Page 128 of When Ellie Falls in Love

And when the curtains rose, Ellie felt like she was exactly where she belonged. She hit each note and mark perfectly and soaked up every minute. Ellie savored being able to sing on stage with her mom. Isla was a natural, and Ellie was constantly in awe of her. When the curtain came down before the final bows, Ellie found Isla in the crowd.

“You were great, Ellie!”

“Not half as great as you.” Ellie let Isla twirl her around as the music started up for this final bow.

Carter Hayes, the theater’s manager and producer for the show, had set up the bows so Isla and Ellie could go out together. And when they did, the crowd erupted. Sure, it was normal for the leads to be the biggest applause. But Ellie knew the fact her family and friends took up the better part of three rows added to the amplified sound.

Ellie found her mama in the crowd as they did their traditional heart hands at each other. They’d been doing it for every play Ellie was in since day one. Vera beamed with pride as she cried happy tears while cheering on Isla and Ellie.

Moving her eyes away from Vera, Ellie smiled at the rest of her family before she found Sadie in the crowd. She was clapping and cheering and her whole face lit up when she realized Ellie was looking at her. Ellie waved at her before blowing her a kiss just as the final curtain came down.

Ellie and Isla celebrated the first show for a few minutes with their castmates before meeting Vera outside. Isla had reserved the bar’s outdoor patio for them to celebrate, and Vera had sent them all ahead. And for that Ellie was grateful. She truly loved her family. But after her shows there were two things Ellie wanted: her mama’s hug and a Diet Coke. Vera held up the two Diet Cokes bottles in her hand.

“Perfectly chilled for my favorite ladies.”

“Thanks, baby.” Isla took one of the bottles before giving Vera a hug and a kiss. Ellie let them have their moment while she took a long sip of her own drink.

“And you,” Vera held her arms out to Ellie and she eagerly went into them, “you wereamazing.”

“I get it all from Mom.”

“Hey, I birthed you.”

“And have no theatrical skills,” Isla teased.

“I’llactlike I’m not hurt by that.”

Ellie laughed at her parents. They were the best, and she would believe that until the day she died. She wrapped her arms tighter around Vera as Vera did the same. As much as Ellie loved being on the stage, it tended to zap her of everything she had after the fact. Especially opening nights. She was thankful her parents understood that.

“I think you’re amazing, Mama.”

“The feeling’s mutual, Care Bear.” Vera kissed Ellie’s cheek. “Everyone’s at the bar, so we can join them when you’re ready.”

“I’m ready.”

Ellie nodded as she took Vera’s hand. They walked to the Jeep together as they got inside. She loved how her parents held hands as they drove. It was beyond sweet and Ellie was obsessed with it.

As Vera parked the Jeep in front of the bar, Ellie could see the rest of their family and friends outside on the patio. The patio at Straight to Ale was open air in the summer months with windows during the winter months. Her mom had spent a ton of money refurbishing the space and was able to utilize it all year long, and the final product was amazing. Ellie could barely remember the bar before the improvements were made.

There was an exit-only door from the patio to the sidewalk, but Isla let them in through the door anyway. Ellie was overwhelmed by the congratulations and hugs she received from everyone as she made her way through the patio to the one person she’d been dying to see all night.

Sadie was wearing dark wash jeans and a form-fitting plain green shirt. She smiled widely at Ellie as they two embraced. Ellie didn’t care that herentirefamily and Sadie’s parents were watching them. Hell, they’d been watching them since the high school play several months ago before they were even a couple. But Ellie didn’t care. Not anymore.

“You were amazing, Ellie. I’m so proud of you.”

“Thanks, babe.” Tucking Sadie’s hair behind her ear, Ellie kissed her. She felt Sadie’s arms wrap around her and let her pull her in closer. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Thankfully, everyone else seems to be more focused on the menu than Ellie and Sadie. Or they at least acted as such. They sat at a round table with Mason, Chase, Alexis, and Blake, with Ellie between Mason and Sadie. Mason pulled Ellie into a tight hug and repeatedly kissed her cheek.

“I’m so proud of my baby sister.”

“Oh really? I couldn’t tell.”

“You rocked it, kid.”

“Thanks, Mace.” Ellie beamed with pride under Mason’s compliment. Alexis and Chase also chimed in with their praise before Blake did.

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