It should be noted that Prentice thought this was a fabulous idea.
Elle, on the other hand, thought it was a disastrous idea.
Prentice had kissed her protestations away, changing the subject by reminding her that the kids needed to get to school but, before that, they needed breakfast.
Obviously, although Elle was terrified at the prospect of dinner that evening as Prentice described it, she had to focus on priorities.
Elle helped get the kids ready for school and made them breakfast. Not wasting any time, at breakfast, ignoring Elle’s baleful glare, Prentice informed the children they were all going out for dinner that night.
This was met with loud hurrahs (Sally) and knowing smirks (Jason, but only before he stated, “I hope it’s curry.”).
Later, while she was standing by the door of her rental car in preparation to take the kids to school, Prentice gave her a hard, fast (but effective) kiss. After his kiss, and everything that had happened the last six weeks (especially the last two days), she’d been in such a daze, he’d already climbed into his Range Rover and Jason and Sally were both calling to her before she snapped out of it, got into her car and Prentice followed her down the long, winding drive.
She went directly from the school to Annie’s. There, she banged on the door until her late-sleeping friend stumbled to it, hair mad, face like thunder.
Until she caught sight of Elle.
Immediately Annie’s expression cleared and she bustled Elle into her and Dougal’s cozy cottage. Elle made coffee while Annie got presentable.
Then they sat in the sitting room and Elle started to confide to Annie every second of every moment since she’d come back to the village for Annie’s wedding.
She related about three sentences before Annie interrupted her, called Mikey in America (even though it was super early in the morning) and put him on speakerphone.
Both Annie and Mikey were crying by the time Elle was done.
“I’m so happy for you, girlie-girl,” Mikey said over the phone, tears clogging his voice.
Annie was sitting next to Elle on the couch, holding Elle while sobbing (loudly).
Elle was happy too.
Or, she wanted to be.
She just didn’t trust it.
When her friends got control, Elle told them, “Prentice wants to take the kids out to dinner tonight to announce we’re together and I’m moving in.”
“That’s lovely,” Annie replied, wiping her eyes on the hem of her t-shirt.
Elle looked at her friend. “It isn’t, Annie. It’s nuts. It’s too early. They aren’t used to me yet.”
“Not used to you?” Mikey’s voice sounded with disbelief. “Darling, they seemed pretty used to you when you were making them tuna casserola, as darling Sally called it, and you’d only been there, like, a day.”
“It was two,” Elle corrected.
“Whatever,” Mikey muttered but Elle could hear the grin in his voice.
“Mikey’s point is valid, Bella,” Annie put in. “Kids are pretty adaptable and I’d say they’ve adapted to you extremely well. Especially since, you know, you’re kind of already moved in and even a two year old with learning difficulties would sense you two are together.”
This was true.
Heck, Jason even freaked out at the idea that Elle would stay somewhere else when she was in the village.
Nevertheless, Elle continued doggedly, “But I think Prentice should tell them at home, where they feel safe to have whatever reaction they want to have. And I shouldn’t be there so, again, they’ll feel safe to have whatever reaction they want to have.”
“Precious, they’re kids. Kids pretty much feel safe having whatever reaction they want to have wherever they are and whoever they’re with,” Mikey’s voice came through the speakerphone.
This was true too. Sally, at least, didn’t seem to filter her responses to anything no matter where she was.
“Then we shouldn’t court an emotional scene at the new Indian restaurant,” Elle declared.
“I hardly think you’re going to have an emotional scene. Or, at least, not a bad one. Those kids love you,” Annie put in.
This appeared true. Then again, Jason had always seemed totally okay with the idea of Prentice and Elle until he saw Elle in his mother’s bed. Then he seemed unsure and uncomfortable.
Therefore, Elle didn’t trust that the kids loved her either. Maybe they were getting there but she didn’t want anything to derail that.
“I don’t know –” Elle started.
“Well, I do. I’ve known those kids for over two years, Bella. They’ve been through the mill. Now, even Jason seems to have come to terms with what life has dished out and you’ve played a large part in that,” Annie stated.
Elle shook her head. “He would eventually have come around. Prentice would have seen to it.”
Annie shook her head right back. “Prentice had no clue.” When Elle started to defend, Annie leaned closer. “He didn’t, Bella. I’m sorry to say it but it’s true. For over a year Jason showed no signs of healing… until you showed up that is.”
This was, although it was difficult to admit, true too.
“Okay, then I’ve worn everything I’ve brought,” Elle stated somewhat desperately. “I don’t have an outfit to go out to the new Indian restaurant and tell two children that their mother has been replaced with a virtual stranger.”
Mikey’s laughter could be heard over the speakerphone.
Annie’s could be heard in person.
“Virtual stranger,” Mikey mumbled, still laughing. “That’s funny.”
“I know, she’s a hoot, isn’t she?” Annie asked Mikey, also still laughing.
Elle glared at Annie.
“I’m not being funny. I need a decent outfit,” Elle snapped. “Everyone knows that you have to have a good outfit when you face some life trauma.”
“This isn’t a trauma, Bella, this is a celebration,” Annie returned.
“Okay, you need a decent outfit for that too,” Elle retorted.
“I hate to say it, Annie darling, but Bella is so right. She needs a decent outfit,” Mikey threw out.
“Then we’ll go shopping,” Annie replied casually. “Yeesh, this isn’t rocket science.”
Elle didn’t want to go shopping.
Elle wanted to look into buying islands so she could sweep Prentice, Jason and Sally away to one. Prentice could build them a house. Elle could home school Sally and Jason. And the world could stay at bay, no photographers, no Carver Austin, no nothing that would threaten their happiness.