Paradise Found

40

ELOISE

“Oh my god, Ellie, did you hear him? That man is heartbroken. I really think you should talk to him,” Lauren tells me as she comes back inside after talking with Alistair.

“I can’t, Lauren.” I shake my head as tears begin to roll down my cheeks again, thinking of what his family put me through hours earlier.

“He’s not like his brother, Elle. That man loves you, and it looks like he would move mountains to be with you. One day I wish to find a guy who loves me like that,” Lauren tells me.

“I need time. Please just give me time to process this.” I curl into a ball—my mind is not willing to discuss something so traumatic from my childhood.

“I know, babe. I also think you should talk to someone. This time someone who isn’t on your parents’ payroll,” she tells me.

“Not today. I don’t want to deal with it today. Please don’t make me.”

“That’s fine. You don’t have to do anything today.”

I snuggle into the couch and begin to flick the channels on the television, trying to find something to numb the excruciating pain I’m in.

* * *

“Another bouquet,” Lauren states as she brings in another gorgeous arrangement of flowers.

Alistair has sent me a bouquet of flowers every single day for the past month. Lauren’s house looks like a funeral parlor, but it’s kind of cute. I’ve been sending a thank you message every single time a bouquet has arrived—I’m not that much of a heartless monster. I’ve also been baking up a storm because it’s what I do when I’m stressed. Not that Lauren’s complaining. I’ve also started going to therapy, trying to work through my childhood trauma. Every single day for the past couple of weeks I’ve been going, and I feel better for it. This time I know I’m getting the help I deserve.

“When are you going to put this man out of his misery and take him back?” Lauren asks.

“I’m trying to get myself better, so I deserve a man like him,” I reply.

“Babe, please, you deserve him just like he deserves you.”

“I don’t know what to say to him. I’m embarrassed and heartbroken all at the same time,” I explain to Lauren.

“You can say anything. The man just wants to love you,” she says with a smile.

Maybe she’s right. “Fine! I better message him to say thanks for the flowers and go from there.”

“There you go, that a girl,” Lauren replies, giving me two thumbs up.

I head upstairs to my bedroom, flop down on my bed, and grab my phone. I nervously bite my lip as I begin a message to him.

Eloise: Thank you so much for the gorgeous flowers. You don’t have to keep sending them to me.

Alistair: If it means I get to hear from you, it’s worth it.

Aw, that was sweet.

Alistair: Also, thanks for the cupcakes. My staff thinks I’m the best because of them.

Lauren suggested that I start sending Alistair the excess items I was baking as thanks for the flowers. So, I’ve been doing that.

Eloise: I’m glad they have been enjoying them.

Alistair: They have been asking me where they can purchase them. So I told them to contact you via socials. Hope that was okay?

Eloise: OMG that was you? I was wondering where I was getting all these requests from.

Alistair: You know I’ve always thought you were talented. The world is crying out for your gift.