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Postcards from Hawaii


Guest TelephotoMarigold

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Chapter 72

Ella watched as everyone, well everyone who was awake, got their breakfasts from the long table and milled around. Looking out on the patio she noticed Roman in deep conversation with Jacko, Pete and James. He shot her a look and she nodded back at him. Taking a moment to make sure everyone was ok she moved out towards him and took a seat next to the group.
“Ok, spill it,” she ordered.
Jacko grinned at the look that crossed Roman’s face before he sobered.
“Girlie,” he began.
“Uh huh,” Ella said before she gave Roman a look. He looked uncomfortable and she sighed softly as she waited for him to speak.
“The guys want to go to Bosnia again,” he announced. “They want to make this an annual thing.”
Ella nodded. “Might be good,” she offered him.
“What about us, and the kids?”
“We’ll be here when you get back,” Ella murmured.
“What’s going on?” Georgie called out moving to stand near them.
“The boys are trying to persuade your Dad into going to Bosnia again,” Ella said when everyone had lapsed back into silence.
“Cool!”
“Georgie?”
“It really helped you last time,” Georgie commented, “And well, I want to go,” he added shooting his mum a rueful look.
Ella stood and gave Georgie a look before she moved to stand beside him and placing her hand on his shoulder.
“Well Roman,” she said quietly.
“You mean.. “ he stood and gave them all a look.
“Take your son with you,” Ella clarified.
“I can’t.” he gasped out and immediately cursed as Georgie’s face fell. “It’s not like well, there are things that are upsetting…” he trailed off.
“I know,” Georgie’s voice was quiet. “I read about the war and some of the things that happened.”
“Hardcore,” Pete murmured.
“We’ll see,” Roman said to his son.
“You don’t want me to come,” Georgie muttered before spinning around and heading back into the house. Roman watching as his son moved past everyone and walked quietly towards the stairs.
“I can’t take two weeks off,” Roman insisted stubbornly.
“Of course you can,” Ella told him, “And when you stop being so stubborn you can sit down and discuss whether Georgie can go with you. Bearing in mind Gentlemen that he’s too young to get drunk and if he comes back with a tattoo you will be in serious trouble.”
She gave Roman a look before she moved away from them and into the house.
“So you want to get back with her?” Jacko said softly mindful of the kids being just inside the house.
Roman glared at him.
“Sgt?”
“Jus’ wondering whys you even try to get stuff past her, is all…”
Roman groaned and sank back into his seat.
“Does Raisma know you want to go back over?” He asked changing the subject.
“Jacko’s been in contact with her,” Pete said slowly sharing a grin with James.
“Ok,” Roman murmured.
He lowered his head for a moment and thought about what it would entail, flights, accommodation, insurance, hire cars, spending money and he’d be two weeks without an income. Two weeks that would impact on him when he came to pay his mortgage. He half-shook his head knowing that he was probably just making excuses not to go. Looking around the others he gave a slow nod.
“When?” He asked in a husky voice.
“Next month,” James said slowly. “I don’t mind if your Georgie comes with us, I mean,” he stopped and looked at the others before looking at Roman.
“I don’t know,” Roman said again.
His eyes strayed to the house and he frowned when he caught sight of his elder son sitting on the long sofa with the other boys. He knew that he’d hurt him earlier but he wanted to protect his kids, all of his kids.
“Think the boy would be ashamed of you or someat?” Jacko muttered.
Roman flinched.
“No…” he trailed off again, feeling uncertain.
“Well if you decide that he can go we’d be ok with it,” Pete murmured looking at Jacko and then James and seeing them nod in acquiescence.
Roman sipped at his drink and remained silent as he thought about the implications of taking Georgie with him. Missing school for a start, and although he knew his kids were smart enough to miss months of school and catch up in a week, thanks to their superbrain mother, he still thought the routine was important. Besides if Georgie wanted to go now, what about Sammy and Sophie? Then Meggy. Images of having to make sure the swimming pool in Raisma’s villa was filled and ready for swimming or he’d be dealing with a week of crying and tantrums from his daughter.
“We should sort out dates and flights,” Roman murmured into the silence.
“So yous up for coming?” Jacko drawled out.
Roman grinned and nodded.
“Maybe James can practice his German again,” he said slowly and watched the reaction around the men.
“Ha ha,” James muttered.
Roman stood and moved into the kitchen looking at the pile of plates and discarded cutlery and cups and resisted the urge to automatically clean up. He had to keep reminding himself that it wasn’t his house, for the time being at least, he added mentally making himself grin.
“What are you smirking at?” Ella’s voice interrupted his thoughts and he turned and gave her a rueful look.
“Just stuff,” he muttered resisting the urge to start cleaning.
“uh huh solider!”
He watched as she fiddled with her hair dragging it up and away from her face before putting a band round it and tying it up. Next she moved over to the sink and began sorting out the used pots. Watching her for a further minute he moved to her side and soon the top was cleared and the dishwasher was stacked.
“I’m going to Bosnia,” he announced in a quiet toned voice.
“Good,” she said in response.
She could have said so many other things, like asking him about Georgie for example, or pointing out the money side of things but she didn’t and her simple acceptance and support made him fall for her again. Unable to contain himself he leaned forward and placed a swift kiss to her lips before easing back and looking into her eyes.
“Thanks,” he told her and smirked as she blushed.
“I’m sure you two are supposed to be divorced,” Nic murmured from the archway.
“Oh we are,” Ella said emphatically. “And I’m not getting married again.”
Roman half shook his head and gave her a puppy dog eyes kind of look.
“I mean it,” Ella murmured in a quiet voice.
“I can tell,” Roman sighed.
“Damn, I had the perfect outfit in mind,” Nic shot out.
Ella laughed feeling tension slowly leaving her. She knew that Roman wasn’t happy with her decision but in all honestly she couldn’t bear another marriage ending. With a relationship it wasn’t so drastic, or at least didn’t feel like her soul was being ripped out of her with each harsh word and insult thrown at one another. No, she couldn’t bear another failed marriage as much as she loved Roman and knew she wanted to be with him again.
“I’m sure you’ll find an excuse to wear it,” Roman was saying to his daughter, “But Ella is right, we’ve decided.”
Ella sucked in a sharp breath and nodded to cover up the tears that sprang into her eyes.
“So …” Nic paused and checked the rest of the kids were out of the way, “when are you making an announcement?”
“Ha ha,” Ella murmured walking out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
Roman stood watching her go before he turned to Nic and offered his elder daughter a smile.
“We’re not together,” he lied.
“Of course you aren’t,” Nic cried out keeping her voice low, “Just like I told Geoff that this skirt was discounted.”
“Nicole…” Geoff muttered from behind her.
She spun around and faced her husband and also Aden. Her face flushed and she opened her mouth to say something and closing it again.
“Do we need to have a chat about lying?” Geoff asked her.
“No, er, no….” Nic said flustered.
Roman chuckled at his daughter when he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out and frowned when he saw the message symbol and realised he had a text from Ella. Looking down at it he waited a heartbeat before opening it and reading the text.
‘maybe Xmas wud be gud time 4 u 2 move home? Xx’
He laughed before stepping away from the bickering Nic and Geoff and back out on to the veranda.
‘Xmas? U planning on wrapping me up as a present? Xx’ he sent back. His phone beeped immediately and he looked round checking that no one was looking in his direction as he read the message.
‘well mayb more like thinking of unwrapping u…. xx’
He smirked even as he felt like he was starting to blush. How many women had there been in the years prior to Ella coming back into his life and she could make him feel like a randy schoolboy with just a few words.
‘does this mean I get to play with ur stockings? Xx’ he put with another smirk.
“What the hell is that look for Hardcore?” Jacko called out.
Roman jolted nearly dropping his phone at the interruption. He quickly put it away and moved back over to sit with the guys.
“Some sex thing….” Pete drawled, “Pretty certain we’ve seen that expression a few times…”
“Does Ella know you’re seeing someone?”
Roman looked startled at the question and was about to point out that he was seeing Ella when he caught sight of Meggy and Sophie coming up from the stables with the other girls.
“Oh Ella knows,” he muttered.
“The Hawaiian shirt,” Jacko began.
“Oh god what about it?” Roman shot back, “I told you that I’ve forgotten why I kept the damn thing.”
“You told Ella someat, and she told you she’d do someat wearing it.”
Roman paled, not just because the flood of memories but how close Jacko was to the explanation. Why had he even confessed to still having his Hawaiian shirt, he wondered. Maybe if hadn’t booked their ill-fated and as yet untaken honeymoon in Hawaii the other man would have forgotten about it.
“Yeah, try again…” he said slowly shooting Jacko and the others a look when they burst out laughing at him.
“Daddy can we go for a swim?” Sophie asked quickly.
“Sure,” he said glancing at the girls and forgetting that he didn’t live there, yet. They ran into the house and up the stairs leaving him sitting with his men.
“Daddy, can we have a beer?” Jacko drawled.
“If you were my son I would have put you up for adoption!” Roman shot out.
“Harsh, LT, way harsh..”

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Chapter 73

With the weekend over, Roman returned to work on the Monday, finding himself sitting down with Leah to talk over shifts and also telling her about his need to take the two weeks off he would need in order to go to Bosnia with the guys. He knew that a part of him wanted to tell Leah that he and Ella were back together and had sorted things out, not only that but that he would be moving back home yet at the same time it felt as if too many people seemed to be finding out about them and he was suddenly concerned that something would jinx it.
“So, is that all you wanted to talk about?” Leah said to him bringing him back to the conversation they were having, her chocolate brown eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Yup,” he confirmed.
“It’s nice that you and Ella are back on speaking terms then,” Leah added and he started at the reminder of his earlier thoughts.
He leaned back and looked over at the other woman. He felt a great deal for her, not just because of the fact they’d had a brief relationship many eons ago but the years spent working in the diner together with her, and then the way she was good friends with Ella.
“It is actually,” he responded. “The kids are appreciative.”
“I’m sure; your Sophie is almost a good a cook as you.”
Roman smiled.
“She is good, I think she needs to scale back on her shifts a little and focus on some of her schoolwork though,” Roman found himself saying.
Leah took a sip from her coffee and gave a small nod. Her eyes drifted down to the roster as she looked at the list of names of the people now working for them. Three full time waitresses; two girls working the Saturday shifts that included Sophie, and then Colleen, Irene and Danni were doing shifts. Danni’s fitting in with her childcare needs.
“Maybe we need to give some thought to getting rid of the Shack? It might be time to scale down and just have the diner running.”
“Really?”
Leah grinned at him and he knew that he was in trouble.
“Of course, I can’t see us coping with all three premises. You and your restaurant.”
“Leah,” he groaned.
She gave a small laugh before fixing him with a look. “What is really stopping you Roman? Is it you and Ella?”
“No, we’re sorted. I’m just not sure about trying a restaurant again after the last one. Didn’t exactly go well did it?”
“Let’s get back to you and Ella being sorted shall we?”
Roman grinned at the other woman unable to stop the soppy look that suddenly crossed his face. He’d liked being able to talk about him and Ella and referring to them being a couple again to the Guys at the weekend and having a date when he was moving home just made it feel better, not just better, but real.
“As in, we have the kids worked out and we are communicating.”
Leah rolled her eyes and gave him a bright smile.
“I’d believe you, if you weren’t grinning like that,” she murmured. “So back to the restaurant, maybe if you do it separate to the diner and take a step back to just focus on that,” she suggested. “It would be a shame if you don’t use your talent.”
“Are you sure you haven’t been speaking to Ella?”
“Not recently,” Leah shrugged her delicate shoulders. “We had words when you first spilt and she’s kept away since.”
“I’m sorry Leah I didn’t realise,” Roman murmured as he looked at his cup and saw that it was empty. Picking it up, he stood and moved over to the counter pouring himself another one. Sipping from the cup he looked out the window near the counter and along the pier towards the sea. “It was about the kids wasn’t it?” He turned and asked her.
“Yeah, I just didn’t want her to disappear like last time,” Leah spoke quietly her eyes full of concern for her friend. “I think I may have upset her, we haven’t really had a conversation since.”
“What did Ella say?”
“Just told me, politely, to keep out of it.”
He laughed drily imagining the way Ella would have been at the time. That and the way she’d avoided the diner and the shack, even easing back on contact with her friends because he worked with them wasn’t surprising. It wasn’t that she was declaring some kind of war more like she was ensuring that they didn’t have anything else to fight over or maybe it was that she considered he needed Leah more as a friend right then than she did. Even when Ella hated him she still cared about him too!
“I can imagine just how polite she was,” he mused.
“Does she know she sounds English when she gets mad?”
“Her prissy tone? Yeah, I hate that.”
Leah laughed. “So are you or aren’t you…”
“We are together, yeah,” Roman murmured.
“….. going to think about the restaurant? But whoa, really? I knew it!”
He found his cheeks growing hot and gave a half shake of his head. “Yeah, ok,” he muttered. “Ella and I have been seeing each other for months. It’s been good.”
“So my god, you can’t just say that and not tell me anything else! When are you moving home?”
“We haven’t discussed it,” he said half-lying. Text messages didn’t count as a discussion, not really, he justified.
“Uh huh Mister,” Leah smiled at him. “Don’t think I’m fooled by that, why don’t you take the rest of the day off and go have a ‘discussion’.”
Roman found himself smiling as he imagined going and seeing Ella and he smiled before placing his half-finished coffee cup to one side and collecting his things from the kitchen.
“See you tomorrow,” he called as he walked out of the door and headed over to his car.



