Stealing Cinderella(82)
“Ella, how are you feeling?” Olivia pulls me in for a hug as soon as I’m out of the car.
“I’m fine.” I squeeze her back and then repeat my assurances to Charlotte next.
After I called them this morning and explained what happened yesterday, we arranged to meet at the sanctuary. Now that we’re here, it’s a little awkward, to say the least. We had a difficult conversation, and I finally unleashed all my truths about the torment I endured at the hands of Narcissa and the girls. Though Olivia and Charlotte both confirmed they had suspected as much, they’re still treating me as if I’m made of glass. And to top things off, Charlotte can’t stop staring at Thorsen. She’s dying to ask me what the hell is going on, but she’s trying to contain herself.
“Have you been to see the manor yet?” Olivia asks carefully.
“We have.” I nod. “We saw it before we visited them at the hospital.”
“What on earth do you think happened?” Charlotte asks.
“Who knows.” I take Thorsen’s hand in mine.
“Well, it was no secret that they had more enemies than friends in this neighborhood,” Olivia says. “I hear the police have been quite busy fielding calls by every scorned woman Narcissa crossed. I think all three of them must have slept with every husband in Kent. Then, of course, there are rumors that the women had been at odds with each other since their return. Apparently, Narcissa and Lavinia had been going at it like cats and dogs. Some of the neighbors are even speculating that it may have been either of them who torched the place.”
“They weren’t particularly well-liked,” I agree. “I wouldn’t put it past them.”
“Well, if you ask me, I think they got what they deserved,” Charlotte hisses. “Wretched, evil women. After everything they’ve done to you, and then yesterday—” She shudders. “I can’t feel sorry for them. I’m just glad Thorsen asked me to get your things from the manor. At least you still have what’s left of your parents' belongings.”
“You picked up my things?” I look back and forth between them.
“Yes,” Charlotte beams. “It wasn’t really that difficult, considering Lavinia had chucked them all onto the lawn. Apparently, you really pissed her off.”
“Well, we don’t need to give her any more airtime in our lives than she’s already had,” Olivia says. “Would you like to come inside for a cup of tea?”
“That would be lovely, thank you.”
We follow them into Olivia’s home, and the overwhelming relief I feel at the familiarity of this place nearly brings me to tears. For so many years, she has provided a sanctuary for me too. The stray neighbor girl who didn’t have a family of her own. She let me into this magical space and showed me that kindness still existed, and love could be found for all of us, even in the darkest of times.
When she pulls out a chair at the table for me, I hug her again and nearly break down into a sobbing pile of mush. Nobody says a word as Olivia comforts me, hugging me back with all the strength I’ve always admired her for.
“It’s okay now, Ella,” she whispers into my ear. “I think you’ve found your forever home too.”
We both laugh, and I wipe away the moisture leaking from my eyes as I nod. If Thorsen’s face is any indication, he’s struggling with this new concept of sharing me. He wants to wipe away my tears and take care of me just like he promised. But he also knows I need this.
“Okay, sorry.” I wave my hands in front of my face as I sit down. “I just really had to get that out of the way. I’m still trying to process everything. But I’m so glad the sanctuary will live on.”
Thorsen drapes his arm over my shoulder, playing with the strands of my hair, and it makes me shiver in all the right places.
“It truly is amazing.” Olivia nods at the man I love. “I’ve never been so blessed.”
“It was all Ella,” he says, his voice full of warmth for me.
“Yeah, it’s really great.” Charlotte gives me a look that tells me she’s dying for information. “Now, will you please tell us how any of this even happened?”
Olivia chuckles as she heads to the kettle to prepare the tea, leaving us to hash out the details.
“We met at the ball,” I admit. “I was too embarrassed to tell you after all the trouble you went through to get me a ticket. I got into the wrong line. Or at least, that’s what I thought. But now I know it was definitely the right line.”
Thorsen grazes my cheek with a gentle kiss, and I can practically hear Charlotte swooning from here.
“So then you went to work for him?” she asks. “On a ship?”
Crap. I wasn’t anticipating how I’d field these questions, and I’m trying to think of a response when Thorsen covers for us smoothly.
“No, it wasn’t really on a ship. But Ella had a nondisclosure agreement. She couldn’t tell anyone where she was or what she was doing.”
“Oh.” Charlotte blinks. “I suppose that makes sense.”
“And then you two fell in love?” Olivia returns with a handful of cups and saucers, arching her brow at me in question. I know all she really needs to hear is that I’m happy, and this is truly what I want.