Page 49 of Belonging to Them
Pursing her lips together, she shakes her head.“I can’t blame you, no.But I need you to trust that I’m not an idiot.”
“That is thelastthing I would ever think about you.It concerns me that she’s befriending you while Tommy has been asking you for money.”
“No,Ifoundher,” Ella says.“I approached her.She’s just as worried about Tommy as I am.”
“Have you heard anything else from him?”I ask gently, tugging her back into my arms.Over the past couple of days, she has given Sebastian and me a little more info about what she’s been dealing with, and I’m worried about her stress levels.
She softens against me.“No.Nothing from him, nothing from the number that sent the threat.”
“If there really is a ransom,” I say, “you know I’d pay it, right?”
“What?”She frowns, looking at me like I’m insane.
“If you just wanted it to stop, and not worry about the police.We could have Ironwood handle it—the arrangements, the drop-off, everything.”
“Just…throw money at the problem?”she says.
Something about the way she says it makes me cautious.“I’d say it’s more like using readily available resources to resolve a sensitive issue.”
She shakes her head.“We come from completely different worlds.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Nothing.It’s fine.I haven’t heard from the mystery number, so it was probably just Tommy, trying to get money out of me.Well, out of you.”She buries her face against my chest.“This is so embarrassing.”
“Don’t be embarrassed.”I cradle her head, holding her close.“I know you’re not him, and I think he might have an illness.An addiction.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right.”
“And that’s why I don’t trust this woman claiming to be his girlfriend.”
Ella pulls away.“Not this again.Seriously.I spoke with her, and I trust her.I’m not inviting her to move in.I’m not giving her money.I’m throwing her a baby shower, that’s it.Okay?”
“Okay.I’m sorry.I just got home, I don’t want to fight.”
“Good,” she says, taking her seat again, “then you can help me glue the ribbons onto the word scramble game.”
Sitting down at the table across from her, I reach for the first game card and the glue.“Pass me the ribbon.”
Ella’s right.She’s spoken with Gianna and she has good instincts.I need to back off and let her do her thing.
* * *
Sebastian
When I get home on Saturday, Ella and King are sitting in the living room.The TV is on, but Ella isn’t watching it.She’s surrounded by cardboard and…diapers?
“Hey, princess,” I say.
“Hey!”She comes over and gives me a hug and a kiss.
“What is this?”
“You don’t want to know,” Kingston says, hiding a smile.
Ella laughs.“It’s a diaper cake.I’m throwing Gianna a baby shower.”
King told me about Gianna, and Ella has, too.I can tell they don’t see eye to eye on Ella befriending Gianna so quickly, but I’m staying out of it until I actually meet Gianna.
