Fairytale Come Alive (Ghosts and Reincarnation #4)(107)
“I’ve never hated you, Elle.”
“But –”
“There were plenty of times I wanted to hate you, over the years and recently, but I could never do it.”
“But –”
“No’ ever.”
“Pren –”
He kissed her quiet.
He took his time and did this thoroughly.
When he lifted his head he repeated fiercely, “Baby. No’ ever.”
She felt tears hit her eyes and she whispered, “Really?”
He scanned her face and, for a second, she could swear, it looked like he was in pain.
He masked it before she could be sure and he whispered back, “Really.”
Something else wound up tight in her released and relaxed.
So did her body, right into his and he took her weight.
“Can I get my jeans?” she asked softly.
“No.”
Her body got tight again and she pulled slightly away, demanding, “Why not?”
Both his arms released her but only so both his hands could come to her jaw and tip her face up to his.
“Because last night you made a decision and now, today, you’re at home. When you’re at home you don’t have to dress to eat breakfast. When you’re at home you wear whatever-the-f*ck you want to wear at breakfast.”
Last night she hadn’t made a decision.
He had.
And he hadn’t let her protest.
He was watching her as these thoughts went through her head and then he interrupted them.
“I can see this may take time to sink in for you,” he said then the devilish grin came back. “Luckily, I’m patient.”
He was not patient.
Or, at least, twenty years ago he wasn’t.
And evidence suggested he wasn’t now either.
“Pren –”
“Muffins.”
“Pren!”
He turned her around the corner that led to the stairs.
Sally saw them the minute they came into view and before Elle could form another protest, Sally shouted, “Hurrah! Now we can bake the muffins.”
Stymied.
With no choice, Elle went to the kitchen and sat on a stool in nothing but Prentice’s t-shirt, sipping coffee and surveying the chaos created by Jason and Sally making muffins.
They’d forgotten to grease the tins so they didn’t have full muffins, just the muffin tops that Jason and Prentice were able to pry from the tin.
Still, they weren’t half bad.
* * * * *
Fiona
Fiona knew it happened because Bella was tired.
She’d had a hectic day.
And Fiona had watched it all.
The tickling in bed (though she’d followed Jason when he left the room, worried about him after his reaction at seeing Bella and Prentice in his mother and father’s bed).
The conversation on the landing when Prentice (not letting any grass grow) set about righting the wrongs he’d inadvertently done Bella.
The disastrous muffin baking.
She also watched Bella clean the kitchen with Sally’s “help” which made the onerous task all the more onerous while Prentice went after Jason. During this, Fiona watched Bella bite her lip and fist her hands.
Fiona wanted to be with Jason and Prentice but Fiona knew her son. He was like his father. He felt deeply. But, in miraculously little time, he came to decisions and stuck by them, about people and events.
He knew his mind, Jason did, always had, even as a wee lad.
He might be confused but he’d sort it – with his father’s help.
Fiona was more worried about Bella.
She whispered words to soothe her friend as the time slid by while Prentice was upstairs with Jason.
Then, when this didn’t work, she shouted her soothing words.
Incredibly, this seemed to work and Bella began to focus more on Sally and making oatmeal cookies (and why they needed oatmeal cookies to add to the chocolate chip cookies in the cookie jar, Fiona had no idea) and less on tearing her palms with her nails.
When Prentice and Jason appeared again, Bella whirled to the stairs and watched them descend.
Jason had Fiona’s guitar.
Bella went pale.
“Elle, will you show me more chords today?” Jason asked.
Bella’s eyes flew to Prentice and Prentice gave Bella a wink.
Bella (and Fiona, even though hers was unnecessary as she didn’t breathe) let out a sigh.
“Sure, Jace. I just need to take a shower,” Bella answered.
While Bella showered, Fiona watched (and giggled) as Prentice moved her clothes into her new room.
Therefore, when she came out of the shower, she halted and stared at the underwear, jeans and jumper lying on the bed. An outfit she didn’t choose for herself.
She went to the wardrobe. Then she went to the drawers. Then she stared at the empty nightstand.
Then she pulled on her clothes in a tizzy and ran from the room.
She found Prentice walking out of the closet in Bella’s new room, her clothes from the drawers all over the still unmade bed.
She stood frozen.
Then she looked at him, eyes glassy, and mumbled, “Wha…?”
Prentice walked right up to her, cupped the back of her head in his hand and touched his lips to hers.
“Sort the drawers, will you, baby? I’m rubbish at that shit.”