Ella recalled that her father had high expectations of her at a very young age and would be far stricter with her than Destiny and Chase. She remembered her mother complaining that Ella was only a child. At the age of seven, her father was teaching her algebra, while her friends were all allowed to have leisure time at weekends, she had to spend two hours with her father learning before he would reward her with her allowance, only on his approval that he was satisfied with her progress she was then allowed to join her friends. Her strict father kept this up until the age of fourteen and then he suddenly left, without a word and she never saw him again until five very frustrating years later.
Her mother told them he had gone to America and would be living there for the next several years until his research came to an end, after all he was a architect and his work often had him travelling all over the world from time to time, but she never forgave him for not saying goodbye and became more and more suspicious, with his lack of communication, no telephone calls, or letters, however Destiny, Chase and herself had more freedom, they didn’t complain, they reveled in his absence and so did she for a time, no more weekend learning, more opportunities to meet up with her friends, spend her allowance that hadn’t stopped, buy records of her choice, pop music had become her favorite and Madonna was her idol, she was the prettiest hottest female singer to come into the charts with a song called “Papa don’t Preach” that hit number one in the charts for seven weeks, she remembered sitting with her friends in her bedroom, listening to Madonna for hours on end, dressing up, applying makeup and imitating her until they could no longer sing. Her mother would occasionally drop in on them, bringing with her drink refreshments and the best fruit platters on this planet, although she found this very embarrassing, her friends thought it was great and always ate everything on the plates and never complained, always very courteous and polite with perfect manners. Her mother seemed to approve of this and would often invite them over for dinner in the week. Ella’s mother wasn’t strict with them like their father had been and gave them just the right amount of privacy they needed in their teen years. Approaching her fifteenth birthday, her father called and asked how they all were, talking really enthusiastically about his work, wishing her a happy birthday, saying that he had sent her a parcel and to open it with care as it was extremely fragile and asking her to call her mother to the phone, it was the first time Ella have ever eavesdropped as she snooped behind the living room door, leaving it slightly ajar and she was shocked in what she heard.
“Wilhelm, this is madness, how do you expect me to keep this from the children?” then silence and she could hear her mum faintly sobbing responding with whatever her father was saying.
“I beg you to reconsider, not for myself, but our children, they need their father in their lives, and they’re all missing you. Chase is only ten years old for Christ’s sake, and I cannot bear this!”
Her mother then slammed the receiver down and broke down into tears. Ella wondered if her father was ever coming back home? Why had he made her mother so upset? Ella had an overwhelming urge to enter the room and demand to know, but she didn’t know how to approach her mother, she had never heard her cry like this before, come to think of it the only time she ever saw her mother cry or shed a tear was in laughter, usually with her father when he had a tipple of whisky. She recalled slowly approach her mother, giving her own un used handkerchief and gently passing it to her. Ella’s mum, Jeannie reached out for her hand and sat her down next to her putting one arm over her shoulder. Ella sat with her for a few minutes in silence, while she composed herself. Ella whispered, “Please don’t be so upset I am here for you.” trying to console her in her time of sorrow she quietly broached the subject of her father. “Is daddy ever coming home?”
“I am not sure Ella, his works very important.”
“Doesn’t he care about us anymore?” “Yes of course he does , he loves you, Destiny, and Chase more than anything in this world, but your fathers work takes him away, without his work we wouldn’t be able to live the lifestyle we’ve all become accustomed to!”
Ella reached for her mother’s hand, held it tight and asked her softly “Why are you so upset?” “I miss your father very much, just like you, Destiny and Chase do, and I miss his company, especially when he has to work away for a while.”
Ella sensed there was something else her mother wasn’t telling her, to protect her, but didn’t dare to push it in case she started crying again. Ella loved and admired her mum; she always held it together until this outburst. Her mother stood up and said wiping away her tears, “C’mon let’s go out to Ben & Jerry’s for some ice-cream, can you call your brother and sister, let them know sweetheart?” Ella jumped up in excitement and stopped as soon as she noticed her mother standing in front of the mirror, dabbing her sore and swollen eyes and she felt the biggest lump in her throat.
