My Safe Place to Land

Chapter 40

A few weeks have passed and it has mostly been filled with shooting episodes of Grey's Anatomy. Patrick and Ellen couldn't be happier together knowing their baby is on the way. 

Patrick's POV:

Today is the day. Today's the day where I can finally be free from Jillian, propose to Ellen, and start my life with her. I set my alarm earlier than I needed to because I decided to go on a run before my life changes. The alarm sounded and I quickly turned it off so I didn't wake Ellen. I turned back over and saw her peacefully sleeping. I kissed the top of her forehead, took the covers off, and got out of bed. I threw on some joggers and a white t-shirt and I left the house to go on my run.

While running, I thought about everything. The baby that was on the way, work, and my new life that was going to be starting with Ellen.

In the middle of my run, I saw Jillian driving up the road to the house. She pulled over and started to talk to me. "Hey!", she shouted at me.

"Hi', I said leaning against the car, trying to catch my breath. "What are you doing here?".

She let out a sigh and said, "I'm stopping by the house to pick up the last of my things.".

"Oh, gotcha.", I said stepping back from the car.

"Patrick?", she said in a very sincere tone.

I looked up at her, "Yeah?".

"The kids and I are moving back to Maine.", she said.

I felt my heart drop to my stomach. I understood why she would decide to move across the country but with my kids? 

"Oh...", I said looking down at the ground.

"I mean you'd think that I would get custody of them right? Since you decided to fall in love with another woman and ruin my happiness.", she said basically screaming at me. 

"No, I totally understand.", I lied while scratching my head.

"I'll see you later today.", she said while speeding off.

For the rest of my run, I couldn't stop thinking about my past, my family. I was beyond happy to be happy with Ellen, but I still couldn't put the fact behind me that she wants to move across the country with them. I would be more content if they would stay in California. But Maine?

I concluded my run and Jill's car was no longer in the driveway. I walked into the house with little shards of glass broken everywhere. I looked around and saw Ellen on the floor picking up the glass with a broom. "What the hell happened in here?".

"I-I honestly don't kn-know.", she said with her voice breaking. "I-I was sleeping then I heard the door open, and I assumed it was you, so I fell back asleep. Someone's footsteps came up the stairs and again, I thought it was you. I was waiting for you to come to lay next to me but that never happened. So I thought that it was Jill picking up the rest of her stuff. So I got up to get ready for the day and while I was brushing my teeth, I heard all the glass break, and then I heard a big bang. But then before I knew it, the door closed, and then it was just me in the house with all this glass.".

"That bitch.", I screamed, walking around, being careful with my footing.

"I'm sorry. If I would've checked to see who it was this mess wouldn't have happened.", Ellen said with total guilt.

"No. It's not your fault. While on my run, Jillian drove by and I talked to her.", I said grabbing another broom to help her.

"Oh.", Ellen said with sadness in her voice.

I took a deep breath, looked into her eyes, and said, "She told me that she wants to move the kids and her back to Maine.".

Ellen's green eyes stared into my soul, "Patrick, I'm so sorry.".

"No, this is good. I can use this against her. Wait don't pick up any more glass.", I said standing up to grab my phone, "I can use this evidence against her and show the Judge that she basically broke into the house.".

"Oh. That's good!", Ellen said.

I could tell from Ellen's voice something was wrong. "El?", I said and she looked at me, "what's wrong? And don't tell me nothings wrong because I can tell.".

"No, it's just that, we have a baby on the way. How do you think T is going to react to this when she's older.", she said while standing up.

"Right. But El, these are my kids. Do you think if I use this evidence against her it will force her to stay in California? Because I think I would just like her to stay in California so I can still see my kids as I please and so I don't have to fly across the country once a month.", I said while clicking the camera.

"Maybe? I don't know. I'm not a lawyer.", Ellen said chuckling.

We both grabbed the brooms and proceeded to clean up all the glass. 

It took about 20 minutes to finish picking up the glass. We both parted ways to get ready for the trial.

I walked downstairs and saw Ellen on the couch rubbing her belly. I sat down next to her and said, "You okay?".

"Yeah.", she said while brushing a piece of hair off of her face. "Just talking to the baby.".

At this point, Ellen was showing, but only a little. It was the cutest baby bump I ever saw.

I laid my head on her stomach and talked to the little one inside, "Hey! I can't wait to meet you. Keep growing strong!".

Ellen laughed and played with my hair. I looked up at her and asked her, "You ready?".

"Yup.", she said while standing up. I grabbed my briefcase and we were out the door.