“We are long overdue for a visit, and we think you should audition,” Annie said, her tone crisp.
“What are you talking about?Audition for what?Zee..Nora what’s going on?”Ella’s face paled.
Zee placed his palm on the centre of her back.“Remember what you promised me in the car?”
He applied a firm bit of pressure, just enough to keep her anchored.
“I do,” Ella’s eyes gleamed with hope and it felt like a kick to his solar plexus.
“The job is still open, Mom.You know the one I told you about that you’d be a great fit for?The music mentor.”
“Oh Annie, I don’t know…”
“Ella, can you honestly say you didn’t think of that job over and over?”Nora asked.
“Yes, I did.But how can I..that job is in California.”
“So is Rosalind,” Zee said, his lips twitching.
“And so am I,” Annie said.
“She’s never going to be done with school,” Madison teased.
“Excuse me if I want more than one degree, Miss ‘I run around and chase a ball for a living.’”
“Girls,” Ella said, in the same mom tone she’d used all their lives, which made their daughters giggle.
Zee guided her towards the piano.
“Ella, you need to chase your dream.It’s time.I should have pushed you to do it when it first came up but I was so single-mindedly focused on the team and what I wanted.I thought you were content.”
“I am...”
“Dear heart, is that the honest answer?”He lifted her chin and knew by the expression in her gorgeous eyes how much her heart wanted to go for it.
“I honestly thought I was…I felt despondent and a little out of sorts but I thought that was because I was just missing you.I did think of the job, Zee but I didn’t know how it could work.”
“That’s my job to figure out, right?You go to that piano and audition.You’re going to nail it, Ella.I’ll take care of the logistics.It’s your turn to find your waterfall.”
Her eyes welled but he saw a slight bit of rebellion under those tears, her strength shone through as she gazed at him, her lips set in determination.
“Come on, Mom, come and audition.We have the camera all set up,” Annie called.
Ella lifted her chin and meet his gaze.
His strong girl.His determined girl.
“Yes.”
The girls cheered and Nora rushed forward to give Ella a hug.
“You go get them.”
And he stood there, wiping away a tear from his cheek knowing he’d never love her more than this moment, when she said yes to him chose herself.
EPILOGUE
“Foryou,mylove.”Zee placed a gift-wrapped box in front of her on the railing.
