Cherished (Adam & Ella) (5 page)

The last person Ella expected to hear from was her mother. The only time she’d heard from Jeanne Dufort Walker in the past was if she contacted her, since Jeanne never made the effort. Why her mother was trying to reach her now was a mystery, as it certainly couldn’t be that she missed her. A couple of days before, Kaiyla had called to let her know that her mother had come to Beach Beauty and made quite a scene.

“She was hysterical,”
Kaiyla had said. “I didn’t even recognize her at first. I haven’t seen her in years.”

Ella had pictured her mother, a pretty French woman with butter-blond hair and soft hazel eyes, going crazy in the middle of the salon. It was difficult to envision, since Jeanne’s trademark was her indifference. And with her petite frame, and fragile look, the idea of her threatening anyone defied the imagination.

Ella had tried to understand what was going on. “What did she say?”

“One of the other hairdressers pointed me out and she strode up to my station, her shoes clicking on the floor in a rapid staccato. I heard her coming, but didn’t know who it was. She flew past through the place so fast that no one had time to let me know she was there.

“Suddenly, there was this woman standing inches from me, threatening me. She startled my customer, who didn’t know what was going on. I excused myself and your mother followed me to the break room, where she continued to ream me out.

“Really, Ella, here was this woman yelling. I thought she was a customer, but I didn’t know why she’d be upset with me. Then in the break room I got a good look at her. It took me a minute to recognize her; she’s older but still looks good. It came to me, Jeanne
Dufort.

“She was talking so fast I couldn’t get what she was saying. I said, ‘Mrs. Walker, Ella’s mom?’ and that kind of stopped her. Maybe she was puzzled that I wasn’t sure who she was, or that I said your name.

“Anyway, I got her to sit and I gave her some water. She seemed to calm down, so I asked how I could help her. Well, it seems that she had been trying to reach you, and thought you were a missing person.

“When she tried to call and your cell phone number was no longer good, she went by our apartment. Of course, we weren’t there and the new tenant knew nothing, so just gave her the manager’s name. She went to him to find out ‘where her daughter was,’ but the onsite manager said the rental agency would have all that information but he doubted they could give it out.

“She remembered that I was a beautician and worked at Beach Beauty. She remembered it because you brought her by one time, right after we moved to Newport. I remembered that, because she’d turned up her nose at it. Guess it wasn’t classy enough for her.

“Anyway, I wasn’t sure what to tell her. I did tell her that you weren’t missing. You know, she was just about to go the police. And that I was in touch, but didn’t have a number I could give her just yet.”

The whole incident had been disturbing. One thing Ella didn’t need right then was her mother hysterical about where she was—or, worse, going to the police. There was no choice but to talk with her. So she’d told Kaiyla to arrange to get together with Jeanne and put her on the disposable phone. As far as Ella knew that phone was still safe. A chill went through her at the idea that Claudio would connect Jeanne to her, and have his goons follow her. It was too much.

Dread settled in as Ella waited for the call at the prearranged time. Talking with her mother was usually depressing, and she expected it to be worse this time. Not sure what she was going to tell her, the closer it came to the time for the phone to ring, the more nervous Ella was. For once, she wished her mother didn’t care and would just ignore her.

The phone rang and Ella waited, wishing she could avoid the confrontation. “Hello.”

“Ella?” It was
Kaiyla.

“I’m here.”

“Okay, well your mother wants to speak with you. I’ll hand her the phone.”

“Ella?”

“Hello.”

“Where are you? I’ve been worried sick.”

Ella took a deep breath. This wasn’t going to be easy. Getting Jeanne to relax without really telling her much was going to be tricky. “I just had something to take care of. I’m fine.”

“You can’t just disconnect your phone and not say anything to me.”

Always about her, Ella thought. Not that she was worried how Ella was doing. No, just that it was an inconvenience. “I didn’t have a choice. What do you want, Mom?”

“I’m your mother.”

Ella thought of many things to say, none of them nice, so she did her best to hold her emotions in check. “Yes, I know that. And I’m sorry if I upset you.”

“Where are you?”

“Out of the country right now.”

For a moment there was silence. Ella could imagine that was a strange thing for a mother to hear.

“Where exactly?”

“Brazil. I’m in Rio de Janeiro.”

“You can’t just take off to Rio!”

“I already did.”

A few tense seconds passed. “When are you coming back?”

“I’m not sure.”

“What in the world are you doing? Have you gotten in trouble?”

Of course her mother would think the worst of her. “Not like you mean. I’m helping a friend.”

“Ella, I don’t know what to say. How am I supposed to reach you if I need to speak to you?”

“For now, this is the best way. But give
Kaiyla some warning next time.” It struck Ella that her attitude toward Jeanne had changed. Before, she’d introverted when her mother rebuffed her, thinking she wasn’t worthy of her love. Hearing her own words, she realized she was standing up to her. It felt good.

“I have to say, this is awkward.”

“I understand, but it’s the only way. Please don’t worry. I am fine. I will be back home and I’ll let you know when I am. How’s Allen, or, um…is that his name?”

Jeanne sighed heavily; Ella could hear it through the phone. “I’m not with anyone.”

Ella was at a loss for words. Her mother was always “with someone.” The idea of her mother being alone was more shocking than her trying to locate her. But then it made sense. If Jeanne was alone, it might be the only time she’d reach out to Ella. Maybe it was just too late. For her mother to treat her as an inconvenience for most of her life, and then expect her to act as if nothing had happened, was too much to ask.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m staying with Margie. You remember her. We were friends even while you were growing up. I still have some income from investments on the money your dad left me. But my financial advisor says I may need to supplement my income.”

