THE MORTON QUADRUPLETS

CHAPTER 5 - ELLIE

I run up to my room. The embarrassment of my aunt opening the door in her state is too much for me to bear.

I crawl into my bed and cry into my pillow. This has got to be the worst day I've had in a very long time. Usually when I felt this way, I would call Greyson. I cannot call Greyson today. I feel very miserable.

I fall asleep crying.

The following morning, I wake up in a daze. It takes me a moment to make sense of where I am. I slept the entire afternoon and right through the night. I roll onto my back to stare at the ceiling. I still feel dead tired. My eyes feel swollen. My cheekbones are sore. The events of the previous day come to me piece by piece. Tears start rolling down my face again.

I get up from my bed and stand a moment next to it. I try to listen if Aunt May is entertaining. I cannot hear anything and decide to leave the room. I walk to the kitchen to get something to drink. It was always strange to me how Aunt May chose this as a way to make a living.

Her house was set in a good area. The house is always very neat and clean. The kitchen is always fully stocked and I never needed to beg for anything I needed for school. The only thing I don't like about it, was the smell of smoke drifting through the house. Finding Aunt May drunk and in her robe here yesterday was out of the ordinary. She is usually dressed smartly and made up beautifully. It was odd to see her looking the way she did yesterday.

I make myself a cup of coffee and a piece of toast. I don't really feel like eating but I know I get low blood sugar if I don't eat at all. The last thing I need now is to feel physically sick on top of this terrible heartache.

I am halfway through my coffee when I hear a knock on the door. I set my cup down on the counter. Usually, Aunt May's clients will not knock. She would be waiting for them at the front door.

I peek through the window next to the door. A delivery company van is parked in the driveway. In front of the door the delivery guy is standing with a box big enough to hold in two hands. I open the door slowly.

"Good morning" I greet the delivery guy.

"Good morning, I am looking for Miss Ellie Glower" He states as I open the door fully.

"That is me." I tell him as I hold out my hands to take the package. He places the slip on the box I am holding and offers me a pen. I sign for the package and return his pen to him. He smiles, greets me and leaves.

I carry the package to my room. I sit crossed legged on the bed with the package in front of me. It is a plain brown box with no writing. It only has the sticker from the delivery company on it. The sender address and the receiver address are the same. I shake my head. It must be an admin error on their part.

I open the box carefully. Inside is a black cocktail dress and matching shiny black heels. The dress and the shoes are beautiful. There is a box of very expensive chocolate in the box as well as an envelope with a letter.

I pick up the envelope and turn it over in my hand. The envelope is not marked in any way. I tear the envelope open slowly.

Ellie

I apologise for the pain and confusion I caused you yesterday.

I realise we have a lot to talk about and we will not be able to do so if we join the others on the breakaway.

Please allow me to take you away for the weekend. You do not need to pack anything. I will have someone pick you up at 15h00.

P.S. How does dinner at the Eiffel Tower sound?