Elsie&Ethan: another extract :)

Dear readers,

Hope you're all OK since my last article :)

Last time, we followed Elsie, trying to balanced between her mum still living with her and her baby's arrival soon, as for  Ethan, he keeps wondering what's missing in his office...

And now...

'Oh bugger!' Elsie hung-up her phone. She had tried calling her dad and asked for his help, possibly convince his wife to come back home, and she'd gotten his voicemail. Not unusual, per se, as she didn't expect him to stay glued to his phone. However, she'd a feeling her dad was avoiding her. She couldn't explain it. Or maybe it was just her hormones. Elsie sighed. In any case, it was a moot point. Her mum could be as stubborn as a mule. So was her dad. So...it would be a long long time before the two of them found a middle ground.

Sitting on a park bench, Elsie patted her belly, absently looking around, wondering whether the other people's life was as crazy as her at the moment. Probably not. Her mobile rang, interrupting her train of thoughts. Distracted, she answered, thinking it was her dad, calling her back. It wasn't.

'Hello?' 'Um, yes...'
'Oh, thank God! Finally!' A voice exclaimed. It sounded familiar but somehow Elsie's brain (probably due to the pregnancy was working slowly).  'I've left a bunch of messages! Don't you ever answer your phone? Do you know in what century we're living in?'
'Er...I think so and no, I'm sorry I-'
'No need. Apology accepted. Now, I need-'
'I didn't-' Elsie protested but the person seemed unware and on a roll.
'...I need to know where the file is?'
'The f-file?' Elsie frowned. What was she on about?'
'Yes! The file! Keep up, will you? I don't have all day, OK? Oh, and I also need to know if you confirmed the black and tie event tonight on Mr Martin's schedule? I need to book a car and-'

Mr Martin. Right. As in Ethan Martin. Her boss. Who didn't even know she existed. Let alone what her name was. Not that the desperate assistant, Elsie deduced, appeared to know either.

'Listen, let me stop you right there...I'm sorry but I'm on leave a the moment and all important informations related to Mr. Martin's specific needs or expectations are not that complicated to figure out...but if you really don't know the answer, ask Marge. Goodbye' Elsie turned off her phone. Enough. I need peace. And then some more.

*****
Why did it keep happening? Ethan wondered as he made his way back to his office. Everything was a mess. Lately, it was as if chaos had replaced peace. Appointements were either double booked or disappeared entirely. Or cancelled even. Or moved to other dates. Lunch or dinner dates were mixed-up. Gifts too. Phone numbers  were not they were supposed to be and his messages...well, let's not that about that. Or the fact that his filing system was also a mess. The elevator doors opened. Ethan got out and went directly to his office, not stopping to hear anyone. Ethan closed the door behind, indicating he didn't want to be disturbed. Hopefully, they would get the message. Or not...apparently someone was brave enough to come knocking on his door.

'Yes?' he replied, tersely. 'Oh, it's you...'

*****
'Elsie! Where have you been?' Her mum exclaimed as soon as she came back. 'I have been worried to death...' Elsie looked up to see her sitting on the couch, a wine glass on the coffee table, watching T.V, a cooking show or other.

'I see...' Very worried indeed. 'Um...I'm going to-'
'Next time, it would be nice to know where you're disappearing to. That's what phones are for'
'I know, Mum. Now, I'm going to my room and-'
'Get ready...I imagine'
'Ready? Ready for what?' Elsie frowned.
'Ned's picking you up in an hour'
'He is?'
'Yes. You're going to dinner at his parent's house...or have you forgotten?'
'Um, n-no, no...sorry, I-sorry. Thank you' Elsie nodded, turning around and going to her bedroom. Oh crap! Dinner with Ned's parents? Kill me now! Sorry, that wasn't fair. They were nice people. In all. It was just-OK, there was no other way to say it. They were...a bit judgemental on the fact that she and Ned weren't married. And didn't plan to. They were always dropping hints here and there about 'how it was the right thing to do' and  they at least 'consider getting married for the baby's sake. Yeah, we were in a modern world. A world where you don't necessarily need to get married because you felt like you had to. Elsie had so wanted to explain it to them. Yet, another moot point. They only listened to their own opinion. So, she'd stopped trying and went along with their constant remarks, gritting her teeth, whenever she'd to see them. Fortunately for Elsie, it wasn't very often. Tonight being the exception...
Elsie lay down on her bed, head on the pillow, and closed her eyes...just for a few minutes and then I get ready. Oh my, it feels good to relax...

