Ever growing 2

Chapter 56 Ryan's POV

A few days later

Being back in London is great even if I'm here for a job barely giving me time to see my family and friends. Ella and my mum decided to go shopping while I work. Of course, Max is following them while Cooper is with me. I love seeing them get along so well, the two most important women of my life. I'm meeting them back at my parents' house after my photoshoot for the brand I had met with in Spain. All the pieces they've created with my input look amazing. They've even given me a few items for Ella which is very kind of them.

Fans got information on where I was somehow, I'll never understand how they figure everything out so quickly. With Cooper on my side, I take time to sign a few autographs and take pictures with them before going to my parents'.

Dinner goes well, as usual, my dad goes on and on about football, we're both very passionate about it. I notice Ella smiling at me as I raise my voice arguing about a player. "What?" I ask her. "You're adorable when you talk about football," she giggles.

Mum made a chocolate cake for me and vanilla cake for Ella. "Oh, you made vanilla just for me? You're so sweet! Thank you!" Ella beams. "Dear, you're like a daughter to me now," Mum gets choked up. My beautiful wife hugs my mum tenderly before mum motions for me to join them. I wrap my mother with one arm and Ella with the other. "She knows now," I whisper into my mum's ear. We told them about the kidnapping, but we didn't go into details, it's still tough for us to talk about it. We've had 2 therapy sessions back to back but so far we've mostly talked about Jake while he was working with Ella and right after he got fired. Standing up, my mother goes to her room and comes back with a box. I pull Ella onto my lap after sitting down in my chair. The box is placed in front of us, Ella looks at me. I know what's inside, we never really show anyone but Ella is now part of the family. "Open it," I kiss her cheek. She finds pictures of my mum, my real dad, Mindy, and I inside. Seeing my biological dad even in pictures makes me see red. I hate him for what he did. My arms tighten around Ella, my chin rests on her shoulder looking at Mindy's photos. "She looked like you," she whispers. Everyone is quiet as she goes through the box. Mum and dad are drinking tea, holding hands.

"Thank you for showing me," Ella turns to my mum once she's done. "You're welcome, dear. Now could you convince my son to go see his dad?" "MUM!" I say, harshly. She has been asking me to see my father in prison for years, she says I need the closure. My life has been fine without any contact from him I don't see why I would need to see him. Especially now that I'm happily married, have a great career, and exposed my secrets to Ella. I'm surprised when Ella starts talking about her father. She tells my parents what it was like growing up with the type of man he was, how she had trust issues as well as her feeling unlovable before I met her. I'm proud of her for opening up to my parents, proud of how strong she's become. She finally tells them that she knows how hard it is to confront the past and she can't force me into it, she'll be there for me no matter what I choose to do in the end. And I love her so much for it. She adds something that makes me want to change my mind.

"I can't lie and say I haven't been wondering what it would have been like to confront my dad before he died. Some days I wish I could talk to him, tell him how he messed with my brain, yell at him. But he's dead so I can only play around with different scenarios in my mind." She turns around to kiss me.

"Fuck! Fine! Can I see him tomorrow morning? I don't have that much time before we leave for Vancouver. But if I don't do it now, I know I'll change my mind again," I say.

My mum's eyes are glossy as she comes over to hug me, Ella moves to let her have a moment with me. Ella will come with me in the morning. I can't believe I just agreed to it! I never really thought of how I'd feel if he was to die and hearing about Ella's regrets made me realize I can at least give it a shot. If I'm going to meet him, I need to have Ella with me. She smiles at me when I pull her against me again.

We end the evening with my friend Alex meeting him at the same club we went to for my birthday last year. A few other of my friends showed up as a surprise. My poor Ella's cheeks turn crimson red when Alex asks her if she wants to play pool with us. Same location, same table. I burst into laughter when she says "Feels like deja vu" as I stand behind her helping her make a shot, making sure I don't press my hardon on her. I wish she were wearing a dress, but she's in jeans with a black ruched type of top, v-cut. At least, I can look at her breasts. It's been hard not touching her after the kidnapping but I just want her to heal physically and mentally first.