Sadly, she couldn’t muster the same fun-loving mindset.
Dinner with Maverick last night hadn’t happened, because Manny had a health scare two nights ago, shortly after Ella returned from the winery. Originally, they’d thought he was having a heart attack, but it had turned out to be a serious case of indigestion caused by the two chili cheese dogs and basket of fries he’d eaten at Whiskey Abbey for dinner.
However, while they were running a battery of tests, they’d discovered he had a small blockage in one of his arteries. They’d done angioplasty, sending a tiny medical balloon through to clear it. The procedure had been minimally invasive, so they’d sent him home late yesterday afternoon.
Regardless, the incident had shaken Edith, who was now more determined than ever to change her beloved nephew’s diet. So, the mushroom risotto dinner had been scratched, and Edith had moved Manny from his small guest cottage behind Millholland House and into one of the upstairs bedrooms.
When Manny insisted he was fine staying at his own place, Edith put her foot down, claiming she wanted to keep an eye on him—and his diet—for a few days. Ella had texted Maverick to tell him dinner wouldn’t be happening, since Edith was serving Manny salad with grilled chicken in bed.
Ella was forced to admit that she was equal parts relieved and disappointed she hadn’t gotten to see him again. However, between his kiss, Manny’s trip to the emergency room, and her mother’s unexpected phone call, Ella’s brain was on system overload, too many thoughts clamoring for attention.
Ella had returned her mother’s call after leaving the winery, expecting bad news, because it was the first time Mom had reached out to her since discovering the contents of Gigi’s will. The last time they’d spoken had been, well…horrible. Mom had sobbed over what she considered Gigi and Ella’s betrayal—Gigi for leaving Ella the house, and Ella for taking it. During the entire miserable conversation, all Ella could think was that she was listening to Dad’s words in Mom’s voice.
Then, after that, radio silence.
Surprisingly, the phone call from Mom had gone just like Martha’s texts—light, breezy, easy—and it felt as if they’d returned to the relationship they shared before Gigi died.
Mom asked how her visit was going, who she’d seen while in town, then she requested that she send her regards to Edith, remarking how much she’d always liked the older woman.
When Mom asked how much longer she’d be gone, she seemed surprised when Ella said she wasn’t sure.
It had been on the tip of Ella’s tongue to point out there weren’t a lot of reasons for her to return, but she swallowed the words rather than reopen that festering wound. The conversation had been brief but pleasant. Mom even said she missed her and hoped she’d come home soon.
As much as Ella savored those words, she couldn’t deny that the time in Gracemont had been cathartic…and eye-opening. For six months, she’d grieved alone, missing her mother and sister desperately. And for much of that time, Ella did as she always did—blamed her father for the distance.
Now that they were reaching out to her again, she realized that if Mom and Martha had truly wanted to talk to her, they could have. They were grown-ass women, for God’s sake. Gigi had made that comment a million times in the past, but Ella had always defended them, always given them the benefit of the doubt. Because for every time they let her down, there were twenty other times when they’d been kind and loving.
She recalled a line from a movie she’d seen once that said people weren’t all good or all bad; they were a blend of both. That certainly defined Ella’s relationship with Martha and Mom perfectly. It was a freaking yo-yo of emotions.
One day, she had to deal with Martha’s snide comments regarding her writing, and the next, her sister would text to see if Ella and Gigi needed anything from the store or stop by to bring them a bouquet of flowers from her garden. Too many times, Mom stood by while Dad berated or abused her, but then, she’d bake Ella’s favorite cookies or bring her homemade soup when she was sick or call just to tell Ella she loved her.
It was only just now occurring to her—after her six-month hiatus from both of them—that Mom’s and Martha’s treatment of her was just as exhausting, if not more so, than Dad’s. At least she always knew where she stood with her father.
Plus, there was this lingering suspicion hovering in the back of her mind, wondering why they were reaching out all of a sudden. She wanted to think it was because they’d missed her and felt bad for the way they’d behaved, but after too many years of hot and cold, Ella was no longer able to accept anything from them at face value.
Hell, she wasn’t even sure she would have recognized just how shitty Mom’s and Martha’s treatment of her had been if not for spending the past few weeks with people who were kind and accepting, generous and loving.
Ella was touched watching Edith fuss over Manny, her love for her nephew unconditional and endless, and while the older woman was currently giving him the what-for over his diet, her chastising came from a place of genuine love and concern. And she’d seen the same thing from the Storms when they gathered around the dining room table for Sunday dinner. They listened to each other’s ideas or concerns and offered compassionate responses that were completely devoid of judgment.
Love in Ella’s family always came with conditions. Conditions that meant Ella should act, talk, and think like they did, and when she didn’t, she was subjected to condescension, verbal abuse, or the silent treatment.
When Gigi originally suggested Ella leave Meridian, she’d rejected the idea out of hand because the only family she had left lived in Idaho. But perhaps there was some truth to that old adage about distance making the heart grow fonder…or at least, less trampled on.
Because Ella didn’t just feel happier here in Gracemont, she felt stronger.
“I’m telling you,” Remi declared loudly. “She’s pregnant. Gotta be.”
Given the excited reactions of half the women and the disbelief of the others, Ella was sorry she’d been distracted and not paying attention.
“They only just got married,” Gretchen pointed out.
Mila shrugged. “Levi did say he was hoping for a honeymoon baby.”
Ah, so they were talking about Kasi, who hadn’t made it to tonight’s book club meeting because she was sick.
Nora shook her head. “Levi may have been talking about it, but that doesn’t mean Kasi agreed.”
“She had three of those gingerbread cookies Sunday night,” Remi said, as if that was bona fide proof.