Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Four

'Thank you so much,' Ecie said hanging up and putting the cordless phone down. She crossed something off her list then scribbled down some notes. 'That's done.'

'Hey,' Esme smiled walking into the room. 'What have you been doing?'

'I've been making some phone calls,' Ecie replied looking up at her twin sister. 'What about you?'

'I just got up,' Esme yawned. 'When did you wake up?'

'Five thirty,' Ecie replied. 'I've been making calls all morning.'

'It's ten,' Esme said. 'You are crazy.'

'Well there's no time like the present,' Ecie smiled. 'I called Carole to get Boston's number then I called Boston and we talked for about three hours. He's so easy to talk to, you know.'

'Yep,' Esme yawned climbing into Ecie's bed and pulling the covers over her head. 'What did he say?'

'He was encouraging me to stick to my plan,' Ecie replied. 'I told him everything I was planning on doing and he said he'd be there along the way for moral support. He's so amazing.'

'So then what have you been doing for the past two hours?'

'I called Holly and told her everything, she said it was perfectly fine. She's not ready to lose me yet,' Ecie smiled. 'Then I called the gymnasium and they told me when I start work. It's all very exciting.'

'What about the tutoring?'

'Well I looked for some of our nearest schools and I rang them up telling them about my tutoring services and I gave them all my details so they could talk to Malibu Crest,' Ecie replied. 'Then I had to call the library to sort out other arrangements, so now I'm waiting for the schools to call me back.'

'Look at you,' Esme smiled poking her head through the covers. 'You've really sorted this whole thing out.'

'Yeah,' Ecie nodded. 'Boston said I've got to really want to do this for it to work. He also said that I shouldn't give up and that I should keep on trying until I get the results that I want and that I'm happy with.'

'Good on Boston,' Esme said. 'Looks like he's doing a great job already.'

'I know,' Ecie said. 'In order to keep my morale up, I've insisted on regular sessions. I can already feel like something is going to knock me back...'

'Hold on a second,' Esme said looking at Ecie. 'Since when have you been one to give up on anything? Where is all this coming from?'

'I don't know,' Ecie replied. 'For the first time in forever I'm feeling a little insecure about myself. I've been questioning myself lately.'

'That can't be good,' Esme said. 'Thank god for Boston.'

'Yeah,' Ecie nodded getting out of bed. 'Anyway, we've got to get dressed now. A new day has started.'

'What are we doing today?'

'Mom's coming home today and I want to tell her about my decision,' Ecie replied. 'She needs to know what the next move is.'

'Okay,' Esme said. 'That sounds good.'

'Get out of bed, Dorothy,' Ecie said. 'We're going to go to dad's house today.'

'But Verd is coming up,' Esme said yawning and rubbing her eyes. 'He didn't say what time he was coming.'

'Well then text him and tell him to meet us at dad's,' Ecie replied. 'We've got to get moving.'

'Is dad even home now?'

'He should be,' Ecie replied. 'I checked his diary and he gets back at the same time as mom.'

Ecie came down in a pair of black James Perse leggings, a white T by Alexander Wang tank top and a pair of black Alaïa braided suede ankle boots.

'I made breakfast,' Eric smiled pushing a plate of waffles and pancakes in front of Ecie. 'What are you doing today?'

'Es and I are going to see dad,' Ecie replied. 'He gets back today and we wanted to say hello and catch up.'

'I'm making dinner tonight for your mom,' Eric replied. 'So you'll be sure to be back by then.'

Yeah,' Ecie nodded. 'I think Es is working so she'll probably get her food to go.'

'I shall start looking for some take out containers,' Eric laughed.

'Do you think that you and mom will have more kids?' Ecie asked eating.

'I don't know,' Eric replied. 'We've already got so many, but we'll see what happens. I wouldn't want Sofie to think I was purposefully trying to get her to settle down.'

Ecie laughed. 'I think you guys should try for more after this one,' she said. 'It'd be nice to have this place full of kids.'

'It already is,' Eric laughed. 'Something tells me that those guest houses won't get used.'

'As soon as more kids start coming, we'll be out of your hair,' Ecie smiled. 'These pancakes are really good.'

'Thank you,' Eric said as Esme walked into the kitchen in a navy Splendid cotton jersey tank dress and a pair of merlot Paloma Barceló leather and raffia Amaya wedge sandals. 'Good morning.'

'Good morning,' Esme smiled. 'This smells good.'

'It tastes even better,' Ecie said. 'Try it.'

'Ecie tells me that you're going to see your dad today,' Eric said. 'And that you're leaving us tonight.'

'Yeah,' Esme nodded. 'I'm working tonight.'

'I never asked,' Eric said. 'Where do you work?'

'Quin and Zabad,' Esme replied. 'It's a bar really close to our apartment.'

'A bar?' Eric said intrigued. 'Have you learnt to pour drinks by swinging the bottles around?'

'No,' Esme laughed. 'I'm too young to work behind the bar, so I'm a waitress. It's also a restaurant.'

'That sounds cool,' Eric nodded. 'I'll have to look it up some time.'

'Yeah,' Esme said. 'It's really nice there, although the food does not compare to yours.'

'Not even close,' Ecie chimed in. 'You'd be crazy to even think about it.'

'Thanks girls,' Eric laughed. 'When abouts were you thinking of leaving?'

'After breakfast,' Ecie replied. 'We'll only be gone for a few hours.'

'That's no problem at all,' Eric smiled.

'E?' Esme asked as Ecie drove to Malibu.

'Yeah?' Ecie replied looking across at Esme. 'What?'

'I think what you're doing is really good and positive,' Esme replied. 'Even if mom and dad don't agree with it, you know I'll always be behind you.'

'Thanks Es,' Ecie smiled. 'That means a lot, and I know you'll always be there. You've never let me down.'

'You're right about mom and dad and Cassie,' Esme said. 'They didn't stick it out, so they can't be too mad because you've decided to leave as well. And come to think of it, at least you'll actually be doing something, unlike Ross who travels around the world for a living, being a socialite and collecting pieces for his auction.'

'Yeah,' Ecie laughed. 'I'm going to tell dad first and then I'll break it to mom. Hopefully they won't be too disappointed.'

'I think they'll understand,' Esme replied. 'But mostly it'll just be out of pity.'

'Oh my god,' Ecie laughed. 'I always get the pity vote.'