Jake
I didn't know this was what it felt like to love someone. It was all a mixture of worry and frustration. As I pulled up in the Anderson's driveway, I just hoped Ella was alright.
I'd tried all day to reach Ella, but she hadn't replied to my calls, texts, or chats or even called back. I was forced to come here because this was the only place, aside from the cafe, where I could find her.
I knocked on the door and Mr. Anderson came to open it.
"Come in, boy," he said as soon as he opened it. He had a little leap on his leg as turned and motioned for me to follow him.
"I just came to see if Ella is home," I said, "I was in the neighborhood."
"She's not home," Mr. Anderson said as he turned to sit on his chair. There wasn't much space between us so I had to squeeze myself to sit down beside him.
"Do you have an idea where she'd be?" I blurted out. I just wanted to see her but I didn't want to sound desperate.
"Are you sure everything is alright between you too?" Mr. Anderson asked me suspiciously.
"Of course," I said, "We are good."
"So why don't you call her on your cell phone?" He asked.
How do I tell him I've been calling and texting his daughter all morning to no avail?
"I'm sure she might be at work, so no need," I said, "I just drove by to say hello. Speaking of which, how is the car issue coming up?"
"Well, Inspector Ryder said we have to wait for the insurance to come by," he said reluctantly, "I don't have insurance and I didn't want double jeopardy when I tell him I didn't have one."
This was a tragic family. It hadn't always been like this when I first met Ella. Mr. Anderson was what you'd call a proper breadwinner. But things had changed after the accident.
What else could I gain from this family? I was putting more into the relationship than I was gaining at the moment so I needed to strategize so I won't lose out totally.
Just then, another car pulled into the driveway behind my car. It was a black sedan and must really cost a fortune. My heart skipped a beat as I saw Ella step out of the car so I tried to keep my calm.
"Speak of the devil," Mr. Anderson said as we glanced at her wave the driver goodbye and walked into the house.
She was shocked when she saw me. I was sure she didn't see my vehicle outside. I was too little for her to notice.
"Hey," I said
"Hey," Ella replied.
"You look good," I said, trying not to sound awkward and also not to show my jealousy.
"Thank you," she said in a surprising tone.
"Well, I guess there is no greeting for your old man, huh?" Mr. Anderson said.
"Good afternoon, Dad," Ella said as she hugged her father.
"Why not get something for your friend?" he said.
"That won't be necessary, Mr. Anderson," I said, "It was nice catching up with you."
"Likewise, Jake," he said, "thank you for all you do for my Ella. And for bringing her home safely yesterday. I just hope you come by more often like before."
"I'm always caught up with work," I said and I tried to avoid Ella's gaze, "but I will try and come around when I'm in the neighborhood."
I forced a smile and looked at Ella, "I will talk to you later, alright?"
She nodded and looked away. I could see the guilt in her eyes but there was no plea or explanation.
I forced a smile as I slammed the door on my way out.
It felt like I'd walked into a stranger's house. But now, I just had to recover what I'd lost.
***
Ella
The quiet house echoed from the sound of the door as Jake walked out of the house. My father was taken aback by what had just happened.
"Is there something you're not telling me, Ella?" My father asked.
I sank into a chair beside him. My head was pounding just like yesterday. Dad had gone with a tow truck to retrieve his car and he met a dead end. But he wasn't feeling like he'd lost something. I was about to regret my actions today, especially not picking up Jake's call or returning his texts. But what if he knew where I'd been?
"Snap out of it, Ella," my father yelped, "I asked you a question."
"I'm fine, Dad," I said, "I had a rough day."
"That was not what I asked you," he said. He looked at me intently and discerned I was tired, "Let's start with how your day went."
"I went to see Mr. Kingston," I said.
My father looked confused. "Who is Mr. Kingston?"
It was better to come clean now in case I was picked up for insurance fraud.
"The man who owns the car that hit the Pontiac," I said.
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?" My father said with a worried gaze, "You just wasted your time, Ella."
"I didn't, Dad," I said as I stood up, "I was able to convince him to help us."
"How did you do that?" He said with a puzzled look, "the Failure to Move a Disabled Vehicle ticket was not his fault and you know that. How would you have started the car without any help?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
"Dad, I thought I could handle it on my own," I said, "I wasn't even thinking when I went there."
"If you'd asked for a second opinion, I'm sure you would've made the right choice," my father said.
He was always reasonable and never bitter even with his present circumstances.
"Just let it go, alright?" He said as he made to draw me back to the chair, "we can manage without that rickety Pontiac. After all, there won't be a need to buy extra gasoline."
And we both laughed out loud.
"The last thing I wanted was for Jake to misunderstand me," I blurted out, "now he thinks…"
"What is he thinking?" My father said, "That you're cheating?"
I nodded my head. My father laughed so hard tears came to his eyes.
"I don't see anything funny, Dad," I said, "I could see the look in his eyes when I came into the house."
"Come closer, Ella, let me teach you something," he said as I obediently shifted closer to his armchair, "Any man who always thinks his woman is cheating on him is insecure. That means he has failed in an area of gifting or is found wanting."
"I don't quite follow, Dad," I said looking more confused than when I came in.
He smiled at me and continued.
"If a man feels insecure about his woman, look critically, It's either he's failed to provide, protect or sustain."
"He pays part of my tuition, Dad," I said, "that counts for something, you know."
My father was quiet for some time. "Then you need to be honest with him," he said, "tell him the truth."
"What truth?" I queried, "He already thinks I'm cheating on him but I'm not."
"Then make him know you're not," he said, "What better way to counter falsehood if not with the truth."
I could feel the weight of his words. I guess he was right after all.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
"Who could that be?" My father said as we exchanged an uneasy glance. Mother's car was not in the driveway as she was responsible for picking up the twins.
Then another knock on the door.
"Let me get it, I said.
I stood up and looked out the window a second time then I saw an unbranded car on the other side of the street with about two men in gray suits monitoring the our house. They looked like cops but a little more than that.
Maybe Mr. Kingston had caught up with my lies and I was been investigated for insurance fraud. I just knew that whoever was on the other side of the door was here to determine my fate.
Nemesis must've come too early.