Ella sat on the floor in the study next to the tall wall unit. Around her were duster, polish and the hoover. Somewhere in the middle of cleaning she’d been struck by the idea that Roman would have no-where to put his books and she’d begun rearranging the shelves. Not, she told herself again, that she was looking forward to him coming home and chuckled as she grinned inanely at herself again.
She couldn’t wait suddenly, going to bed with him and waking up with him still beside her. Starting the day with him as they sorted out the kids and he went to work or she left on an assignment. Spending time with him and then sitting down and having dinner together, well together with the kids anyway. Then going to the gym together, she already went there with Meggy or for a run or surf. She knew that Roman had wanted them to do that in the past and she wanted to make sure it was something they did together.
She’d managed, eventually she admitted, to organise herself and the kids into a routine that allowed her extra time, although at the moment that was filled with her studies and photography as she got back into it, she knew that she wanted and planned to spend more time with her, whoa, she nearly called him her husband again. She was going to have to watch that or Roman would take advantage and she’d wake up Vegas with hazy memories of being in a wedding chapel.
The way her thoughts were going made her happy. She was definitely looking forward to the future and also being back with Roman. He was making a real effort to be understanding and also being flexible, not just with his time and the kids but more than that, there was the way he wanted to share stuff with her, like asking her to visit his counsellor with him. They’d planned to go the following week. Before, not just after Roman getting back from Witness Protection but from the days he’d been in the army, she didn’t think that he would have been comfortable with opening up parts of his life for her inspection. When they’d first married he’d never wanted to talk about certain things he’d done, especially army. Her natural inclination was to shy away from Army stuff herself, hating the way it had taken people away from her but over the years she’d found a peace with it, and she hoped that Roman had too. If he was still seeing Louisa, his counsellor then that had to be a sign that he was resolving his issues.
The song she was listening too ended and a new one started, ‘Build me up, Buttercup’. She had selected a CD of sixties classics to listen too whilst cleaning and smiled at the cheerful sounding tune as it reached her through the speakers. She found herself singing along as she moved things from one drawer to the next and freed up space.
“And what are you doing?”
Ella turned at Roman’s question and gasped her mouth falling open. She hadn’t even heard his car in the driveway let alone the front door opening.
“What are you doing here?” she shot back quickly hoping he wouldn’t mention her singing.
He grinned and moved quickly over to her and reaching out his hand towards her he waited there until she placed hers inside his firm grip and allowed him to help her up.
“Leah said I could have the day off,” he murmured before kissing her, “So I came to see you.”
“Well I am a little busy,” she whispered kissing him back.
“Want some help with….” he stopped and looked at the spaces on the bookcases and the wide open drawers not to mention the pile of things on the floor where she’d been sitting, “with whatever you seem to be doing?”
Ella blushed, her face growing scalding hot and knew she’d gone scarlet when she heard him chuckling at her.
“I er… er… I’m er making room..” she confessed biting on her bottom lip. She caught his eyes following the movement of her mouth and groaned.
“Ok, we need to work on that lip biting thing you do, and room for what?”
Ella shook her head at him.
“I well, I er…”
He let out a loud bark of laughter and she felt herself going beetroot. She didn’t normally have trouble communicating she muttered sternly to herself and gave herself a lecture.
“Is this…” he began and stopped.
“I might have someone moving in soon that has a lot of books,” she finally murmured.
“Oh, and do I know them?”
“You might,” she grinned at the happy look on his face and knew she was right about this feeling like a good step for them.
“Oh El,” he whispered as he pulled her tight into his arms. She felt the unsteady beat of his heart and sighed before his lips met hers in a searing kiss.
“Come on I need to finish this,” she muttered when they’d broken apart with a gesture at the room around them.
“Fine,” he said with a sigh, “I get to do the macho hovering…”
Ella laughed and nodded leaving him to it as she finished what she was doing with the wall unit. She kept sneaking looks at him and knew that he caught her looking at him and wasn’t surprised when he smirked at her.
Turning off the hoover he moved over to her side once more and helped her up.
“Funny isn’t it?”
“How this feels so right?”
“Yup,” he said slowly his eyes on hers.
“Even doing housework,” she murmured.
“With my.. woman,” he said and caught her looking at him, her eyebrow raised.
“Your woman?” She asked him her hands going to rest on her hips.
“Unless you want to marry me again so I can call you my wife?”
Ella sucked in a breath as she shook her head.
“Tell me why then?” Roman asked gently reading the sudden sad expression that crossed her face. He led her over to the long cream sofa and they sank back against the cushions.
“Because it hurt, it really hurt getting divorced. If we are in a relationship it feels as though if we don’t make it then it won’t hurt as much,” Ella explained haltingly. “I felt as though part of my soul was ripped out. Another failed marriage between us? Well I know I can’t do it again.”
“So,” Roman found he had no words that would make it better. Ella may have divorced him but he was more than at fault over the breakdown in their relationship. He should have talked to her more, should have stayed that last day and fought for them in the way that Ella would have.
“I love you Roman, like seriously, happily in love with you and I’m so excited at moving back in together but I can’t marry you again,” she whispered.
“If,” he paused waiting until she looked at him. “If we make it to five years will you marry me then?”
“Five years?”
He nodded.
“Five very happy, wonderful years of bliss, with maybe the odd argument thrown in just so we can have make up sex,” he said slowly.
“Yes,” Ella said hesitantly, “Ok,” she added.
“Because then you’ll know that you can trust in us again,” he pointed out.
“It sounds logical,” she sighed and lowered her head.
“It is, but it’s also something we can work towards, making our relationship strong enough to last.”
“Uh huh,” she said giving him a look.
Roman chuckled even as he pulled her into his lap and lifted his hands up to push the hair back from her face so he could look into her eyes.
“Because I can’t imagine anything that will make me stop loving you and wanting to be with you. Not a thing to stop me from being by your side for the rest of our lives.”
Ella felt a shudder ripple down her back over his choice of words before his lips descended on to hers and they sealed the bargain with another searing kiss.
Looking into his eyes she nodded.
“Ok, five years,” she agreed.
“Now then, how about lunch?”
“Have you worked up an appetite?” She scoffed him, “With that little bit of work?”
“Are you mocking me woman?” he grouched at her.
Reaching to the side of her he picked up one of the cushions off the sofa and swung it so it hit her back.
“Ow!” Ella cried out surprised before grabbing her own cushion and hitting him back.
They wrestled back and forth before Ella fell backwards on to the floor suffused by laughter she could barely breathe. Roman moved to lie next to her lifting his hand and moving her hair back from her face once more.
“I hope you never doubt how much I love you again,” he whispered softly as he gazed into her eyes.
“I hope that it never gets so bad we can’t talk to each other,” she responded, her own voice husky.
“I hope that we are always this happy,” he murmured.
“I hope that we remember to be an ‘us’ as well as parents,” she said and sighed when she saw his eyebrow lift in surprise at her words.
“We’ve come on a long journey to be here,” he whispered.
“A magical one at times, and sometimes a heart-breaking one but we got here,” she told him.
“I love you.”
“Just as I love you,” she murmured and felt the words jolt through her as though it was the first time she’d told him. Her lips curved into a smile and from the expression on his face she suspected that she was smiling his special smile. Turning her head towards his she met his kiss, her arms winding around his neck. It was homecoming, and promises, and vows all in one kiss.

Posted

Chapter 74

Ella looked over at the kids. They were unusually silent and that meant trouble. Even Lily was sitting quietly at the table with her pencil in her hand doing the sums in her work book. Occasionally she looked up and sighed before focusing on her book once more.
Moving into the kitchen she opened the cupboard and took out the ‘secret’ chocolate stash before putting the treats into the bowl and placing that on the table. The kids watched her before looking at one another. Liam was the first to reach out towards the bowl, sighing as the others gave him a look he pulled back his hand and returned to his sums.
Ella smiled then and moved to sit amongst them inbetween August and Fleur.
“Let’s hear your reading then,” She spoke softly to them, “It’s Gust’s turn first today,” She added smiling as they solemnly nodded at her.
She helped her daughters take out their storybooks and opened them up where they left off. Her beautiful girls were too young for proper homework but had wanted to join in with the others so she had made them ‘progress books’ and sorted out a new storybook for them every week.
August’s clear voice sounded out the words as she began reading the tale of Sooty the Cat.
“Mama, we have …?” Fleur asked pointing to the chocolate.
“If you want,” Ella said softly leaning over to her, “But I’m not sure my babies want chocolate, they don’t seem very hungry!”
“Me’s wants..” Fleur called out.
“Go on then,” Ella watched as Fleur and August reached out simultaneously for the chocolate bars. They quickly unwrapped them before taking a bite and then swapping with each other. She still got a kick out of seeing her daughters doing that it was so cute.
“Me wants some…” Liam whispered urgently to Lily.
“We’s told you no…” Lily whispered back her eyes flicking to look at her mother.
“Why not?” Ella whispered.
“Cause we’s making Georgie go….” Lily whispered before stopping and putting her hand over her mouth. She looked up and caught everyone looking at her. “Whoops..” she said in her normal voice.
“Ok, enough,” Ella told them. “Whether Georgie goes or not is not going to be decided by you guys, ok?”
“Ok,” Liam said quickly and reached for the chocolate bars in the centre of the table. He grinned innocently as Lily glared at him.
“Mum he wants to go. You’ve said it’s ok so why…” Meggy muttered giving her Mum a plaintive look to go with the question.
“Your Dad has to decide Megs, we can’t do it for him. Bosnia isn’t a holiday destination. You guys are old enough to know that.”
“All Georgie wants is…”
Ella held up her hand and looked at each of the older kids in turn.
“I know. I get it. But I can’t do anything about it.”
“You can talk to Dad for me..” Georgie murmured.
“I can’t.”
“You don’t want to, you mean.”
Ella sucked in a breath at Sophie’s statement. She wondered how much her elder daughter was going to play up when she realised that her dad was coming home in a matter of a months. Well, eleven weeks and two days. Not that she was counting down until Roman moved home. Of course she wasn’t.
“Sophie Nicole Harris, Megan Hope Harris and George Joseph Harris, I’m disappointed in you guys playing these sort of games and including your younger brother and sister. You are now grounded for a week. Please leave the table and take your homework to your room with you.”
Ella watched as her older kids left the room and heard them traipse up the stairs. She turned her attention to Lily and watched as her daughter gave her a beaming smile and an innocent look.
“Lily Alyssa Harris, you will go to your room too,” she announced.
“Aah Mama, no’s!” Lily cried out.
“Go on,” Ella instructed.
Lily shot Liam a look before she moved out of the room grudgingly.
“Sammy, you should go to my study,” Ella added to her instructions watching as Sammy moved out of the room. She turned and looked at Liam before giving her son a half smile. “Watch the twins for me,” she told him and walked out of the room following the way Sammy had gone.
“Mum…” he began.
“Sit down please Sam,” Ella said softly guiding him to the sofa. She patted the seat next to her and he reluctantly joined her. “Is this because you want to go too or something else? I can’t fix things if I don’t know.”
“You can’t fix this,” Sammy muttered folding his arms across himself and giving her a look.
“What can’t I fix Samson?” She prodded.
“I’m not like Dad,” he muttered focusing an intense look on her. “I don’t get to go to Bosnia or cook or… like the army stuff….”
“Good.”
“Good? Good? So it’s good I’m not like him?” Sammy groaned.
“I’d rather have Sammy as he is and not some clone of his Dad. And I know that your Dad likes you for who you are too, he called you Samson not me. That is his special name for you.”
“That…”
“Sammy, you don’t want to go to Bosnia. You don’t like camping. You like writing and maths and computers. Mike is saving all his books for you because he knows you like reading. And you know what, your Dad may not have a degree but he can talk politics with you and poetry. They don’t want you to be anything except who you are, so why are you worrying about being like your Dad?”
“Because,” Sammy pouted.
“Because you want your Dad to spend time with you? Ella finished his sentence for him. She was proved correct when Sammy nodded.
“Call him and tell him, babes. Sometimes your Dad needs a prompt…” Ella smiled as she pulled out her phone and handed it to her son.
Sammy looked at the phone for a moment and sighed before he dialled his Dad’s number.
“No, it’s Sammy,” he said when the call connected. “Mum told me to call,” he added.
Ella stood from the sofa and eased from the room heading up the stairs. Opening the door to the attic rooms she spotted Meggy had commandeered the desk to use leaving Sophie and Georgie on the sofa.
“Ok guys, let’s start with this. I don’t know if your Dad is ready to take anyone to Bosnia alright, it’s very emotional for them over there. Don’t get Lily involved because she’s a fragile little girl despite the trouble she gets into. Don’t give me back talk because it will get you grounded and any other number of punishments that we aren’t going to like. I understand that you stick together over stuff and I love that about you but you can’t change our minds just because you gang together.”
“But Mum,” Meggy began earning a look off Sophie and Georgie.
“Guys I really don’t know if your Dad is ready to share that part of his life with you. I know that because of what we’ve been through as a family we can handle a lot of things but your Dad, well, he’s been through more than we know.”
“More than you know about Mummy?” Sophie asked quickly.
“Yes babes, more than I know about,” Ella told her softly.
“Then he’s never going to tell us,” Sophie cried.
“That is good,” Ella murmured to her daughter. “It means that you are still protected from the really bad stuff out there. I think your Dad is really special and he’s made a lot of progress at opening up and talking about his feelings. He could never have done that when we first married but he still needs to keep some things to himself and because we love him we need to let him, ok? I would like Georgie to go to Bosnia but if it isn’t this year, maybe it will be next year.”
“Ok Mum,” Meggy said quickly earning looks from Sophie and Georgie. “I guess we can handle that,” she added.
“What are you…” Sophie asked her sister and trailing off at the fierce look Meggy shot her.
“I guess I can wait a year,” Georgie muttered.
“Good,” Ella said quietly. “But I’m sure we can do something in the meantime, maybe a weekend camping or something,” she suggested.
“Euh no,” Sophie said and shuddered.
“I think she meant me and Dad,” Georgie shot his sister a look and grinned as her expression changed to one of relief.
“I can’t help it, I don’t like bugs, or sleeping outside or…” Sophie shuddered again.
“Uh huh Missy,” Ella smiled at her daughter wondering where she got that from, her or her sister Nicole, knowing that despite her time going around the world on a budget and her time in Afghanistan her ideal holiday destination involved a hotel room with a bed. “You can come down now and finish your homework.”
Meggy groaned before she grinned at the look the others gave her.
“Come on guys, you know I hate homework. And well school in general.”
“So what you going to do for a job? Assuming you don’t go to Uni?” Georgie shot out.
“Go into the army,” Meggy shot back.
Ella chuckled at the expression on Georgie’s face before she eased out of the room and down the stairs.



