Elle Returns: The Sequel: A Psychological Thriller

by Ditter Kellen

  “That’s right. And just for you. You can pick him or her out and even name it. It’ll be all yours.”

  Sarah sat up straight but kept her hand on Linda’s arm. “Can we go today?”

  “It’s already dark out,” Evan told her in a soft voice. “But we can go first thing in the morning.”

  He couldn’t look away from Sarah’s eyes—eyes so like his own.

  More emotions slid through him, leaving him weak with sorrow. He had lost four years of Sarah’s life, four years he could never get back. But he would spend the rest of his own life making up for lost time.

  Linda pushed unsteadily to her feet, her red-rimmed eyes swimming with unshed tears. She bent and wrapped her daughter in her arms. “I love you, Sarah Jane. I love you with all my heart.”

  Sarah hugged her back, her little hands gripping her mother’s shirt. “Please don’t leave me, Mama.”

  Evan’s heart shattered.

  * * * *

  Evan woke the following morning, his head aching as much as his heart. Saying goodbye to Linda had been the hardest thing he had ever done. He knew when she walked out his door, that would be the last time he’d ever see her again.

  And then, there was Sarah.

  Sarah had cried herself to sleep the night before. Evan had no doubt the child understood more than she let on. She might not know that her mother would die soon, but she somehow knew she would never see her again. And that hurt Evan to his soul.

  After showering and brushing his teeth, Evan meandered into the kitchen to start breakfast. He would feed Sarah and Elenore and then take them to the pet store for a new puppy. That would help Sarah’s feeling of being lost.

  She had to feel abandoned in some way; Evan would, had it happened to him in his youth. But he would do everything in his power to help Sarah adjust...while he learned to adjust as well.

  He was a father. The reality of that hit him square in the chest. He had known for days that he had a child, but it hadn’t truly sunk in until this moment.

  Terror suddenly took root. How was he supposed to raise a child he knew nothing about? What were her likes, her dislikes? What foods did she prefer? What was her favorite toy? Bedtime story?

  More than a little overwhelmed, he spun around, nearly running into Elenore.

  And just like that, a calmness settled over him. Elenore Griffin had survived more in her life than Evan could conjure up in his darkest nightmares. Yet, there she stood, strong, vibrant…alive.

  If Elenore had somehow found the strength to survive her circumstances, Evan could surely find enough to raise a little girl, a little girl that carried his blood. A little girl that belonged to him.

  “I’m sorry,” Evan murmured, stepping around Elenore. “I almost mowed you down.”

  He grabbed a couple of skillets and moved back to the stove. “I hope you’re hungry.”

  Elenore continued to stand there, a curious look on her face. “Where’s the little girl?”

  “Her name is Sarah,” Evan responded, taking some bacon and eggs from the fridge. “She must be still asleep.”

  Elenore clasped her hands in front of her, obviously trying not to fidget. “Y-you haven’t checked on her?”

  Evan paused in his task of adding the bacon to a pan and glanced up. He hadn’t thought to look in on Sarah. He figured she would come out when she got up. “Was I supposed to?”

  “When I was a little girl, I was afraid to come out of my room. S-she might be scared also.”

  Evan’s stomach knotted up. He would give anything for Elenore to get a do-over in life. But he couldn’t give that to her. Sarah, on the other hand, he could help. “Will you watch the bacon?”

  Elenore hesitated.

  “What is it?” Evan turned the burner down on the stove.

  “It’s just that…”

  “Just that what, Elenore?”

  Visibly swallowing, Elenore whispered, “If she needs help in the bathroom, she might not want a strange man in there with her.”

  Understanding dawned. Evan waved a hand toward the hall. “Would you mind helping her for me?”

  With a nod, Elenore turned away without a word.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Elenore’s nerves were everywhere at once. So many things had changed for her in the past week; her mind couldn’t process it all.

  And another thing had been added to the mix. A child. A little girl probably lost and alone without her mother. A girl even younger than Elenore had been when her own mother had left.

