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“Alright, everything is going to be okay, Eden.”
She sniffles and doesn’t say anything in response before she finally speaks again. “What’s your name, anyway? I didn’t know she had a boyfriend. Fuck, I’ve been so busy this semester. I’ve barely talked to her or Emily.”
“Well, Ellie can fill you in when she sees you.” I wasn’t sure if her sisters knew about me in the sense that I’m her boss and I don’t want to be the one to drop the bomb that I’m now also her boyfriend amidst all of this.
Though I don’t think I’ll be her boss for much longer.
We get dressed, pack up the car quickly, and shortly after we are on our way back to the house. I haven’t let go of her hand since we got in the car and though she isn’t saying much, I feel like I can read her already.
“There’s a two o’clock flight,” she says finally. “I’m going to be cutting it close.” She looks at her watch before turning to me. “Can you take me to the airport?”
“I can get River to take us.”
“Us?”
“Of course, I’m coming with you.”
“Rowan…”
“You’re upset and I want to be there for you. I’m also a bit worried about you traveling alone while you’re like this. I understand you may not be ready for me to meet your family; I don’t have to come to the hospital but I want to be close by.”
Tears well in her eyes and she brings my hand to rest over her heart. “You are so sweet, but I’m okay. We’ve been gone and we can’t both leave the kids again.”
“Baby, it’s an emergency. They will be okay.”
She sighs. “I need to go by myself.”
“Why?”
“Because!” She wipes under her eyes. “Em said he’s stabilized and he’s going into surgery. I’m sure everything will be okay.”
“I’m sure too,” I tell her, doing my best to remain optimistic and help keep her spirits up. “But it doesn’t change the fact that I don’t want you traveling alone while you’re feeling vulnerable.”
“I don’t want you to leave them. Unless you turn around and come back the same day, you’ll more than likely be in Ohio overnight.”
“Ellie, I’ve had to go away for work where I’ve been gone multiple days in a row. They will be fine. River comes and stays with them at the house.” I can’t tell if she’s putting her guard up and pushing me away or if this is just about the kids, but it’s looking more and more like I’m not going with her.
“That’s not the point.”
“What is the point?” I probe her gently, not wanting to argue but wanting to understand why she is so averse to having me come with her.
“Margot is still really sensitive about this and us and I just…don’t want to take you away from them. I know you want to be there. I do, and I can’t tell you what that means to me, but I don’t want to be worried about them while I’m in Ohio.” She shakes her head and tears flood her eyes. “This isn’t about us or taking a step back, I promise. I just want to go by myself.”
I relent because I don’t want her to feel like this is about that. She has more important things to worry about and I don’t want to be the cause of any additional stress.
I called River and briefly gave him the rundown while we were at the lake house as Ellie packed her things, so he pulled Ellie into a hug as soon as we walked through the front door.
“I’m going to go pack. I’ll be ready in like ten minutes?” she offers weakly as she makes her way to her room. Her eyes are still red and watery and all I want to do is hold her in my arms and take every ounce of her pain away.
River winces when she disappears and we walk into the kitchen. “Are you going with her?” he whispers and I shake my head. “Why?”
“She doesn’t want me to. Said I should stay here with the kids,” I say while pulling a bottle of water out of the refrigerator.
“Oh man, I could stay if that’s what she’s worried about.” He shakes his head. “I would just need to run home and get some stuff, but Margot’s here.”
“I told her that. I think Margot’s attitude has her rattled and she doesn’t want to give her another reason to be upset.”
“Dude…I talked to Margot last night. For a while,” he tells me as he leans over the counter. “I gave her a beer to mellow her out…” he chuckles. “Actually three.”