Perfect Doesn't Last Forever

Chapter Sixteen

Perfect Doesn’t Last Forever- Chapter 16

            My best friend is my constant.  She’s been in my life for as long as I can remember.  Ella is the only person from my old life that has continued on with me through my new life.  Throughout the past fourteen years, she has been the one to take the long journey to Seattle to visit me, but this time it is my turn to surprise her. 

            Looking out the taxi window, I remember all the times Ella has come up north to visit me and my family.  The late nights when we were both trying to navigate our way through life post-graduation and the small hole-in-wall concerts we attended before she finally figured out what she wanted to do with the rest of her life as I tried to find a job was our lives.  Ella and I remain each other’s rocks through thick and thin and I do my best to make up for all the times I dragged Ella through my mess of a life.  We spent countless hours on the phone gushing about out love lives and later on when Ella made her trek up to Seattle we would go on double dates. 

            I am anxious to see her and tell her about the past few days hanging out with Hayley and bringing her to meet Preston and my sons.  I can’t wait to hear about Ella’s work and meet her co-workers.  It had been weeks since the last time we talked since I was busy with my students as the school year came to a close.

            “Miss, we’re here,” the taxi driver says as he pulls up in front of a beige concrete building. 

            I gather my things and pay the driver before stepping out of the well-air conditioned car into the dry summer air and hurrying through the intricately carved wooden door.  A small bell jingles behind me as the heavy door falls back into place, grabbing the receptionist’s attention. 

            “Hello welcome to Spinners!  I’m Elise, how may I help you?” the receptionist greets from behind her antique teal desk. 

            “Hi,” I smile, looking past her and to the green concrete walls behind her covered with hundreds of framed photos and autographed posters squished together.  “I’m looking for Ella Jacoby.”

            “Is she expecting you?” Elise asks, clicking through her computer. 

            “No, I’m here to surprise her,” I tell her, stepping closer to her desk.  “Is she busy right now?”

            “She should be finishing a meeting right about now—”Elise informs me just as a set of heels click down the hallway to the front. 

            “Are you kidding me?” Ella shrieks, speeding up to hug me.  “Brittany Walsh, in LA for the first time in what, fifteen years?”

            “In the flesh,” I confirm, squeezing her in my arms as tight as I can.  “I’ve missed you!”

            “I’ve missed you!” she says as we both release each other from our grips and turns to Elise.  “Elise, can you send these contracts out before the end of the day?” Ella drops a large stack of papers down on Elise’s desk before leading me down the long hallway, passing by three studios and up a flight of stairs to an open level.  “I cannot believe you are here!  Where are Preston and the boys?”

            “Well we came down for vacation, but Preston knows I need girl time so he took the boys out hiking.  They’re going to pick me up later and say hi to you.”  I settle in a plushy couch as Ella walks to a full-size fridge and retrieves two bottles of beer. 

            “This is so exciting!  Why are you guys on vacation here?” Ella asks me, handing me a bottle after popping the caps off.  “You’ve always said you never wanted to come back.”