Chapter 6 Ella recalled her fifteen birthday that came and went, her mother invited all her friends for a day out to Alton Towers theme park and hired a mini bus, it was the best birthday Ella ever had, queuing to go on the new ride The Black Hole, the new revolutionary rollercoaster, riding in complete darkness, it was terrifying at first, but didn’t stop them from going a second and third time. Her father rang the same night wishing her a happy birthday asking if she had received his parcel, she said yes, it was wonderful, lying to him as it was a hideous glass monument of his latest architectural monstrosity, a strange shaped house made from concrete and glass. As the years began to pass the absence of her father had become the norm, already at the age of seventeen, he had already missed out on three very important years of all their life’s, his architectural work over in America became more important to him than his children and her mother, he was becoming a big name, and very sought after architect, designing homes for the elite and often famous people. What upset Ella the most was the loss of not having a father around, it clearly had an effect on Destiny and Chase to. Destiny would soon reach her fifteenth birthday and Chase was coming close to his thirteenth birthday, how they were all changing and in need of a father figure.
Destiny would often ask Ella if their father was ever coming back and Chase, was going through puberty and she knew he had questions, that only his own father could answer, all this made Ella so sad, but she was more sad for her mother, over three years of her father’s absence her mother’s appearance had changed dramatically, although still very elegant for her forty years, her short delicate frame had become so painfully thin, her collar bones were protruding under her blouses and small waist had become so tiny that Ella knew she was struggling to find clothes to fit her, all her clothes seemed to hang off her. Her mother’s once natural blonde hair had become so dull and lifeless, even the shape of her oval face became visibly thin and gaunt, but her amazing shaped eyes didn’t appear to change at all, they still remained sparkly and bright and her warm loving smile never ceased to stop. Ella never heard her cry anymore, since that horrible day three years ago. Her mother seemed to follow her husband’s success with enthusiasm and excitement, as her father would often send over the journals he appeared in and her mother would read them all and then place them away in his bureau, lock them away in the event of his return, of course he never did return. Ella remembered that her mother received the divorce papers in the post recorded delivery, the very same day she got her a level results, and they were both sitting there anxiously as the post man was running a little over an hour late, eagerly awaiting. Her mother wouldn’t stop talking about how proud her father would be of her now, she knew this was a lie, he would only be proud if she got four grade A pluses. When the postman finally arrived, Ella had to sign for them, her mother was also informed that there was a letter for her that also needed signing, once signed Ella ripped open the envelope containing her results, she was rather shocked that had had got three A’s and one B, really delighted she showed her mother, her mother was so proud and embraced her tightly, not letting go repeating.
“I
am so proud of you; I can’t wait to inform your father.” She guided Ella in to the kitchen and handed her a set of keys and said
“This is from daddy and me.” Ella couldn’t contain her excitement; her mother guided her to the second garage, asking her to close her eyes until she gave instructions to open them again. As soon as Ella was allowed to open her eyes she saw a brand new spanking red Peugeot 106, with black leather seats, she was taken back, her emotions got the better of her and she burst into tears of joy, hugging her mother very tightly, expressing her gratitude profusely.
“Now go and take it out for a test ride, see what you think, and Ella my dear please be careful!” With this Ella jumped into the seat, reversed the car and drove off at an acceptable speed, never forgetting her mother standing at the end of their drive watching and waving, feeling very proud. When she returned several hours later, she saw her mother sat with her head in her hands rocking back and forth in the rocker; she hadn’t noticed Ella’s presence. Ella stood in shock for all of two minutes and her mother she still hadn’t realised she was there. The first thing Ella noticed was a hefty pile of papers on the floor, just in front of her mother’s feet, upon further inspection she realised that they seemed to be official documents, she automatically reached out to grab them and her mother snapped out of her trance like state.
