Fate

The call came a couple of days later. It was no surprise that Ella was alone when her phone rang, the unknown number alarming her. Since Rome’s movie production had kicked into high gear, she was alone most of the time, unless she was with Lenore. She’d been spending a lot of time on the beach, just sticking her toes in the waves or sitting on the sand. That was where she was when her phone chimed in her pocket, letting her know that someone wanted to speak to her.
“Hello?” Ella said, caution filling her voice. Even though the chances that it was someone who knew her true identity were next to nothing, every time her phone rang, she jumped a little on the inside, even when Rome’s name popped up on the screen.
“Hello. Is this… Miranda?”
She’d never heard the woman’s voice before, but she was certain it was Fae Ward. It had to be. She sounded older, but not frail. There was a hint of a question within the question, as if she didn’t think it was actually her granddaughter who had called in the first place.
Ella wasn’t sure what to say. Lying about who she was had become second nature, but that didn’t mean she was comfortable with it. “Is this… Fae?” Miranda wouldn’t call her Mrs. Ward, would she?
“It is. Now, are you my granddaughter--or not?”
The suspicion had risen in the few seconds between the two questions. Ella readjusted on the sand, leaning back on the large rocks she’d been using for support. Rather than attempting to calmly explain why she’d lied, she blurted, “I live in your old house. I found your paintings.”
Fae was so quiet, Ella could hardly hear her breathing and wondered if she had hung up--or was she just contemplating it? After what seemed like several minutes, she asked, “So you’re an imposter?”
“I’m so sorry, Mrs. Ward. I truly am. I knew if I told them the truth, they likely wouldn’t give you my message. I tried to contact your family, but… didn’t get anywhere.” She couldn’t say that they didn’t want to have anything to do with the woman, could she? “And I have so many of your beautiful paintings, I didn’t want them to just continue to sit in the attic, unclaimed.”
“You live in Abalone Cove?” she asked. The tone of her voice changed again. The anger and suspicion was gone, replaced with a sadness, a longing, Ella imagined had to do with times gone by.
“I do. It’s a beautiful home. We just moved in a few weeks ago. I went upstairs into the attic because….” Ella stopped talking. Because she used to live in an attic? “Because I wanted to see the view from there.” She shook her head. Lying had become like breathing to her. “I saw your paintings and did as much research as I could, but it was difficult to track you down. Then, I found a box with letters in it and saw mention of the retirement home and took a chance. I would love to reunite you with your beautiful works of art.” Even that wasn't true. She honestly wanted to keep every single one of them, to display them in her home where she could see them every day.
“My goodness. I hadn’t thought about those paintings in… years,” Fae said, the emotion in her voice evident again. “Are they all there? All thirty-six?”
It didn’t come as a shock to Ella that she knew exactly how many she’d left behind. “Yes. I don’t think anyone has touched them since you left. Well, except for me.”
“Imagine that. All those years that other family lived in the home and never once went up into the attic?”
“I know. It seems surprising to me, too. But if they did, they didn’t bother your work. One of the pieces was still on the easel--unfinished.”
“Tell me, dear, what is your real name?”
The kindness infused in Mrs. Ward’s voice completely erased the anger and resentment that had been evident when they’d first begun the conversation, and Ella was compelled to tell her the truth, even though she knew it could potentially be problematic. “My name is Ella,” she said, hoping it didn’t come back to haunt her.
“Ella. That’s a beautiful name. And… are you an artist?”
“I am. But… I mostly do sketches. I used to paint some. When I lived in France. But that was years ago. Now, I’m lucky if I even take time to draw an hour or two each week.” It was as if she were at confession; the words coming out of her mouth couldn’t be slowed.
“Why is that?” Fae asked. “Are you busy with a family? A career?”
Ella chuckled. “No, not really. I used to be a graphic artist, but I’m not working in that field anymore. I am married, but my husband works a lot. I’m really not sure why I don’t make more time to draw.” Perhaps it was because she just didn’t feel motivated at the moment. It was sort of hard to find her muse when she wasn’t even sure who she was anymore.
