Abalone Cove
It was late afternoon when Rome pulled up to the fence at the end of a long winding drive that led up the hillside toward the new house. They’d stopped overnight, as Ella had assumed they would, and driven into LA slowly, in a roundabout manner, never quite entering the city. Instead, Rome had taken back roads and side routes to Abalone Cove, and now, here they were, going through the gate and sneaking up the driveway, as if they might have to turn around and drive back out again. The gate closed with a sharp snapping noise behind them. At least they could be certain no one would be following them in unless they knew the code.
“Do you know where the key is?” Ella asked as the roof of the house started to come into view. She was sure the house was beautiful; she’d seen pictures before Rome had gone through with the purchase. Still, she knew it would look different in real life. She was glad the sun was still up, only just starting to slip toward the horizon, so that she could see it with some light.
“There isn’t a key, only a code,” Rome explained. “It’s 0613, your birthday.”
Ella arched an eyebrow. “Don’t you think your father might guess that?”
“No, I don’t think so. We can always change it if it makes you nervous.”
They rounded the top of the drive, and the house came into full view in front of them. It really was gorgeous. Mostly white, full of open windows, in a modern design, it was about 2500 square feet of elegance in an understated way that seemed to blend in with the beach setting. Palm trees were the primary focus of the landscaping, but there were also plenty of floral plants everywhere. The yard was a beachscape, with large stones and plenty of sand. It rolled down the hillside, disappearing into the beach which was only a short stroll down the mountainside if one took a more direct route than the winding drive.
“Well, what do you think?” Rome asked, leaning over and taking her hand. “Do you like it?”
Streaks of pink and red lit the sky now, changing the color of the house from white to a soft rose tone. “It’s beautiful,” Ella confirmed. Her hand went to the handle of the SUV to push the door open, but Rome reached out and stopped her.
“Let me just walk around quickly and make sure there’s no one here.”
She tipped her head at him. Wouldn’t they see a car if someone were? Besides, he was just as liable to get shot or clubbed over the head as she was. There was enough glass in the house with so many windows, she didn’t think there was much of anywhere for someone with bad intentions to hide, but she nodded, thinking if it made him feel better, she’d let him go.
Rome got out and locked the doors before he closed them. He walked around the outside of the house, stopping to give her a little wave, before he went up the front steps and pushed a few buttons near the doorknob. It opened, and Rome stepped inside, leaving the door ajar.
She could see him walking around, flipping on lights, opening closets, looking under furniture. After all they’d been through, she couldn’t blame him for being careful, but it was also a bit surreal. After he was certain the house was safe, he came back out to get her. “Let me pull the car into the garage, just in case we were followed.”
Nodding in agreement, Ella removed her hand from the door a second time. If anyone had followed them, they’d have to know the gate code, or guess it, but she supposed that was a possibility, especially if it was also her birthday, a date that she was certain had been all over the newspapers when she’d died a few months ago.
The garage was empty, except for a few shelving units and some tools hung on one wall. She knew the house was mostly furnished, which was great because she didn’t want to go to all of the trouble to buy furniture online and couldn’t go to the stores. As her fingers reached to open the door a third time, Rome took her other hand in his. “If you don’t love it, we can find another place.”
She smiled at him, appreciating his kindness. She knew how much he’d paid for this house, though, and it had taken most of what he’d saved up over the years. “It’s beautiful.”
Rome leaned over and kissed her, his warm lips melting away all of her concerns, and when he released her, Ella remembered why she’d agreed to this. Rome wanted to be here, so she would be sure she loved it.
Pushing the door open, she stepped out, Rome coming around to take her hand. He punched in her birthday, and the door that led from the garage into what appeared to be the kitchen swung open.
Though she preferred a style closer to the house she’d grown up in located in France, which was more of a small cottage with historic touches, this house was beautiful. As she walked around looking at the clean lines, the modern furniture, all in white with highlights in earth and beach tones, she could see herself being happy here. A view of the ocean from the living room, as well as the master bedroom, a wide deck, and an infinity edge pool all assured her she’d have lovely surroundings as she worked on starting her new marketing company.
“Well?” Rome asked as Ella paused with her hands against the railing on one of the decks, watching the sun continue to slide down the sky.
“Well, I love it,” she assured him. “And I love you.”
“Do you?” he asked, reaching for both of her hands. “Are you sure? Because if you don’t--”
“Rome… I love it. I really do. I know we can be happy here.” A thousand thoughts invaded her mind--how did she hide in a house mostly made of glass? What would happen when his parents discovered where they were, as they surely would? How would she find a way to start a business when she was legally dead? But she pushed all of those thoughts aside and concentrated on his smile.
Rome pulled her close, his arms circling around her waist as his lips found hers. In the distance, Ella could hear the waves crashing against the rocky shore. Her heart was beating so noisily in her chest, the two began to mingle together until she thought she just might become a part of the ocean instead of just the girl in the beach house.
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