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“I was sick of everything. What was the point of the rat race any more?
I wanted to get away—and I mean away. Your mother went along with it
and we bought this house way out in Cambria. Totally off the grid. No
internet. No phone. It’s one-hundred-percent solar.”
“Remember the time the water tank was empty?” Doreen giggled.
“Your showers were too long.”
“We lasted two weeks.” Doreen put her trembling hand on my arm.
“And I said, ‘Enough.’ I needed to talk to someone.”
“That was when we compromised and got our place in Santa Barbara.”
Ted pointed his fork at me. “You should go up to Crownestead sometime.”
“Not Cambria?” I asked. “Sounds kind of cool.”
“Dante’s the only one who can last in the Cambria house longer than a
week.” Logan said.
“I don’t need to natter all day and night like you,” Dante said.
“A toast.” Ted held up his mimosa. “To my son and my new daughterin-law.”
Everyone raised a glass, and Ted directed his attention to Logan. “I
always told you that when you met the one, you’d know right away.” He
tilted his juice in my direction. “Welcome to the family, Ella Papillion.”
The Crowne family toasted with juice and mimosas.
“Ella,” Doreen said, putting her cloth napkin next to her plate, “I want
to show you something.”
I glanced at Logan for direction. Concern sat on his face like a rigid
mask.
“About what?” he asked with a much too defensive snap.
“Don’t you have business to mind?” Doreen said, standing. Everyone
followed her lead.
“Ella is my business.” He put his arm around me and kissed my head.
“You can have her later. I planned to take her bowling after breakfast.”
“Bowling?” I asked.
“There’s a full-sized alley downstairs,” he said.
“And it’ll be there later.” Doreen took my hand and tugged.
I had a choice. Going with Doreen was risky because without Logan
present, I could say the wrong thing. But if I didn’t go with his mother,
she’d think I didn’t want to be part of the family.
The first option was safer, but we had more to gain if I looked
committed to not just him, but his life.