Ellie has just turned forty when her husband of fourteen years announces that he's met someone new.
This sends Ellie into a deep depression that only her friends can help her out of. They invite her on a girls' trip to the Caribbean. The goal of th...
We landed in London Heathrow 11 hours after we took off. Apart from me joining the mile high club, we had slept and watched movies. I insisted that we sleep in the same seat, even if it was a tight fit. I couldn't get close enough to him. Just feeling his skin against mine, smelling him and listening to his heartbeat calmed all my nerves. He seemed to enjoy me wanting him so close. I had a feeling it calmed him as well.
We were picked up by a driver in the airport, who took us to Henry's home in Hampstead, London. We stayed one night there and then we would drive up to Holmes Chapel, where his mother lived. His home in London was filled with memorabilia from his time in One Way. They had received so many awards, he could fill an entire room from floor to ceiling with shelves filled with them. It felt like he must have spent more time in his London home than his LA home. There was more of a personal touch. I was puzzled by the idea of having different homes all over the world. He had an apartment in New York as well and a house in Italy.
"I've spent an unhealthy amount of time in hotels. It was almost like my life from 16 until I was like 23 was spent hiding in hotelrooms and when I got to go home, there were people camping outside my home", Henry explained as we sat in his kitchen eating chips, as he insisted we call them when we were in England. "So when I started making the big money, I decided I'd buy myself homes away from home. That way it wasn't always hotel after hotel".
I smiled at him, and put my hand on his. I knew his life in the spotlight had given him so much, but sometimes it hit me, how much it had taken from him as well.
***
The next morning we set off towards Holmes Chapel in Cheshire. It was a 3 ½ hour drive through the beautiful English countryside. Henry told me about the different cities we passed. He had many fond memories, both from childhood vacations, and from touring.
I asked him to stop before we arrived at his mother's house so we could buy her a bouquet and I could freshen up a bit. My nerves were beginning to take over and Henry sensed it straight away, He took my hand and held it until we stopped in a small town to find flowers and have a little break. We found a florist, who made a beautiful bouquet for Anne. We went to a Tesco's to buy a bottle of water and I picked up a few things I wanted to bring. I spent a little while in a public toilet, checking my hair and fixing my makeup. I was wearing a casual outfit of jeans, a black t-shirt and a blazer. I stood and looked in the mirror when I heard my phone buzz.
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I added a bit of lipgloss and took one last look at myself before I ran out and joined Henry in the car.
***
As we drove up to Anne's house I felt nauseous, because I was so nervous. I took a deep breath and Henry took my hand, reassuring me that everything was going to be fine, I really didn't need to worry.
The door was opened and Anne and Gemma came out as we were parking the car. Henry was not home very often and they were obviously so excited to have him there. Gemma lived in London, so she came home more often, but it wasn't often that Anne had both of them home at the same time.
"Take a deep breath", Henry encouraged me and squeezed my hand. Then he exited the car, and ran around to my side to open my door. He offered his hand, which I took and held onto tightly as we went up to the house, where Anne was standing with her arms already open. I smiled and imagined that she was looking so much forward to hugging her son, who she must miss all the time. I let go of Henry's hand so he was available for a big hug for his mom. In stead she stepped towards me and embraced me with such warmth and tenderness. "Welcome Ellie!" She exclaimed as she hugged me tightly. "I am so happy you're here. Great to finally meet you".
"It's a pleasure to meet you", I said. "And thank you so much for having me". She smiled at me and turned to Henry.
"What a stunner you've brought home", she hugged him and kissed his cheeks.
"I know, I'm having a hard time keeping up with her. Hey mum", he hugged her tightly and held her for a while.
"Hi, I'm Gemma. Nice to meet you, Ellie", Gemma smiled at me and hugged me.
"Lovely to meet you too, Gemma", I said. She was taller than me, which surprised me somehow. From the pictures I had seen of her, I imagined her to be my height. I suddenly felt quite small in their presence with my 5'3".
Inside the house I was introduced to Gemma's boyfriend, Michael and Anne's boyfriend, Darren. Anne had been married to a man named Robin after she divorced Henry's dad, but unfortunately he had passed away. Her relationship with Darren was relatively new. He seemed like a really nice guy and Henry liked him a lot.
"Now to the biggest test of them all", Henry exclaimed as one of Anne's cats came and circeled around my legs. "Will Dusty let you pet her?" He chuckled and raised an eyebrow at me.
I sat down on the floor and let Dusty sniff me a bit. I put my hand out and she immediately let me stroke her. I triumphantly looked at Henry, much to Anne and Gemma's amusement. "Oh I actually bought something for the cats", I exclaimed and found a little container in my handbag. I had bought a little box of treats in the supermarket, seeing as I knew there were quite a few cats in the house. "Can they have these?" I asked Anne.
"Of course they can, love. Aren't you a doll for buying them treats?" She smiled at Henry, who winked at her.
She had three cats and they were all very interested in treats. Gemma sat with me and the cats, talking about everything and nothing. I found myself feeling very calm in her company, much like I did with her brother.
