Page 8 of After the Red Carpet
“Yes, but Finn, just one more thing. I am planning to take your name; I thought I’d go by Ella Sinclair Forrester after we get married. If we’re lucky enough to have children, they would have both our names too.”
He smiled widely, lifted her hand to his lips, and kissed it.
“ELLA WILL BE DOWN ANY MINUTE,but I wanted to speak with you all first,” Finn said to his staff, who were huddled around him in the kitchen. “Ella isn’t comfortable with formality, so from now on, please address us both by our first names.”
“Certainly, Mr. Forrester. Oh, I mean, Finn,” Joyce replied, adjusting her thick-rimmed glasses.
He smiled. “I know it may take some getting used to, but there are going to be a few changes around here. Ella may have different preferences or ways of doing things, and I want to be sure we prioritize her wishes. She enjoys cooking and wants to be involved with the shopping. In fact, she recently wrote a book about food and pleasure. You two should have plenty in common, Joyce.”
“We’re all very much looking forward to meeting her. I’ve been with you the longest, so on behalf of all of us, we couldn’t be happier for you,” Joyce said.
“Thank you,” Finn said with a genuine smile. “There is nothing more important to me than Ella’s happiness. Nothing. I’m counting on all of you to do everything you can to make her feel at home.”
They all nodded in acknowledgment just as Ella ambled into the room wearing a long, flowing gray sundress. “I’m sorry if I’m interrupting,” she said, fidgeting with her beaded necklace.
“Don’t be silly, sweetheart,” Finn replied, placing his hand on the small of her back. “Everyone’s eager to meet you.” He made the introductions, and everyone said hello to one another.
“We’re all so happy to welcome you,” Joyce said, her warm smile much larger than her five-foot frame.
“Thank you,” Ella replied.
“I thought maybe we could sit down and have a good chat, get to know each other a little. You can tell me thekinds of things you like to eat so we can plan some menus, what sort of food you’d like to have in the house, when you prefer to have meals, that sort of thing. I know you’re interested in doing some of the cooking yourself, so you can tell me more about that and how I can be of assistance.”
“That would be great. Thank you, Joyce,” Ella replied.
“Yes, thank you,” Finn added.
Joyce smiled. “There’s coffee, tea, and freshly squeezed juice in the dining room. I’ll bring your breakfast in soon, and then whenever you have time, we can have that chat, Ella. I’m looking forward to it.”
Finn took Ella’s hand and they strolled to the dining room. “See, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” he asked as he pulled out her chair.
“Well, they didn’t look like serial killers, so the food probably isn’t poisoned.”
He laughed and kissed the top of her head.
“THERE YOU ARE,” ELLA SAID AS SHEstrolled into the den and plopped down on the sofa beside Finn. “You were right. Joyce is wonderful. We had such fun getting to know each other. I can tell that we’ll be fast friends.”
“I told you,” he said.
“I heard the doorbell and a bit of a commotion. More invaders?” she asked.
He chuckled. “Jason, my assistant, is here, and your things arrived from Paris. He’s directing the movers—they’re putting the boxes labeled ‘books’ and ‘work’ outside your office, the ones marked ‘clothes’ in our closet, and your keepsake chest in our bedroom. I figured you wouldn’t want him to unpack for you, but of course he’d be happy to do it.”
“I can unpack myself,” she said.
Just then, Jason bounded into the room with a backpack slung over his shoulder. “You must be Ella. It’s great to finally meet you!” he said, extending his hand.
“Likewise,” she replied, standing to greet him. “Thank you for the clothes and personal items you got for me. They sure made it easy to settle in.”
“I’m so glad. I can’t take credit, though; Finn was very specific about what to get. Please, sit and get comfy. We have some things to go over.”
They took a seat and Finn draped his arm around Ella.
“First things first,” he said, unzipping his knapsack. “Here’s my card with my phone number. Call or text anytime, day or night. Here is your set of keys to the house. We can go over the alarm system later. I figured you’d want to select your own code.”
“Okay, great.”
“Here’s a credit card. There’s no limit. It’s already activated, so all you have to do is sign the back,” he explained, handing her a credit card with her name on it.