“She said she loved Dad, did you hear that bit?” Meggy asked quickly.
“I did,” Georgie murmured still subdued at not going to Bosnia. He shook it off, other kids didn’t have parents who could afford overseas holidays and a weekend camping with his Dad would be good too. He still felt a bit of disappointment though.
“She did?” Sophie groaned. “So what are we going to do about it? She’s never mentioned she loved him before has she?”
“No, not during the divorce anyway, the amount of times I tried to get her to say it,” Meggy rolled her eyes expressively.
“Guys, she said no more plotting,” Georgie told them and earned identical looks from them. “At least until we’ve got a plan anyway,” he added watching as they grinned at him. He led them out of the room and down the stairs past Lily’s room where their Mum was talking to their sister. They could see from Lily’s folded arms that the discussion wasn’t going so well.
“And everyone says she’s like me…” Meggy murmured before she bumped into the back of Sophie who’d stopped on the landing.
“She is like you Megs,” Sophie said quickly.
“She so is, “ Georgie agreed. “Remember the time you stole Dad’s wallet because you didn’t want him to go to work,” he muttered.
“No…” Meggy said slowly feeling her face start to flush.
“So you don’t remember flushing his car keys down the toilet either?”
“Or drawing on the wall over Lily’s flower?
“Or hiding the Travel Bear because Sammy upset you once and we had to put up with him crying all night?
“Or…”
“Ok I get it, I can teach a masterclass in troublemaking.”
“Yup,” Georgie muttered as he continued down the stairs.
“I really flushed his keys down the toilet? Did it work because..”
“Megan Hope Harris!” Georgie and Sophie cried out together.
“Hey,..” Meggy flushed.

Ella led a subdued Lily back down the stairs and over to the table. Lifting her up onto a chair she gave her daughter a chocolate bar and looked around at the others. Liam had taken the twins over to the long sofa and put on the tv for them and she smiled at that.
“Now then, do we need pizza to cheer us up?” She asked them.
“Uh huh,” Meggy grinned and shared a look with Sophie. “That means she wants pizza.”
“I know that one,” Sophie responded.
“Where’s Sammy?” Georgie asked after a moment.
“He’s in the study,” Ella murmured in response to her son. “Pizza?”
“Fine Mother, feed your kids junk food,” Sophie said with a grin on her face.
Ella grinned back and reached for the phone to make the order. She added salad to the order to make herself feel slightly less guilty about it before giving her card details and hanging up. Heading into the kitchen she poured out a tall glass of coke for herself and took a drink. If it wasn’t one kid it was another and quite frankly she had no idea why she hadn’t made Lily live with her father when they’d got divorced. Looking up she saw Sammy coming out of the study and heading towards her.
“Ok?” She asked him.
“Yeah, thanks,” he mumbled and handed her his phone. “He’s said that he wants to talk to you.”
Ella nodded and accepted the phone before walking the way Sammy had just come and headed into her study.
“Hey,” she began.
“Hey back, I had no idea Sammy was worrying about stuff,” Roman said.
She picked up the tone in his voice and knew he was kicking himself and feeling guilty.
“Don’t, I didn’t pick up on it either,” Ella told him quickly as she shut the door behind her.
“Still,” he groaned.
She could imagine that he’d just rubbed his hand over his face like he did when he was stressed about something and smiled.
“You need to sort out what you are going to do about Georgie,” Ella spoke quickly. “I’ve had a mini rebellion on my hands tonight.”
“El, I can’t take him,” Roman muttered sounding defensive.
“That’s fine but you still need to talk to him. He’s not a kid, he’s pretty grown up and he knows that bad stuff happened there.”
“Ok,” Roman sighed.
“Good, we’ve ordered pizza.”
“Really? Tempting me with pizza?”
“Of course not, just letting you know, if you wanted to share a slice with us,” she smiled.
“I think I can do that,” he said and she could tell that he was smiling as he spoke.
“So see you soon,” she murmured.
“El,” Roman cried out. “If I take him and he’s somehow scarred by it?”
“He knows about the camps and the mass graves. He’s researched it. He’s seen pictures on the internet. If I thought that he wasn’t capable of handling it wouldn’t I tell you both that he shouldn’t go?”
“I’ll think about it,” Roman said slowly.
“Love you,” she spoke quickly.
“Me too,” Roman responded. “See you in a bit,” he added.
Ella smiled as she hung up the phone and put it away in her pocket before heading out and checking on the kids. Who knew what they could get up to left alone for ten minutes?

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Chapter 75

“Well,” Roman murmured looking over at Georgie.
“I think that Lily will be the first,” he muttered back at his Dad.
“Incorrect, it will be Sophie,” Mike added.
“You’ll be there in another 20 minutes,” Geoff said quietly.
“I need a shower, and some food. Do you think Mum will order pizza?” Georgie asked with a grin missing the look that Geoff shot them.
“So how was Bosina? Have you left it in one piece?”
Roman half-smiled as he looked at Georgie flushed face. Ella had arranged for Mike to fly over with the boy leaving him to have some time with Jacko, Pete and James before they were joined by Mike and Georgie. It had been good and he hated that now he would have to put up with Ella’s ‘I-told-you-so’ expression for probably the next fifty years. Mike had needed the space too, their elder son requiring some time away from the Bay, knowing that the results of the paternity test were due.
“I was joined by two of my sons; I think it’s safe to say we didn’t get up to much this time!” Roman murmured.
“Huh,” Mike muttered.
“So what have we missed?” Roman asked slowly catching the look that Geoff shot them this time. He leant forward ready to ask more probing questions before remembering that Georgie was in the car with them.
“Well Lily nearly got herself expelled over leading the other kids into a revolt about packed lunches. Not everyone can afford them so she wanted to introduce a ‘bring and share’ scheme.”
“Ha ha, and she’s not even a teenager yet,” Mike grinned at the look on Roman’s face.
“Do I class that as social activism or terrorism?” Roman shot back with a look at Mike’s face.
“Probably a bit of both,” Georgie murmured.
“What else?” Roman asked slowly.
“Nothing much, Toby’s gone home to sort out his house there. Ella talked him into renting it out rather than selling.”
“That’s Mum,” Mike chuckled.
“Why would she do that?” Georgie frowned as he asked the question.
“Probably so that he doesn’t lose links with his adoptive parents and also to give him an income as back-up in case he needs it with opening a bookshop here,” Roman explained slowly.
“Oh,” Georgie murmured.
“He’s signed the lease though hasn’t he?” Mike muttered.
“I think so,” Roman answered.
He knew that something else was going on and glanced at his watch silently urging Geoff to speed up so he could see Ella. He’d missed her in the past two he’d been away. Like he had seriously missed her. Those moments when he’d managed to sneak away and talk to her on the phone had just about kept him sane and he was counting down the days until he moved back home. Eight and a half weeks in fact. Catching sight of Geoff looking at him he knew that he must have that soppy look on his face again and grinned.
“It will be good to see the kids I suppose,” Roman murmured.
“Well, no choice about that we’re here,” Geoff chuckled as he pulled into the drive and eased the car to a stop. They piled out of the car and headed into the house.
“You’re back!” Sophie screeched out and ran over to Georgie. She threw her arms around him and clung to him. “You are never going anywhere again!” she muttered.
Mike let out a shout of laughter, chuckling as Georgie flushed as he tried in vain to remove Sophie’s arms from around him.
“Hello,” Danni greeted them, her voice cool.
Roman eased into the room catching sight of the kids. He moved over to them and greeted them all with hugs and kisses while his eyes searched out for signs of Ella. Shooting Geoff and Danni a puzzled look he finally asked where she was.
“Mum’s not well,” Meggy muttered taking a step towards Danni.
Roman gave a half nod.
“Well how about getting us a drink?” He asked and watched with a grin as both Danni and Meggy shot into the kitchen. So Ella wasn’t just ‘not well’ he thought she was really ill, and focused on not grimacing and also not storming through the house until he found her.
“Soph, let go for Gawd’s sake…” Georgie muttered.
“You are not going into the army,” Sophie muttered back.
Mike laughed catching sight of Roman watching them a smug look on his face.
“Déjà vu son?” he asked Mike.
“Just a bit,” Mike moved over to Sophie and led her away from her brother. “Chillax sis,” he murmured and grinned as Sophie’s mouth opened in shock before she shook her head.
“It’s alright for you, he’s my twin,” she said defensibly.
“It’s ok,” Georgie grinned at her.
Roman used the distraction to escape into the hallway to speak to Geoff.
“She’s upstairs,” Geoff told him before he could even ask. “It’s just a chest infection.”
“Of course it is,” Roman did grimace then before he nodded once at the other man and slipped up the stairs. Standing outside the bedroom he knocked once on the door and turned the handle opening the door. “Hey,” he called softly.
Ella turned in the bed and grinned at him before she coughed.
“Hey solider,” she said with a grimace of her own. “Give me a hand.”
Roman nodded and moved around the bed to help her get up. He laughed softly when she used it as an excuse to hug him.
“Missed me then?”
“Oh yeah,” she whispered.
“El,” he bit his lip before giving into his urges and kissing her. He felt her hands teasing his hair at the back of his neck as she returned his kiss. She eased back and covered her mouth as she coughed again, a deep wracking cough that immediately got him worried. He held her until it was over and then frowned as she insisted of getting out of bed. “How long have you been like this?” He muttered the question.
“A few days,” Ella waved her hand before reaching for her robe. She pulled it on and tied the sash securely around her waist before putting her feet into slippers. Grabbing a handful of tissues she stuffed them into her pocket and shot him a grin. “Ok, carry me downstairs,” she instructed.
Roman half-shook his head. “You want to go downstairs them walk, if you are fit enough that is,” he muttered.
Ella gave him a look before she moved over to his side. She stood on tiptoes and whispered in his ear. “I can walk but I thought you’d enjoy the chance to hold me, seems I was wrong, guess you couldn’t have missed me that much…”
She’d barely finished the sentence when he called her a witch and swept her into his arms.
“Just you wait until I’m better,” she whispered close to his ear before pressing her lips to the pulse point on his neck. She felt his arms tighten for a fraction of a second before he moved out of the bedroom and down the stairs.
“Mama!” Lily called out.
“Hey little one, shouldn’t you be in bed?” Ella called back grinning as Lily shrank back against the cushions of the sofa.
Roman eased her down on to the other sofa and pulled the throw down to cover her lap. He nodded at her before easing up and moving to sit on a chair near the table.
“I got you a coffee,” Meggy said quickly.
“Come here,” Ella called out and laughed as both Mike and Georgie stepped forward.
“I think she means me,” Georgie told his brother before walking over to her and perching carefully on the edge of the sofa next to her. He was enfolded in her embrace and returned her hug.
“Did you have a good time?” She asked him.
“It was pretty cool,” Georgie answered. “I got to teach soccer to a few of the kids at the orphanage and we saw a bit of the country too,” he murmured and eased up moving over to collect his drink.
“Georgie’s said he’s not going in the army,” Sophie said quickly.
“Georgie said that, huh?”
Sophie flushed as everyone laughed at her.
“Your turn,” Ella murmured softly and smiled as Mike came and hugged her. “Thanks,” she added in a soft whisper.
“Thanks back at you, I needed the break and seeing what Dad went through, well,” Mike trailed off and nodded before easing back.
“Cool,” Ella murmured grinning as Mike grimaced slightly at the word before joining in and smiling back at his mother.
“Do you want a drink or anything Mum?”
“Can I get a juice please?” Ella asked Meggy. She smiled as her daughter nodded and ran into the kitchen to fetch her a drink. “So I take it the trip went ok?”
“It was good; Raisma sent you back a present. She asked when you were going over again,” Roman grinned as Ella flushed under the question.
“I should probably write to her,” Ella bit her lip anxiously for a second before glancing at Lily and Liam, her babies were being extraordinarily quiet right now. She looked at the clock. The twins had already gone to bed a while ago. Catching Roman looking at her she nodded and saw him standing and moving over to Lily and Liam.
“Bedtime,” he murmured.
“Oh no,” Lily muttered, “We’s can stay ups,” she added. “Mikey says.”
“Mikey doesn’t!” Mike murmured grinning as Lily first frowned at him and then pouted.
“Come on,” Roman said lifting Liam and then Lily up. He carried them out of the room and up the stairs. Even then they could still hear Lily trying to negotiate staying up longer.
“I better get off,” Geoff called out placing his empty cup on the table.
“Thanks for picking them up,” Ella said immediately.
“No worries,” Geoff smiled. “Nic said thank you too,” he added in a puzzled tone, “not quite sure what for though.”
“Mum sorted out some of her clothes,” Sophie told him.
“Ah, that explains it,” Geoff grinned before coming over and kissing Ella’s cheek, “See you soon,” he added and eased out of the room before they heard the front door open and close as he left.
“Soon?” Sammy picked up on.
“BBQ at the weekend dummy,” Meggy said as she walked back into the room and handed over the glass of orange juice to her Mum.
“Oh that,” Sammy muttered looking back at the tv again.
“BBQ?” Mike murmured his eyes flicking to Danni and then back again to his mother. He moved over to the sofa and sat next to his mother. “Are you up for that?”
“It will be good to get together, Toby is coming back then,” Ella smiled softly.
“I should get back,” Danni announced.
“Where’s Jennie?”
“She’s with Gabby,” Ella supplied smoothly looking over at Danni. She half nodded to her daughter and grinned when Mike stood and escorted her down the garden to the poolhouse.
“Still working your magic?” Roman asked from the doorway having come down from the seeing the younger kids into bed.
“No magic, they’ll sort themselves out,” Ella denied flushing at the look Roman sent her.
Roman nodded and moved over to the table taking his cup in his hands and draining the last of it.
“I should get home and sort myself out, back to work tomorrow,” Roman said slowly.
“And school,” Georgie added with a subdued look causing Meggy to laugh at him.
“Where are my kittens?” Roman asked glancing around looking for any noticeable signs of damage to the house. When Ella remained quiet he frowned and had this image of having to trudge upstairs and wrestle them away from Lily, although he’d only spotted Biscuits and Fudge in their bedroom.
“Over with Danni,” Ella eventually supplied.
“Ah,” Roman looked down the garden before he looked back at Ella as she coughed again.
“I have to go back to bed, Time for you guys to say goodnight to your Dad,” she said when she’d stopped coughing.
“Damn,” Meggy groaned under her breath before she moved over to her mother and whispered in her ear.
“Go on then, ask him,” Ella said with a half shake of her head.
“Ask me what?”
“Do you want to stay over?” Meggy asked politely. “It will save you trudging out this time of night and…” she stopped and flushed as all eyes looked at her.
Roman chuckled. “I really need to be at home,” he said knowing that he wasn’t really talking about the house he’d moved to after the divorce.
“You could take them to school in the morning for me?” Ella suggested slowly.
Roman’s eyes flicked to hers and he eventually nodded. “Sure,” he murmured.
“Ok then, come on kids, bedtime,” Ella declared and smiled at the reluctant procession of kids as they bid her goodnight before heading up the stairs.
“Should I wait for Mike?” Roman murmured the question, “Need to let him know…”
“Danni has the results,” Ella interrupted. “Got a feeling Mike is going to be talking a while.”
“Ah,” Roman chuckled softly. He remembered waiting for the results from Lily’s paternity test anxiously although he already knew she was his daughter, the piece of paper being important and then of course there was the time they’d been waiting to see if Gabby was theirs.
“Carry me?” Ella asked lifting up her hands to him.
Roman walked over to her and swept her into his arms. He held her tight against him enjoying the feel of her in his arms.
“You know of course?” He asked her. “Is that the reason for the BBQ?”
“Maybe, we need to do some healing in this family,” she bit her lip and caught him grinning at her.
Sweeping her out of the room he carried her effortlessly up the stairs and into her bedroom. He laid her gently on the bed and smiled as she slipped out of the bathrobe and kicked her slippers off before climbing under the covers.
“I’ll go get my stuff,” he commented. Checking that they weren’t being watched he leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Night,” he whispered.
“Goodnight,” she murmured back before laying back on the pillows. She sighed softly as she settled down and then grinned as he moved out of the room switching off the lights as he went. She sighed again before closing her eyes and falling asleep. Having him in the house was almost as good as being in the same bed as him.

