Page 7 of Chasing Stars
“I insist,” she says, patting my arm. “Ellie will be having her evening tea right now. Maybe we can join her.” She takes my tote bag and links her arm through mine. Nothing will ease the pain of the loss of my mom but the kindness I have encountered today is slowly melting the ice around my broken heart.
When we reach the front door, I expect Sophie to knock, but she lets herself in. “Ellie, we’re here!” Sophie calls. She turns to me and motions for me to follow.
Ellie steps out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on a dish rag. “Oh, hello!” She smiles, her warm countenance instantly making me feel safe. “I’m Ellie. You must be Jenna.”
“Yes.” I nod, offering a tight smile. “Thank you for letting me crash here tonight.”
Ellie waves her hands. “Nonsense! Robert and I love the company.” She turns toward the kitchen. “Leave your bags. He’ll bring them up to your room. I’ve made us some tea.”
I smile for real this time, marveling at the way this small group of friends came together today to help me, a newcomer.
Sophie shoots me an I-told-you-so look and grins. “Come on,” she whispers.
In the kitchen, Ellie has set the table with four saucers and some Italian cookies I remember from my childhood. I pull out the nearest chair, suddenly desperate to sit down. “Oh, I wish you didn’t go to any trouble. I really just need a warm bed tonight,” I say meekly, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“This is what she does.” Sophie looks at Ellie with fondness. “Shelovestaking care of people.”
“I do.” Ellie nods, bringing the teapot over. She pours hot water into each of our mugs and offers me a basket of tea bags. “Pick any kind you like,” she urges.
I do as I’m told, and we sit quietly together while our tea bags steep. I know as soon as my head hits the pillow, I will zonk. Tomorrow I will figure out what’s next.What’s nexthas been a question I’ve been chasing the answer to since my dad died. After he died, my mother and I moved into a town house.
The day we sold my childhood home felt like closing the door on a whole life we were leaving behind. By the time I left for college, my mother was ready to downsize again. She moved into the two-bedroom apartment that we’d shared after her diagnosis. When she died, there was no home to sell, no place to return to. Just a month-to-month lease that ended witheverything else. The Cape May house came as a great surprise—a leftover piece of my family history. I came here feeling hopeful, but instead, I’m disappointed. I have no plan and even worse, no money to make one.
“So, Jenna, tell me about yourself.” Ellie’s voice interrupts my thoughts.
“Oh… I… Well, I just discovered last week, during the probate of my mother’s will, that our house here still existed.” The words tumble out of me before I can stop them, rambling and messy. “I’m planning to sell it, and I naively thought I’d be able to stay there while I do, but I’m not sure if that will be possible.” I exhale loudly and take a sip of my tea, hoping it’ll settle the discomfort inside me. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. My aunt lives here in town, but…we’re estranged.”
Ellie slurps her tea, making me smile. I can already tell she is a warm light to everyone she meets, while at the same time, unapologetically herself. “Who is your aunt? Maybe I know her.”
Just then, Robert interrupts us with a peek in the kitchen from the hall. He’s holding my bag. “Hi, everyone,” he says. Then, turning to me, “You must be Jenna. I just wanted to introduce myself and say goodnight,” he says, chuckling. “You know we old people can’t stay up too late. I’ll just drop your bag in the purple room, if that’s okay?”
I grin, nodding. “That’s more than fine, thank you,” I say. “And thank you for letting me stay here.”
“You’re welcome, dear. Goodnight.” And then he’s gone.
Ellie smiles after him. “That man has more creeks than our porch swing, but he’s my favorite place to rest.” She sighs, a content smile crossing her face. “Now, tell me about this aunt of yours.”
I hesitate. If she does know my Aunt Leona, I’m not sure I want her to know I’m back in town. But Ellie has a kindness about her and I get the feeling she can make everyone shemeets spill their guts. I don’t want to alienate myself by keeping secrets from the people who are helping me. “Her name is Leona Walker. She is my late father’s sister. But I haven’t seen her since a year after he died. My mom and aunt didn’t exactly get along.” I scrunch up my nose. “I have a cousin too—I saw him more when I was in college, but I think he lives nearby. His name is Jake.”
Ellie dips her chin, and just when I think she may judge me for being estranged from family, she reaches for my hand. “Sometimes, cutting toxic people out of our lives is the best thing we can do—family or not. I’m sure your mother had a good reason.” She pulls her hand back and takes a sip of tea. “Your aunt is in my book club, but I don’t know her well. I do know though that you and your mother are different people, and it sounds like your aunt is your only family left. Maybe you should try reaching out.”
I don’t have the energy for this type of conversation—not after the day I’ve had. It’s taking everything in me to smile and take this stranger’s advice with a grain of salt.
Maybe Sophie can sense it because she interjects. “Jenna, you must be exhausted. Where did you say you drove here from?”
I clear my throat. “Oh, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.” I stifle a yawn. “I am very tired, yes.”
Sophie rises. “Ellie, why don’t I show Jenna to her room?”
Ellie smiles. “That would be lovely.”
“Thank you for the tea,” I offer, standing. “And I will think about what you said.”
“You’re welcome, dear.” Ellie turns back toward me. “And Jenna? Don’t fret. Everything looks better in the morning.”
I sure hope she’s right.
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