Elsie&Ethan-temporary title

Dear readers,

Hope you're all OK and that the start of the new year has started off well :)

In the meantime, sorry I haven't been writing much lalely. I've had a lot on my mind. Anyway, let's go back to Elsie&Ethan's adventure, shall we?

What happened previously? Elsie, heavily pregnant, is put on bed rest by her doctor. She's a bit worried about her work but knows it's best for the baby. After a small misunderstanding concerning her maternity leave, Elsie has to come to the office to sort it out. At the same time, her boss, Ethan is starting to feel something is different but can't put his finger on it....

And now...? Well, let's find out! :) 

Bored. Bored. Bored...Elsie sighed. She knew she was supposed to be 'putting her feet up' and enjoying her maternity leave and she was...in a way. There was no paper pushing, no phone calls, no messages, nothing urgent. Peace and quiet. Just her. So, why wasn't she feeling happy? relaxed? 

Probably because she had had time to catch-up on her reading, her T.V shows, movies she hadn't seen yet, read every magazine she posessed, cleaned every inch of her flat she could without exhausting herself, separating winter and summer clothes, starting to build her babies coat, make a list of things she missed and Ned could get for her later, paying her bills (trying to no think about her salay decreasing every time...) these past few weeks. She hadn't even known she could do all of this. I guess when you have a lot of free time, you can do a lot...

Friends and close relatives had also visited at first but after a while, they had to return to their own lives. Elsie couldn't held them hostage. Shame...we might have had some fun. She laughed, what a crazy idea. See what nothing to do all day, does to my brain? The baby moved, interrupted her train of thoughts. Yeah, I know...Elsie patted  absently, her pregnant belly and soon had to go to the bathroom. 
As she went back to the living room, the door bell rang. Elsie went to open.


'Mum!' She exclaimed. 'What are you-'
'Can't I just visit my daugther?' 
'Of course, you can. i just...wasn't expecting you today, that's all. And-Mum?'
'Yes, honey?' She asked, innocently.Elsie frowned. What was she up to?
'If you're only visiting for a day, why do you have a suitcase?'
'Oh, that...it's, um, a few things I wanted to give-'
'Mum...you're a bad liar, your ears are red..now, why are you really here?' Elsie crossed her arms.
'You know, you look a lot like your father when you do that...'
'I-Mum!'
'What?'
'Stop it! Why are you here?'
'I just thought...I could spend some quality time with you and the baby'
'The baby isn't born yet..'
'And? I can still...' Elsie kept her arms crossed. 'visit for...a few days'
Why had she paused? Why had she paused before finishing her sentence? 
'Besides, you said Ned was...a bit busy lately; so...I won't be in the way' She continued. 
Not in the way? Elsie thought Are you kidding me?
'Mum...you don't vist, remember? Most of the times, I have to come and see you...spill the beans!'
'OK, fine. I have left your father, finally'
'Wait, what?' 'But...I don't understand'
'There is nothing to understand. I was married. I won't be soon. End of story'
'Mum! You threatened to leave him every day but you don't follow through. Why would it be any different? You love Dad...don't you?'
'I do but honey...he won't change. I've cooked and cleaned and...kept a tidy house, paying the bills on time, raised his children, made sure we had rooof over your head. Although apparently that's not enough for him! It's never enough. He takes me for granted you know! Well, not this time! This time I'm taking back my life and I intend to make up for the lost time'
'I...can't you guys talk about it first before doing something...shall we say, irrevocably stupid?'
'Elsie, when you are married, for as long as we have, then you'll undertand. In the meantime, don't judge'
'I'm not, I'm trying to understand'
'Understand what?'
'I don't know...for example, why after more than  35 years of marriage, you suddenly drop a bombshell on us-'
'Your sister doesn't know and I'd like to stay it that way...'
'Even better' Elsie mumbled. 'Mum, this is ridiculous. You can't-'
'I can actually and I did...I won't change my mind...'
'I know' Elsie sighed again. When she got an idea into her head, it was hard to let go. 
'Listen, I'm not planning on staying forever, just a few days, to get back on my feet...' 
'I...no, you-'
'Please, please...you won't even know I'm here' Yes, I will! 
'Mum...' Elsie wanted to be firm, to tell her mum to stop being stupid and talk with her dad like adults. To sort things out. Except...that wasn't how her mum worked. Oh no...quite the opposite in fact. She avoided any sort of conflict, mostly when it didn't serve her own interest. She loved to be right. Hated when she was wrong. However, Elsie made the mistake of looking into her mum's imploring eyes (not really, but she was a good actress whenever she wanted). 'You can't...I mean I-fine, you can stay...but only a few days like you said'
'Thank you, thank you' She hugged her, which she rarely did. 'A week at the most. You won't regret it' I already do...

Suddenly, as Elsie watched her mum making herself right at home, she had a feeling it would be more than a few days or even a week. Great...

Wilst Elsie was trying to figure out a way to cohabitate with her mum and not jumping out of the window (kidding of course), her mobile vibrated. The ID on her screen indicated it was her office calling...but Elsie didn't notice. Maybe that was for the best...at least for now. 

To be continued...
Hope you still like the story! :) Take care and see you soon for another article. xxx