Posted

Chapter 76

“Two pair, Kings and nines,” Ella murmured before laying her cards on the table. She glanced around the others before grinning and reaching for the pile of sweets in the centre of the table that was their ‘pot’. She’d invited the others round for lunch
“I think she’s cheating somehow,” Leah grimaced and pouted.
“You dealt the cards!” Rachel pointed out looking across the table at her friend.
“Yeah Darl, maybe you are planning to split the proceeds later!”
Ella chuckled before giving into a hacking cough. She could sense the three women looking at her with concern and as soon as she stopped coughing she gave them a grin.
“I’m fine,” she murmured to them.
“I’ll be the judge of that,” Rachel began before her mouth dropped open in shock as the door opened behind Ella and Roman stepped out of the house. He walked over to where Ella was and handed her a glass of water and a tablet watching as she took it washing the antibiotic down with the water. She placed the glass on the table and eased back in her seat.
“Oh come on, don’t tell me you are shocked!” Leah grinned at her friend’s expression. “They always get back together.”
“Yeah you can kiss your wife…”
“Partner,” Ella and Roman corrected Irene at the same time. They shared a look before Roman bent down towards her and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
“Ok?” he asked quietly.
Ella nodded at him before grinning at the still shocked look on Rachel’s face. She leant forward and picked up her glass of water to take a long drink easing her throat.
“So when for gawd’s sake?” Rachel muttered giving the others a glare as they laughed at her.
“Months,” Irene stated slowly sipping from her glass as she shot Roman a look. She smirked at his expression before looking at Ella. “That’s right isn’t it Darl?”
Ella nodded at her.
“It’s been about six months,” Ella told them with a smile on her face.
“Six months and twelve days,” Roman murmured at the same time.
“Ok you two need to stop that, it’s getting weird,” Leah said.
Roman chuckled before leaning down and kissing Ella again. “I’ll go see to your lunch then ladies,” he murmured.
“I’ll give you a hand,” Irene suggested getting up and clearing away the empty glasses before following Roman into the house.
“So I take it Roman told you?” Ella asked looking at Leah.
“About a week before he went to Bosnia,” Leah confessed, “but I did know something was happening. He was,” she paused and shot Ella a look, “Happier,” she finished slowly. “He had to have been seeing someone and you two just gravitate towards one another.”
“Don’t they though,” Rachel added.
“So how come we won’t get to see you get married?”
“Again?” Ella added the word to Leah’s question. She could tell the other woman was still wary about being around and couldn’t blame her. She’d shut Leah out when she and Roman had split up knowing that she needed to keep things separate for them. Leah worked with Roman despite the friendship she had with the other woman she’d decided that until things settled down she would ease off and save any awkward scenes. Plus she figured that Roman needed Leah’s friendship more than she did at the time thinking of how he’d still been suffering from being in witness protection.
“Well yeah,” Leah muttered shrinking back in her chair.
“To be honest, being with Roman again it’s been really good.”
“I think we get the idea of what’s been good!” Rachel interrupted.
“Ha, no, well yeah of course but well,” Ella stuttered and touched her hands to her cheeks feeling the warmth of her blush. She groaned as Leah and Rachel laughed at her.
“I think we should stock up on pregnancy tests…” Rachel added.
“Not on my account thank you very much,” Ella declared and blushed some more when they laughed at her again.
“So on spill …” Leah prompted.
“Ok then, it started when I sprained my ankle,” Ella began unaware she had what Roman called her special smile on her face, “we dated for a while, got to know each other again. Then we decided that if we were really going to try again we’d go to couples counselling.”
“So it’s worked out? Only you still seem to be in separate houses.”
Ella laughed again before the hacking cough started. She had to wait until it subsided before she could speak again.
“We haven’t wanted to get the kid’s hopes up. You know, just in case it didn’t work out. But well,” Ella flushed as she felt their eyes on her again. She knew that she looked ridiculously happy and couldn’t seem to stop smiling.
“Well?” Rachel prompted.
“Roman is moving in at Christmas,” Ella said happily.
“Wow,” Rachel called out.
“That’s great, really is,” Leah stood and moved over to Ella giving the other woman a hug. “I’m so happy for you both!”
“That goes for me too, and well it’s great to be back having our lunches again.”
Ella smiled at the two women and nodded. She knew her eyes were filling with tears and blinked them away. She’d missed her friends and having these lunches, although she hadn’t been quite up to making the lunch today and had drafted in Roman for the cooking. Well, blackmailed him by saying she wouldn’t have sex with him until they were married. He’d frowned and then glared at her, before muttering about how she didn’t want to get married and then gave her another look as she smiled her innocent smile at him.


‘That’s right dear,’ she’d told him.
‘You are evil,’ he’d groaned before kissing her. ‘So you’d really make me wait forever until you deigned to marry me again?’
‘Who says I’m going to change my mind…’
‘Witch!’ he’d groaned again. ‘Fine, I’ll cook…’ he’d added and kissed her again. They’d fallen back on to the sofa laughing and kissing.


Roman sighed as he chopped the last of the herbs before adding them to the dish he was preparing. Pasta in a spicy tomato sauce. Garlic bread. Salad. Pavlova for desert.
“Now what was that for?” Irene asked him.
“The sigh?” Roman chuckled before turning to the other woman and grinning at her. “Just like cooking back in my kitchen,” he confessed. “I would have offered but Ella was set on teasing me,” he added.
“Ha,” Irene murmured before her eyes went over to where Ella was sitting with Leah and Rachel. “You do know you weren’t exactly a secret to us don’t ya Darl?”
“You and George?” Roman said. “Yeah, it was the way Ella kept calling me solider wasn’t it?”
“That and well,” Irene paused as if she was considering what to tell him. She half-nodded and sucked in a breath. “She’s always had this thing where she seems brighter inside when you are around,” Irene finally said.
“Like a light has been switched on inside of her,” Roman murmured his eyes going to look at Ella as though drawn to her.
“Thank god you see it too, it sounded a bit mad when the words came out of me mouth,” Irene chuckled before she sobered. “But about six months ago…”
“She looked brighter?” He asked.
“Yeah,” Irene frowned.
“I er… El, well, she…” he trailed off not sure what he really wanted to say.
“Let me guess she used to look like that all the time in Afghanistan?”
“When we first met she was this fierce little thing. So defensive. I didn’t know half of what she went through as a kid but I knew it were bad and then she let me in. She let me see her tears Irene,” he sighed again, this time at the memories that were coursing through him, “and sometimes I would look at her and it was like she was glowing inside.”
“Because she was happy,” Irene grinned. “And in love,” she added.
“Yeah,” Roman chuckled at the words he’d just uttered and knew that before he would never have been able to say something so romantic or soppy.
“She’s been like that for six months, like it’s permanently switched on. Of course we noticed and then she began calling you solider plus you seemed to be spending more and more time around here. Wasn’t hard to figure out.”
Roman nodded before giving his attention to the food. He removed the pan from the heat and began serving up.
“Do I need to have a chat with George?” He asked after a moment.
“Might be an idea darl,” Irene said slowly.
“I get he’s worried about her, but this isn’t just…” Roman swallowed thinking about how he was going to broach the subject with the other man.
“I get that, and she knows what she is doing, but he’s still her dad and he…”
“He wasn’t around for a long time,” Roman began.
“Don’t..” Irene began to defend her husband.
“It’s alright Irene, I wasn’t there for Nic either,” Roman said quickly. “I know where he’s coming from Irene and well, yeah, I’ll talk to him. We’ve done this right you know, listened to each other, done counselling, spent time with each other. It feels good and we’re happy. El doesn’t want to get married again and even though that isn’t what I want I’m respecting her choice. I hope that gets me some points in my favour.”
“Maybe but he was muttering about sending you to Afghanistan if you mess her about again…”
Roman chuckled as he picked up two of the bowls and carried them out on to the veranda. He smiled at Leah and Rachel as he served up the food, making second and third trips to the kitchen and back. He smiled as Irene re-joined the women at the table.
“So is he going to be sitting under the Christmas tree all wrapped up?” Leah asked her eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Behave yourself woman, you’ll make yourself cough again,” Roman said quickly.
Ella giggled and smiled over at Roman.
“Can’t I just …” she began.
“No,” Roman murmured before leaning down and kissing her. “I have to go and do some stuff,” he announced. “I’ve got the kids I’ll bring them home for dinner,” he told her.
“See you later,” Ella said watching him go back into the house. She heard the front door open and close as he left and uttered a little sigh.
“Yeah, we’ll be going to another wedding…” Leah told the group.
“What? No,” Ella said blushing as they laughed at her. “Hush up ladies, and eat this food.”
She groaned as Rachel, Irene and Leah laughed at her before picking up the fork and tucking into the food Roman had cooked them.

