Page 26 of The Heiress
Chapter 9
Phoenix
“Oh Phoe, we’ve gota visitor. She’s a boarder from your school. This is Elisha,” Mom said, right as I could see Elisha standing in our kitchen. “She’ll be spending Thanksgiving weekend with us.”
It was a panicked moment as I wiped my watery eyes and tried to comprehend the madness of Mom’s words, and the reality of Elisha dressed in a pair of tight skinny jeans and a lacy white top. For some reason, I was swept up in that and not the bombshell that I’d just run from. Yeah, I’d spent the drive home dwelling on Dad’s decision to sue Mom and his frightful belief that my tennis future was bleak, only to find myself in some parallel universe where Elisha was staying at our house for Thanksgiving weekend.
“Uh, hi,” Elisha said, nervously running her hand through her hair. “Um, I didn’t realize this was your house.”
“Oh, you two know each other?” Mom sounded insanely thrilled, of course having no idea that Elisha was discreetly labeled the Ice Queen at school. I doubt anyone had said it to her face—for fear of being snapped at.
“When Mrs. Pritchard said Fi, I thought she meant Fiesta or Phoebe,” Elisha rushed an explanation, her eyes targeting Mom, but they flicked in my direction briefly, and I saw something...something that made my heart rate accelerate. That the reason behind Elisha’s arrival had to have a story, probably connected to the lost and lonely look I’d witnessed in the cafeteria that day. Boarders generally went home for the holidays, but those who lived abroad stayed with local families, though the rumor about Elisha coming from Switzerland had long been proved false.
The kettle whistled and Mom swished across to the stove. “That’s right, I was making tea,” she said. “Sit down, Elisha! Phoe, what do you want? Coffee? Sit down! You’ve had a long drive.”
Elisha obediently sat at the breakfast bar, but I teetered, undecided about whether I should stay or go to my room. It’d be safer in my room, give me a chance to get my head together.
“I’ll just unpack,” I said, though I was beyond intrigued as to the absurd situation.
“That can wait,” Mom said, and she ordered, “Sit!” like she was a Sergeant Major in the army. “You must be hungry.”
Well, it was true I was always hungry, but it was the light in Mom’s eyes that made me take the stool next to Elisha. Mom was smiling, and I could tell she was excited to have Elisha as a guest, and I think she was happy that I’d come home early. In her eyes, that would be a small victory over Dad. Though she had no idea about the circumstances, and seeing her darting around the kitchen, I was loathe to tell her Dad’s intention. I’d break the news later, when Elisha wasn’t here.
Mom busied herself with cups and coasters and assembling a platter.
“So, you have eaten?” Mom asked.
Elisha and I turned to each other, unsure who Mom was addressing. When neither of us replied, Mom turned from the fridge looking at both of us, her eyebrows raised in query.
“Yeah, but I’m good for now. I ate heaps,” I said.
“Me too,” Elisha said, clasping her hands together, twirling a delicate gold ring on her middle finger. She’d never worn it at school.
I was tempted to ask Mom if she’d eaten, but I didn’t want to force her to make a feeble excuse, so I said, “How did your work thing go?”
“Very good,” Mom said, placing a cup before Elisha. “English tea. Let me know if you need a little sugar.” Mom beamed with a wink, “though you’re probably sweet enough.”
