Beautiful Disaster (The Bet) (29 page)

Dr. Thomas seemed pinned against the wall as he began to fidget and helplessly look from Ellie to Charles.

Ellie stepped forward, Gabe not far behind as she attempted to make peace, she held out her hand and dragged up a smile. "My name is Ellie---"

He peered down at her hand as though it were the vilest thing in the world, his lips curled and Ellie saw vein etched hands tighten around the head of the cane. "Holbrook, yes I am well aware of who you are."

Ellie dropped her arm, her hand falling back at her side; she tried not to glare up at the sneering face so reminiscent of Nicholas. "Nicholas is a friend of ours."

"Yes, the miscreants who are the cause of his presence here, incapacitated and fighting for his life. Be lucky that I press no charges for your involvement in all of this. Heed my warning Ms. Holbrook and steer clear of my son or I will not hesitate in inviting the law in this situation."

Ellie had to hold Gabe back when he lunged for Charles's throat. "He's not worth it!"

"And you," he pinned Maddie with cool grey eyes. "I highly doubt that you carry the Grayson seed in your womb, but in the off chance that you are, I will arrange for my attorneys to pay you and your grandmother a visit tomorrow morning."

Three weeks later and Ellie was only now beginning to understand how depraved people were. She felt like a pawn in a chess game, being moved around by the selfish whims of others. After Charles had left them in the waiting room, Maddie’s conscience finally kicked in and through a deluge of tears she’d divulged everything. Telling Ellie of her obsession with Nicholas and the hand she’d played in splitting them apart.

The trip to the cabin, the strategically placed cameras hidden in each room, the idea to expose them to the entire school and make it seem like it'd all been Nicholas's idea. It’d all been perfectly planned, a set up that she and Nicholas had naively fallen into. Maddie had told her everything; nothing and no one had been spared. She’d begged for forgiveness soon after, but Ellie, far too hurt to even look at her so called best friend hadn’t been able to provide it.

Now she smiled ruefully through the haze of tears trailing her cheeks.

Nicholas had tried to warn her and Ellie had shunned him, choosing instead to once again foolishly put faith and devotion in a person who'd only ended up hurting her in the end. 

It was sickening to imagine all three of them, Matt, Tony and Maddie, sitting around discussing and plotting her demise. They'd executed a plan that was meant to break her, break her resolve, and break the fledgling love she had for a man whose only fault was the encompassing need to love and protect her. They'd almost succeeded too. Her faith, her love had faltered when it’d counted most. Doubts had clouded her judgment and instead of trusting Nicholas, she'd pushed him away with suspicion. Had she listened, had she invited Nicholas in from the rain and sheltered him within her arms to rationally discuss the situation, he wouldn't have been hell-bent on seeking revenge. He wouldn't have raced to Matt's house...and...and...

Ellie closed her eyes tightly against the guilt and sorrow eating away at her. It was her fault that Nicholas was in that hospital room. She hadn't pulled the trigger, but she might as well have. Her rejection, her faithlessness had been the driving force in all of this. Had she listened to him, forgiven him, Nicholas would've been here now, holding her, comforting her.

Charles Grayson had remained true to his words in barring her access to his bedridden son. The hulking security officers placed in front of the hospital room kept a constant vigil, making it impossible for Ellie to even sneak in. It felt like a mortal wound not knowing how he was doing. Had he gotten worse? Was he better and out of bed? Did he blame her for what happened? Was his father filling his head with lies? Even more importantly, was he aware of Maddie's pregnancy?

The questions were endless, the answers, elusive. Every second Ellie became ill with not knowing.

God! Maddie was pregnant with Nicholas's child.

No matter how many times Ellie tried to refute the fact it gnawed away at her, jealousy and betrayal warred constantly in her mind. She'd trusted her, had believed Maddie incapable of harm and yet Maddie had proven Ellie wrong when the opportunity presented itself.

"You can't keep doing this to yourself, Ellie." Gabe flooded the room with light the minute he stepped into her room. Cautiously he approached the bed, the mattress dipped as he sat down. "It's not healthy and it's not going to make Nicholas heal any faster. He isn't even dead for Heaven's sake!"