  Stopping outside Sarah’s door, Elenore wiped her now-sweaty palms on the front of her pants and reached for the knob.

  She could hear the child crying through the thick wooden barrier.

  “Hello?” Elenore eased the door open and stepped inside to find Sarah lying on her side in the middle of the bed.

  She moved deeper into the room until she stopped next to the bed. “Sarah?”

  Amidst the mound of covers, the little girl’s face appeared. “Who are you?”

  Elenore gazed down into Sarah’s trusting eyes. And for the first time in her miserable life, she felt a fierce protectiveness so strongly, it staggered her.

  “I’m Elenore. Why are you crying?” But she knew. Oh, God did she ever know.

  “I want my mama.”

  Taking a seat on the side of the bed, Elenore clasped her hands in her lap. She had no idea what to say in this type of situation, so she changed the subject. “Do you need to use the bathroom?”

  Sarah burst into tears once again. “I wet the bed.”

  Elenore herself had wet the bed until she’d been ten years old. She understood the shame and embarrassment that went along with it. But Sarah wouldn’t. Of that, Elenore would make sure. “It’s no big deal. Come on. I’ll help you get cleaned up, and then we’ll change the sheets. Evan is making bacon and eggs.”

  A trusting, grateful look appeared in Sarah’s eyes. She pushed back the covers. “Okay, Elenore.”

  “You can call me Elle.” Where had that come from? Elenore wondered, confused and momentarily disoriented.

  “Elle is a pretty name,” the child whispered through her sniffling.

  Pushing her feelings aside, Elenore rose to her feet and helped Sarah from the bed.

  And then, the little girl did the unexpected. She reached out and slid her small hand into Elenore’s, a trusting declaration only a child would do.

  Elenore’s emotions were all over the place. She’d never known a touch such as the one she experienced in that moment. Sarah Duke trusted her to help, without fear, without reservation. And help her Elenore would.

  Guiding Sarah across the hall, Elenore took her to the bathroom in her own room. She drew a bath while waiting on Sarah to undress.

  The sight of Sarah’s little body, so innocent and small, forced a lump to rise in Elenore’s throat. Sarah had never known abuse, never been subjected to the physical or mental cruelty that Elenore had. And Elenore made a silent promise in that moment, that she never would…as long as she drew breath.

  After Sarah’s bath, Elenore dressed her in one of the outfits Linda had sent with her. She helped Sarah into her shoes and then led her to the kitchen.

  Evan turned at their approached, an uncertain smile on his face. “You girls ready to eat?”

  Elenore could sense his nervousness, his insecurity where his daughter was concerned. Not that she blamed him. He’d only just obtained the knowledge of having a child a few days ago.

  Helping Sarah onto a barstool, Elenore moved around to the stove to take over Evan’s job of making breakfast. “I can make the plates if you’d rather sit with your daughter.”

  Evan awkwardly nodded, handing Elenore the spatula he’d been using to scramble the eggs. “Thank you. That would be great.”

  Elenore finished up the eggs while toasting some bread. She dipped up the plates and set one in front of Sarah.

  A foreign feeling settled over Elenore, a feeling of belonging…of acceptan
ce. Evan knew exactly who and what she was, yet he’d welcomed her into his home without expectations. And for that, she would forever be grateful.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Four Months Later

  Evan sat alone in his bedroom, silent tears of grief tracking down his cheeks. Linda had passed away.

  He hadn’t expected to take her death so hard, yet there he sat, mourning her loss with a pain that crippled him.

  Evan had loved Linda for years. If he were being honest with himself, he would admit to loving her still.

  Linda had been his everything for as far back as he could remember. Until she’d left him for another man. And as bad as that had hurt Evan, it paled in comparison to her death.

  How was he supposed to tell Sarah her mother was gone, that she would never see her again? He couldn’t. Not yet.

  Sarah had adjusted to living with him better than he ever imagined she would. Thanks to Elenore.

  Elenore had also adjusted well. She’d come a long way from the withdrawn woman he’d met all those months ago.

