Page 11 of Axel
“You don’t have to come.”
“Right.” Shaking her head, she slipped out of her heeled boots and into the comfortable tennis shoes inside the outdoors shoes closet. “We might as well get this over and done with.”
Caitlin looked at her daughter anxiously. “Really darling, you don’t have to accompany me. I know you have been at work the entire day and must be tired.”
“Too late now.” Pecking her mother on the cheek, she hefted the wicker picnic basket and headed towards the front doors. “If Axel hears of this…“
“He will be upset.”
“He will be. I am driving.”
*****
She felt like a prune and realized that she had spent too much time in the bath. Wrapped up in a short terry robe, she made her way towards the fireplace and was about to pour another glass of wine when she heard the doorbell chiming.
“Who on earth could that be at…?” A glance at the owl shaped clock on the wall showed that it was not that late after all.
She had landed at five p.m. and the drive through town had not taken that long. It was only a little past seven. With a resigned sigh, she made her way towards the front door and unlocked it to see two women standing there, one of them holding a large picnic basket.
There was no mistaking who they were. Caitlin Lakeside had passed on her exceptional good looks, thick coffee brown hair and amber eyes to her two children. The only difference was the woman was barely five foot one. Her daughter was a few inches taller and looked a little sheepish as if she was apologizing for the imposition.
“We thought we would stop by and welcome you to River Glades.” Caitlin’s smile was so disarming and friendly that Elliefound herself returning the smile and stepping back to allow them entry.
“I hope we didn’t interrupt your settling down for the night. I am Cathy and this is my mother…”
“I know who you are,” Ellie pointed them towards the living room. “Your resemblance to Axel Lakeside is quite remarkable. I was just about to enjoy a glass of wine…” Belatedly realizing that she was still wearing her robe, she told them to have a seat while she got dressed.
“Oh please!” Caitlin shook her head. “We are not going to be here that long. I just wanted to bring you something to welcome you to our town.” Taking the basket from her daughter, she handed it to Ellie.
“Thank you,” Ellie took the basket and placed it on the center table in front of the red sofa. “Please sit.” Waiting until they were seated, she continued. “This is unexpected. Where I come from, neighbors usually mind their own business. As a matter of fact, I hardly ever see my closest neighbor.”
“Well, River Glades is a small town, and we know practically everyone here.” Cathy was studying the woman’s flawless complexion without making it seem too obvious.
She had seen glossy photos of Ellie Logan when she went searching on the internet and admired the dazzling smile and the provocative poses. But seeing her up close and personal, she realized that the photos had not been airbrushed.
The woman’s complexion was flawless. She was obviously not wearing makeup, but her skin was dewy and her face pore less. Her short hair was slightly tousled, making her look like a teenager. The robe was sensible, but on the former model, it looked sexy and alluring.
“That must be very nice or very restricting, depending on how one looks at it.” Folding the ends of the robe over her knees, she focused her gaze on Cathy. “I understand you are a teacher.”
“At one of the local high schools. I teach junior high.”
“And you are an avid gardener.” Ellie slanted her gaze to look at the woman who was sitting primly, with her legs tucked closely together, her hands clasped on her lap. “Your roses are the talk of the town.”
“I love flowers.”
“She is being modest. She is also responsible for the vegetable and organic herb gardens at our house.” Cathy said with a laugh. “I have to ask – you were a model?”
“What’s the question?”
“Why did you give up what most people would think of as an exciting career?”
Ellie had been asked that question too many times to count and the answer was always delivered in a flippant tone. But now she took the time to respond.
She did not make friends easily and despite her engaging and sociable personality, she chose her friends carefully. Marcia and Jackie had been her best friends since high school and even during her travels, she had not accumulated any new ones. To her surprise, she felt an immediate affinity to the two women seated in front of her.
“I was getting too old and too tired to be traipsing all over the world. Modeling is an arduous and time-consuming career, and I was getting sick of living out of my suitcase.
Besides, I wanted to eat what I damn well pleased, without thinking about adding several extra pounds.” Her dark brown eyes twinkled as she stared at both women. “And I am very upfront and direct. I hope you don’t mind the bluntness.”