I woke before Alex the following morning. I didn’t want to wake him, so I pulled on a t-shirt and jeans and left the bedroom, letting him sleep.
I was about to go downstairs, explore the kitchen and make a mug of coffee, but as I past the bedroom that had been Amy’s, I decided to look inside. Had Megan moved all her things out like Alex asked her to?
I pushed the door open, peeking around it nervously. The room was completely bare. There was nothing in it. No curtains, carpet, not even a bed. Wooden floorboards replaced the carpet, and the pink walls had disappeared under a coat of white paint. Amy had well and truly been scrubbed out of this room, this house, and hopefully, out of Alex’s life.
I shut the door before walking across the landing to the top of the stairs. The carpet was deep and soft under my bare feet, luxury even on the floor. But the most striking part of the hall was the large stained glass window. It faced me as I turned to walk down the first flight of stairs. The early morning sun hit the brightly coloured glass and it lit the whole staircase with its rainbow of colours.
I smiled, ridiculously happy about living here. Not only would I be with Alex, but this sight would greet me every morning. I shook my head at the understated grandeur that surrounded me. I’d gone from poor reclusive student, to girlfriend of super rich, mega famous film star in three weeks. I felt like pinching myself just to see if it was true, and that I wasn’t dreaming.
A melodic chime rang out from downstairs, and it took me a few seconds to realised that it was the doorbell.
I froze.
I had no idea who was at the door, or whether I should answer it. I stopped at the mid landing, still trying to work out what to do when Alex came flying out of the bedroom.
“Fuck, fuck, double fuck!” he yelled as he ran down the stairs toward me in just his black trunks.
He kissed me as he drew level with me. “Morning, Ella,” he greeted as he continued rushing down the stairs, taking two at a time.
“Were you expecting someone?” I asked as he skidded to the door.
“It’s Charlie and Hazel. I forgot they were calling this morning.”
“Your parents?” I exclaimed.
I panicked, staring blindly ahead, not focusing or listening to anything going on around me. I was about to meet Alex’s parents. I had to make a good impression. Why hadn’t he told me they were calling this morning? Shit! I wondered whether they had seen the video? Oh god, if they had—what must they think of me?
Alex opened the door, hiding his body behind it as he greeted Charlie and Hazel.
“Great to see you.”
As soon as the door was shut, Hazel hugged him. “Alex,” she muttered as she pulled away. “What on earth have you been up to? And go put some clothes on, goodness knows what . . .” She caught sight of me. I was slowly moving down the stairs, unsure as to how my appearance would be received.
Alex waved his hand, signalling for me to come to him. “Mum, dad, meet Ella.”
His arm rested lightly on the small of my back as I approached.
“Hi,” I said, swallowing nervously.
Charlie stepped forward and shook my hand. Hazel tutted at his action.
“Good grief! Ella’s not one of your business associates.” She pushed in front of Charlie, and hugged me. “It’s so nice to meet you. I’m afraid Alex hasn’t said a lot. He doesn’t keep in touch as much as I’d like him to. But Megan has filled us in on everything.”
I shot Alex a panicked look, but he was just looking amused.
“Has she told you about Anthony?” Alex asked, raising his eyebrows at his father.
“Hmm, yes. She does worry me at times.”
“Oh behave,” Hazel scolded. “Anthony is a lovely man. He certainly knows how to stand up to Megan. That should make you happy. She’s too used to walking all over her boyfriends. She needs someone to stand up to her, show her who’s boss occasionally. A man should be in charge, don’t you think, Ella?”
“Mum,” Alex gasped, rescuing me from answering her. “Don’t pull Ella into yours and dad’s discussion about Megan. It’s not fair.” He placed his arm around my shoulder. “Now, you usually call around with coffee and croissants,” he said, peering into the brown paper bag Charlie was carrying.
“Yes, we did. Why don’t you go and get dressed, and then sit with your dad in the living room? Ella and I will sort the pastries.”
Alex cocked his head, and looked at his mum.
“No interrogation, mum,” he said before kissing me lightly on my forehead and heading back upstairs. Charlie handed the bag to Hazel and then headed to a door to a room I had yet to see.
“Let’s get these sorted,” Hazel said as she wandered into the kitchen.
I’d never been much of a chef, but this kitchen made me want to cook the most delicious and scrumptious meals imaginable. The kitchen was easily as big as my flat. The units were polished white, and a grey marble counter ran on top of the waist high cupboards, only stopping when the units were full height. They housed the fridge and freezer, as well as the cooker and microwave. There was an island in the middle of the kitchen, but towards the far end of the room was a further seating area. The area had a lower ceiling than the rest of the kitchen, and currently housed a sofa and a television. It was, what I’d always imagined a snug to look like—a warm and cosy area separate from the main kitchen.