“No, Ella Please, don’t look at them!” But her mother’s response was too slow and Ella reached them just in time. She witnessed her mother slumping back into the rocker holding onto her body as if it was her dear life.
Ella took a seat opposite and began to read the documents, they turned out to be a divorce papers from her father, and her father was petitioning her mother for a divorce. She couldn’t bear to read any further, she was in a state of shock and so many questions ran through her head, as to why? After all her mother’s years of devoted loyalty to him, and now this? What would happen to Destiny and Chase? Would her father try and get custody of them to? So many questions were making her head dizzy with little or no answers to follow. Ella made her way to the drinks cabinet and poured herself and her mother a neat whisky.
“Please drink this mum!” Ella found an enormous sense of relief when her mother gulped down the dark brown spirit as she did at the same time. She soon pored them another one, as they both sat there in silence. Ella remembered sometime after their shot that her mother finally broke the silence and began talking. It turned out that Ella’s fathers work wasn’t the only thing that drew him over to America, he had also met a women, with he had been having an affair with who once lived in France, then emigrated to the states. Her father had been cohabitating with this new woman all the time he was over in the states, living a double life, betraying them all, especially her mother. Ella eventually realised that she could never forgive him and that is why if she ever needed advise from her father he would be the last person she would turn to.
Now, presently ten years on from that dreadful childhood memory, she still hadn’t forgiven her father for his dishonesty and breaking her dear mother’s heart.
♣ Ella met up with Destiny for lunch at Cassidy’s, it was their Friday treat, both had finished with their working week, and their weekend was just beginning. Ella arrived late as usual, upon arrival she noticed Destiny was wearing a grim and frustrated expression, sitting alone sipping on a martini, clock watching.
“Sorry I am late; Queen Elizabeth had me setting up the new dummy brides in the shop windows, as she insisted it was the last thing left to do before I left for the weekend.” “Talking of leaving, I was just about to do the same thing, good job I ordered one of these, to settle my acute anxious state!”
Ella noticed that Destiny was on her second Martini on the rocks and Destiny was showing early signs of slurring her words. Both girls soon found themselves giggling at this.
Ella asked curiosity, “Hope you’ve ordered me the same!” “It’s already on its way Ella.”
Ella loved how they could sense each other’s needs. “Good, let’s have a few before we order any lunch.”
Ella was feeling quite flat, and while Destiny sensed this, she tried her best to avoid the subject of Ian, although Ella couldn’t. “He still hasn’t called, do you know how many times I’ve checked the answering machine, skipping through all the messages, in the hope that the next one is from him? I even went as far as calling the operator asking if there was a fault with my line, she ran some tests and said there doesn’t appear to be any faults. I felt like such a fool.”
“God Ella, you’ve got it real bad, have you not considered calling him?” “Y eah, but I guess I’m scared of taking the initiative, he may think I’m a little forward with my advances and this may put him off!”
“I doubt it; look at the way you both met? If Ian was the type to shy away from women, especially after you knocked him down, he would of definitely made some excuses on not to accept your drink offer and I’m sure he would of looked for the nearest escape route!”
“Yeah, I guess you are right.” “Maybe he has been busy and will call you when he has free time, after all it’s the weekend, and my guess is he will be in touch.”
“I hope your right sis!” They ordered a light lunch, Ella barely touched hers. Destiny ordered some Feta cheese delight, wolfing hers down at an incredible pace. The whole Ian business had certainly kerbed Ella’s appetite, she hardly touched a thing. After their fourth martini, they both said their goodbyes; Destiny decided she would have more retail therapy whilst Ella retreated to her apartment for a siesta, feeling the effects of the martini whilst on an empty stomach. It wasn’t the best idea she thought, but what the hell at least it made her forget about Ian Dumbridge for a few hours. As Ella entered her apartment, thoughts of checking her answering machine deserted her in her light headed state as she headed straight for her bed, just hitting the pillows and falling into a deep sleep.