"Gabe!" Ronnie chided with Sophie in her arms. "How can you be so insensitive?" Gabe didn't immediately see the anger on her too pretty features, but found himself abashed as he looked into Hunter green eyes. There weren't many he could recall who had that sort of power of him, which was why Ronnie was special.

Even in college she’d always been able to make him feel things no other person could. Like now for instance, she easily put to light his callousness and he had to agree with her. But really, who could blame him when he'd spent weeks watching his goddaughter tailspin into depression and wasn't able do anything to help her.

Ellie was stronger than this. The girl who'd arrived on his doorstep all those years ago had grown into a self-assured woman who didn't take anything lying down. Despite the age difference, Gabe looked up to his goddaughter. All she had accomplished, the obstacles she'd overcome and still she was able to laugh every day, appreciate all she had. Ellie gave Gabe hope; it was because of her that he and Ronnie were together. Her courage fortified him, made him believe that he could love again, live again and with Ronnie Gabe was discovering that it was remarkably easy to do those things. It was Gabe's fondest wish to one day share his surname with her, but that was a story for another time. Now all that mattered was getting Ellie back to reality.

What had happened with Nicholas was unfortunate, but life didn't just end because she was sad. And more than anything he wanted her to unload her burden on him. Gabe wanted her to vent out her frustrations, instead of bottling it up like he knew she was doing.

With a resigned sigh he brushed an apologetic kiss on Ronnie's arm, making sure not to unseat Sophie. "I'm sorry, Ellie. I'm just worried about you."

Ellie only nodded swiping her tears away she reached for her daughter, who wriggled free of Ronnie's arms and landed on her lap.

"Have you been a good girl for Gabe and Ronnie?" Ellie asked softly, brushing Sophie's curls from her face.

Sophie nodded vigorously. "Me good girl Mama. Wonnie buy ice cweam." she pushed her mother's fussing hands aside before continuing "...and we go pak and I see ducky and ducky go qwack, qwack." Sophie stood on the mattress and quite seriously began to imitate the ducks she had seen by cupping her hands beneath her arms and flapping them up and down.

Ellie laughed in spite of herself and pulled Sophie down for a quick peck on her button nose. "Very good ducky noises, baby. I'm very happy to hear you had a good time with Ronnie and Gabe at the park. Did you get sprinkles on your ice cream?"

"Wainbow spwinkles!"

"Yummy!" Sophie was a surefire way to lighten one's spirits. Just her presence alone was enough to chase the gloom away and Ellie knew she was blessed to have given birth to such angel. Holding Sophie between her legs beneath the downy comforter, Ellie turned her attention to the other two occupants in the room, while her daughter busily played with the silver bracelet around her wrist.

"Thanks for taking care of her guys, I know I haven't exactly been the best parent these past weeks and I really appreciate you being there for her."

"There's no need to thank us, Ellie, it was a pleasure playing with her. Your uncle loves you two very much and I'm just glad you like me enough to trust me with your pride and joy." Ronnie said with a warming smile, settling beside Ellie on the mattress. Tension eased a little when Gabe squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. She hadn't been sure whether she'd overstepped her bounds, but Gabe's gesture just now assured Ronnie that he respected her opinion when it came to this close-knit family.

"Of course I like you, not only can you deal with Soph, but you've managed to put my heart at ease now that I know Gabe won't die a lonely and bitter old man."

"Glad to see you back to your old wiseass self." Gabe said tersely.

Ellie laughed, God, it felt good to actually laugh again. "Stop acting like you didn't miss me."

"Ellie, how are you feeling? I know it's been hard dealing with all of this and school." Ronnie hedged cautiously, knowing just how sensitive the subject was.

Ellie took a deep breath and released it in one go, her shoulders sagging in the process. "To be perfectly honest I feel like shit," she wisely covered Sophie's ears before saying the last word. "But I know I can't sit up here wallowing in guilt and misery." she pulled the covers from her limbs and scooted off the bed with Sophie in tow. "Gabe's right, Nicholas isn't dead and that's a blessing. I know he'll call me when he gets out. It's only a matter of time."

