Page 18 of Absolution

“So have I.” Ella reached her hand across the table and grasped her mum’s fingers. “I missed you.”

“Good afternoon.” The young server smiled as she placed a pile of menus between them. “Welcome to Osbourne’s, ladies. Can I get you both a drink?”

“How about champagne?” Ella’s gaze slipped from her mother to the waiter. “We’re celebrating.”

“Oh, fabulous.” The server smiled. “What are we celebrating?”

“Our reunion.” Her fingers encased her mother’s hand.

“Well…” Apparently, that hadn’t been the response the server expected. “Congratulations!”

“Thank you.” Susie sniffed.

“And a bottle of spring water as well, please,” Ella added. It was good to be back in control again. She’d spent so long reveling in her submission to Tucker, she’d almost forgotten how good it was to spend someone else’s money.

Almost.

Her lips curled. Not that she could really forget the joy of spending. It had been the thing she’d lived for, and anyway, Tucker could afford it. He’d told her to order whatever she wanted.

“I’ll get the drinks for you,” the server replied. “Then I’ll come back for your order.” Her retreat prompted Susie to speak again.

“God, I missed you so much.” Susie’s gaze welled with fresh tears as she forced a smile. “I thought I might never see you again. I can’t believe your father would do this!”

“I know.” Ella sighed. “It’s a new low.”

“How did you get away from the guy who was holding you?” Susie’s attention darted around the space as though someone might be listening to their chat. The real irony was that the person she referred to was only about fifty meters from where they sat. She just didn’t know that yet.

“I didn’t ‘get away’, Mum.” Ella squeezed her fingers, trying to decide how to phrase whatever came next. “It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it like?” Susie demanded. “Who even is this guy?”

“He’s an old friend of Dad’s.” Her toes curled in her new shoes as she referred to Alexander that way. After everything he’d put her through, she ought to stop honoring him with the title, but after so long without a father, it seemed she was in no rush to give him up… however useless he was. “But I mean, anoldfriend. They’re not friends anymore. These days, Alexander only owes him money.”

“Hmmm.” Susie’s tone hardened. “A debt he thought he could barter his way out of using you.”

“Right.” Ella pulled in a breath.

“I knew a few of his so-called pals back in the day,” Susie’s tone was pensive. “Maybe I know this guy?”

“He said he didn’t remember you,” Ella explained. “He also inquired about that.”

An edgy quiet hung over the table as the two women contemplated the last few days.

“What happened to you, Ella?” Susie’s voice quivered as she asked the question Ella presumed had played on her mind above all else.

“Alexander left me in the woods for Tucker to collect.” How was she going to explain this to her mother without making Tucker sound like a monster? Certainly, some of the things he’d put her through in those early days had been monstrous. Not for the first time, she sensed the weight of his stare on her skin, but she resisted the urge to look his way. This meeting was about her and her mum. Tucker had promised them at least an hour of conversation before he moved to join them, and she intended to make the most of every minute.

“Tucker?” Susie spat out his name. “Is that the swine who kept you captive?”

He didn’t.

The words lingered on the tip of Ella’s tongue, but she let them go, realizing that, at the beginning, at least, that’s precisely what Tucker had done.

“Yes, his name is Tucker.”

Ella’s tone was hushed as the server returned. Susie’s gaze never left her as the younger woman wrestled the cork from the bottle and poured them two glasses of champagne. Ella never glanced around to check, but she swore she sensed the weight of another pair of knowing eyes on the side of her face. She pushed down the smile that wanted to rise at the thought. No doubt he’d wonder why they were drinkingbubbly. Maybe he’d punish her for it in some intoxicating way later. It didn’t matter.

“To your safe return.” Susie lifted her glass once the server had served the water and taken their order. It seemed neither woman was especially hungry, choosing only appetizers to accompany their alcohol. “I am so happy to know you’re okay.”

---