  His mind drifted back to the day he’d pulled up in her yard and saw her standing in the drive in a torn dress with dirty feet. Yet, even in her ragged state, he’d still found her beautiful.

  The feelings Evan had for Elenore were complicated at best. She had come to mean a lot to him over the months…a lot more than he’d expected. But Elenore was incapable of returning his feelings. She’d been too badly abused. And not only by the strangers her father had forced upon her, but by her father himself.

  Another tear leaked from Evan’s eye. So much had happened in such a short amount of time, it was almost too much to take in. It seemed like a lifetime ago that Evan had covered up the murders in Wexler and disposed of Elijah’s body. He would have never thought himself capable of something so heinous. Yet, there he sat, guilty and without remorse.

  No, Evan felt zero guilt for his actions. He would do it all again if it meant Elenore’s freedom.

  He sucked in an unsteady breath and attempted to push the unwanted memories from his mind. He thought about Sarah and how she’d entered his life at the worst time imaginable, only to bring him a joy he’d never known existed. And though Linda was now gone, a piece of her would live on in her daughter. Their daughter.

  His thoughts drifted back to Elenore and her unexpected love for Sarah. It fascinated him to watch her with his daughter.

  Elenore exhibited an enormous amount of patience where Sarah was concerned. She also showed a protectiveness toward the child that warmed Evan’s heart.

  Once the three of them had settled into their new home, Evan had set up an account for Elenore. He had been teaching her the responsibilities of managing a checkbook and the repercussions that came from abusing it. He’d also taught her to use a computer. After weeks of studying, she’d received her GED and was now taking online courses to learn to type.

  She kept the house immaculate, entertained Sarah, and even walked her to Pre-K every morning.

  Evan had put in to drive his daughter to school, but Elenore had insisted on walking her. She enjoyed nature and was teaching Sarah to love it as much.

  The changes in Elenore amazed Evan. Like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, she flourished. That wasn’t to say she didn’t have her bad days. Quite the contrary. Some mornings she would wake up screaming in terror, unable to be reached or consoled. She would slip back into her shell of insecurities and anxiety for days on end. But it never lasted. She eventually came around… She always did.

  A knock sounded on Evan’s bedroom door, pulling him out of his musing.

  “Just a minute,” he called, snatching some tissues out of a box on his nightstand and blowing his nose.

  He took several deep breaths in an attempt to get his emotions under control. The last thing he wanted was for Sarah or Elenore to notice his tears.

  Pushing to his feet, he trailed to the door and pulled it open.

  Elenore stood there, an anxious look on her face. “There’s a police car in the drive.”

  Evan’s stomach tightened. One of his old coworkers had possibly gotten wind that Evan had moved back to Atlanta, or the bodies beneath the barn at the Griffin farm had been found. Either way, it didn’t bode well for Evan or Elenore.

  “Get Sarah and stay in your room until I come for you. Okay?”

  Elenore nodded and hurried down the hall toward the game room where Sarah currently played.

  Once the two girls were safely in Elenore’s bedroom, Evan headed across the hall to the den.

  He pulled the door open.

  An officer Evan didn’t recognize stood there with an older woman behind him.

  The officer met Evan’s gaze. “Mr. Ramirez?”

  Evan nodded. “Yes. May I help you?”

  The officer didn’t blink. “I’m Officer Cook with the Atlanta PD. And this is Vera Martin.” He indicated the woman now standing at his elbow. “She’s a social worker with the Department of Children and Families.”

  DCF, Evan thought, openly eyeing the woman. “What’s this about?”

  “If you don’t mind,” the officer interjected, drawing Evan’s attention, “we’d like to come inside and speak with your daughter, Sarah.”

  Evan’s jaw tightened. “I do mind. What do you want with Sarah?”

  “We only want to check on her wellbeing,” Vera shot back with a sniff from her hawk-shaped nose.

  The officer took a step forward. “You know the law, Mr. Ramirez. When a child’s wellbeing is in question, we have the right to come inside, with or without your permission. Please don’t make this more difficult than it has to be.”