  • 4 weeks later...
Posted

Chapter 77

Ella rolled over in the bed and saw the note on the bedside table immediately. She grinned at Roman’s scrawl on the page of note paper before picking it up and reading it.

‘Taken Kids to school since you were oversleeping!! Have lunch with me? R’

She gave a little frown because he hadn’t put the usual double X at the end of his note before picking up her phone and seeing that she had a text. Again it was from Roman. Wondering what it was about she quickly opened it. ‘PS. xx’ it read and she chuckled before coughing slightly.

Easing out of bed she padded barefoot into the en suite before letting out a large scream. The spider looked back at her unrepentantly as it clung to the side of the bath. She remained frozen to the spot watching it before racing back to grab her phone.

“Hello,” Roman murmured from the other side of the Bay as he answered the phone on the second ring. He really needed to change the ringtone he had for Ella, he thought randomly, as Leah made a funny expression at him and Colleen turned and gave him a questioning look.

“Spider, en suite,” Ella muttered her voice sounding panicked.

“And you want me to what exactly?” Roman said amused.

“I want you to get here and kill it!”

“I thought you had a no squish policy…” Roman drawled stepping out of earshot of the others.

“Not this one it’s like huge….” Ella murmured stuffing her feet into her slippers and approaching the En Suite like it was enemy territory.

“You do have a tendency to exaggerate about size….” Roman said and bit his tongue as he heard her laugh through the phone.

“Who has that tendency Soldier?” She asked him and smirked because she knew that he would be blushing. She dropped her voice and assumed that breathy-sexy one she knew he liked, “Please, come and get this spider for me?”

“You’re using that voice?” He groaned.

“Please,” she added again in the same voice.

“Ella Addison!” Roman groaned again and shifted uncomfortably.

“I’m here in my nightie and everything….” She added, “Just about to get into a shower….” She paused before screaming again as the spider lurched towards her. She heard him laughing at her and she swore in her normal tone of voice before he heard the door of presumably the en suite slam. “Fine but I’ll remember this Harris!” she muttered and hung up the phone on him.

Roman wiped at his eyes as he put his phone away. Walking back into the diner he looked over at Leah and saw her smirking back at him.

“Emergency?” She asked him.

“Yes,” Roman began and trailed off when he saw Colleen peering at him enquiringly.

“Better go then,” Leah drawled slowly.

Roman peeled off his apron and grabbed his stuff before heading out of the diner.

“Nice one Leah, who is going to do the lunchtime rush now?” He heard Colleen asking as he moved away.

“Hush woman, he wasn’t roistered on for Lunch today,” He heard the impatience in Leah’s voice as she called back a response. Yeah, he was planning on having lunch with Ella, it being one of the few times he’d be able to see her without the kids around.

He grinned at that as he climbed behind the wheel of the car and sped away. He managed to avoid getting caught speeding and smiled at the ten minutes he took getting home, well to Ella’s. Pulling up outside he quickly walked into the house and up the stairs. He heard the shower running in the main bathroom and grinned before stepping through the bedroom and opening the door of the en suite.

“Holy….” He muttered before finding the large glass tumbler they used and managing to put that over the also large spider. The spider seemed to give him a look and he felt a shudder of revulsion tiptoe down his spine before manning up and using some discarded cardboard from the bathroom bin he captured it in the glass and headed back out the way he came and up to the end of the drive. He released the spider and watched as it glared at him before scurrying away in the undergrowth. He felt a strange sense of déjà vu, and grinned before heading back into the house.

“You turn up now?” She asked him from the archway into the kitchen.

“I sorted out the spider what more do you want…” he stepped past her and placed the empty tumbler and cardboard to the side. Inhaling deeply he smelt the combination of roses and vanilla of the shower gel she’d just used. “Nice,” he commented.

“It would have been nice for you to actually not laugh at my fear.”

“Your irrational fear,” Roman said softly.

The memory of the voice she’d used on the phone earlier and what reaction his body had to that voice. That husky sexy voice. Damn, he thought, as his body reminded him just what reaction it had. He moved away from her before he did something that would probably get him slapped the mood she was in.

“Do I tell everyone how afraid of cats you are?”

“I like cats,” Roman protested.

“Yeah, now, but you used to scream like a girl when Cookie chased you around the house.”

“She knew I had a problem and she…” Roman began, his lips twitching with amusement.

Ella spun around and grinned back at him before she took a step forward and kissed him.

“Hey Soldier,” she whispered against his lips.

“Are you wearing anything under that bathrobe?” Roman groaned.

Ella eased back and loosened the belt of the bathrobe, taking hold of both sides and holding it open.

“No,” she said quietly.

Roman feasted on the sight of her. She had new definition to her stomach from the gymnastics she was doing and then the running had skimmed her thighs and added shape and tone to her legs. Taking his time to look over her body he noted the fullness of her breasts, the hint of perfume reached him as he looked at the shimmer of her skin. She must have used her body moisturiser already his rational brain noted before he stepped forward and lifted her over his shoulder before carrying her up the stairs and into the bedroom. He threw her down on to the bed and smiled grimly as a part of his body lurched in anticipation of what was to come.

“Easy!” she called out. “Unless you want to leave even more bruises on me!”

Roman groaned before easing down to her side. Her looked into her eyes and smiled as his hand reached out and played with a lock of her hair before leaning down and kissing her.

“Hey you,” he murmured softly.

He smiled as he felt her hand stroking down his back.

“Hey,” she murmured back.

“I got rid of your spider,” he told her redundantly.

“I heard the scream,” she grinned.

“I didn’t scream,” Roman protested, “just maybe took a step back and picked up a flamethrower!”

Ella laughed feeling happiness singing through her blood. She leaned up and kissed him chuckling softly as he took the time to pull off his top and kicked off his trainers. Suddenly they were in a hurry and she moaned as the kisses grew more passionate, more urgent. He demanded her response and she cried out his name as pleasure shook her.

“I haven’t even started yet,” he whispered as he kissed down her neck.

“Ouh goody,” Ella murmured hearing him chuckle again before he rolled them over in the bed.

“So is that what you meant by lunch?” Ella murmured holding out her hand to him so he could fasten her watch.

“Pretty much,” he grinned at her, his hair wet from the shower they’d taken together. He discarded the towel from around his hips and moved over to the bed to reclaim his clothes slowly pulling them on and grinning as she watched him. She was wearing lavender underwear. The kind that made his pulse rate soar; not to mention other things rising he thought mentally urging his body to behave itself. He watched as she slipped into a purple dress and smoothed down the soft cotton over her hips. She had that glow about her again he noted and frowned.

“What is that look for?”

Roman groaned as he stood and padded barefoot over to her side.

“You are glowing,” he told her softly.

“I am? Must be the antibiotics… oh no, soldier!” Ella groaned herself. “We are not pregnant,” she added.

“Are you absolutely sure that we don’t want another baby?”

“I am,” She inclined her head.

“Then it’s time to sort out arrangements at the clinic. You’ll still come with me?”

She gave him a tentative smile and he quickly put his arms around her.

“I’m okay,” she murmured.

“Of course you are,” he agreed with her, “Perhaps I’m the one shaking right now.”

“No, I just don’t like the idea of hospitals and well.”

“The idea of us not having another baby?” He asked her.

“Exactly. Roman I don’t want a baby, I know that but at the same time I don’t want…”

“Me to have a vasectomy?” He asked her.

Ella nodded her answer and looked up at him from under her lashes. She smiled as he groaned and kissed her again.

“We can’t risk …” he murmured his eyes slipping over to the unmade bed and then back again.

“Okay, book the appointment,” she told him.

He nodded and walked back to the bed and finished dressing. He tugged on his trainers and stood up turning to the bed and starting to make it. He could feel Ella grinning at him as she moved over to where he left his towel on the floor and picked it up before taking it through to the en suite. Finished with tidying the bed he waited in the doorway for her before they walked slowly down the stairs together. It didn’t escape his notice that they held hands and laughed a lot.

“Want a drink?” She asked him heading into the kitchen.

“Coffee,” Roman murmured.

He leaned against the doorway and watched as she moved around the kitchen making coffees and taking out a packet of biscuits from the back of the top cupboard. Obviously she was trying to stop the kids finding them. She opened the packet and offered him a biscuit.

“Thanks,” he murmured taking two from the packet, chuckling softly when her eyes flashed at him. “I worked it off earlier,” he commented.

Ella flushed and lowered her gaze.

“I noticed…” she said quickly.

“I was referring to this morning when I went for a run with Georgie,” he told her laughing, “but well you were pretty demanding.”

“Me?” Ella squeaked out.

“Oh yes, you,” Roman stepped forward until he was standing directly behind her and placed his arm around her waist. “Wanting me to do …”

“Shush!” Ella groaned.

“Love you,” Roman murmured leaning down and kissing the back of her neck.

“Love you too,” Ella said back spinning around in his arms and kissing him. She smiled as the kisses deepened before easing back and looking at him.

“I can’t see the kids being impressed at finding us here in the kitchen,” he said breathing heavily.

“Uh huh,” Ella lifted her hand to his chest and pushed at him smiling as he mock-groaned and stepped back.

“Do we get to christen the house again when I move back in?”

“I… you… er….” Ella stuttered before spinning around and finishing the coffees. She glanced at her watch and saw they had time before having to collect the twins and led him through into the lounge.

He sat next to her on the long sofa enjoying the closeness and the way things were so easy between them.

“I’m happy,” he said slowly.

“Bloody well should be,” Ella shot back and made him smile again.

“You know what I mean,” he said at last.

“Yeah, I do, we’re the couple you’ve wanted us to be,” she said quietly.

“We going to be ok?”

“Yeah,” Ella answered him. “We’ll find the right balance when you move home,” she promised him.

“You mean the world to me El, you and the kids,” he smiled over at her. “Our family, I want to do things right by you,” he said solemnly.

“It’s going to be good,” Ella said quietly reaching out and holding his hand.

“I know… just need to kidnap you and take you to a registry office…”

Ella glared at him and dropped hold of his hand. “Cold day. Hell.” She said her eyes flashing hate at him.

“I’m sure I can persuade you…” Roman leaned forward and pressed her back against the cushions as he began kissing her again.

“No you can’t,” Ella muttered some time later.

  • 3 weeks later...
Posted

Chapter 78

“Come through,” Louisa murmured as she stepped to one side and allowed them to walk into her office.

Roman felt the tremble in Ella clasp of his hand and he gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile. Bringing her to this appointment with his counsellor was, well it was stressful, and yeah stressful was a good word. Glancing over at Ella he noticed immediately the hesitant smile she gave him and the way she didn’t quite meet his eyes.

“It’s ok,” he whispered to her as he led her over to the sofa in Louisa’s office and sat down leaving Ella no choice except to sit with him. He grinned as her eyes flashed fire at him before she sat slowly down next to him.

Louisa shut the door and moved over to sit opposite them on a chair. She offered Ella a smile before looking at Roman.

“So what can I do for you?” She asked him.

“I’ve brought Ella here because..” Roman began his voice trailing off as he realised the enormity of why Ella was there. To hear about what an idiot he was for not dealing with his past. Ella was so tied up in that, not just because of her involvement with him in the past but well, she knew his nightmares. Sucking in a deep breath he glanced at Ella before he spoke again. “Because Ella needs to know what I’ve been discussing with you. I don’t want any more secrets between us,” he murmured.

“Ok,” Louisa said evenly before her gaze went over to Ella. “You understand that even though Roman has given his permission for you to be here there are certain things that must remain confidential.”

Ella nodded even though she felt like pointing out that she had held certain security clearances in the past on account of her father’s postings on various army bases along with her own stint in Afghanistan.

“I understand,” she murmured instead.

