Page 127 of Ella Gets the D
My skin needles when Charles Sr. answers, wearing a stony glare he doesn’t hide from my children. I manage to smile enough for my kids to see it from my profile but without giving the man in front of me any indication that I’m happy to see him.
“Well, isn’t this a surprise? Where is Katharine?”
“She’s out,” he says in a clipped tone.
On a Friday at six in the evening? Did the ladies who lunch finally let loose?
I peer around his narrow, clean-shaven face into an empty marble foyer lit by the edges of light filtering in from the study. Katharine would be squeezing the kids to within an inch of their lives instead of keeping us on the doorstep like we’re trying to sell him a cable package.
“Shame.” I force another smile and turn to see Jackson and Haile’s eyes dancing between me and their grandfather. I might not mind if a bus made it over to this side of Falls Church and ran his ass over, but I won’t be the person to turn my kids against family. “Why don’t you two see if Ms. Beverly has those scones you love in the kitchen?”
Haile is the first to hug me at the promise of a frosting-covered snack. “Love you, Mommy.”
I kiss the top of her head and squeeze her little body wrapped around my legs. “Love you too, sweet girl.”
Jackson is not as trusting. He lingers under the decorative porch light with me. He glances up at his grandfather and back to me before speaking in a whisper that hits my heart. “Need me to stay out here with you?”
“I’m okay, baby.” I meet Charles Sr.’s glare to show him I mean it. “Better than okay.” I squeeze Jackson in a hug. “Love you.”
He squeezes tighter. “Love you too.”
“See ya Sunday. Have fun.”
Jackson walks by his grandfather but stops to look over his shoulder. At my nod, he tucks his hands into his gray jacket and disappears into the maze of crown molding and gilded frames.
“I’ll call Katharine later,” I say to the man still foaming at the mouth.
“I don’t know who you think you are, little girl, but you’re about to learn an important lesson.”
“And what’s that?” I spin to face the father-in-law I wish I never had. Charles Sr. has always been cold, but it looks like the gloves are finally coming off.
“Don’t fuck with my family.”
“Then tell your son not to fuck with me. I wanted out of this marriage afterhewas unfaithful.Heis the one holding on for dear life”—like those struggle strands you call a comb-over—“having me followed and making threats if I don’t call off the divorce. Speak to your son.”
“Oh, I have.” He steps closer, smacking me with his cologne and rising temper. “Had to send him down to Florida after your stunt in the conference room. My son is the least of your worries now. You never deserved the Hudson name, so I’ll grant you a divorce.”
“Howkindof you. If you’ll excuse me.”
“You think I don’t know what’s going on? Who you’ve been sneaking off to when you think no one is watching? Charles could never control you, but the photos he has will show theworld what an adulterous whore you are, one who broke her family for a younger man with a trust fund.” He dips his head to take in my frown and smiles. Charles Sr. is a few inches shorter than his son, but from the doorstep, he’s a giant.
A suffocating sensation tightens my throat to the point of pain. “I never—”
“Was unfaithful? Doesn’t matter.” He grips the door, his eyes blazing fire. “Women should know their place, and you, Ella, will get an education soon enough. Enjoy your weekend. It will be your last before I take everything from your worthless life.”
The wrought-iron door slams in my face, leaving me speechless surrounded by imported stone and a manicured lawn. I suck in a breath at yet another threat by a man named Charles Hudson. Every time I step forward and fight for the life and joy my kids and I deserve, I get knocked back down on my ass.
No amount of distance between me and Julian will fix this. I’m not sureanythingwill allow me to leave unscathed and away from the public eye.
It’s been too quiet, and now I know why.
Chapter 49
Ella
Morning comes in eerie silence until my phone blares on the nightstand. I peek an eye open to see Morgan’s name flashing on the screen, too brightly in the nearly pitch-black room, and swipe right on the incoming call with a groan.
“Did they cancel school?” I croak. It’s the only reason why she’d be on my phone at such an hour. It’s the second to last day of April. We’re past any real threats of snow, but I keep the hope alive that today is not a day I have to make the trek to Falls Church.
