Between The Vows

Chapter Twenty-One

This chapter is dedicated to @love_life0922. Thank you for being so supportive and being the best cousin ever. I love you, little one.

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There was on a knock on my front door. I put down the dish I was holding and wiped my wet hands on a clean towel. I looked in the circle mirror in the foyer, checking my reflection before opening the door. No one was there, only a van backing out of my driveway that read Poppy's Petals. I looked down at the arrangement of lilies on my doorstep, along with a box wrapped beautifully. I picked up the card that stuck out of the top and it read, Happy Birthday, Nora, I miss you so much. Ps. Don't break this one.

I couldn't help but smile, I knew exactly what was in the box. It was our little inside joke. I picked up the bouquet and box, and went back inside, putting the flowers into a vase and filling it with water. I stood there for a minute, looking at the box on the counter, smiling like a schoolgirl. I tore the wrapping paper off and opened the box and there it was, a French garden tea kettle, the same on that broke on the pavement the first day we met.

I knew that he wouldn't forget my birthday, especially after the extraordinary party he threw for me last week, but I couldn't help but feel excited that he remembered. I laid low the entire day, doing some cleaning and decided not to go into the office. Jamie could handle the day and I told her to call me in case she needed anything. She was never one to call, she was great at handling the clients' needs and questions. I knew I made the right decision.

Liam called in the afternoon. He wanted to hear my voice on my birthday and even though I was reluctant to answer the phone, I did anyways because I wanted to hear his voice too. He said that he missed me and as much as I wanted to tell him that I missed him too, I didn't. We only talked for a few minutes before I told him that I needed to go. He sounded devastated that I was hanging up and it took everything in me to end the call.

I went over my mother's house later that afternoon. We sat out on the back deck, looking out at the ocean. There was something she wanted to say, and I knew she was trying to find the words. I wrapped my hands around my mug and inhaled the coffee before taking a sip. The liquid warmed every inch of my body and for a moment, I felt relaxed.

"You were right." My mother snapped me out of my thoughts. "About Ellie." I looked over at her. She was staring out at ocean, collecting her thoughts again before she spoke.

"I was in denial." She shook her head. "Angry at myself for letting her get that bad. It wasn't until the hospital did I realize how severe it was. I still didn't want to believe it, but you opened my eyes. I'm sorry for always fighting with you about it." She sniffled. "You're better at the Mom thing than I am."

I grabbed her hand and rubbed my thumb over hers. "You did what you had to do, Mom."

Tears formed in her eyes. "I thought making something of myself would make me happy. But after all these years, I finally realized that family is the most important thing. You girls are my world and I let you down."

"I think Ellie was the only one who blamed you," I admitted. "This whole eating disorder is her way of getting your attention. You need to build a relationship with her, Mom. Before it's too late."

"I know that, Nora. That's why it was so important for me to come back here." Her voice broke and tears ran down her cheeks. I handed her a tissue and she dabbed her eyes.

"We are getting her the help that she needs, mom. Everything will be ok." I said.

"She is eighty pounds." My Mother admitted. "My beautiful daughter looked nearly dead laying in that hospital." She was rambling on, almost as if she was realizing the problem now, mad at herself for shoving it under the rug for so long. To her, the hospital visit was a spotlight on the situation, a clear view as to what was going on. She wiped more tears from her eyes, but they were uncontrollable. I scooted my chair over and held her as she sobbed, rubbing her back to soothe her. We sat out here for an hour, not saying another word, enjoying each other's company.

She excused herself and went into her bedroom to freshen up. I gave her space, knowing she had some things to work out on her own. Forgiving yourself was the most difficult thing in the world and sometimes, the mere silence of your own thoughts is the best place to start.

I made dinner and continuously called her name, but it didn't seem as though she was coming out anytime soon. After I finished my food, I turned the television on and I engrossed myself in crappy reality shows. The housewives were screaming at each other and to be honest, it was nice to see someone else having drama for a change. As mind-numbing television was, it helped you escape whatever problems you were having. The only thing you had to worry about was if there was another episode coming up next.

I wasn't sure if it was the loudness of the TV or if she was ready to talk, but my mother came out of her room and sat next to me on the couch. She put her feet up on the ottoman and reached her arm out to me, pulling me in close. We sat there for a few minutes and she leaned her head down and kissed the top of my head.

"Hey, Mom." I tried getting her attention.

"Hmm." She mumbled.

"Why did you choose a career over us?" That caught her attention. I gently shrugged out of her embrace and sat up, looking over at her.

"I always wanted a career." She started. "Your father wanted children. I loved him so much that I gave that up, to give him what he wanted. It's not that I didn't want you girls, I was just afraid I was going to mess it up, that I wasn't equipped to raise a family. But as I said earlier, I have come to the realization that I wanted that all along. I chased a false idol for twenty-six years, not realizing that my heart's desire remined in Bridgeport.

I snuggled up next to her and she pushed the hair out of my face. "I love you and your sisters very much, Nora. I hope you know that."

I smiled. "I do. I understand you had to do what was best for you."

"I shouldn't have put that responsibility on your shoulders." She turned to face me and rested her head on her hands.

"You knew I could handle it."

"You were young, baby." She said. "I was selfish and didn't give you the opportunity to be a kid or even a teenager for that matter."

I waved her off. "Life is about responsibility. It made me the person that I am today."

She ran a hand through my hair. "I love who you are, Nora. I just wish you would enjoy your life more. I can't change the past, but I can have an impact on the future. Let Ellie be my responsibility, go out and fight for Liam. Don't make the mistake I did, honey. That boy cares about you so much. And I know you care about him, too."

"I love him so much, mom. I didn't even get to tell him that." Tears escaped my eyes and my chest felt heavy. She hugged me tightly and smoothed the back of my head.

"It's never too late, Nora. Liam loves you and if you were to call him right now and tell him those things, he would drop everything and be with you in a second."

I sighed and wiped another tear from my eye. "I don't know, Mom, it still doesn't change the fact that he's in Raleigh and I'm here. Right now, I just want Ellie to get better, mom."

"I see I have some work to do with Ellie. I did a lot of research and I've learned enough about this to know that her eating disorder is only a side effect."

I looked up at her. "Thank you for coming home, mom."

She wrapped his arms around me and squeezed tight. "Me too, baby. I am so proud of you, Eleanor, I hope you know that. How about I take you out for ice cream, after all, it is your birthday." She winked.

"That sounds good, but anywhere but Babydoll's sweet treats." I really didn't feel like walking down memory lane.