Lifeline

The tinkling of pebbles hitting his window roused Rome from an uncomfortable, fitful sleep. He glanced at the clock and saw that it was past 3:00 in the morning. He thought he’d fallen asleep a little after midnight, but he’d been awake off and on for so long, he wasn’t sure what time it had been the last time he dozed off.
Clanking noises continued to get his attention. Rome sat up, brushed back his hair, and took a deep breath. He assumed it had to be Bart throwing the rocks. He lived next door after all. He would wait until the chances were that everyone was asleep before he tried to get his attention.
Rome cautiously opened his window and looked out. His friend was there, standing in the shadows of some bushes across the way. It wouldn’t surprise Rome if his dad didn’t have men patrolling outside of his house at all times of the day and night, so he knew Bart wouldn’t stay long. He waved, and Bart came over, looking both ways as he crossed the yard.
He had a package in his hand. Bart waved it a few times, and Rome nodded, understanding that he was saying he was about to toss it up. It was dark enough that Rome wasn’t sure what it was, but it looked to be well wrapped.
When Bart tossed it, he did so like it was a precious glass vase or a basketball thrown granny style. He lofted it high enough that Rome could stick a hand out and catch it coming back down.
As soon as it was in his hands, Bart was off across the yard again. He disappeared in the shrubs and only reappeared briefly on top of the fence before he was gone again.
Rome closed his window and pulled down the blinds, in case his father’s men were nosy enough to try to look in his second story window. He was pretty sure he could hear heavy breathing outside of the door, which told him either the man who was supposed to make sure he didn’t leave his room had fallen asleep or had a nasal condition.
Taking the package into the closet in his bathroom, as far away from the door as possible, Rome unwrapped it. Layer after layer of paper and bubble wrap came off before he was certain what he was looking at.
It was his phone.
“Thank God,” he said, wondering how long he could keep it a secret that he had it. Rome turned it on and saw that it was fully charged and wished he could kiss Bart, but a simple text of, “Thank you, man. I appreciate it so much.” would have to suffice.
He sent a text to Ella next. “Are you awake? Can I call you?” He hoped she still had her phone, that her father or stepmother hadn’t taken it, but for all he knew, she hated him for what had happened with Tim and wouldn’t want to talk to him anyway.
Before he could even consider what to do next, his phone was ringing. It was her.
“Ella?”
“Rome!”
Relieved that it was her and not her dad or someone else, he let out a deep breath. “Thank God. How are you, baby? Are you okay?” He was doing his best to keep his voice down, afraid someone would burst through the door and take his only lifeline.
“Oh, Rome!” She started crying, and then so did he, his heart breaking for all that she was going through, all he’d put her through. After several minutes of listening to her gasp and choke on air while he did the same, Ella finally managed to say, “I’m so sorry!”
“You’re sorry?” he managed. “Baby, you didn’t do anything. I’m sorry. I promise you, I didn’t kill him. I tried to help, I truly did. I just couldn’t get to him….”
“No, it’s okay. I believe you. I know Tim couldn’t swim well. He always hated the water. I don’t blame you for what happened. But if it hadn’t been for me, Mark would’ve never gotten involved. He’d still be alive. Maybe Tim would be, too.”
“Baby, that’s not true. Mark was there because of me. If my father didn’t hate Tim’s uncle, this wouldn’t have happened. But it had nothing to do with you. I promise.”
“If I hadn’t fallen in love with you, none of this would’ve happened. You wouldn’t have given the part to Tim. He wouldn’t have been there.”
“Sweetheart, I gave the part to him because I fell in love with you. The fact that you love me back is a blessing, but not a cause. Please, don’t blame yourself. Besides, what’s done is done. Now, we just have to figure out a way to be together again--assuming you’ll still have me.”
“Of course, I’ll still have you! I love you so much, Rome! My heart is aching. I want to see you so badly. But my father says he’ll have the marriage annulled, that I have to return to France with him and marry Henry.”
Rome swore under his breath. “My father also found out about the marriage and has vowed to have it dissolved. Ella, they can make it so we’re not legally married anymore, but I will always love you. You are my wife. I won’t sign anything, but he’ll make it happen, like he always does, dirty bastard.”
“I feel the same, Rome. You must know that. I can’t marry Henry. I won’t. But… I’m not sure how far my father will go to ensure I’m legally his wife.”
“Ella, we are both legal adults. They can’t make us do anything without breaking the law. We’ll be able to prove that someday, to have our say, but for now, just be careful. My father insists I go to Italy for a while to get out of the limelight. I don’t think the police can charge me with anything because I did nothing wrong, but they may try. My dad wants me to go to our family home, in Verona, and stay there for a while. Once I’m there, I’ll find a way to escape, and then I’ll find you in France.”
“They’ll take your phone,” Ella reminded him.
“I won’t need my phone to find you. I’ll find you by the stars, if I have to. I’ll follow my heart to wherever you are.”
“I will never give up trying to get away to find you as well, my love. When are they saying they’ll take you away?”
“As soon as Mark’s service is over.”
“And I am to go after Tim’s.”
Rome was silent for a moment, trying to figure out what to say. He couldn’t imagine not being able to see her. To think, that morning, he’d woken up in her arms. Now, they were being dragged apart, each to a different country. It may as well be worlds apart. “I love you so much, Ella. I wish I never would’ve gone on that boat.”
“Fate would’ve found a way to come between us, Rome. We will find a way to each other’s arms again.”
“We will. I will never love anyone else, Ella. You are the only one I want to be with.”
“I love you--with all of my heart.”
“I should hang up before they hear me. I don’t want to. I don’t ever want to let you go. I’ll do my best to hide my phone, but they’ll likely find it.”
“They don’t know I have mine. I’ve asked Mary to help me. I’ve offered to pay her. My father let her go, so she doesn’t work for him anymore. I think I can trust her.”
“You don’t know for certain?”
“Well… at first she said she thought I should forget about you and marry Henry. But I think she was trying to help me accept what seemed to her to be the inevitable.”
“If she thinks it’s inevitable, she must not know you that well.” Ella giggled, and the sound of it made his heart happy.
“I do trust her. And I trust Bart.”
“Yes, he’s the one who got me my phone. You can trust him as well. But… I don’t know that anyone else is trustworthy at this point. I hate to think my own mother wouldn’t help me, but she doesn’t seem to be on my side.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that. I wish my mother were alive. She’d be on our side for sure.”
“But then, if she were, I might not have ever met you.”
“True. It seems all things happen for a reason. Even this.”
Rome sighed. He’d said he needed to go five minutes ago, and yet they were still speaking. “Try to rest so you can have your head on your shoulders. I don’t think I have any chance of escaping while I’m here, but once we’re in Europe, perhaps they’ll relax a bit, and then we can get away.”
“You’re probably right. I don’t know what to do. I just know my lips ache to kiss you.”
“My arms long to hold you tight.”
“I love you, my sweet Rome.”
“And I love you, too, my darling wife. I always will.”
“Until no air is left in my lungs, I’ll be yours,” Ella said, and Rome believed her.