Starting Over - Chapter Eleven - The Crossroads

Chapter Eleven - The Crossroads

Ellen sat, the busy airport passing her by, and weighed up the options. What did she really have to come home to? The aftermath of the wedding? She’d returned all the gifts, at least now she had enough money to pay her credit card bill, so that was all dealt with. Her family? Well they’d hardly been supportive, and she’d spent so long doing what they wanted, trying to please them. She’d lost Rebecca too, and her job. She’d frowned at Jan’s frivolity, living here, away from the real world, no career, no direction, but now it appealed to her. She could stay at the apartment; she’d pay rent though, then look for a job? There were lots of resorts on the island; surely a bar somewhere needed a worker? So I’ll stay? She wondered, and then knew it was the only option.

So she took her bags and walked back out into the Majorcan sun. The weight lifted from her shoulders, she suddenly felt happy, calm and even optimistic.  Grabbing a cab she reeled off the address to Jan’s apartment. Jan. She had to decide what to do about him, she really liked him, but the lawyer thing....it bugged her, and she needed to work that out in her head. He wasn’t pushing her though, he was giving her opportunity. She already knew that this was typical of Jan; he was so unselfish in his ways. He was more angry for her about Richard’s behaviour than she was now, and his actions did have motivations, but if it was to manipulate her into staying for his own means, he’d be here now making himself part of the conditions wouldn’t he? But instead he was offering up this apartment, losing his own refuge so that she could have one of her own.

                “Shit!” she exclaimed loudly as she closed the apartment door behind her. “What the hell have I done?”

Ellen didn’t have his phone number, they’d never needed to call, and due to the animosity of their spilt they’d not exchanged addresses or anything then. So she called the hotel, glad that the number was on her checking out receipt.

                “Is it possible to leave a message for Jan...” she suddenly froze, she didn’t know his surname! How self-obsessed did that sound? So she verbally stumbled, “...from the Animacion team please?”

                “Ah Jan Zeigler! Yes I can take message.”

Zeigler? How had that never cropped up in conversation? “Thanks. Could you just tell him that Ellen thanks him for the accommodation?”

                “Ok!” the receptionist’s voice was bright and cheery as she hung up on Ellen.

It was a Sunday, and for the first time in as long as she could remember she had no agenda. No work, no family commitments, nothing, and it felt liberating. The first thing she did was change into clothing suitable for the sun, plaster on the sunscreen then go investigating. She really needed to find an internet cafe, once she’d cleared her credit card and sorted out her finances she’d know how desperately she’d need to find work. She also needed groceries, she had to eat.  With a smile on her face and a spring in her step she headed out into the sunshine.

Three hours later Ellen was opening the apartment door with bags full of goodies. She’d emailed her father, told him she was staying on, that she’d contact him with an address once she knew what she was doing, internet banked, then searched for local jobs. She’d lined up three bar/waitress interviews for the following day, had enough food to last a few days. It was what she termed a very productive afternoon!

Sighing in pleasure, contentment, she made for the open plan kitchen and opened a bottle of red wine, pouring a good glug into a glass. There was food for all occasions, but suddenly she wanted to explain her actions to Jan. She’d thought he’d turn up this afternoon, be waiting for her, and whilst she missed him more than anything, she also respected him more for being true to his word.

Ellen slept in one of the spare rooms that night, the Master bedroom was a Ziegler family zone, and she didn’t need more signs of Jan as she tried to sleep. The next morning she was eating toast and supping her coffee, wondering what to do that day when there was a knock at the door.

Ellen practically skipped to the door, pulling it back with a smile, expecting to see Jan stood there. Instead she saw an elderly lady holding an envelope.

               

                “Pour toi!” She announced handing it over with a smile, before leaving. Ellen knew little French, but knew that this was ‘for her’! Smiling she closed the door, clutching the envelope to her chest.

With a fresh cup of coffee in front of her, she slid her breakfast knife under the flap of the envelope and sliced it open, pulling the folded paper free. Jan was the only person who knew she was there, so it shouldn’t have been a surprise to see his scrawling handwriting across the page.

                “I’m so glad you stayed. If you need anything let me know, I’ve got lots of contacts! Still sorry, Jan,xxx” It was accompanied by a phone number, for a local mobile phone.

Taking out her phone she punched in the number and got his answer phone.

                “Jan...It’s me. I want to discuss rent with you, I’m not living here for free.....and I’d...err....like to see you. If that’s ok with you?”

With that she left her number and hung up. She had two interviews that morning, so she needed to get her backside into gear. Finally dressed, she left the apartment for the prospective job appointments, wondering what else the day would bring.

All the jobs were long hours giving her very little time off, lunchtime til the early hours six or seven days a week. She wanted to live as well as work. That was when she saw the small advert for a job in a shop near the apartment. A Spanish man who introduced himself as Pedro spoke to her; he was very keen to have a natural English speaker working at the shop as the patrons were of mixed nationality. The shifts varied in length and time, but the shop closed between eight and ten every evening. So she’d have time for her. Perfect!

Back at the apartment Ellen showered, washing the hot day from her body; she was more invigorated as she emerged wrapped in a towel, her wet hair fingered back off her face. Water, she thought as she headed for the kitchen, a cold glass of water is just what I need! Lifting her eyes she froze, there stood between her and the kitchen, was Jan. Dark hair dragged back into that familiar soft Mohawk, his dark eyes, his harsh angular features all turned on her, tension bubbled and she heard herself release a moan of longing involuntarily.  It was the spark of hope that he needed, and as his face broke into a smile of relief, he crossed the room in four large strides pulling her into his arms.

Ellen melted into him, lifting her face to his as his lips swooped down to kiss her.

                “I’ve missed you SO much!” He breathed against her lips, before desire washed over them both.  The kiss was so familiar, so earth shattering that Ellen felt her knees weaken. He smiled against her lips as she finally managed a reply.

                “Me too. Sorry for over reacting!”

He pulled back to look at her, a smile creeping on to his face, “I believe that apology is mine. It wasn’t my decision to make, but I hated seeing you go, back to all that rubbish you’d left behind.”

Ellen laid a hand on his cheek, loving the feel of the stubble, the warm skin, “thank you. I would never have done that. I’m not used to people helping me, that’s why I was so defensive. I’m sorry.”

                “You’re here now, and that’s great.”

His words were sincere, but his eyes were burning into her. She was only wearing the towel after her shower, and suddenly they were both aware of that.

                “There’s so much we need to discuss, but....”

She chuckled as he scooped her up in his arms, then kicked open the bedroom door.