Page 24 of The Forgotten Life of Ella Moon
Ella dug her nail into the wood grain of the table.Thesepast few days, she had thought about what her life would look like withWilliam.Itwouldn’t be bad.Theyhad been friends before they were lovers.Andshe had missed his friendship these past couple days.Shewould makeSissyandClarashow her how to do the things they knew how to do.Ifshe could learn how to read, she could learn how to sew and cook.Shehoped. “Mr.Garveyhas to sell the mill.”
“So?”Sissyfrowned, sitting down. “Whywould that make him send you flowers?”
“Because without the mill,Williamand his bride would have to find work elsewhere,”Clarapointed out. “Doyou want to talk about it?”Clara’sfeatures softened.
“What is there to talk about?Itdoesn’t affectElla.”Sissysipped her tea.
“It will when she marriesWilliamand they have no way to support themselves.WhatdoesWilliamthink you’re going to do?Theinn will be closing in a few months.Andthere are very few jobs here inRiverton.Iknow becauseIhave been looking.”Clarapicked a rose petal from one of the roses.
“Lillian offered me a place in her household.Iwould take care ofMrs.AandDarby’smother.MaybeWilliamcan find work inMorro?”Thecard in her pocket felt warm against her skin.Itwas time to let go of her silly fantasy withThane.Shewasn’t what he wanted.Hewanted the woman he had lost.Shewas just a sad replacement.LikeWilliamwas to her.
“No!Darby’smother is a raging bitch.Mycousin worked for them for one summer and quit to wash sheets at a brothel,”Clarasaid, shaking her head.
“I don’t understand.”Sissyfrowned. “Ella, you can’t marryWilliam.He’snot your kind.”
“Why are you so odd?”Clarapicked at the leftover chicken. “Williamis one of the best-looking single men inRiverton, and until today, he could support a wife and children.Butnow…”
“No.Ella, you can’t marryWilliam.Whoeveris missing you will come soon.Ibet he shows up at theMoonFestival.”
Clara stood. “Yourmother has put too many absurd thoughts in your head,Sis.Ellais just a pretty girl with real problems.Ican ask my cousin if the brothel is hiring.”
“Clara,Ellacan’t be a whore.”Sissyturned toElla. “Youcan’t.Trustme.It’swritten in your stars.Mymother said so.Well, she said that someone in my life is going to reveal themselves and they will need my support.”
“How do you know it’s not me?”Claracleared the rest of the dishes.
“BecauseIhave known you for years, and the only thing you have revealed is your ability to drive off men.Whichis because you were mean in a past life.Youwon’t find a husband until you atone for those past life mistakes.”Sissynodded matter-of-factly.
“The only reasonIdon’t have a husband is becauseThanehasn’t asked me yet.”Clarawinked as she walked out of the room.
Ella touched her pocket.Tonight, she andThanewould talk.Hewould see that this wasn’t good for either of them.Buta small part of her wished it would work out.Thathe would give up searching and they would start a life together.Whyelse had he come to her room last night?Andif he asked, she’d go with him.
And that would breakWilliam’sheart.Thereare consequences for breaking a heart.Ellashoved that fear away. “Comeon,Sissy.Thedishes aren’t going to do themselves.”
* * *
Ella bathed and changed into a dark blue skirt and undyed shirt with matching embroidery.Sheleft her hair down.Mrs.Awouldn’t like that she was meeting withThanewithout a chaperone, soMrs.Awould have to be kept in the dark.Ellaopened the small window in her bedroom and stepped out onto the back roof.Thebright oranges and pinks of the setting sun gave way to the sharp teeth of the darkness.Aftera careful walk across the spongy roof and down the ladder leaning against the wall,Ellawas free.
Once on the ground, she ran through the small yard and past the garden, through the clover, down the muddy path to the old mill.Sissysaid she thought it was a remnant of the old castle that used to stand on the river.Shesaid old magic still clung to the stone foundation.
The old door creaked as she pushed it open and slipped in.Firefliesdanced with dust motes in the empty space.Itlooked different in the setting sun.Mossand midnight jasmine hung from the rotting rafters.Thebroken glass on the dusty floor shimmered like wishes.Thestairs she’d raced down three nights ago were at the far end of the room.Regretsclung to them.
“Are you in the habit of sneaking out to meet strangers?” a voice called from the shadows.
“Are you a stranger?”Ella’sbreath caught whenThanestepped out of the shadows.Godsabove, he was beautiful.Hisgray clothing had been tailored to fit every part of his exceptionally perfect body. “Ishouldn’t be here.Whatwill people say?”
“Your secret is safe with me.Come,Ihave a surprise.”Thanereached out his hand.
This was it.Ifshe went withThane, there would be no moreWilliamand the security he offered her.Thatwas the problem with the lifeWilliamoffered.Everythinghad already been decided.Therewas nothing left to chance.Tofate.WithThaneeverything felt chaotic and uncertain.Andthat’s what she craved.
She took his hand and followedThanedown a narrow hallway.Themoonlight shone through the holes in the roof.Willowand oak branches pressed through the empty windowpanes.
“Where are we going?”Elladucked to miss a branch.
“You’ll see.”Thaneturned and smiled. “Doyou trust me?”
“Yes,” she said, not sure why.
“Close your eyes.”Thanestood behindElla.
