Page 26 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
Ella leveled her gaze at him. “Thane,Iam sureDeathwould find you handsome.”
“He doesn’t.Andit’s true,Idid mess up.ThoughI’mnot sorry that my father threw me out.Henever did like me.”Thaneshook his head. “Butenough about me.Areyou going to tell me what happened the other night?Didit have anything to do withAlbertorWilliam?”
“No,” she lied.
“Really?Sothe fact thatWilliamdemandedIstay away from you was just a coincidence?”
“When did he say that?”
“That night.Iwas saying good night to my driver.Heaccused me, us, of…Well, he was not happy with me.Hesaid you belonged to him.”Thanelooked over atElla. “Doyou?”
“No.”Ellaran her hand over her face, remembering whatWilliamhad accused her andThaneof doing. “I’mso tired of everyone thinking they know what’s best for me.Mrs.AthinksIshould marryAlbert.Williamthinks he loves me andIshould marry him.LillianthinksIshould take care of her mother-in-law.Noone has asked me.”Thewords tumbled out of her mouth faster than she could think them.Noone would listen to her like this.Theywere too busy telling her how she should feel, andSissythought she was a fairy princess.
Thane turned to face her. “Andwhat do you want,Ella?Tellthe stars.”
She looked up. “Iwant…Iwant to be happy.Iwant to know my name.Iwant to remember whoIam.Iwant…”Shelooked over atThane.Shewanted to taste his kisses.Toknow what it was like to be desired by a man likeThane. “Iwant whatIhad then, beforeIwasElla.”
“You have to wish it.”Thanelooked down at his glass.
She opened her mouth to tell him that was silly when a star shot across the sky. “Look.”Ellapointed to the night sky.
“The stars must have been listening.”Thanedidn’t look up.
“Hurry, make a wish.”Shesqueezed his arm.
He didn’t look at the sky only at her. “Iwish things were different.IwishIhadn’t messed everything up.Butmostly,Iwish you would find what you are looking for.”Acrooked smile crossedThane’sface.
“I wish the same for you.”Thereason whyThanewas here burned as bright as the star.Hewas here to find the woman he loved.Notwhisk her off her feet.Itwas time forEllato go back to her life.Sheset the wine down. “Wecan’t do this anymore, as much asIhave enjoyed my time with you.Andyour friendship has been eye-opening to say the least.”Shetook a breath, hoping to keep the tears at bay.Shedidn’t want him to leave. “ButIthink you andIboth know how this is going to end.”
“How is that?”Thanecocked his head. “Canyou see into the future?”
Ella touched the soft white petals of the flowers that surrounded them. “Yes.Imean, you aren’t here for me.Yourwork is done, which means you will be leaving.I’msurprised you’re still here.”
“I’m here becauseIenjoy spending time with you.Beingwith you makes me forget that there is another world out there.Aworld thatIdon’t always enjoy being in.”Helay down and looked up at the stars. “CanItell you somethingI’venever told anyone?”
“Yes.”
“I’m afraid.”
His fear took her by surprise. “Whatcould you have to fear?”
“Her.”Helooked over atElla. “Ihaven’t been completely honest with you.”Helooked back to the sky. “I’mafraid that she may have found a new life, one thatIno longer fit in.That’swhyIhave been asking about you.Tosee how much you have changed in this year.”
Ella lay down next to him. “Youcould have just asked me.”
“Wouldn’t that have seemed a bit odd?Excuseme, miss,Iknow that you’re struggling to fit into this life, but could you reassure me that the womanIam looking for hasn’t changed so much that she won’t love me?”
Ella laughed. “Youcould have worded it differently.Butyes.Weare friends, right?”Shebit her lip, waiting for him to say no.Orthat he wanted more than a friendship.
“Are we?”Helooked over at her.
“I would hope so.”Thesadness she heard in his voice was the same she felt.Theylay there in the quietness, watching the stars above. “Doyou think our wishes will come true?Evenif we said them out loud.”
“That’s a silly thing for you to believe.Imean, who you tell has nothing to do with if a wish will be granted.”
Ella rolled over and watched him in the white light of the moon. “Howdo you know?”
“I knew someone who could talk to the stars.Shetold me.”