Ella could not imagine her mother working. Attaching herself to a man who would take care of her had been her way of life. Things were coming unglued, and not just in Rio. Ella’s old life wasn’t the same either, it would seem. There was no way to harden her heart. Jeanne was her
mother. Trying to act like she didn’t care would be a lie. Despite the hurt of the years, she didn’t want her mother to suffer.

“Well, we will talk about it when I get home, okay?”

“Yes,” Jeanne said, sounding more like a dejected child than the accusing mother she’d been moments before.

And that was it.
Kaiyla took the phone and said goodbye, letting Ella know she’d call later. Clearly, they couldn’t talk about anything with Ella’s mother listening. Quietly sitting in the chair, holding the phone in her hand, it occurred to her how little her mother knew about her. Flying off to Brazil was dramatic but there was so much more; things that were important to her.

She held her feelings for Adam close, and was hesitant to share her heart with her mother, who’d always been so cold. What would her mother know about love? Had she even loved Carlton Walker, the man she married, Ella’s father? Honestly, Ella wasn’t sure. Adam was so important to her;
he was her life
. That was the sort of thing a daughter should be able to share with her mother.

But Ella wasn’t sure how Jeanne would react. And if she maligned the relationship in any way, or treated Adam like she’d always treated Ella, then it would be very bad. It was one thing for Ella to tolerate a relationship devoid of love. It was entirely different for Adam to have to deal with it. He’d had his share of parental affection going off the rails. Ella had no intention of letting anyone mistreat him, even if only emotionally.

Yet, Ella sensed a change in her mother. In the past, Jeanne’s icy exterior had made her seem invulnerable. When she’d said she was alone, there was something in her voice, and Ella became aware of a chink in her armor. It was sad, really. No woman keeps her looks forever, although Kaiyla had mentioned Jeanne still looked good.
For her age
, Ella thought. Uncertainty followed, not knowing what would become of her mother when men no longer followed her like puppy dogs, and provided for her.

It wasn’t so much the providing part, because Ella knew she’d take care of her. Feelings aside, Jeanne was her mother and she’d never let her be destitute. The emotional side of the issue
was harder. As her mother aged, with no man in her life that really cared about her, no one to share her future with, she might finally reach out to her daughters. Or maybe she’d find another man, which was a lot more likely.

Later in the day, Ella got an email from
Julianna. It seemed Jeanne had contacted her too, wanting to come to her school to visit. Julianna thought it was a bit strange and wondered if Ella had heard from her. The reply she sent was cheerier that she felt. Since she hadn’t been close to her sister in so long, and they’d only recently been talking more frequently, Ella didn’t feel it was right to voice her concerns. She replied that she’d spoken to Jeanne, and was glad she planned to visit Julianna, leaving it at that.

Family pressures burdened her; between her mother pulling at her heartstrings and Adam’s father hounding them mercilessly, Ella felt like exploding. She couldn’t focus, and didn’t feel like writing in her diary, as she did so often to release her emotions. Fed up, she slipped on her jogging shoes and went for a run on the beach, mentally blocking out the two guards trailing behind. The cool air and salty scent were invigorating. Letting the sand and ocean soothe her, the more she ran the better she felt.

*****

Jogging up the steps to the patio, Ella saw Adam standing there with his arms open and a smile on his face. “Hey, sweaty girl,” he said, and she jumped over the last step and bounced up, into his arms.

Ella threw her arms around his neck and wrapped her legs around his waist. “You’re home.”

“Miss me?” Adam said, pressing her head against his jaw, holding her tight.

“Always,” she said. “How did your meeting with Quinn go?”

Ella let her legs slide down his body until her feet were back on the wooden deck. Adam plopped onto a lounge chair, spreading his legs and letting them fall over the sides. Holding Ella’s hand, he pulled her onto the cushion between his thighs and she leaned back against his chest.

“Good meeting. A couple of the marketing guys were there. It was mostly marketing stuff. But I have to say, Claudio’s loss is our gain. Those new programs have huge potential.”

“The gaming ones?”

“Yep. Joel, my head of marketing, is reporting huge demand for the types of software I just handed over to them. He’s excited about the profit potential. From phone apps to kiosks, he thinks customers will eat it up, and is confident about getting investors.”

“How exciting.”

“Yes, the closer we are to putting the programs out to the market, the more I see how big that sector of AB Software is going to be. Claudio can eat his heart out.”

“What about Claudio?
Anything new from your investigators?” Ella sat up and turned to face Adam.

“Not specifically, but Quinn says the information from Adrian was helpful. And he was glad to have the photos of Cesar. Everything helps fill in the blanks.” Adam suppressed a smile.

“What? Why do you look so smug?”

“I think I’ve figured out a way to outmaneuver him.”

“Claudio?”

“Yes.”

“What, Adam? Tell me.”

“I’ll tell you soon. I have to think it through, make sure it’s a solid strategy.”

“You’re killing me,” Ella whined.

Adam laughed. “As soon as I’m confident, I’ll tell you about it. Now…guess where we are going tonight?”

“Where?” Ella asked, forgetting all about maneuvering and strategies.

“You, amore
mia, are going to see Luciana Souza.”

“Live?
Tonight? You got tickets?”

“I got good seats too, so you better get ready.”

Luciana Souza had a worldwide audience, and even when living in Newport, Ella listened to her versions of songs originally made popular by artists like Sting and Joni Mitchell. She knew she was one of Brazil’s greatest singers, born in São Paulo, and a former Grammy winner. Seeing her in a live performance would be amazing.

Ella jumped to her feet and started toward the house. “But,” she said, stopping, “it’s still early. The concert probably doesn’t start until later this evening.” Then she saw the gleam in Adam’s eyes.