Home For a While
Ella fixed a dinner of tortillas, chicken, and a few vegetables in the modest kitchen space of their little piece of heaven. It was a different take on fajitas since she didn’t have all of the typical ingredients she would’ve put into them if she was in a place where she could go to a grocery store more frequently, but it would do. She’d made them a few times in the last few weeks, and Rome liked them.
He was sitting outside on a big rock, staring out at the ocean as the tide came in and lapped his bare feet. They spent a great deal of time out there, looking at the ocean or swimming in it. She knew, someday, maybe soon, she’d have to leave this place, and when she did, she’d miss this view, this freedom, this little piece of heaven.
He’d called his mom a few days ago, and Ella knew he’d be calling her again in a few more. She carefully sliced through some peppers, trying not to get her fingers. Cooking had never really been her thing, but she liked preparing meals for Rome. Oftentimes, he’d come and help her, and that always made it more fun. But today, he was lost in his thoughts.
Going back to California would be so much harder for her than it would be for him. She knew he wouldn’t go back unless he was sure the lawyer he’d been speaking with had a good case against his dad for kidnapping, and several other charges, one he could file if his father stepped out of line by even a step or two. She’d asked Rome to talk to his mom about trying to get his dad to reconcile with her father, but she wasn’t hopeful that would matter. If it was possible that the two warring parties could find some common ground, maybe she could let her dad know she was alive. That would make her life a lot easier.
Ella wasn’t expecting it to work that way, though. She would either have to somehow make herself look like a completely different person or never be seen in public again. How she could do either one was a mystery, although there were enough plastic surgeons in Los Angeles if it was possible anywhere in the world, that’s where it would be.
Rome didn’t want her to do that, though, and she wasn’t excited about changing her face either. She hadn’t exactly been happy about her looks her whole life, but ever since she’d met Rome, she’d felt better.
She was just about done preparing dinner when Rome walked in. “I didn’t realize you were cooking. Can I help with anything?” he asked, kissing the top of her head.
“Nope. Just about done.” She smiled, turning her face toward him, and his lips found hers.
Rome stepped over to the small sink and washed his hands. “I spoke to Gus today,” he said, wiping his hands on a towel.
Ella hadn’t seen either of their friends in the last few days, not since Mary said they’d decided to start looking for jobs on the island. They liked it so well, they wanted to stay indefinitely. Ella couldn’t help but be happy for them. She’d offered to continue to pay for Mary’s housing and keep paying her the salary she’d been giving her since she’d started working for her, right before Ella “died,” but Mary had insisted they needed to make their own way. “What did he have to say?” she asked, taking the plate with the tortillas over to their small table. She came back for the other ingredients.
“He said they had decided to purchase an existing rental business that caters to tourists on one of the larger islands nearby. They’ll be renting paddleboards, surfboards, things like that.”
“Wow, that sounds like fun,” Ella said with a genuine smile as she went about fixing her plate. Rome had already dug into the food, talking between bites. “Do they have enough money for that?”
“Yeah, Gus said he had a nice savings account before he left his job at the hotel. They seem pretty excited about it. They just need to find a place to live on the other island first.”
Ella was envious that they’d get to stay here, or close to here, but then, she knew how important it was to Rome to get back into acting, and she didn’t want him to stop his career for her, not if he didn't have to. “I hope they find a nice place. They seem to like the one they have now.”
“Speaking of places, Bart found a house for us to look at,” Rome said. “He said he’d send over the listing later.”
That made butterflies come to life in Ella’s stomach. Everything was getting very real. “Where’s it at?”
“Right on the beach,” Rome said with a smile. “A lot like this. Bigger, though. Still, you should have plenty of privacy.”
“Cool,” Ella said, smiling, even though it was mostly forced. “I can’t wait to see it.”
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