Gabe's brows drew together in a frown. This was way too easy. "Ellie…"

"I'm fine, Gabe," Ellie reassured. "Really, I'm okay."

"As much as I would like to believe that, I know you and I know that this entire situation has taken a lot out of you. It's Ok to talk about your problems, Ellie. You don't have to be so mature all the time. You can be a bratty teenager, throw a tantrum if you want to but don't bottle up your feelings..."

"Stop analyzing me, Gabe I said I was fine and I am." Ellie said through clenched teeth rearranging Sophie on her hip.

"Stop acting like you’re thirty-five and be a child for once!" Gabe yelled in frustration.

Ronnie could quite literally cut the tension with a knife it was so thick. Like plumes of white smoke it danced through the air and Ronnie could feel it coat the back of her throat like fumes from a second hand cigarette. She cleared her throat and opened her mouth to speak. "Gabe…"

"Stay out of this!"

The realization of his error was instantaneous, the wounded expression on her freckled face like a physical blow. Gabe attempted to rectify his mistake but Ronnie recoiled from his touch, she stood from the bed and headed over to where Ellie and Sophie stood.

"I admire the fact that you're trying to be strong and I wish there was more I could do to help. But know that my prayers are with Nicholas for a speedy recovery and with you as well. I know you'll both get the happy ending you're overdue for." Ronnie patted Ellie's shoulder and kissed Sophie's cheek before she turned to leave, not sparing a look to her remorseful lover.

Ellie sighed. "I know it's hard as a parent to see me in pain and not be able to do anything to help me. But I'm dealing with all of this the best way I know how. Throwing a tantrum wouldn't solve anything. You've taught me to rely on my own strength, Gabe and I'm trying to do that. I'm a big girl I can take care of myself."

"But I'm here so that you don't have to do that, Ellie. It's not just you against the world anymore, babe. It's us and them now, has been for the past three years." He pulled her and Sophie close to him, "You're so mature for your age that sometimes I forget how young you are. All I want to do is protect you, Ellie. You can't blame me for being a concerned parent, I love you, kiddo." He was all chocked up now. He embraced both Ellie and Sophie until the sting of tears passed.

"I love you too, big guy. God, I didn't know you could be such a mush."

"Shut it up."

Ellie laughed. "Alright already, quit stalling and go after Ronnie. It's gonna take a lot of sweet talking to get yourself out of that Texas sized hole you dug."

"I really did it this time, didn't I?"

"Oh yeah, but I'm sure she'll forgive you."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because she loves you to pieces."

Gabe grinned, goofy really, something Ellie rarely saw. "You think so?"

Ellie nodded, truly happy for him. "A blind person can see it. Now stop wasting time and go." She pushed him out her bedroom door after one last kiss on the forehead.

"Mama, hungwy."

"Me too, monster, let's go downstairs and see what we can make, Ok?" Sophie only nodded resting her head on Ellie's shoulder.

It was cold, but the chilling winds had no effect on her, Maddie only pulled the parka closer to her frame and continued her trek. It was late, nearly midnight and the velvet backdrop of the moonless night blanketed the streets in darkness but she was not affected. She was trembling though, from fear...from urgency, both fighting for dominance in her ragged mind. The fear manifested itself in the gaunt faces of the desolate people she passed. It was in the tagged walls depicting signs of neighborhood gangs that warned off any and everyone who wasn't in their crew. It blaringly told Maddie she was on the wrong side of the tracks and would've been wise to turn back now. But urgency was the reason why she continued. Urgency had won the battle and now drove Maddie further and further into this dangerous world.

She'd grounded her teeth for hours until the urge drove her nearly insane. She needed the high, the minute euphoria to keep the thoughts at bay; she was feeling particularly suicidal at the moment. Ready to crack at any given moment. She needed the high. Craved it. The voices needed to shut up. Now. She needed them to stop.