“I think we need to start…”

“First,” Louisa interrupted Roman, “Let’s talk about how you met,” she suggested.

“Ella was based in Camp Bastian in Helmand Province.”

“Where your squad was?” Louisa clarified.

“Yeah, we were there,” Roman lifted his free hand and rubbed at his face indicating to Ella that he was uncomfortable talking about it. She released his other hand and moved to put her arm around his back and rubbed a circle in the small of his back and was rewarded when he looked at her and gave her a small smile. “Yeah, we were there,” he said again his voice sounding easier. “We’d been there for a few months. It was only my second tour as their LT. They still didn’t really trust me, I suppose,” he paused, this time to give Ella a rueful grin, “we’d been through some stuff.”

“Moving on,” Louisa prompted.

“I literally fell for her,” Roman said his lips twitching.

“We fell for each other,” Ella murmured softly.

“Well for me it was more than that… it was…” Roman stopped and looked at Ella, his eyes boring into hers. “Love,” he murmured softly.

“At first sight?” Louisa supplied.

“I’m not sure that it qualifies as that, certainly there was a swing of emotion but I wasn’t the sort of guy that … well I was very logical back then. That’s why I ended up in the Army. I needed to make a career for myself and earn money.”

“What were your reasons for choosing the Army?” Louisa prompted.

“Natalie was pregnant. I had to forget about Art College,” Roman murmured and heard Ella gasp softly beside him. He didn’t turn his head and look at her because he didn’t want to see her disappointment in him, however fleeting it might be. He felt his shoulders slumping as he thought about his choices back then. How he shouldn’t have tried to make a relationship work with Natalie and instead just focus on being Nicole’s dad.

“Art College?” Ella whispered.

“Yeah, I had a place lined up and… I didn’t go. There was so much going on. My parents were unhappy with me and I couldn’t stand working in the kitchen anymore so on my eighteenth birthday I walked into a recruiting office and signed up,” Roman blew out a long breath before he shot Ella a ****-eyed grin, “Maybe you would have ended up married to Picasso!”

“Hardly! Unless you have a post-modernist side I don’t know about Mr Landscapes!”

Roman let out a laugh before looking over at Louisa and half nodding his acknowledgement at the way she was guiding the conversation. Focusing on the good stuff that came out of his army days, like meeting Ella.

“I carry around a lot of anger,” he said suddenly.

“It’s ok,” Ella said.

“No it’s not ok,” Roman grimaced and looked back to Louisa thinking about all the things he’d confessed to the counsellor in the past year. “I’m scared that I’ll hurt you,” he finally got out.

“When you confront a memory?” Louisa pointed out quickly.

“I could have, in the past I’ve…”

“Roman,” Ella said quickly.

“No El, let’s be honest, I’ve scared you. I’ve put my hands on you and pushed you around and I’ve… I’ve… I..” he broke down unable to speak.

“You’ve put your hands around my neck and squeezed,” Ella finished for him and he nodded even as he turned his head away from her. “Pretty sure that if a) I didn’t trust you I wouldn’t be here and b) if you wanted me dead I would be…” she murmured quickly.

“Is that true?”

Roman’s head shot up at Louisa’s question and he nodded slowly. The mad impulse that had him pinning Ella to the wall and his hand on her neck that time so long ago hadn’t ever come back but that didn’t mean he hadn’t experienced the same level of anger. Recently, in fact, he acknowledged, and that was why he had wanted Ella there. On one level he needed her to know that he was ok and on the other he needed to know that she was ok with him. He’d spent the better part of the last few years having a building resentment for her because of all the reminders of his past. First William, Gardy’s brother and then after spending a year in isolation because he’d been trying to protect her it had come to nothing when Alexi pitched up. That was when he’d really been angry with her. For meekly letting Alexi touch her. Logically he knew that Lily was in the room and Ella was protecting their child but emotionally being forced to watch her walking away with the other man and knowing that she was about to be assaulted. Well, he couldn’t deal with it. Not all the guilt because he’d brought Alexi into their lives and that their kids were endangered and certainly not the anger he felt that Ella could fight him to the brink and then just walk into another room with Alexi.

That was why he was so scared.

“Roman,” Louisa prompted and he realised he’d been silent for the past few minutes. Clearing his throat he looked at Ella.

“The Alexi stuff…” he began.

“I know,” El said quietly, “It’s ok,” she comforted him and he felt like a complete bastard after that.

“El, when you walked away with him I wanted to hit you,” he finally told her.

“I know,” she repeated.

“Then..” Roman stopped and looked at Louisa in appeal. His counsellor nodded but didn’t say anything and he forced himself to keep talking. “I was angry at you, I couldn’t…”

“Roman please,” Ella begged, “I know this ok, I know what it did to you when I chose to walk off with Alexi and you know that I was stuck. I couldn’t fight him with Lily there and …” Ella stopped and bit her lip as tears shot into her eyes. “We have to put this in the past and …”

Roman shot her a rueful look.

“How can it be in the past El when I’m so scared that one day I’ll get mad at you and all this stuff, this negative stuff will come bubbling up to the surface and I’ll hurt you?”

“Because you aren’t the person who’d do that,” Ella shot back immediately.

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because,” Ella began again, “You knew you were hurting me emotionally and you walked away from our marriage,” she told him her voice wavering.

“Is that true Roman? Is that part of the reason you left?” Louisa prompted when he didn’t reply.

Roman nodded slowly and looked at Ella. He remembered pinning her against the wall. He remembered shaking her. He remembered holding her arm and yanking her into the garden. He remembered pinning her down on the sofa. He groaned. That was his fear. That in his anger he would do to her what Gardy had done, what Alexi had threatened. Looking at her he felt the reaction of this, well this breakthrough, flood through him and he began to shake. Barely pulling himself together enough to talk he turned to Ella and reached out a shaking hand to touch her face.

“I love you,” he whispered.

“I know,” she told him giving him a sassy smile. “I love you too,” she added.

“Roman,” Louisa called his name.

“I think, er.. I think I’m going to be ok,” he murmured.

“Do you want to tell Ella anything else?” She asked him after a moment.

“She knows that,” he paused, “That I’ve done things I’m not proud of,” he muttered.

“Being a sniper,” Ella quickly put in before Louisa could. She saw the counsellor suck in a breath and knew that was one of the details she was not supposed to know about.

“Yes,” Roman answered.

“But you were obeying orders, you had missions, briefings,” Ella said slowly, “I had a year of missing you being with me and I thought through a lot of things,” she added feeling that they were reaching one of those crucial points in their marriage, “being a sniper was your job, for a short time whilst you were in the army, it doesn’t define who you are as a person, as a father, as a husband.”

Roman inclined his head and sighed softly. Ella was making things easy for him and he didn’t know if he were relieved or angry that she was trying to protect him. Groaning he looked at her.

“I killed people,” he finally said.

“I know,” Ella responded.

“People with families, with parents or kids, with husbands and wives,” he pointed out.

“I know.”

“Then how can you ever look at me with an expression of love?”

“That was your duty. I loved the soldier. I loved him with all of my heart and when I saw you again you weren’t the soldier you were Roman. And I loved you then. Seeing how you’ve come to terms with who you were, who you are now, and I still love you.”

“I don’t know how you can Ella,” he groaned.

“Would you die for us?”

“Of course,” Roman gave her a look.

“Would you spend your life taking care of us?”

“Isn’t that…”

“Yes or no?”

“Yes, of course it’s a yes,” he muttered.

“Then why would we be worried about what you did? Oh, Roman, there are times when I said something stupid to you, when I clung to the bad stuff, when….” Ella sighed too, “And after losing you, I knew that to hold on to the negativity meant that I missed out on the good stuff,” she rubbed her hand over her eyes.

“So..”

“So hold on to us Roman, obviously work through what you need to, but we’re here for you,” she promised him.

Roman groaned again and looked over at Louisa.

“So tell me why you were worried about her being here?” Louisa asked slowly.

“Because this bad stuff, it…” Roman stopped and looked at Ella, “It gets between us and we struggle to resolve our issues,” he said slowly.

“We’re beyond that now, we’ve moved forward,” Ella said confidently. “We can work through this stuff,” she reasoned.

“We can?”

“You doubt it?” Ella shot back immediately her voice strident.

“No Ma’am,” Roman said mock saluting her.

Later after the session was over he found himself remembering everything they’d said to each other and with a small sigh he walked over to the table where she was seated in the diner and eased down next to her.

“Taking a chance soldier?”

“I just,” he paused and looked deep into her eyes, “want to make sure,” he stopped when she smirked at him.

“We’re ok, that’s what you need me to say isn’t it?”

He nodded his eyes trailing around the diner before focusing back on her. “And are we?”

“Yes,” she looked at him.

“Good,” he leaned forward to kiss her and stopped at the last minute.

“Raincheck,” Ella whispered to him, “Let’s go to dinner soon.”

“Somewhere special,” Roman drawled, “my parent’s restaurant.”

“I’m not sure…”

“Please?”

“How can I resist that,” Ella groaned again before quickly nodding. She gave him a look as he stood and disappeared into the kitchen.

Posted

Chapter 79

“Finishing up for the night?” Miles asked looking up from his spot over the side of the diner. Lee was home with the kids, the little one had been ill, and he’d needed to finish some reports for the annual inspection at the school so he’d escaped to the diner. With Lee’s blessing of course he thought, unable to stop the automatic grin that crept on to his face at the thought of going home to her.

“Yeah, just about,” Roman called moving around the counter and stacking the chairs on to the tables.

“I’ll get out of your hair in a minute…” Miles called looking back at his paperwork.

“Take your time I’ve still got to balance the till.”

Roman worked solidly for the next forty minutes. Cleaning the floor, wiping down the tops checking on the food and then looking at the computer screen of the automated till system as he checked the receipts. Normally this was Leah’s job but he’d offered to do it to give her a night off figuring that he owed her for the way she covered for his visits to see Ella. Once he’d finished he checked round the kitchen and then moved over to where Miles was sitting and took a seat opposite him.

“Sorry, trying to finish this, got the department coming soon,” Miles grimaced.

“No worries, want another drink?”

Miles looked up and gave Roman a grin.

“You got something to tell me?”

“Why you ask me that?” Roman shot back.

“Only you have stopped inviting me round for beer lately. Either you’ve got a girlfriend or…” Miles grinned as he pushed a hand through his floppy hair. “Or you and Ella are hooking up…” he drawled.

Roman felt the heat of a blush entering his face and disguised it by rubbing a hand over his face before shaking his head.

“Nah,” he denied.

“Of course not,” Miles scoffed.

Roman stood and moved back into the kitchen taking Miles’s empty cup with him. He placed it in the sink before selecting fresh cups and making two coffees. Walking them back over to where Miles was seated he placed them on the table and eased back into the seat he’d been in a few minutes before.

“If you can…” Roman began and stopped when Miles laughed at him.

“Keep it secret? Sure I can, if I never see Lee again.”

“Like that is it?”

“I kept too much from her before, nearly lost her. I won’t make that mistake again,” Miles uttered.

“I hear that,” Roman nodded.

“So if …”

“Oh hell Miles, Ella and I are getting back together, I’ve hated not telling anyone,” Roman burst out with.

“Congrats man, don’t screw it up again,” Miles told him saluting him with a lift of his coffee cup.

Roman inclined his head before grabbing his own cup and the two men toasted each other.

“I’d be a fool to let her go again,” Roman commented as he sipped his drink.

“So tell me the details, when….. how…”

“We started seeing each other a few months ago, went to counselling to get over some issues, and at Christmas I’m heading home,” Roman summarised.

“I guess you’ve heard all the jokes about unwrapping…”

“Oh yes,” Roman interrupted. Both men laughed before Roman’s expression grew serious. “You never told me I was being an ass,” he murmured.

“Ella told me not to interfere,” Miles admitted after a moment of silence, “Apparently you had to sort things yourselves,” he shrugged.

Roman nodded and looked at his hands. He had scarred knuckles from the times he’d been involved in hand to hand combat, or even the times he’d punched the walls in his frustration. Without even looking at Miles he knew that the other man was watching him with an expression of compassion on his face.

“I hated it. I hated being away from everybody but I kept telling myself that if I came home you’d get hurt, I’d lose Ella,” Roman finally said, unable to meet Miles’s gaze with his own.

“We would have managed,” Miles said slowly, “Losing you, well it was like the heart was ripped out of people. I don’t think you’ve ever known what you mean to us.”

Roman looked up then at his friend and sighed.

“I kept the sim card out of my phone and I would look at it and wonder what would happen if I were to put it in my phone and call someone. I would look at it and want to put it in my phone just to see the pictures on there. I would look at it and hate that loneliness and longing made me weak when I was supposed to be a soldier, supposed to be able to cope alone and then I would look at it and get so drunk I couldn’t move just so I wouldn’t call home.”

“Roman,” Miles gasped.

“I know, I should have called, if not Ella then someone, but I…” Roman paused, “But I couldn’t,” he shrugged, “It would have made a mockery of the sacrifice I’d already made in entering Witness Protection.”

