Embracing Ellie (K&S Securities 3)

“Will you need more apartments for your employees?” Ana pipes up, drawing all eyes toward her.

Travis and I meet each other’s eyes. There are a few people we have discussed moving down here from the Spokane office. Most of our investigators are mobile and can work from anywhere. Only a few of them want to move, so we’ll be looking for new people as well once we get established here.

“Not really,” I say, “Becca, our office manager, is relocating once she gets everything wrapped up in Spokane, but she won’t stay here. We do need to find a small fenced lot somewhere close for her bus.”

“Bus?” Ana asks, confused.

“Becca is the best!” Faye enthuses, “She’s kind of like an Amish hippie and she lives in a converted bus with her dogs!”

Faye and Becca became fast friends during her short stay with Travis before coming here. I can’t stop my laughter. Amish hippie does fit Becca perfectly, except that she isn’t actually Amish. Or a hippie. I’m not sure what she is, it’s not something she has been willing to talk about, and I suspect she is running from something. Travis and I have both made it clear to her that if she needs help we’ll provide it no questions asked, but she has always declined. I guess it’s enough that she knows we’re here for her if she needs us.

“We shouldn’t have any trouble finding her something close by,” X say

s. “I’ll call my realtor and get him looking.”

Rattling off the basic information about Ellie’s neighborhood, I suggest, “That might be a good place to have him look.” Four sets of quizzical eyes turn toward me.

“I’ve been out exploring a bit,” I tell them, just a touch defensive.

“That’s where Ellie lives,” Ana says, a knowing smile on her face as she elbows Faye and they both giggle before putting their heads together and whispering frantically, glancing at me before resuming their gossip again.

Trying to ignore them, I turn my attention back to Travis and Xavier, but they are both looking between their women and me like they are trying to solve a riddle. When Travis snorts with restrained humor I can’t stop myself from rolling my eyes at him with a small shake of my head. Mercifully the universe takes pity on me and the waitress returns with my plate of food and I dig in, doing my best to ignore the entire lot of them.

“In case you were wondering, Blake,” Ana giggles, “Ellie is home taking care of her mom and sister.”

Does everyone know?

Not wanting to be obvious about how much I had been wondering where Ellie has been, I shrug and pop a bite of fluffy eggs in my mouth, chewing slowly and swallowing before saying, “It’s too bad her family isn’t feeling well.” I keep my tone as bland as possible, but already my mind is rushing around to what I can do to give her a hand.

“Poor thing,” Faye says, her voice full of concern. “I haven’t gotten to know her very well yet because she is always so busy, but she seems so nice. It’s sad that she doesn’t have anyone to help her out.”

“Yeah,” I say, but I get the feeling that my disinterested act isn’t fooling anyone. Least of all Travis. He’s looking at me with a bemused smile. He knows my dating history, so I’m sure he’s wondering what’s going on that he’s missed. I grin at him. He’s been busy for the last few weeks and totally wrapped up in Faye, so I can’t blame him for his unusual lack of attention.

Ana and Faye continue chatting about Ellie and Becca’s imminent arrival. I’m only half listening to the conversation flowing around me, instead thinking about what I could possibly do to make things easier for Ellie while she tends to her ailing family.

“What’s wrong with Beatriz and Lizzie?” I blurt, not even thinking about using their first names until Ana’s calculating gaze lands on mine.

“Beatriz and Lizzie have the same upper respiratory infection that Auggie had last week, and since he’s feeling better Ellie is staying home with him.” She says.

“Who’s Beatriz and Lizzie?” Faye asks, looking between Ana and I, confusion crinkling the bridge of her freckled nose.

“Ellie’s mom and sister,” Ana replies, a knowing smile curving up the corners of her lips.

“Ohhh. I see.” Faye says, nodding her head and smiling at me. “You should get a takeout tub of soup and take it to them.” She suggests. “I bet Ellie would appreciate not having to fix lunch today.” She shrugs her slender shoulders, “I hate having to cook when I’m not feeling well, I bet it’s the same when you are taking care of sick people.”

“Faye’s right,” Travis says grinning at me. “You should take some time off today and go make sure they’re doing okay.”

“That’s a great idea,” Xavier interjects, jumping on the send Blake to Ellie’s train, “Let her know she’ll be earning sick pay wages for as long as she needs time off to take care of her family.”

Ana throws her arms around him with a happy squeal, pressing her lips to his cheek several times, murmuring loving words to him in a quiet voice in between kisses.

That right there. I want that. The feeling, not quite jealousy, swamps me so unexpectedly that my throat clogs with emotion. Clearing it, I snatch up my coffee, drain the cup and signal for the waitress. She hurries over.

“Can you please get me a large container of soup to go?” I ask.

She smiles, “Of course, anything else?”

Thinking of Ellie and Auggie I can only think of one thing, “If there is any pie, a couple of slices would be great.”