Page 14 of Like the Season
When Ella was ready, she’d tell him.
But his heart broke as he froze in the living room, staring at a picture sitting on an old entertainment center.
Ella and Helen, both of them smiling and dressed in 50s-style poodle skirts and sweaters. Ella looked several years younger in that picture, her hair different, longer than it was now.
Ella followed his gaze. “That was taken a few months before she died. Her boss at her day job threw a big family Halloween party for all his employees and kids. I’d just seenGreasefor the first time and wanted us to dress like that. Mom went through every thrift store in the area to find the sweaters and stuff to make our costumes. She bought old prom dresses and crinolines to cut apart and make the skirts. Checked out a sewing machine from the library to sew them and everything.”
She held her arms crossed over her chest and wiped at her eyes with one hand. “She was a great mom. She always tried to make do with what we had and told me to never feel ashamed for not having new stuff.”
The ache once again bloomed inside him. “I’m so sorry.”
“Hey, it’s reallynotyour fault.” She forced a smile. “Like I said, I had myself psyched up that you were going to be a jerk, or at least a raging tool. Blow me off. Mom might have been wrong thinking one day she’d get a happily-ever-after with you, but she wasn’t wrong about loving you because of how nice you are.”
He pulled her in for another hug. “Move to Florida. I’ll pay for it.”
Well, there went his plan to try to work his way into it gradually.
“What?”
“I’m serious. Move to Florida.”
She gently smiled and put her hands against his chest, not to shove him away but as if comforting him. “You might hate me by the time you fly home.”
“You’re mydaughter. I want to have a relationship with you, and it’s kind of hard to do on opposite ends of the country.”
“I can’t afford to move. Plus I’d have to get my certifications and stuff before I could work as a nurse.”
“You don’t…” He sighed. “I’min Florida. Me and Caleb. We’ll be your family. Weareyour family.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Yes, it is. Give meonereason why you can’t move to Florida if I’m helping you pay for it and letting you live with us as long as you need to get your feet under you?”
Tears filled her eyes again. “Because I can’t be without a job or health insurance right now. I just found out yesterday I’m pregnant.”