“Can you grab me four mugs and some plates, please?” Hazel asked.
I turned to the many cupboards, not having a clue where anything was.
“Oh, sorry, I should have realised he wouldn’t have you cooking. Top cupboard to the right, just up there.”
I reached for the door, locating the mugs and plates, before placing them on the central island.
“I’ve only stayed here two nights,” I said. “Once a few weeks ago, and then last night when we’d got back from Sao Miguel. I’m sure I’ll get used to it.”
“I’m sure you will.” She frowned and stopped placing the pastries on the plates. “I’m sorry, Ella, but when you say get used to it, do you mean that he’s asked you to move in with him?”
I nodded, not sure what her reaction would be. Things had moved quickly for us—the speed at which we’d fallen for each other frightened me at times, and I was sure she’d be concerned that Alex wasn’t rushing things.
“Oh my, that’s wonderful news. Charlie will be pleased.”
Relief flooded through me, but my stupid curiosity made me question her response. “Can I ask why? Surely it’s a concern. We haven’t known each other all that long.”
Hazel reached into the bag and placed another pastry on a plate. “Alex is a changed man. I only had to look at him this morning to see how happy you’ve made him. Charlie was hoping that you were the one. I had high hopes after what Megan’s told us. I haven’t seen him like this for such a long time.”
“Since Amy?” I questioned.
She nodded. “That woman ripped his heart out, even though she never had it to start with. Charlie and I have read the interviews, we’ve seen the pictures. I’ve spoken to Megan. He thinks he loves you Ella, and I can see that you love him.”
I should have been used to people telling me that Alex loved me by now. But because it was his mother telling me, it somehow felt right, and I had to admit that his parent’s approval meant a lot.
Since his mother had spoken a bit about Amy. I took this opportunity to try and find out more. Was Alex the only person who had been taken in by her scheming ways?
“I take it you never liked Amy,” I said cautiously.
“Never liked, or trusted her. There was just something about her that never rang true for me. Charlie thought I was just unhappy because Alex had another woman in his life, and I had to share him with her. Silly man. I want someone to take him off me.” She took the cardboard containers of coffee from the bag. “I love Alex, and I want him to be happy. I don’t care who that person is if she can love him for the person he is, not the superstar everyone sees.”
I nodded.
“I presume you’ve met Amy, when you were on the work experience? Did you warm to her?” she questioned.
I shook my head, grimacing at my memories. “I think she’s one of the nastiest people I’ve ever met. I’ll never be able to forgive her for what she did to Alex.”
“Unfortunately, she had an ability to keep crawling back into his life in some way or another. Starring in the films has made it impossible for him to forget she exists and get away from her. Well, until he met you.” She smiled warmly. “But I think her latest plan, getting poor Rowan to release that footage of you and Alex has well and truly back-fired on her. Megan told me he instructed her to get rid of all her junk from upstairs as well.”
“Yes. I never quite understood why he kept that room as he did.”
“Memories, Ella. There were some good memories with Amy for him as well as all the hurt. She was quite a lovely girl initially, but soon changed when all the fame went to her head. She had quite a sad childhood, you know?”
“It’s a strange thing, childhood. There are so many ways of looking at it,” I said, drifting into my own memories.
Hazel cocked her head to the side. “That’s quite true, Ella. Things happen that we can’t control when we’re children. Amy’s father was a gambler, and a womaniser. How do you deal with that when you’re a child? There’s no wonder she turned out like she did.”
There was sympathy in Hazel’s voice, and I looked to the floor, struggling to control my building resentment. I tried to stay quiet as she continued.
“No child would ever be able to come through all that unscathed. I feel quite sorry for her. She had it hard. How many other children do you know that had to cope with the things that she did?”
I closed my eyes, reigning in my anger. “I know one,” I said through gritted teeth. “And I think she turned out all right.”
“Well, she must be a very strong character then. Is she a friend of yours?”
“No, Hazel,” I said, lifting my face to look at her. I drew in a deep breath. I wasn’t ashamed. It was all in my past. “It’s me. My father sounds very similar to Amy’s.”
“Oh, Ella! I’m so sorry. I never knew. No one told me.”
“That’s because I’ve not told anyone.”
“Not even Alex?”
“No. The topic has never come up. It’s not the easiest of things to slip into a conversation, is it?”
My anger dissipating as Hazel’s shocked expression faded. Unfortunately, it changed to one of sympathy. That was the reason I never mentioned either of my parents. The sympathetic gazes from people who never knew me irritated me beyond belief. They had no idea at all how my father had behaved, or how my mother responded to his actions. Now that I’d discovered that Amy had possibly experienced a similar childhood with her father, I hated her even more. Surely, she’d have seen the hurt and upset that his philandering ways caused. How could she act the same way with Alex? It made her the lowest of the low in my opinion.
