A week passed, then another, and still there was no word from Jack. Ellie assumed once he’d had time to process, Jack would change his mind, but with her move now only a few days away, she wondered if she hadn’t miscalculated.
On Friday morning, Ellie was busy boxing up the last of her belongings when the telephone rang. Hoping it might be Jack, she rushed to pick it up.
“Hello.”
“Hey, it’s me.”
“Oh hi, sis. How are you?”
“Fine. Listen, I have a favor to ask, and before you say no, promise you’ll hear me out.”
“Okay,” she said uneasily, settling into an open chair.
“Mother has requested to come and see you.”
Ellie could hardly believe her ears. She sprang to her feet, putting a fist on her hip. “Absolutely not! I have nothing more to say to that woman. Besides,” she said, examining the half dozen boxes scattered around the living room, “I’m in the process of packing up my entire life and moving halfway across the country. The last thing I need is a distraction.”
“I understand,” said Amelia calmly. “You’re angry and busy, but as your sister and your friend, I’m asking you to hear her out. Besides, you owe me one.”
“For what?”
“Covering for you while you snuck off to Jack’s, remember?”
Damn.She sat back down, feeling her pulse return to normal. “Do you really want to waste your favor on her?”
“Considering where you two left things, and the fact that you’re moving to Texas in a few days, yes. You know how much I detest discord.”
“Fine,” said Ellie, realizing she had little choice. “But if she so much as looks at me the wrong way, I’ll—”
“I’ll keep her under control,” Amelia reassured her. “We’ll be there in an hour.”
While Ellie waited for them to arrive, she wondered what her mother could possibly have to say to her in person that couldn’t be said over the phone.
Just after noon, Ellie heard a car pull into the drive. Taking a deep breath, she crossed the floor and opened the door.
“Hello, Ellie,” said Marie, looking stiff and solemn.
“Mother. Won’t you come in?” She stepped aside.
Amelia entered next, and Ellie glared at her.
“How’s the packing coming along?” she asked as she stepped into the living room.
“Nearly finished.” Ellie cleared a spot for them on the couch and offered them a seat. “So what is it you wanted to talk about?”
Marie cleared her throat before speaking. “First, I came to apologize… for the way I acted when we last saw one another. I was completely out line.”
Ellie let out a mirthless chuckle. “You… apologize?”
Marie seemed to overlook her question. “I shouldn’t have said what I did, and I was wrong to interfere in your personal life. It won’t happen again.”
Ellie eyed her surreptitiously. “Why the change of heart? Is this because I’m leaving?”
Marie asked Amelia to give her and Ellie a moment alone. When Ellie gave a nod of approval, Amelia retreated toward the front door.
“I’ll be just outside if you need me,” she said, then stepped out onto the porch.
“Believe it or not,” said Marie, “I’ve done a great deal of soul-searching over the past couple of months, and what I discovered was just how poorly I’ve handled things with you over the years. I want you to know it was never my intent for us to wind up here, with you hating me.”
