Edith shot her nephew a look like she was affronted at the very idea she’d serve her meat loaf with anything other than potatoes and peas. “Of course I am. And before you ask, yes, you can join us for dinner.”
Manny rubbed his hands together gleefully. “Great. I have a few things to take care of this afternoon. I’ll be back around six, okay?”
Edith nodded as her nephew rose and gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Good to see you again, Ella,” he said, as he walked toward the back door.
“You too,” she called out.
Edith stood as well, leading her upstairs to a gorgeous room with a large four-poster bed. There was a chaise lounge in front of a huge bay window overlooking Main Street, creating the most perfect reading nook.
Edith must have caught her pleased expression, because she said, “I thought you’d like this room best.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“There’s plenty of room in the dresser and closet for your clothes. No need to live out of a suitcase.”
Ella had intended to make her trip a quick one, staying no more than a few days, but Edith quickly put the kibosh on that idea, insisting she extend the visit to two weeks. It clearly spoke to how badly Ella wanted out of Idaho that she’d quickly acquiesced to the longer trip.
“This is perfect.”
Edith reached out, giving her forearm a squeeze. “It’s good to have you back in Gracemont.”
Ella nodded, unable to reply, her throat suddenly clogged.
“I’ll call you when dinner is ready.”
Edith closed the bedroom door behind her, leaving Ella alone. Rather than unpack or nap, she made for the chaise lounge, dropping down onto the comfortable couch. She looked down on the quiet street, watching as a woman walking a tiny dog stopped to chat with the mailman.
Gracemont was exactly as she’d remembered, and while she should be thrilled to be back, too many other memories were crowding out those happy feelings.
“It was fifteen years ago, El,” she mumbled under her breath. She’d started talking to herself a lot in the past six months, the result of living on her own for the first time ever. “Let it go. I’m sure he’s forgotten all about you.”
Reclining on the chaise, Ella leaned back and closed her eyes, letting her mind drift back, skipping over all the bad stuff, choosing instead to remember a happy moment.
For three whole weeks,Maverick Storm, the hottest boy in her grade, had walked her to every single one of her classes. Ella still couldn’t quite believe he’d not only noticed her but decided he liked her.
If she had more confidence or experience with guys, she’d ask him why he was suddenly so determined to be her boyfriend.
And that was his word, not hers.
Ever since the day he’d bent down to help her pick up her books after that neanderthal Jeff had plowed into her, Maverick had continually called her his girl, insisting that he was her boyfriend.
So far, this instant, inexplicable relationship hadn’t advanced beyond him walking her to class and sometimes holding her hand. If he had his way, he’dalwayshold her hand, but Ella was too afraid to let people see her with him.
Her father was a strict man, one who’d drilled into her and her sister’s heads since they were young that they wouldn’t be permitted to date until they were eighteen—and after that, only good, God-fearing boys from their church that he personally approved of.
Which Ella translated to: she’d NEVER date, because her dad considered most people unworthy. Not just of her but in general. Dad had cornered the market on judgment, so she’d accepted early on that dating wasn’t going to happen until she got out from under his roof.
She had a countdown to high school graduation going in her head, because if all went according to her life’s plan, that was when she hoped to return to Idaho to live with her grandmother. Gigi wasn’t a wealthy woman, but she’d been putting a little bit of money aside for years, saving it so that she could help Ella attend community college.
It was a top-secret plan Ella’s dad knew nothing about. He was one of those men who thought education was wasted on women. Her only role in life was to get married, make babies, and take care of her man. Oh, and not speak too much. Because God forbid women had thoughts or—gasp—opinions.
Hell would freeze over before Ella followed in her mother’s footsteps, marrying right after high school graduation. Her dreams were a hell of a lot bigger than marriage and motherhood.
“Hey, Ella,” Maverick said, slightly breathless as he approached her outside the chemistry classroom. “Sorry I’m late. Coach Wadsworth caught me just as I was leaving class to ask if I was planning on going out for baseball this year.”
“Are you?” she asked, grinning when Maverick took her books from her—another part of his escort service—then reached for her hand. She let him take it, glancing around the hall to make sure her younger sister, Martha, wasn’t anywhere in the vicinity. She shouldn’t be, at this time of the day, as Martha’s midday classes were on the other end of the large one-story school building.
Ella hated that she felt as if she needed to hide this thing with Maverick from Martha, but this was the first time a boy had ever shown her any interest, and Ella wasn’t one hundred percent sure her parent-pleasing sister would be able to keep it a secret from their dad.