  Evan shifted his gaze from Old Hawk Nose, back to Officer Cook. Apparently, the man knew exactly who Evan was.

  Throwing the door wide, Evan took a step back and waved the duo inside. “Have a seat while I fetch Sarah.”

  Evan left his unwanted visitors in the den and marched off down the hall. He stopped in front of Elenore’s room, noticing she’d shut the door.

  “Elenore?” Evan called, tapping lightly on the door.

  It opened slightly to reveal one of Elenore’s crystal-blue eyes. She regarded him in suspicion. “Are they here for me?”

  Evan shook his head. “The officer is simply an escort for a woman from the Department of Children and Families. They want to see Sarah.”

  Elenore paled. She glanced behind her and then faced Evan once again. “What for?”

  “I don’t know,” Evan softly replied in an attempt to keep Elenore calm. “But they have a legal right to be here. So send Sarah out so we can get this over with.”

  Elenore visibly swallowed. “They’ll take her, Evan. That’s what they do.”

  “No one is going to take her, Elenore. They have no grounds.”

  Though Elenore obviously didn’t believe that, she backed up a step but kept her gaze glued to Evan. “I’m coming with her.”

  Evan shook his head. “I don’t think that’s wise. It’s best if you stay in here until they leave. I’m sure it won’t take too long.”

  He poked his head inside the room and spotted Sarah sitting on the floor, playing with a Barbie. “Sarah, honey? Can you come here for a minute?”

  The little girl laid her doll to the side and pushed to her feet. “Where are we going, Daddy?”

  Evan kept his expression as serene as possible. “There are some people here that want to talk to us.”

  Sarah moved toward him with trust shining in her eyes. She took hold of his hand and looked back at Elenore. “Are you coming, Elle?”

  Elenore shook her head. “I’ll be right here when you come back.”

  It wasn’t lost on Evan that Sarah had referred to Elenore as Elle. He would definitely question Elenore about that later. For now, he had a social worker to deal with.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Elenore waited for Evan and Sarah to disappear into the den before she stepped from her room and crept quietly along the hall.

&nb
sp; She could hear voices coming from the den, Evan’s among them.

  The female voice sounded nasally and accusatory. That had to be the woman from DCF. Elenore had plenty of experience with social workers and knew that tone well.

  “You have a girl living here with you,” the social worker was saying. “An Elenore Griffin?”

  Evan answered without pause. “I don’t believe it’s the state’s business who I have living with me.”

  “It is if that person is not a good influence for the child,” the nasally sounding woman shot back. “And you are not married to her. The courts frown upon that sort of thing, here in Georgia.”

  Elenore’s stomach flipped. DCF had been called on Evan because of her.

  She backed slowly down the hall and returned to her room. Her anxiety was back full force, accompanied by nausea.

  Unsure of how long she stood in the center of her room, wringing her hands, Elenore jumped when her bedroom door abruptly opened.

  Evan hovered just inside the room, holding Sarah’s small hand. “You can relax now. They’re gone for the time being.”

  Elenore glanced down at Sarah, relieved to see the child had a relaxed look on her face, and then she met Evan’s gaze once more. “They came because of me.”

  Evan shook his head and gently guided Sarah forward. “Why don’t you take your Barbie to the playroom for a bit while I speak with Elenore?”

  Sarah skipped the short distance to her Barbie, plucked it up, and left the room.

  Evan carefully approached as he always did. “You being here has nothing to do with why DCF has been called, Elenore.”

  “I heard what she said,” Elenore whispered, her nerves intensifying the nausea. “They will take her from you because of me.”

  “No, they—”

  “I’ve dealt with DCF all my life, Evan. I know what they do. They took me more than once.”

  Evan threw out a hand. “With good reason.”

  “Yes, but me being here is reason enough in their minds. You don’t know how they operate, Evan. I do. They will dig up everything they can find on me. And they think we live together as a couple. We—”