To be continued...:) Don't worry, Elsie and Ethan will meet soon ;-) Take care and see you soon for another article! :) xxx

Copyright-all rights reserved.

Elsie & Ethan are back :)

Dear readers,

Hope you're all OK and are enjoying the beginning of the Spring...:)
I apologize for not writing sooner but I had (still have) a lot on my mind lately.

So, today, another extract on Elsie &Ethan's adventures, hope you still like it ;-)
Last time, we left them, Elsie had Ned visiting and Ethan nursing (or he will be) a hangover...

And now...

'So here we are on the different objectives we had previously...' the voice was closed but also seemed far away. Ethan hide a groan. Man, if I'm not dead before this presentation is over, it'll be a miracle! His hangover was indeed still there from the previous evening. The aspirin taken earlier had yet to take effect. He moved in his seat, trying to focus on what Miles, his colleague, was explaining. Usually, he'd found it interesting but today, it sounded like gibberish. Or something very dull. But he'd to set the examples and appear as if it was interesting. Easier to say than done...Ethan glanced at the window briefly. A whole other world...people coming and going in the street, cars, buses...
'....don't you agree, Ethan?'

He froze, as he finally registered his name had been called. Oh bugger! Ethan cleared his throat, trying to buy himself some time.

'Don't I agree?' Ethan repeated.
'Yes...' Miles replied. 'So?' He's not going to help me, is he? I'm on my own, aren't I?
'Um, I...I'm not sure exactly...'
'Oh. Why?'
'Well, um, I have think it over first...before I-we make a decision'
'Really?'
'Is there a problem?' Ethan frowned, looking Miles directly. 'When in doubt, always stand on your own two feet...and don't back down, otherwise your opponent is going to think you're a fool..' a famous sentence from his late grandpa. One he'd never forget...and seemed rather useful at the moment, even though Ethan wasn't so sure...
A few minutes or a few seconds (it could have been more) passed, and Ethan thought he was going to admit forfeit as Miles seemed perfectly capable and handling the situation, yet...

Miles looked away first. He cleared his throat. 'No, no problem. Take all the time you need. OK, next'
Ethan couldn't believe it. Thanks Grandpa! He hide a smile, as the rest of the meeting went on...

A few days later,

Different. Different can be good, right? There was no rules against it. It meant change. It could also mean a fresh start. If that was the case, why was she plagued by doubts ever since Ned's last visit? Why did his words sounded false? Elsie groaned, putting away her book. I'm going crazy. It probably means nothing anyway. Ned was just being...Ned. Kind and affectionate and thoughtful. It seems he wanted to make things work between them. Except...

'Elsie?' Came her mother's voice.  Oh boy, what now? Elsie wondered. 'We have a problem'
'What problem?' Elsie asked, as patiently as she could.
'This flat, it cannot continue like this!'
'Oh?' A flicker of hope appeared in Elsie's heart. Could it be?
'This isn't possible anymore' Could her mother realize it was time to go back to her dad?
'Um, what do you mean?'
'It's not going to work...this situation'
'OK...well, if you want to g-'
'This flat is a deathtrap! It's not safe!'
I should have known better than to hope. I should have known taking her in would mean she would never ever leave! Elsie wanted to scream.
'My flat is safe, Mum'
'No, it's not! It needs...babyproofing if you still call it like that these days'
'We do and Ned said-'
'I don't care what Ned said...you shouldn't trust men, didn't I teach you that, already?'
'Um...'
'Never trust a man that takes you for granted, let me tell you!'
Oh boy, here we go again...Elsie braced herself for another lecture.

                                                               *****
So, if I were a very important file, where would I be? Ethan looked around, once more. Not like  he hadn't been looking for the past hour but there you go. Actually, it wasn't only this hour, it had been going on for a while now and something, whether people realized it or not, was different. His office looked different. What was a usually well oiled machine, didn't look like one anymore. More like a rusty one. Damn it! Ethan swore. I'm pretty clever, usually, so why can't I figure it out? What's missing?

                                                             ******
Elsie closed the door of her appartement behind her. Enough. She needed to take her life back before it was too late...
To be continued....
Take care and see you soon for another article. Thank you again for following me and my stories :) xxx