Roman drained the last of his coffee and looked over at Miles’s cup before taking both of them into the kitchen. He washed them up quickly before heading back over to the other man seeing that Miles had gathered together his stuff and was waiting at the door. Grabbing the keys and his phone from where he left them he walked over to the door and locked it behind them.

The two men walked in companionable silence along the beach for a time until Miles spoke up in a shocked voice.

“My god is that Ella?” Miles gasped out.

Roman looked across the beach. She was wearing a hot red bikini. Like firecracker red. Her hair was curled and pinned back from her face and even from this distance he could see that she was wearing full make up including dark red lipstick. He wanted to run over to her and tell her to put some clothes on; although she had a silky looking wrap around her hips, as his eyes travelled over her slim form before catching sight of the shoes she was wearing, flat red sandals with red straps that wound around her ankle and up her calves emphasising the new definition in her muscles and of course her very sexy ankles. Then his gaze went to the group of people she was with. They were dressed the same, swimming costumes and beach clothes making it obviously some kind of beach party.

Just about when he managed to get some kind of control over his feelings he saw one of the group, a guy, approach Ella and tip up a bottle of tequila so she could drink a shot from the bottle. Laughter and catcalls flowed around the group and he growled under his breath as he watched.

“I guess this isn’t a good time to go say hello?” Miles murmured grinning at his friend.

Roman could tell that Miles was enjoying this too much for him to go over and drag Ella away from her party but he couldn’t stop the automatic clenching of his fists.

“I think those are her Uni friends,” Roman said slowly remembering a vague comment from Ella that she was planning on seeing them soon. He should have paid more attention and mentally kicked himself for lapsing back into being the jerk that took her for granted. Raising his hand he waved at her and she waved back before he took hold of Miles’s arm and practically dragged the other man away with him.

“Damn, and I was hoping for…”

“Shut up Miles, I’m going home …”

“To get your gun?” Miles asked.

Roman raised an eyebrow.

“What makes you think that I would need a gun?” He muttered the question.

“Well you are getting on a bit…” Miles shot out before escaping and heading over to his car. He biped the horn as he drove off and Roman waved back as he climbed into his own car. Within minutes he’d driven home and gone inside. He found a note on the kitchen counter from Mike explaining that the other man was ‘babysitting’ with Danni. From the quotation marks around the word babysitting he could only surmise that maybe not much actual babysitting was going to be involved.

Going over to the fridge he took out a beer and necked it, drinking deeply. He should feel good that Ella was off enjoying herself and he should feel safe that they were moving forward and he would be home soon. But he didn’t. He was jealous and angry and frustrated that it was taking so long for him to move home. He hated that he felt this way. It was this ‘Roman’ that had guided Ella away from her friends in the past, from her photography and all the things that she loved.

Examining what he felt at the time when she spoke of places she’d been and her friends and what she was doing and he felt left out. Even feeling abandoned when she went on her assignments until there came the moment that she didn’t even do that anymore. She’d tried to make him feel better by claiming it was because of the children but he knew better.

Feeling utterly depressed by his own wayward thoughts he grabbed his phone and ordered a takeaway for his dinner and then settled down on the sofa waiting for it to come. Making the resolution that he was going to encourage Ella in whatever she wanted to do from now on, he finished his beer and switched on the TV.

“Morning Mother,” Mike called loudly when Ella appeared downstairs.

“Mike..” Sammy muttered glaring at his brother.

“Morning to you too son,” Ella shot her son a grin, “Did you forget I don’t have hangovers?”

“I can’t believe you abandoned us to go drinking,” Sophie muttered.

“Yup, and I had fun,” Ella said unrepentantly grinning as Sophie glared at her.

“Here,” Mike muttered placing a fried egg sandwich in front of his mother before he sat down at the table next to Sammy.

“Thanks,” Ella shot him a look and picked up the sandwich before taking a delicate bite. “So did they behave themselves?”

“They did and er, Sophie said that she’s babysat before so …”

Ella grinned at her son and watched as he blushed.

“I think Mum was trying to give you and Danni a reason to spend time together,” Sammy murmured.

“Yeah I got that,” Mike said as his face flushed.

“So did you and Danni…” Meggy began to ask.

“Guys,” Ella interrupted grinning at her older son’s discomfort even as she was indicating to the kids not to pry. She couldn’t help but notice the smile he shot her and the way he looked happier than he had for a long time. “By the way, Nic and Geoff’s kids are coming this weekend,” Ella announced to them.

“What no Tyler?” Sammy pouted.

“I said we’d have the kids because Geoff wants to take Nic out for their anniversary,” Ella explained.

“Mira’s too?” Lily lisped sweetly.

She looked up at her mother and blinked her eyes before giving her an innocent smile.

“Yes Lily, we are having Mira too,” Ella murmured catching sight of Mike hiding his laughter. “Just you wait until Lily babysits Jennie,” Ella threatened her son.

“Ouh,” Lily murmured, her mouth making a round ‘o’ shape, “Me likes,” she muttered.

“Thanks mother,” Mike groaned as his brothers and sisters laughed at him, “So what were you drinking last night?” He finally asked.

“Just beer and some tequila,” Ella shrugged.

“Me’s had tequila,” Lily announced.

“Oh really Squeals?” Ella asked giving her daughter a look, “And who gave you tequila?”

“Dada did,” Lily told them, “At the diner,” she shook her head, “It was yucky,” she added sticking her tongue out.

“Huh, and I only get milkshakes when I go there,” Meggy muttered.

Ella threw back and laughed before fixing her daughters with a look. “Tequila Lily?”

“Yes’s,” Lily lisped, “It no taste nice,” she added with another of her famous pouts.

“Are you sure?” Mike grinned.

Lily nodded stubbornly.

Ella gave a half shake of her head and pulled out her phone and dialled. Roman answered on the first ring and she had to hide her smile at that.

“Roman, can you just confirm that you don’t serve Tequila in the diner?”

“What?” Roman muttered from the other side of the Bay and the comfort of his sofa where he’d fallen asleep the night before. He glanced in the direction of the half empty whisky bottle on the kitchen top next to the empty glass and then at the bikini top next to it. The red bikini top. “God no, we don’t,” he muttered rubbing a hand over his face before glancing around the rest of the room.

“Are you sure?”

“Pretty sure why?” Roman shot back as he eased to a sitting position on the sofa. He looked back around and saw where his shirt and trousers had ended up.

“Have you recently … got any new stock in that could be mistaken for tequila?” Ella asked waving her hand at the children to be quiet as they began laughing.

“No, pretty sure about that too. Er… what time did you leave?”

Ella grinned at his question, glad that she hadn’t put the phone on speaker before talking to him.

“Well it seems we have a problem because Lily is certain that she has had tequila and she had it in the diner,” Ella told him imagining the expression that would cross his face at that, “And now Meggy is upset that you didn’t let her have any.”

“What? Like, er, what?” She heard Roman gasp out as she bit her lip to stop herself from laughing before she heard him speak again. “Exactly how much did I drink last night because we appear to be having a very strange conversation?”

“Meggy, your father says that no, you can’t have tequila, and incidentally stay away from his whiskey…”

“What? No…” Meggy groaned as everyone laughed at her again.

“And Lils, no you haven’t had tequila,” Ella said softly.

“Buts I did, it was green,” Lily muttered folding her arms across herself and glaring at everyone.

“In a cup?” Mike said slowly.

Lily nodded.

“Green tea,” he muttered with a sigh of relief.

“I tolds you tea-quila,”Lily said still pouting.

“I think we’ve sorted out the issue,” Ella said to Roman.

“That is good but when did you leave and why… no scrap that,” he said as he stood up, “you probably can’t tell me anyway.”

“No, anyway I have to go,” Ella said slowly her eyes on the kids, “I’ll talk to you later,” she promised before ending the call.

Across the Bay Roman moved away from the sofa and picked up his clothes. He could vaguely remember answering the door at 1am and drinking. Then the rest was a kind of blur and considering that he woke up naked after sleeping for a few hours on the sofa and also somehow ended up with Ella’s bikini top he could only surmise he’d been ‘booty called’. He grinned, before thinking of how he’d been upset before at seeing her with her friends and then she’d turned up. Heading up the stairs he went into the bathroom and climbed under the shower. He should be used to hangovers by now he thought groaning at the thumping inside his head.

Posted

Chapter 80

Ella looked over at Rachel and frowned. She was there to see Rachel in her capacity of her doctor and hated that she could read the expression on the other woman’s face so easily.

“And when did you first find the lump?” Rachel asked again.

Ella turned her head to one side and tried to think. It was after she and Roman had started sleeping together again. She’d left the bed to get a shower and then, well then she’d found the lump. He’d even asked her if she was ok and of course she lied. Her being ill wasn’t part of the plan. In fact she doubted that she would, no. She stopped her wayward thoughts and focused.

“A couple of months,” she confessed biting on her bottom lip.

“Oh Ella,” Rachel groaned before stepping back and fixing Ella with a look, “you know that any symptoms, any at all need checking out.”

“I do but I was busy with the kids and..” she stopped talking and looked at Rachel. “Oh god,” she moaned sickly.

“We need to run more tests, first I’ll get you booked in for a mammogram and then let’s see where we need to go before we panic.”

“Who’s panicking?” Ella said softly, “Oh that’s right, me!”

“El,” Rachel began.

“I can tell from your voice that you think it’s serious,” Ella murmured, “I have somewhere to be tonight, so I need to go.”

“Let me get you that referral,” Rachel moved over to her desk at the side of room leaving Ella to get dressed. She looked up as Ella stepped out of the cubical immaculately dressed. “They can fit you in tomorrow at one pm?”

Ella nodded and accepted the small rectangular appointment card that Rachel held out to her.

“Thanks Rachel,” Ella said slowly before easing out of the room. She looked down at the card before tucking it away in the back of her organiser before heading to her car and getting behind the wheel. She could feel emotional tears clogging the back of her throat.

If she was ill she knew that Roman couldn’t handle it. Last time he’d fallen slowly apart and it was worse watching him than going through the chemo some days. The time she’d caught him in the garden in the middle of the night digging she’d watched him for ages before finally confronting him. He’d had no expression on his face as he looked at her blankly and then admitted that he was making a swimming pool. She’d walked away from him then and left him to it. Months later it was finally turned into a pool.

Glancing at her watch she gave a groan and headed over to pick up the twins. It wouldn’t be long before August and Fleur would be going to the same school as Lily and Liam and that would free up time for her, for… she stopped thinking suddenly. For what? More Chemotherapy? She mocked herself. She wasn’t sure she could go through it again. Feeling sick, losing her hair and possibly undergoing surgery. What if it had spread?

Pulling over the car to the side of the road she had to stop driving because her hands were shaking and she couldn’t keep driving. Looking down at her red painted fingernails she gave a big sigh. She had time now, organising the kids with army precision most days and asking for help. College had finished, so that all she had to focus on now was her photography and the exhibition she was planning. Even tonight she was planning a dinner with her agent to flesh out the details of her forthcoming book. As soon as she sorted the kids, Irene and her dad were babysitting overnight; she would drive to the studio.

She’d even arranged to do a favour for a friend and organise a special dinner for them, letting Scott use her studio whilst she was out. She couldn’t let them down now, either her agent or Scott so she had to pull herself together.

Shaking her head she focused on starting the car up and heading off to pick up the kids. She’d think about the ramifications of her appointment with Rachel tomorrow.

“What are you doing here?”

Roman frowned at the question and then grimaced as she didn’t wait for his answer before spinning around and striding into the studio. He followed at a cautious pace, aware that he was probably pouting or at least looking like he’d just been punched. It had seemed a romantic gesture to come to the studio unannounced and surprise her but now she appeared to be busy. Stepping inside he came to a full stop on seeing the table covered with a soft blush pink tablecloth and set with Ella’s special china. The stuff she only got out for very special occasions, and the silver candlesticks with pale pink candles in. The vase at the centre had pink roses in too.

“I thought I would surprise you,” he called out.

Ella stepped out of the bedroom her hands tucked behind her back as she struggled with the zip on her expensive looking dress. She seemed to fix it because she placed her hands on the waist and smoothed down the skirt.

“You did, it’s just not a good time. I’ve…”

“Got plans, I noticed,” Roman murmured wondering if he sounded as jealous as he felt.

“Yes, I do,” Ella muttered heading over to the kitchen.

He watched as she placed an apron over her dress and began seeing to the diner she was preparing. Feeling at a loss as to what to say to her he leant on the back of the sofa and stuffed his hands in his pockets.

“I wish you’d rung first, I could have saved you a wasted trip.”

“I still get to see you for a few minutes without the kids so it is not entirely wasted,” he attempted to lighten the atmosphere but watched as she gave him a frown in response. He sighed loudly, feeling his shoulders creeping up as he began to feel more and more defensive.

“I can’t see you tonight,” she murmured her thoughts drifting back to her appointment with Rachel. Any second now she’d just blurt out what was worrying her and she didn’t have time to fall apart. Yeah, that was a good reason not to say anything, “In fact you should probably go.”

