella’s life.
“I think so,” I say, keeping my fingers crossed that this turns out okay, as I hop up onto the wooden table slick from the cold. “If you lower yourself out the window and swing to the left, I can catch you from the balcony.”
I have my doubts, and I’m sure Ella does, too. But what choice does she have? We have to work together. With my height and the table combined, it doesn’t take much for me to grip the edge of the deck. Swinging myself up and onto it, the balcony is what poses more of a challenge. Right about now, I wish I’d followed Coach’s meal plans and workouts this season. Being in better shape would come in handy.
I can do this. Ella needs me.
Her safety is my number one concern. After several attempts, I can hook my legs through the slots in the wood beams, using them to anchor me, as I pull myself up and over the ledge.
“Oh, thank God,” Ella mutters under her breath, relieved. “One more, babe. You can do it.”
With her words fresh in my mind, I think of the end game and repeat the same motions until I am on the top balcony, out of breath and gasping for air. The cold adds another complication to an already challenging task. But I can do this. Together, we will get Ella away from this house.
“Okay, come to me, Ella. But be careful. Take it slow.”
“Make sure you catch me,” she says.
“I got you, beautiful.” I lean over the balcony and get as far from it as I can without losing my balance. Clutching the ledge, I hold the other hand out in offering, as I watch my girlfriend quite possibly swing to her death.
If I had any way of getting over to her window without falling, I would be there in a heartbeat. But the distance that separates us is too much for me to make up. Ella’s only chance of this working is for her climb out the window and use the makeshift rope she fashioned out of what appear to be clothes and blankets to meet me halfway.
“Ella, listen to me. Rock your hips until you get enough motion on the line to swing to over to me.”
She does as I instruct, and I gasp at the sight of her dangling from a clothesline that could rip apart at any moment. This has to be one of the dumbest things either of us has done. I wish I could come up with something less dangerous. If the usual brains of this operation couldn’t come up with a better plan, then I’m not going to find one either.
Ella manages to get a good rhythm going, her body so close that it only takes a few more swings before I can reach out and grab her.
“Let go,” I whisper into her ear. “I got you.”
The clothes slip from between her fingers, and her head tilts back so that our eyes meet. I drag her over the edge of the balcony and into my arms.
“Shawn,” she cries, pressing her face into my chest. Her body trembles from the cold and the tears that stream down her face.
Palming the back of her head with one hand, I use the other to hook around her back and pull her closer so that I can warm her up. “Everything will be okay now, Ella,” I say, softly. “I’m here. It’s okay, sweetheart. We will finish this together.”
She peeks up at me, her eyes puffy and full of tears. “I love you, Shawn, more than you can ever know. I want you to know that in case something happens.”
Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, I gaze into her eyes and smile. “I love you, too, Ella. I wanted to tell you how much you mean to me under different circumstances, but nothing ever goes according to plan when it comes to us, does it?”
She shakes her head, speaking as her teeth chatter. “Nope. I’m usually running from something. But you are always here, waiting for me.”
“I would spend the rest of my life chasing after you, Ella. You were worth the wait.”
“Stupid boys.” She wipes the tears from her cheeks. “You are going to make me cry all over again.”
“How about we get off this balcony, and I take you someplace safe?”
Ella smiles. “That sounds perfect.”
* * *
Getting both of us to the ground without a scratch was no easy feat. With Ella on my back and her arms around my neck, just about choking me, I had a hell of a time maneuvering the trip down. But I somehow managed to pull it off to sneak Ella back onto Mrs. F’s property and inside the house.
“I feel guilty,” Mrs. F says, sipping her tea. “If I had known that lunatic had you locked inside that house, I would have called the police. I should have known something was wrong when you didn’t come back the next day to return the dress. But I didn’t want to go over there again and cause a scene that could make things worse for you.”
“You have nothing to feel guilty about.” Ella slides her hand across the table and clutches Mrs. F’s wrist with a smile. “No one knew what was going on over there. Of all the things Clarissa has done to me, that was the worst. Even I could not have predicted that she would stoop to a new low. I’m here with both of you and safe now.”
“I’m glad you reconsidered my offer to live here, my dear.”
“Thank you for taking me in.” Ella retracts her hand and sits back in her chair. “I have something to show you that I could use your help with.” She removes a white envelope from her pocket and unfolds the papers inside, before handing them over to Mrs. F.
Mrs. F is quiet as she studies the papers, and my curiosity gets the best of me. Ella moves her hand from the table and rests it on my knee. I cup my hand over hers and squeeze it. Whatever has Mrs. F so speechless, with her eyes as wide as her mouth, must be important.
“Where did you find this?” Mrs. F glances up from the paper and locks onto Ella, shaking her head in disbelief.
“I found it inside the old footlocker my dad had from when he was in the Marines. I thought Clarissa had sold everything he owned, but it turns out I was wrong. It was inside the attic closet, and it wasn’t even locked.”
She narrows her eyes at Ella. “That seems odd, given the situation with Clarissa. When your dad came home from the service, he stored all of his medals and prized possessions inside. I doubt she even knows the trunk is in the house.”
“But why would she keep the room locked if she didn’t know?”
“You’ve lived with Clarissa for the last ten years. Do you honestly think she would have left the one thing that could cost her everything somewhere for you to find it? Think about it, dear. She has no idea this exists.”
“We need to contest my dad’s will. Can you help me?”
Mrs. F sets the papers onto the table and takes another sip from her cup. This woman sure loves her tea. “Yes, of course. I will call the family attorney in the morning to start the proceedings. Keep in mind that contesting a will takes time. If Clarissa fights this, and she will, you may have a very long wait until you see a cent of your father’s estate.”
Ella stares down and into her teacup, deflated and as if it holds the answer to her problem. “I have waited this long to get some closure. I can wait a little while longer.”
“This could take years, my dear. I will have my lawyer file the papers in the morning. You should take a bath and get in bed. I’m sure you can use some sleep after everything you have been through this week.”
Ella turns her head to me and gives me a worried look. I’m nervous for her, too, but also excited that she no longer has to live under the same roof as Clarissa.
“I thought I would stay with Shawn tonight,” Ella says, her gaze shifting back to Mrs. F.
“Oh, okay. Well, you have a room here for whenever you want to come back.”
“It’s just for the night. We haven’t seen each other all week, and I’d like to stay with him for the night.”
Full of surprises tonight, I almost forget that Ella is the sweet girl I met in the tutoring center a few months ago. So many things have changed for us in a short amount of time.
“I’m assuming that is okay with you,” she says to me. “With all the excitement, I forgot to ask.”
“Yeah, of course.” I thread my fingers between hers and keep our intertwined hands rested on my thigh.
I have Ella back. She told me she loves me. I told her how much I love her. And I plan to show her every day just how much she means to me.