Walk over to the stupid door and lock it. The panic attack took her by surprise, as she hadn’t had one for a while. The feeling of dread was overwhelming. A tear slid down her face.
She wasn’t sure how long she stood there before she took a step, then ran over to the door and locked it tight. She slid down to the floor and put her arms over her head. She was a fool. She’d thought she was better. Her breath caught in her chest. If only Jacob were there. He made her feel safe.
***
Ryan and Maisie’s house was beautiful. Ellie walked up the pebble-covered stepping stones nestled in lush green grass to a patio with potted purple and orange mums. An autumn wreath decorated the white wooden door. Even without the rubber welcome mat, this place would feel inviting. The pretty redhead wearing a thin sweater showing off her baby bump opened the door and motioned them inside. A small black and white dog ran over the glossy, but weathered oak floors to them and barked.
“Happy, sit!” The dog obeyed and Maisie pet her head. “Good girl.”
Ellie smiled and stuck out her free hand for the dog to sniff. Happy licked her and panted. “Here’s the stuff for the s’mores.” Ellie handed Maisie the bag of chocolate bars, graham crackers and marshmallows. The sage green walls looked great with the rest of their décor. The only thing out of place in the entire room was a baby blanket spread out on the tweed sofa with a dozen or so toys. Other than that, the home looked like a magazine cover. Not to mention, Ellie could smell an apple pie baking.
“Great, thanks!” Maisie took the bag and smiled. “Come on in. I’ll let Jacob show you around while I get Blossom up from her nap. Ryan is outside getting the fire pit going.”
Ellie couldn’t help but notice how rosy the woman’s cheeks looked or how genuinely content she seemed with her life. A twinge of jealously came over her. Maisie had the fairy tale Ellie had always hoped for.
“Okay.” Jacob took Ellie’s hand. “Well, let’s start in the basement. The critters live down here.”
Ellie’s eyes widened. “Critters?”
Jacob snickered. “Don’t worry, they’re in cages.”
Slightly hesitant, Ellie followed him down a short staircase to the most unbasemently basement she’d ever seen. The large room was cheerful and had gorgeous pictures of Venice creating a gallery wall. The critters, or pets, rather were arranged in a row on a long wooden table.
Jacob pointed to the first of the cages. “This is Lucky, this one is Boots and this last one here is Rex.”
Ellie could tell that Ryan brought his work home. A bunny, a hamster and a rat peeked at her and twitched their noses.
“Cute.”
Happy came bounding down the stairs and curled up on her large doggie bed in the corner of the room.
Ellie’s eyes were drawn to the pictures on the wall.
“There is a story behind this basement.” Jacob looked around.
Ellie’s eyes met his. “Oh?”
He nodded. “Ryan had it built for Maisie to keep her safe from storms. Before he met her, she lost a husband and a child in a tornado.”
Ellie felt guilty for being jealous of Maisie. She really knew nothing about her and it sounded as though her life wasn’t always so perfect. Ellie didn’t like feeling envious, so she pushed the feelings away and instead replaced them with hope that yes, people really could live like this even after a tragedy. She followed Jacob back upstairs and outside to the deck. Ryan stood in the middle of the yard poking the fire. He waved at them.
“Man, thanks for coming to the very first Tucker weenie roast.” Ryan pulled his friend in for a hug and patted him on the back. He gave Ellie a quick hug. “Welcome to our home. Happy you could come.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Glad to be here. You have a beautiful home.”
“That’s all Maisie.” He chuckled. “And her sister. They like to decorate.”
Ellie smiled. Maisie walked out the door holding the cutest baby
She wasn’t sure how long she stood there before she took a step, then ran over to the door and locked it tight. She slid down to the floor and put her arms over her head. She was a fool. She’d thought she was better. Her breath caught in her chest. If only Jacob were there. He made her feel safe.
***
Ryan and Maisie’s house was beautiful. Ellie walked up the pebble-covered stepping stones nestled in lush green grass to a patio with potted purple and orange mums. An autumn wreath decorated the white wooden door. Even without the rubber welcome mat, this place would feel inviting. The pretty redhead wearing a thin sweater showing off her baby bump opened the door and motioned them inside. A small black and white dog ran over the glossy, but weathered oak floors to them and barked.
“Happy, sit!” The dog obeyed and Maisie pet her head. “Good girl.”
Ellie smiled and stuck out her free hand for the dog to sniff. Happy licked her and panted. “Here’s the stuff for the s’mores.” Ellie handed Maisie the bag of chocolate bars, graham crackers and marshmallows. The sage green walls looked great with the rest of their décor. The only thing out of place in the entire room was a baby blanket spread out on the tweed sofa with a dozen or so toys. Other than that, the home looked like a magazine cover. Not to mention, Ellie could smell an apple pie baking.
“Great, thanks!” Maisie took the bag and smiled. “Come on in. I’ll let Jacob show you around while I get Blossom up from her nap. Ryan is outside getting the fire pit going.”
Ellie couldn’t help but notice how rosy the woman’s cheeks looked or how genuinely content she seemed with her life. A twinge of jealously came over her. Maisie had the fairy tale Ellie had always hoped for.
“Okay.” Jacob took Ellie’s hand. “Well, let’s start in the basement. The critters live down here.”
Ellie’s eyes widened. “Critters?”
Jacob snickered. “Don’t worry, they’re in cages.”
Slightly hesitant, Ellie followed him down a short staircase to the most unbasemently basement she’d ever seen. The large room was cheerful and had gorgeous pictures of Venice creating a gallery wall. The critters, or pets, rather were arranged in a row on a long wooden table.
Jacob pointed to the first of the cages. “This is Lucky, this one is Boots and this last one here is Rex.”
Ellie could tell that Ryan brought his work home. A bunny, a hamster and a rat peeked at her and twitched their noses.
“Cute.”
Happy came bounding down the stairs and curled up on her large doggie bed in the corner of the room.
Ellie’s eyes were drawn to the pictures on the wall.
“There is a story behind this basement.” Jacob looked around.
Ellie’s eyes met his. “Oh?”
He nodded. “Ryan had it built for Maisie to keep her safe from storms. Before he met her, she lost a husband and a child in a tornado.”
Ellie felt guilty for being jealous of Maisie. She really knew nothing about her and it sounded as though her life wasn’t always so perfect. Ellie didn’t like feeling envious, so she pushed the feelings away and instead replaced them with hope that yes, people really could live like this even after a tragedy. She followed Jacob back upstairs and outside to the deck. Ryan stood in the middle of the yard poking the fire. He waved at them.
“Man, thanks for coming to the very first Tucker weenie roast.” Ryan pulled his friend in for a hug and patted him on the back. He gave Ellie a quick hug. “Welcome to our home. Happy you could come.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Glad to be here. You have a beautiful home.”
“That’s all Maisie.” He chuckled. “And her sister. They like to decorate.”
Ellie smiled. Maisie walked out the door holding the cutest baby
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