“Ella…” he began only to be interrupted by the doorbell.

Ella looked at her watch and groaned before she ran to answer it. Not the slow walk of earlier when she’d opened the door for him but actually running. He felt even more jealousy course through his veins and groaned biting back the sound with difficulty when the door shot open and Ella walked back through it, this time with a man walking in behind her. First there was the beach party and now this.

“This is Roman, he was just passing,” Ella murmured dismissing him, “Roman this is Scott,” she added not meeting his eyes as she introduced the other man to him. Roman bit back a sharp retort and simply looked at the other man.

Suddenly he felt entirely underdressed compared to the newcomer who was wearing a black tuxedo over a white shirt and black skinny tie. He didn’t have to be Nic at that moment to realise that it was probably a designer ensemble and there he was in a scruffy polo shirt and jeans that had frayed at the bottom and looking down at them, a rip in one knee. He had to resist the urge to put his hand through his hair and try and straighten himself up.

“Hello,” Scott murmured moving over to him and holding out his hand.

Roman nodded and reached out to shake his hand noting that the other man’s grip was firm within his own.

“Hey,” he murmured.

“I need to finish getting ready,” Ella announced and disappeared into the bedroom.

“So how do you know Ella?” Roman found himself asking and just as he did so he remembered Ella mentioning the other man’s name before. Scott was her tutor. The one she’d found herself attracted to. And now here she was in the apartment cooking dinner for him.

“Ella is in my class, we became friends over the past year,” Scott was saying.

“Yeah, now I remember,” Roman murmured.

Scott nodded and slipped out of his jacket. As he did so a small square jewellery box slipped out of his pocket and bounced on the floor before landing at Roman’s feet.

“You’ve dropped something,” Roman said politely as he bent down to retrieve it. He handed it over to Scott watching with a growing distress when Scott opened the box and checked the contents.

“I’m hoping she’s going to say yes,” Scott murmured distractedly as he looked at the diamond engagement ring within the velvet lined box.

Roman nodded unable to look away from the ring. Marquis cut diamond with small diamond chips flanking the main one. He heard Nic’s voice inside his head screaming out that it was art deco design and he inclined his head thinking that Ella would like the ring, that it was more to her taste than the two rings he’d picked out for her. Something unique and special, and would look beautiful on her slim finger. Of course she was going to say yes when presented with a ring like that in this romantic setting and he felt his heart plunging in despair.

“Ok,” Ella murmured coming out of the bedroom.

Now she was wearing high heels and had pinned up her hair. Roman noticed she’d put on dark red lipstick that outlined her lips perfectly and he had to clamp down on the insane desire to race over to her side and kiss it off just like he always did. Frowning at the thoughts racing through his head he gave a slight nod before speaking.

“I’m just going to go, have a good evening,” he murmured and walked over to the door. Again he noticed that Ella was more concerned with speaking to Scott than paying attention to him and he bit back on the jealousy coursing through his veins as he moved out of the door and down the stairs. He heard her laughter following him as he left and in his misery he couldn’t remember ever making her laugh like that.

“Right so the food is cooked, table is set,” Ella murmured to her friend, “There’s a key on the top just in case you need it and well, good luck,” she added before leaning up on tiptoe and kissing his cheek. With that she spun around and headed out of the door and left him to it.

Walking along the street she heard her heels click on the pavement before she managed to get a taxi. Within moments she was heading along to the exclusive restaurant that her Agent preferred. His name was Carl and she’d worked with him for the past fifteen years. The poor man having to put up first with her semi-retirement and then too many personal issues throughout the years he’d represented her.

And there it was again, lurking in the back of her thoughts. She’d have to keep herself focused on what she needed to discuss with him or she’d probably burst out with all of her problems.

The taxi pulled up outside the restaurant and she handed over the fare before she eased out of it and stepped across the pavement and inside the place. She spotted him sitting at the bar and smiled as she moved over to him.

“Hello Mrs Harris,” he said and grinned at her as she gave him a glare.

“Thanks Carl,” she rolled her eyes at his joke and hopped up on a bar stool beside him. Opposite them was a long mirror that was designed to reflect the light and provide light in the dark painted room. She caught sight of herself in the mirror and groaned. Her eyes were darting around the room, looking at the burgundy upholstery on the stools and behind her and then glancing at the chairs that were dotted around tables in the bar also upholstered in similar fabric. Through the large archway she knew that the restaurant was decorated in similar hues.

“Look like hell kid, what’s going on?” He said after a few minutes.

“I’m ok,” Ella said and offered him what she hoped was a smile that matched her words. Focusing on him she listened as he began to outline some of the activities he’d come up with first as they sat and had drinks and then after when they’d been escorted to their table and were eating the food they’d ordered.

“So what do you think?”

“Pretty good ideas, I like the photography contest. Sounds like that could work,” she bit her lip before looking over at him, “The subject I’ve chosen for the exhibition is my family,” she added slowly, “And I want to do the first showing in Yabbie Creek so they can preview it.”

Carl shot her a look and frowned.

“Yabbi Creek we could probably do, but aren’t they private photos?”

Ella nodded.

“They are the only ones I have in any great quantity at the moment, most of my other stock has been seen and without the time to go and gather more images,” she shrugged and looked at him anxiously.

“Then that sounds like a plan,” he said quietly.

Ella nodded and looked down at her plate. Part of her wondered if she could call back that suggestion and another part of her was so proud of her kids that she wanted everyone to see how wonderful they were. Besides all that she still had enough prints not to encroach on the really personal family pictures, but just maybe she’d include that one of Nic crossing her eyes and sticking her tongue out just for fun.

Posted

Chapter 81

Roman looked at his phone again for the tenth time in under an hour. Still no message from Ella. Still no phone call or missed call or voice mail. Nothing. Nada. Zip. Zilch. He gave a groan and rubbed a hand over his face. Remaining totally impartial was never his best forte but he’d managed to text her and ask how dinner had gone the other night and if she wanted to try and meet for coffee. See how amazing he was, he mocked himself. He was jealous and angry and suspicious. He wanted to see for himself if she was wearing that other man’s ring on her finger.

He growled again at just the thought of it before forcing himself to calm down. He knew that Ella wouldn’t have done anything like that, he told himself.

Looking again at his phone he snatched it, and his car keys, up and headed out of the door. The kids were at school and if he bumped into anyone he was sure he could invent a reason for turning up unannounced.

As he pulled into the drive he saw that Ella had been out in her jeep and that made him frown too. It meant that she’d ether been out doing some photography or had taken her surfboard out on to the water. He felt strangely excluded and mentally kicked himself again.

What was the point of trying so hard to get Ella to take some time for herself if he were going to act like a jealous idiot every time she did it? He cursed under his breath as he climbed out of his car, angry at himself for the alpha male attitude he was displaying.

Truth was that she’d had every right to spend time with whoever she wanted and he had no recourse; he was her boyfriend, if anything, as opposed to a husband. He didn’t like that, didn’t like the uncertainty in their relationship and knew that he had to get a handle on those feelings if they were really going to move forward. Especially if he didn’t want to get kicked out of home again.

Walking into the house he heard music coming from the back and carried on until he tracked her down.

“Ella,” he called out when he saw her.

She was wearing a miniscule bikini top and that reminded him that he needed to return her other one, and a pair of jean cut off shorts. His head immediately flashed back to the other one hundred and one times he had come home, or round, and seen her dressed in similar clothes. When she’d been pregnant with Meggy and they had been unsure about her parentage was the first memory that popped into his head and he sighed at the reasons why his brain had replayed that one first out of all the memories he had of Ella. He was feeling uncertain, jealous, scared of what these changes meant for them and if he examined things closer he knew that he would feel better if Ella had contacted him in the past couple of days, even if it were just a text message.

“Oh, hello,” Ella said her voice so quiet he had to strain to hear it.

“I er…” Roman paused and moved closer to her. He’d noticed immediately that she was wearing gardening gloves covering up her hands, especially the important left hand. Was she covering that she was wearing another man’s ring on her finger. He sucked in a breath and tried to tell himself that she wouldn’t accept Scott’s proposal whilst she was planning to have him move back home but then he was assailed with thoughts about her finding another man attractive.

“What are you doing here?” Ella asked and he watched as she moved one of the gloves aside and checked on her watch. Not take it off and show him that she wasn’t wearing a ring.

Even more negative feelings gathered inside him and built up. He should just ask her, he thought and then backed down. What would she say to that? What would he say if she told him it was true and she was seeing someone else? A curl of anger began to swirl inside his stomach and he bit on his lip to stop himself from crying out.

“I, er, I texted you,” he muttered feeling like a teenager.

Dammit, this was Ella. The woman he loved. The woman he’d fought through so much to come back to time and again.

“Sorry, I’ve been busy,” Ella moved past him and headed into the house leaving him no choice but to follow her. He frowned as he did so and sighed again as she turned off the music and then moved back into the kitchen. “So, coffee?”

“Please,” he said slowly.

Ella peeled off one of the gloves, the one on her right hand he noticed, and filled the kettle at the tap before putting it on to boil.

“What have you been doing then?” He asked and could have kicked himself at the note in his voice. Why had she removed just the one glove?

“Well dinner the other night and then surfing and the kids, I think that covers the days since I saw you,” Ella said seeming distracted as she searched in cupboard for the coffee and a couple of cups.

He was about to comment when a knock at the door sounded. Looking at Ella he forced himself to hang back whilst she went over and answered the door. Watching he saw her head back towards him carrying the biggest flower arrangement he’d ever seen. His mouth dropped open and he frowned again.

“Who bought you those?” He gasped out the question jealously.

“I don’t know yet,” Ella shot back.

He waited as she placed them on the top and moved one of the blooms to one side to find the card that came with them. He saw her open it and slowly removed the card from inside. Memories flooded back of being in the desert or some other place waiting to take the shot and feeling the same anxious feelings that he was now.

‘This is just a quick thank you! Have booked the hotel for the engagement party!’ He read over her shoulder and his heart jumped into his throat.

“So it’s true,” he told himself, “Dammit Ella, dammit,” he muttered.

He gave her a hate filled look before his eyes went to her still covered hand and he spun around and ran out of the house. He ignored her calling his name as he headed out to his car. He had to get out of there before he did something stupid, like beg her not to marry the other man.

Ella watched Roman go with what she knew was growing puzzlement on her face. She looked down and reread the card wondering what he’d seen to make him react like that and then slowly it dawned on her. He thought she was ‘engaged’ to Scott. That the dinner the other night was something more than her just doing a favour for a friend. She hated Roman in that moment before tucking the card away and finishing making the coffee. Pulling off the other glove she looked at the small square plaster on the back of her hand. After her appointment to have the mammogram she’d gone to Rachel for the results and been told they needed to do further tests. That was when Rachel decided to take blood for testing and she’d asked her to use the back of elher hand so that she could come up with an excuse to tell the kids the reason for the plaster.

Then she’d avoided Roman because she just didn’t know how to tell him about her hospital appointments. Dammit, why did he have to get jealous all the time?

“Hey,” George murmured from the doorstep, his voice interrupting her thoughts.

Ella looked at him and then the flowers before she ran over to her father and threw herself into his arms as she burst into tears. “It’s going to be ok, Princess,” George said immediately as he hugged her.

“No it’s not,” she sobbed as she clung to him, and that made her cry harder. It should have been Roman holding her. Roman telling it was going to be fine.

“Is this about Roman?” George asked after a moment. Ella eased back and blinked up at him without saying anything. “I saw him leaving, he drove past me.”

Ella nodded slowly thinking about the way Roman was so jealous and had jumped to conclusions. ‘He was a, a, jerk!’ she thought. ‘A prize-winning jerk!’ She looked at her dad and wiped at her eyes.

“It’s ok, just a misunderstanding,” she told him giving him a bright smile.

“If you’re sure Princess,” George looked unconvinced.

“I am,” she nodded and eased away, “I was just getting a drink, can I get you anything?”

“No, that’s ok, I was just off to go see Irene,” George pressed a kiss to her head before he went out of the back and across the garden to their apartment.

Ella watched him go before she picked up her cup and took a long drink. She saw that her hand was shaking and she hastily put the cup down before she spilt her drink. Pulling out her phone she noticed that she had a missed call from Rachel and sighed before calling her back.

“Hello,” she murmured after the call connected.

“Hi Ella,” Rachel began.

“You’ve got a slot for me?”

“Next week,” Rachel murmured slowly.

Ella gasped, “That soon?”

“We need to find out what this is,” Rachel began, “The biopsy should only take an hour so you won’t need to stay overnight.”

“Ok,” Ella sighed, “Next week then,” she added before jotting down the arrangements. She murmured goodbye to her friend and looked down at the piece of paper in front of her before folding it up and tucking it away in her organiser she’d retrieved from her handbag. Glancing at the time she raced up the stairs and into the bedroom to shower and change. Roman’s earlier behaviour slipped from her mind as she thought about what she was about to go through.

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