Page 68 of Christmas off Script
Leo: Don’t apologise! You just killed an elf in Santa land!
Ella: Ha ha
By the timeElla returned to her stepmother’s home, it was midday. Once Michelle was settled, she began cleaning the house, her eye on the time as the minutes seemed to pass as quickly as seconds. How on earth was she going to have time to select a Christmas treeandgo into Bath to buy a frock before all the shops shut?
At three p.m., she sat on the top step of the stairs, wiped her sweating brow with her sleeve, and checked her phone.
Leo: How’s it going? I wish I could help, but I know my presence would only make things worse
Ella: I’m not even halfway through cleaning the house because she keeps calling me down for things. Honestly, I think she’s really lonely as well as feeling rotten
Leo: Where are Mani and Pedi?
Ella snorted with laughter.
A hoarse whisper came from downstairs. ‘What are you doing up there?’
‘Just checking my messages,’ she called back. ‘I’m about to move onto your room. I promise I won’t touch the lights.’
There was no reply.
Ella stood and made her way into Michelle’s bedroom. It was an absolute tip, with used tissues and empty take-away boxes on the bed.
Ella: Michelle doesn’t want them to visit in case they catch what she’s got
Leo: But your immune system’s coated with Teflon?
Ella: I promise to keep my distance from you when I get back
Leo: What about my hugs? I need my five a day
Ella: Isn’t that meant to be about vegetables?
Leo: How much friendship and emotional support can I get from broccoli? Hugs are better
Ella: I’ve got to put my phone away and get the rubber gloves back on. It’s far worse here than normal. I’m really s***y but there’s no way I’ll be done in time for Christmas tree shopping
Leo: We can go another time X
Ella: But when? Rehearsals will take up tomorrow, then we’re both back at work. I don’t want to wait until next weekend. Would you be able to go without me? xxx
Ella waited, watching the dots appearing and then disappearing as Leo wrote his message. She was desperately torn, but didn’t want to leave Michelle’s until the place was clean and her stepmother had everything she needed.
Leo: Of course. I’ll send you photos so you can decide which one you like the best X
Ella: Thank you xxxxx
Leo: Any time XXX
12
True to his word, half an hour later, Leo sent through a series of photos of Christmas trees leaning against a fence in the yard of a local farm.
Ella: They all look lovely, but maybe a bit too big?
Leo: No such thing. The ceilings are taller at the manor than at your last place
Sitting on the floor of Michelle’s bedroom, a pang of loneliness speared Ella’s heart. Even though she didn’t miss Oliver, she missed the sense of belonging she had with him. She saw their relationship and home as proof she’d made different life choices to her parents. But now the house and boyfriend were gone, and she was back to square one.
