Starting Over

Chapter 19

Two weeks later, Ellen was cooking dinner, roast chicken, expecting Jan at any time, things couldn’t be better, she couldn’t believe that Jan didn’t feel the same way. They’d been together the best part of three months. He knew her better than anyone else in the world, emotionally, physically, sexually. He was her perfect match. Living together was bliss, their varied hours were difficult, but not impossible, and at some point EVERY night, they curled up together in the same bed.

She was hoping to discuss their future tonight, not something she was relishing, but something essential. Ellen was loving this lifestyle, she even enjoyed working in the shop, but there wasn’t long left in the holiday season, she wanted to know what his intentions were, she knew that come October she’d be settling down somewhere, sliding back into the real world. She just didn’t know if he’d follow.

She was dancing around the kitchen to Vanilla Ice, a guilty pleasure from local radio when the doorbell rang. Rushing to answer it she was about to question where Jan’s keys were when she stopped, this wasn’t Jan. And if her memory served her right, she recognised this man from the photos Jan had shared with her.

“You must be Louis?” she offered a hand, then dropped it awkwardly when he reached in to plant a kiss on each cheek.

“And you must be Ellen Reynolds! Did my threats get your money back?” she thought back to how Richard had quaked at the thought of him returning.

Ellen grinned, “you did good! Both me and Richard got what we deserved!”

He chuckled, “that’s good. Sorry to turn up here out of the blue, my brother hasn’t been answering his phone, and if Mahomet won’t go to the mountain, then the mountain will come to Mahomet!”

“Ah! He’s a little stubborn, your brother!”

Louis laughed loudly, “talk about an understatement! So you’re the one who’s been keeping him cooped up out here?” He followed her into the apartment.

Stopping she held up her hand, “Louis, he was well and truly here on his own, I’ve not changed that!”

Louis laughed, “sorry it was a figure of speech. It’s just a while since he’s....cared about anyone like this!”

It was Ellen’s turn to laugh, “I can assure you that he isn’t as ‘in’ to this as you may think.”

“Ah, Jan is still fighting against life. That’s typical him.”

Ellen stepped into the kitchen, “beer?” When he nodded she cracked open two bottles and handed him one. “He’s always been an awkward bastard then has he?”

Louie laughed, “oh yes!”

As he animatedly regaled stories from their childhood she studied him, he was dark, like Jan, but whereas Jan was angular in features, with dark small eyes, Louis was more rounded, his brown eyes warm, welcoming, Jan was taller, and much fitter, the weeks of dancing, playing games and probably ‘adventurous activities’ with her had had an effect, not that Louis was fat, he just wasn’t anywhere near as muscular as Jan.

“So he’s living here now? Not the hotel?” Louis was still struggling to catch up with what was happening. “I thought I’d have to traipse out to that hotel to find him.

“He moved in a few weeks ago, which is a little ironic considering this place belongs to YOUR family, but there you go!” She was checking on the food as she answered and didn’t see Louis’ puzzled look.

“Hey honey! I’m home!” A voice boomed from the closed front door, as it burst open both her and Louis stood at opposite ends of the lounge and smiled at him. “What’s going on? Louis? What the hell are you doing here?”