“You just never know when inspiration may strike,” Fae replied, her tone conveying that she knew what she spoke of firsthand. “Well, Ella, dear, what shall we do now? I certainly can’t move all of those paintings into my small room at the retirement home.”
“I don’t know.” Ella hadn’t considered what the next step would be. She’d just assumed Fae would want her art back. “What would you have me do with it?”
“Technically, I suppose it’s yours now. Anything left in the house and all of that.”
“I guess, but I don’t truly think of it that way. It’s your art. Are you sure you don’t want any of it? Not even the smaller pieces?”
Again, Fae was thoughtful for a moment before she answered. “Oh, how I’d love to see it again. I haven’t kept a single piece from when I lived there, you know? Those several years that I was creating and selling my art, it was in such high demand, I didn’t keep anything. Then… when everything fell apart, I couldn’t bear to look at it anymore…. I left it behind. I’ve painted since, but it’s not the same. I don’t suppose you ever leave something you’ve created behind, no matter how much you begin to resent it. But… I didn’t bring it with me when I left that place, obviously.”
“I have pictures on my phone. I can send them to you. Or better still… if you’re up for a visit, I could bring the pictures over and show you.”
“You would do that?” The hope in Fae’s voice brought a smile to Ella’s face. “I mean, you’d drive all the way out here to see a woman you don’t even know?”
“Of course. It would be an honor,” Ella said. “I’d love to meet you in person, if you’d be up for it.”
“Goodness. I can’t even remember the last time I had a visitor. It was probably back before Tilly died. She was a good friend. Used to come and see me, but then she passed.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Oh, it’s all right. Happens to the best of us. Yes, dear, I would absolutely love to have a visitor, if you’re sure it’s not too much trouble.”
“It’s not any trouble. Like I said, I have nothing else going on.” A thought occurred to her, and Ella took a deep breath, realizing she could go see Fae, but Ella Verona couldn’t. “There’s just one thing, Mrs. Ward. My legal name isn’t Ella anymore. I mean, when I come to see you, I’ll have to tell them my name is Cindy Grimm. It’s all quite complicated, and I’d be happy to explain it in person, once I arrive. But no one knows my real name is Ella.”
“That sounds… mysterious.” That cautious tone was back in Fae’s voice. “Are you running from the government?”
“No.” Ella scoffed. If only it was that simple.
“The mafia?”
“No.”
“A drug cartel?”
“No--my father. I’m hiding from my father.” That would have to do. She couldn’t tell this woman she didn’t know over the phone that she had faked her own death.
“I see.” That seemed to satisfy her curiosity, at least for now. “Well, then, Cindy Grimm, when can I expect you?”
“How about tomorrow?” Ella asked, the thought of actually having something to do thrilling her in a way that also made her slightly sad.
“Hmmm… let me check my calendar.” Fae broke into a fit of laughter, as if her joke was the funniest one ever told. “Yes, tomorrow would be perfect. I like to get up early so I eat lunch around 11:00. Perhaps you’d like to join me? Tomorrow is tuna casserole day.”
“Tuna casserole sounds… interesting. Or, I could bring you something for lunch. If that’s allowed.”
“I wouldn’t want you to go to any trouble, dear.”
“It’s no trouble. Is there any place you used to like to eat that you haven’t been able to in a while?”
Without missing a beat, Fae said, “Blue Wisteria Cafe. Is it still there? Just a few miles down the beach road from your place? Oh, they had the most wonderful BLT!”
Ella remembered having passed that particular establishment when they’d moved in. ”Yes, it’s still there.”
“A BLT would be divine!”
“All right then. I’ll see you tomorrow at 11:00--with your sandwich, Mrs. Ward.”
“Please, call me Fae, dear. I’ll see you then.”
Ella hung up, chuckling. Fae was delightful, and the idea that she actually had someone to see the next day was amazing. Perhaps stumbling upon those paintings in the attic would serve to send her on her next adventure. The last one hadn’t ended up anything like what she’d anticipated, but something told her Fae would be a positive influence in her life, a life so upside down and jumbled up, she hardly recognized it at the moment. But that needed to change--just as soon as she figured out who she wanted to be next.