Page 8 of Christmas off Script
She watched him fall to the floor beside her, his gaze darting around the room for danger, as the shopping bags he’d brought with him were discarded, spilling their contents.
‘I’ve got you. I’m here.’ His strong arms held her tightly and she fought to control her cries.
You’re safe. It’s okay. Leo’s here. He won’t let anything bad happen to you.
‘You don’t have to say anything. Just nod if you’re hurt, okay?’
She shook her head. Then her howls turned into wracking sobs, and the external part of her that had been hovering above the two of them slipped back into her body.
Leo held her to his chest, gently rocking as he soothed her. ‘Shhh… It’s going to be alright. I promise. You don’t need to talk. Take your time. I’m here.’
Ella’s cries intensified with the love she felt from Leo. He was always there for her and had never let her down. He comforted her with the ease and familiarity of a favourite soft toy.
Time passed, and so too did her tears, but Leo didn’t let go until she moved, uncurling her stiff limbs and shuffling out of his warm embrace.
She shivered, suddenly freezing.
He caught one of her icy hands. ‘Your jeans are soaked through. Can I run you a bath? I think you’ve still got some of those aromatherapy salts Willow gave you for your birthday. I could chuck them in?’
Nodding, she closed her fingers around his, worried about falling back into the chasm of grief if he left the room.
‘Come with me?’ he suggested. ‘Sit on the landing and order me about?’
Ella nodded again, and Leo helped her to her feet, not letting go of her hand as he led her up the stairs. In the bathroom, he sat her on the closed lid of the toilet and turned the bath taps on with his free hand. Seeming to understand instinctively that she needed physical touch to ground her, he kept hold of her hand as he emptied the container of fragrant salts into the tub.
‘Don’t forget that Mammy and Willow harvested the lavender and chamomile at the right phase of the moon according to biodynamic principles, so the salts are infused with—’ He paused and pulled a face as if trying to find the right words, then grinned. ‘Hippy magic?’
The corners of Ella’s mouth tried to move, and Leo squeezed her hand a little tighter. The bath was filling quickly, but she couldn’t bear the idea of him leaving.
Again, he seemed to read her mind. ‘Why don’t you get in it fully clothed?’ he suggested. ‘Then, when you’ve warmed up enough, I can sit outside and you can get undressed.’
Tears springing to her eyes, she nodded.
Leo helped her stand as if she was an invalid, then held onto her as she stepped into the water and sat down.
The relief was immediate, soaking through her jeans, then working its way under her sweatshirt and t-shirt.
He perched on the edge of the bath, still holding her hand. He was smiling at her achievement, but she could see the concern behind it.
‘Thank you,’ she whispered.
His smile grew until it lit up his face. ‘Anytime! It’s one of my duties as your BFFF.’
She raised an eyebrow.
‘Your Best Fantastic Friend Forever. Although, as it’s me, I could probably add Funny and Fandsome to the list.’
A spark of happiness flashed briefly inside her. ‘Fandsome?’
He wiggled his eyebrows. ‘Most definitely. And many ladies would also describe me as “Fexy”.’
She snorted. ‘Don’t forget to add “Full of it” to your list.’
He gave a theatrical sigh. ‘It’s a hard cross to bear, being the best-looking Foxbrooke.’
‘Didn’t Henry model forVogue?’
Leo pursed his lips and sucked in his cheekbones. ‘I could do that any day of the week.’
