Chapter 25: Chapter 25

“Ella, honey, what’s going on?” Her dad sounded concerned. Ella’s natural instinct was to try to blow it off, to make it seem like it wasn’t a big deal, so he wouldn’t be so upset. But that wouldn’t help her situation any either. She needed to be honest with him.

“Listen, Dad, I haven’t said anything to you because Teresa said she’d call her friends at Pleasant Hills and have me taken away. I also didn’t want to upset you. But, yes, I’ve been living in the attic. She lets me out to use the bathroom a few times a day and also for dinner--usually. The only time I’ve been allowed to leave the house is when Tim insisted I go to his mom’s birthday party Friday night. Other than that, I’m not allowed to.”

“Not allowed to? Ella, you’re twenty-two years old. You’ve lived in France with just your aunt since you were a little girl. Why wouldn’t you be allowed to go out?”

“Teresa said LA would ‘chew me up and spit me out.’ She said I’d never been able to handle it. At first, I was intimidated, Dad, I was afraid she was right. I look nothing like the beautiful blonde girls around here, like Anna and Drew. Teresa said I was ugly, that I would be laughed at and made fun of and embarrass you and the rest of the family. I believed her, Dad. So I stayed put. Besides, I love working for you. I enjoyed doing my job. But when I went out with Tim the other night, I realized that I can handle LA, that I’m not going to be made fun of for what I look like, and with Tim’s help, I’m not going to end up locked behind a cell door in an insane asylum either.”

He was quiet, and she took a deep breath, praying he believed her. It sounded so ridiculous coming out of her mouth, she couldn’t blame him if he didn’t. Eventually, he said, “What about your car? Where is the car I bought you for your birthday last month?”

“Car?” Ella echoed, feeling the color drain from her face. “What car?”

“You know, the Audi I bought you. I wanted you to be able to get around town. I’m so confused, Ella. You wrote to me and said that you were having so much fun with all of your new friends, shopping and visiting all the restaurants.”

“Dad, I never got a car, and I never wrote that to you. You know I would’ve called you if I could have, right? If you gave me a car for my birthday, I would’ve phoned you right away to thank you. But every time I got a phone, usually from Tim, Teresa would take it. Did you get me a car? She said all you sent was a card.”

A loud sigh filled her ear as Lloyd processed what she’d just said. “Have you gotten anything else I’ve sent you? The clothes? The earrings? That cute stuffed poodle? Thank God it wasn’t a real poodle.”

“No, Dad. She said you didn’t send weekly presents anymore.”

“I sent a weekly present to all four of my girls every damn Friday!” He had lost his temper now, and she heard his fist crash down, probably against a nightstand. “I’m sorry, honey. I’m not mad at you. Can I speak to Tim again, please?”

“Sure.”

“Thank you, dear. Don’t you worry about this? We’ll sort it all out. I love you, Ella Bear.”

“I love you, too, Dad.”

She handed the phone back to Tim, but all she could think about was how angry he’d sounded. She knew, when she told him about Rome, he’d be mad about that, too. Probably even angrier….

She did her best to listen to both sides of the conversation. Tim was saying he didn’t know the details, that he’d just found out, too, and of course, Ella was welcome to stay with him for as long as it took. She wondered what would happen when her dad confronted Teresa and how her evil stepmother would try to get out of this predicament.

“All right. Thanks. Bye.” Tim hung up and looked at her for a few seconds. “I’m proud of you for telling him the truth, Ella. Don’t worry. It’ll be okay.” He placed his hand on her shoulder and conjured up a smile.

She wanted to believe him, but on the inside, she felt like a lost little girl. Tim shifted into drive and headed toward his apartment, and Ella concentrated on breathing. Now that she had her freedom, the only other thing she longed for was Rome. The gifts her dad had sent sounded nice--but what was most important was finding a way to be with the man she loved--and finding a way to do it without her dad ever sounding like that again.

Tim’s apartment was gorgeous and spacious. It was on the top floor of a luxury apartment building that overlooked a golf course, so the view out Ella’s window--the guest room that he insisted she could claim for as long as she wanted or needed to--was beautiful. Trees bloomed in vibrant shades of red, white, and pink, with floral bushes surrounding their trunks. Beyond them, a rolling field of green filled her view. The sky was still blue, though twilight was falling, and she could see the first stars pinning themselves above her where the night and day had rolled together to make a soft, inky blue.

Her cousin was in his room on the other side of the apartment. They’d talked for a bit once she’d arrived. He’d called his mom, who’d been absolutely livid when she found out the truth. Tim insisted he was taking Ella to buy some clothes so she’d have something clean, comfortable, and stylish to wear the next day. Stylish wasn’t as much of a concern to her as the first two. She had several shirts with her because she was wearing them all, but the baggy sweatpants she had on were so hideous, she doubted she’d feel confident wearing them anywhere. It might be like a scene from that movie, Pretty Woman, where the girl goes shopping and gets tossed out for not looking like she was in the right place.

At least Tim would be with her to help her in every way. She’d find something at the first store and wear it out so that she’d fit in better anywhere else she went. But for now, she needed to call Rome.

Her hand was shaking as she pulled the phone to her ear. If Tim overheard her, he wouldn’t ask too many questions, and she certainly wouldn’t get in trouble--as long as she didn’t say who she was talking to. It wasn’t like it was before when she was home, but she was used to feeling as if she was about to get into trouble for anything and everything.

Rome answered on the first ring. “Ella?”

“Hi. It’s me.”

He let out a long sigh. “Thank God. Where are you, baby? Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. I’m at Tim’s apartment.”

“I’m so glad to hear that. How was it? Did she try to make you stay?”

Tears were rolling down her face as she thought about what she’d just been through. “She didn’t want to let me come down for dinner. She told him I was sick. But he was persistent, and I left with him, even though she didn’t want me to. Then, on the way to his apartment, Tim called my dad.”

“Oh, that must’ve been hard. How did it go?”

“I’m not sure. He talked to Tim a lot longer than he talked to me. I’m not sure he believed me. I’m sure he called Teresa, and she probably convinced him I’m crazy.”

“I wouldn’t worry about that, baby. You’re not crazy. Your dad will come around. She can’t hide her evil forever.”

His words made her feel so much better. Just knowing he was there, that he loved her, and she’d always be safe because he would never let anything happen to her, gave her strength. “Tim is going to take me to get some new clothes, so I can’t talk long.”

“But you can talk later, right? Can you meet me somewhere?”

Ella thought of the car her dad had bought her, the one she’d never even seen. If she had that, she could. “Probably not tonight,” she said, reluctantly. “I think Tim will feel better if I’m here where he knows that I’m safe. I can call you, though.”

“I guess that will have to do for now. Okay, God, Ella, I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, babe. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“I can’t wait to see you. My arms feel so empty without you in them.”

That brought a smile to her face. “I can’t wait to be in your arms again. I love you.”

“I love you more than anything.”

Ella hung up, and even though it was one of the worst days of her life, she couldn’t help but feel blessed that such an amazing man loved her with all of his heart.