It was eight o clock before she woke, vaguely trying to remember if she had slept through until the next morning, looking out of the bedroom window was proof she had. She quickly got up and headed for the kitchen and turned the coffee machine on, in need of a caffeine boost. She still felt a little disorientated, and that’s when she noticed her answering machine was flashing with four new messages, her heart began to race, she must have been in a coma not to hear the telephone ring, and there it was the message she had been longingly awaiting, Ian’s voice inviting her out to dinner tonight. She replayed the short message again like a love struck teenager incapable of doing anything else but clinging onto his every word, she nearly missed the part about calling him back to confirm if she could make it or not. Gazing towards the clock she realised it was too early to call him back and decided to indulge in caffeine. After her first mug of coffee she got a sudden attack of the butterflies in her lower abdomen. What on earth was she going to say? Without sounding too thrilled? What if it went to answering machine? How she hated talking to them, she began working herself up into a panic, soon realising it was also Destiny’s and her weekly night out on the town. She called Destiny in the heat of her panic.
“You’ll never guess who’s been in touch?”
“My god, I think I know who!” Destiny replied sounding thrilled. “He’s invited me out for dinner tonight.”
“That’s fabulous, do you want me to come over and help you dig something out to wear?”
“Yeah, course but it’s also our night out to. I haven’t accepted his invitation yet!”
“Nonsense, you must accept, we can go out anytime. I’m on my way over.” Ella heard Destiny hang up excited that she only lived a few blocks away, which meant that Destiny would be here in less than twenty minutes, which gave Ella enough time to pluck the courage to call Ian.
Ian luckily picked up after the second ring, they exchanged a few nervous pleasantries and Ella thought that Ian sounded pleased that she´d accepted his invitation and asked if she would like for him to pick her up? Ella agreed eagerly and agreed that seven thirty would be great. Hanging t
he phone up, she felt an enormous sense of relief, she’d done it.
As soon as Destiny arrived the first thing Ella noticed was the enormous suitcase on wheels.
Ella asked curiously, “Are you planning on moving in with me?” Desti ny burst out laughing, “I don’t think so, as much as I love you, it’s also great to have my own apartment only a few blocks away.”
“Then are you going to share with me what’s exactly in your case, the suspense is killing me?”
“There’s time yet! It’s a litt le surprise for you and your big date. I hope you’ve managed to get some Earl grey on the go, I’m parched lugging this heavy case around.”
With that Ella gave Destiny a huge hug as they air kissed one another.
“You’re one in a million little sis; you’ve no idea how much this means to me!”
“Trust me with the loved up expression on your face I think do!” “Have you got any other plans today except helping you’re love struck sis out?” “No , you’ve got my undivided attention all day if you like, although I have an appointment for my nails at three, I’d rather not miss, but seen as it’s you I can always cancel!”
“Are you joking I’d never be held accountable for getting in the way of your talons, besides it leaves us plenty of time!” Ella felt a tint of guilt for Destiny, she wished that she would meet someone really nice; she knew Destiny was lonely, just like she was, but wouldn’t admit it; it wasn’t as though Destiny was short of offers, occasionally taking them up. Ella had only known her to have one boyfriend and that was her first love, with a guy named Spencer Pratt. Destiny had met him in the first semester at university, it lasted two whole years and Destiny really thought he was the love of her life, until he decided when he graduated that he wanted to see more of the world and globe trot for a few years before settling down into a conventional job and committing to the sin of marriage. Spencer didn’t invite Destiny and encouraged her to see other people, in other words he was breaking up with her, because it was him who clearly wanted to do so. Ella hated him for breaking her sisters heart and remembered calling him a self centered rat on a number of occasions, although it was well over three years ago now and Ella sensed that Destiny still hadn’t fully got over him as she would occasionally still bring him into conversation. Destiny confessed to Ella that for the first six months of his travels Spencer would write to her and she would occasionally write back, then the letters stopped and Destiny never heard from him again.
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