Page 4 of Mistaken Impression

“Just a couple more days. I’ve got to be back in Boston before the weekend. I’ve got a new client, and they’ve lined up my first job for next week.” He sounds a little more cheerful already, but talking about work does that for Drew. He loves being a photographer and always has.

“If you’re not starting with them until next week, why don’t you spend a few days in Newport first?”

“Because I’ve got some paperwork to do.”

“So? You could work on your laptop, couldn’t you?”

“I will. But if I take it down to Newport, I’ll just end up sitting by the pool and thinking. Being in the city makes me more inclined to work.”

I can understand that. Our house in Newport is the most relaxing place in the world. I always feel like I can breathe moreeasily when I’m there. Hunter and Drew feel the same way, I think.

“I have to admit, I’m dreading living here,” I say.

“Why?” he asks, sounding surprised. “You’ve lived in big cities before.”

“You’re talking about London, and Madrid, and Paris. They’re different.”

“They’re still cities, and you went to each of them all by yourself. Why does being in Boston make you so nervous?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s not the city itself, but what I’m going to be doing here.”

“The job, you mean?”

“Yeah.”

“Then why did you take it? You didn’t have to. Not having to work for a living is one of the advantages of being a multi-millionaire, in case you haven’t noticed. Just because Hunter and I work doesn’t mean you have to. Not if it’s making you this anxious.”

“I suppose I feel like I have a point to prove.”

“To whom? Not us, I hope.”

“To myself.” And to them, and everyone else, I guess, although I’m not about to say that. “I’ve always been a bit of a flake, Drew… drifting from one thing to another. But I can cook, and I guess I want to prove I can make something of that.”

“You don’t have to prove anything, Ella. Hunter and I will always love you, whatever you do.”

Oh… I wish he hadn’t said that. I’m not normally a tearful person, but my eyes are stinging, and I cough away the lump in my throat.

“I guess I can go back to Newport on the weekends, if I get time.” I doubt I will, especially not at the start of my contract, while I’m getting used to my new role.

“I’m not sure I would, if I were you. Not if you’re looking for peace and quiet, anyway.”

“Why’s that?” What’s he saying?

“I was talking to Hunter the morning before I left…”

“Oh,” I interrupt. “I suppose he and Livia want the place to themselves for a while, do they?”

“No. It’s nothing to do with that. You’ve got your own apartment down there, and believe me, if Hunter wants privacy, he’ll find it.”

I’m sure that’s true enough. “In that case, why should I avoid going home?”

“Because he’s having some construction work done.”

“He is?” He didn’t mention anything to me before he left to come back to Boston on Sunday evening. “How many kids are he and Livia thinking of having? There are six guest bedrooms already, so…”

“It’s got nothing to do with them having kids,” he says, interrupting me this time. “It’s about Livia’s parents.”

“Oh?”

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