Hazel continued staring at me as if waiting for me to speak. I didn’t say anything, I didn’t owe her an explanation.
Eventually she broke the silence. “You should tell Alex. He’ll want to know all this.”
The kitchen door swung open and Alex looked first to me and then his mother. He was dressed, but looked sexier than before. The blue of his t-shirt accentuated the colour of his eyes, and the black jeans elongated his legs and slim hips.
“What’s taking so long? And what should you tell me, Ella?”
I sighed, trying to block out the inevitable reaction.
“I’ll leave you two to talk,” Hazel said quietly.
I was now forced into a corner and would have to explain everything to Alex. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to tell him, I just didn’t see the need to give him all the information right now. It could have waited.
I turned to Hazel. “It’s okay. You’ve no need to leave.” I’d tell Alex later, not now. My attention turned to Alex. “I’ll have a chat with you later. It’s nothing important.”
Alex narrowed his eyes. “You sure?”
I nodded.
“Mum?” he questioned, not convinced by my response.
“What? Ella and I were just talking. Now, let’s take these coffees through and eat these croissants. I’m starving.”
Hazel placed everything on a tray before walking out of the kitchen. I started to follow her, but Alex grabbed my arm, pulling me back.
“Ella, what was all that about?” he asked, softly.
“Nothing to worry about,” I whispered. “I’ll tell you later.”
“Has my mum upset you?”
I shook my head. “No, it was nothing.”
He cocked his head to the side. “Tell me now, please?”
I sighed, exasperated with his insistence, and to some degree his mother’s interference.
“Your mum mentioned Amy’s childhood, that’s all. I’m afraid it didn’t rouse my sympathy for her.”
Alex frowned. “And that’s it?”
“No, not all of it.” I focused to the floor, unable to meet his inquiring eyes. I had no idea why I always reacted like this when I mentioned my parents. Perhaps, I was ashamed by them and their behaviour, even now, after all these years.
“They’re waiting for us,” I said, waving my arm toward the kitchen door and my escape.
“Oh no, fuck going through into the room with them. They can wait. I want to know what’s upset you. Don’t try to pretend that you’re okay, Ella. I can tell you’re not. What else was said?”
“It’s about my parents. It’s no big deal. Look, do we have to do this now?” I asked, forcing myself to look at him.
He nodded, lifting me under my arms and placing me on the work surface. He stood in between my legs and kissed my forehead. “Speak.”
“My dad sounds very much like Amy’s. He slept with numerous women, gambled all his money, smoked and drunk his way through evenings and days when he wasn’t working. In fact, I think he must have turned up drunk at work more than he did sober. It’s a miracle he wasn’t ever fired.”
Alex pulled my head against his. “I did wonder why you never mentioned your parents.”
“I would have told you, but it just didn’t seem important. Your mum thought otherwise though. I’m afraid she didn’t understand my reaction to Amy’s situation. I don’t have any sympathy for her. Not when she’s behaving just like her father.”
“Well, it seems you broke the mould with yours. Or is this your way of telling me that you’re sleeping with lots of other men, secretly drinking when I’m not around and gambling all your money on line?”
I punched his arm. “No!” I was pleasantly surprised by his reaction. There was no immediate sympathy, just a willingness to understand. “Do you want to know more?” I asked cautiously.
“Only if you want to tell me. I mean, I am curious as to where your parents are now?” He rubbed the top of my arms with his hands.
“My mum’s in France, living with another woman called Maree.”
“Fuck me, your mother is a lesbian?”
I raised my eyes heavenwards. “Yes, it seems that my father put her right off men.”
Alex leaned backward, dipping his head. “And your dad?”
“He died from liver failure just before my eighteenth birthday.”
“Shit, Ella, I’m sorry.”
I shrugged. “Why? If his liver hadn’t packed in, then I think the loan sharks would have finished him off when they’d caught up with him. He owed thousands.”
Alex kissed my lips. “What happened to his debt when he died? Don’t those types of people still want paying?”
I nodded. “My mum wasn’t stupid. She must have taken out an insurance policy or something. She managed to pay them all off when he died, and then ran off to France with her secret lover. Apparently, she’d been with Maree for years. It seems my father wasn’t the only one looking for fun outside his marriage.”
“Good grief. Are you sure you’re nothing like them?”
“Behave.” I managed a slight smile at his comment. “I’m nothing like either of them. It wasn’t great being abandoned at seventeen and left to fend for myself. Not only had my mother just buried my father, but she skipped the country with her lover the day after his funeral.”
“Fuck, Ella. That’s crazy.”
“Well, there’s no wonder I’m crazy, is there?”
Alex hugged me. “I’ve told you before. You’re crazy, but you’re all mine. I happen to like your craziness, and I wouldn’t have you any other way.”