Page 37 of Tell Me Everything
“Maura finally let you see us again?”
So she knew... I shook my head. To be honest, Mom had tried to forbid me from coming. Alex had stood beside me despite the pain he was currently in, a reassuring hand on my back. His warmth had given me courage when I'd finally said, “It's my family and I want to go and see them. So either you let me go, or I'll jump out the window and go anyway.” For many long seconds, she stared at me in silence, then gave Alex a confused look. My friend didn't flinch. Unlike me, Alex wasn't intimidated by my mother. And if it hadn't been for him, I'd probably have chickened out without saying these things.
“No, she didn't want me to come.”
Grandma's face showed her disappointment, but shemaintained her smile. “I shouldn’t be surprised,” Grandma admitted, pinching my cheek affectionately. “Ever since Jade and I tried to get you out of there, she's held a terrible grudge against us.”
I frowned. “You wanted to take me in?”
“My dear, we all know that Frank and Maura weren't good enough for you.”
For years, I'd thought my mother was afraid someone would find out about my father. When what she really wanted was to keep me close? This revelation baffled me. If only they'd been able to get me out of there. Grandma beckoned me to follow her. We sat down at the kitchen table, and at no point did she let go of my hand.
She changed the subject. “You've become a beautiful young woman.”
“I'm just trying to look like you, Grandma.”
Her laughter sounded like a melody. One that I had missed terribly. “Look at that, what a charmer.”
My grandfather mumbled something incomprehensible before leaving the room. If only I hadn't been such a coward, I could have visited him sooner. I rubbed my eyes with my sleeve. Mick had always been the smooth talker in the family. Finding myself here at our grandparents' house without him was strange, but I didn't want to live without them anymore.
“Do you think Grandpa will forgive me?”
“Of course, he will. You've always been his darling little girl. He just needs some time.”
Of all their seven grandchildren, Ella and I were the only girls. This had always meant that our grandparents pampered us a little more than the boys. It had also been in our favour when we got into trouble. The boys had always received the most persistent punishments, whereas Ella and I usually got away with anything. And when Grandma or one of our parentsscolded us, Grandpa always gave us sweets on the sly. He was disappointed that I hadn't come to see him when we'd been so close.
Ella and Jade entered the kitchen, Tupperware and pie boxes in hand. My cousin jumped into my arms, then left to greet the others. Aunt Laurene turned up her nose. Ella still wore her riding outfit.
“Ella, you smell like horses.”
“That's not nice,” Ella countered, making a sad puppy face.
Aunt Laurene always had a knack for hurling barbs. I hadn't missed that part of the family. Jade ruffled her goddaughter's curly hair.
“Ella, wash up quickly,” Grandma said, kissing her cheek. “Then we'll eat.”
A few minutes later, my cousin came out of the bathroom, wearing a long Hard Rock Café T-shirt and black leggings. She came to stand beside me, and some of my anxiety vanished. With Grandma, Jade, and Ella by my side, I felt a little more at home. If only Alex could be here. I took my iPhone out of my pocket and saw his message.
Alex:How’s the family party?
Elena:I expected worse(=^?ω?^=)as always
Alex:\(???)/
It was the first time he used an emoji in his messages. Was I rubbing off on him? I grinned despite myself. The fact that he cared, even though he wasn't there, made me feel better. This boy made me feel so much. In fact, Alex had just made me feel again. As if the day he'd walked into my life, I'd started to live once more. Ella hovered her head over my shoulder before turning back to me with a mischievous smirk.Oh no...
“Is Alex your boyfriend?”
“What?” I squeaked. “No, he isn’t! Why would you thinkthat?”
Alex and I together? It seemed pretty unlikely. After all, he'd never want someone as boring and weak as me. And at that moment, I didn't have the strength to give my heart to anyone. So why did the idea of him not wanting me make my heart clench?
Ella pulled me out of my thoughts. “You seemed very close when we were over.”
“We're just friends,” I replied, keeping my eyes glued to my hands.
“Do you want him to be your boyfriend?”
