Page 70 of Christmas off Script
At four p.m.,Ella dashed down the stairs of her stepmother’s house. If she ran back to the manor to collect her car, she could be in Bath by five. Most of the shops stayed open until six, so she had just enough time to make a panic-purchase.
You could just wear the same dress you normally do?
It’s green. The theme for the Winter Ball is black and white. I don’t want to stick out.
Poking her head into the living room, she gazed at Michelle on the sofa. ‘All done. Can I get you anything else before I leave?’
Michelle opened her mouth to speak, but began coughing instead, her face turning puce. Rushing forward, Ella passed her a fresh box of tissues, immediately smelling alcohol as her stepmother hacked. Glancing around, she saw two opened cans of pre-made gin and tonic on the side table.
‘Don’t leave me,’ Michelle whispered as she drew ragged breaths, her eyes bloodshot and liquid.
‘I have to—’
Michelle’s hand shot out to grab Ella’s. ‘I don’t want to be alone.’
Her heart sank as she gazed at her stepmother. She looked tired and vulnerable, her lower jaw wobbling and tears tracking down her cheeks. There would be no time to get a dress now.
Just cut your losses for this year.
‘We can get pizza. Watch a bit of telly?’ Michelle whispered. ‘Please?’
Ella tried to keep her voice steady. ‘Of course.’
‘You’re a good girl,’ her stepmother rasped. ‘You look after me.’
‘I just need to message—tell people I won’t be back until later.’ She took out her phone.
‘You can stay the night. Use Kyla-Marie’s room.’
Clenching her teeth together to stop a scream escaping, Ella gave a tight nod, then sent Leo a message.
Ella: I’m so sorry but I can’t make the ball. Michelle wants me to stay the night. She’s not well and has also started drinking. I need to make sure she’s okay and the tablets she’s on don’t react badly with the booze. Please apologise to your folks and Willow for me as well xxx
Ella: Going to turn my phone off. She’ll only get annoyed if I look at it
Ella: I’m so sorry but I can’t leave her xxx
Turning off her phone, she forced a smile. ‘Can I make you a cup of tea?’
Ella chewedthe stodgy bread and plastic cheese of the pizza Michelle had ordered, whilst a mind-numbing dating show blared on the television. In another reality, she was drinking champagne with Leo and his family in a stunningly decorated room of the manor as they waited for the gong to announce that dinner was served.
She hadn’t turned her phone back on, not wanting to be reminded of what she was missing.
Just get through tonight. There’ll be another ball next year.
At the sound of knocking on the front door, Ella raised her head, then glanced at Michelle, who was now asleep on the sofa, snoring loudly.
Getting up, she went to answer it, her mouth gaping at the sight of the person standing outside.
‘Dervla! What are you doing here?’
Leo’s mum brushed past her into the house. ‘Shift change,’ she said with a smile, then went to the living room door and gazed at Michelle. ‘How much has she had to drink?’
Ella came to her side. ‘At least two gin and tonics. And she wanted me to collect the pizza rather than have it delivered, so she probably drank more when I was out.’
‘Right you are, then. Willow’s in the car outside to take you home.’
‘You can’t give up your evening for this!’
