All the guys (except Hoops) spent the afternoon showing Ella around London. For a few hours she felt like she was back in New York with Jack and Blink and everybody. As they were walking home, it began to pour down rain. They all staid outside the lodging house, and danced around in the rain. . When they got inside Hoops was sitting at the front desk looking broody and angry.
"Where the hell have you been and why are you soaked to the bone?" he exclaimed as Ella entered the house in front of the boys, Gale and Volley.
"Why is it any of your concern?" Gale asked, glaring at him.
"Because I'm responsible for her and all the rest of you!"
"Hoops, I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself. Stop acting like an overprotective big brother, I've already got one and one is enough," Ella seethed. All the guys crowded in a protective group around her and slowly walked up the stairs.
****
The next morning Ella woke up early and went to the distribution office early and went to the distribution office early. She took her time going to Whitehall. It took her 2 hours to sell all her papers. She wandered back to the bench that William had kissed her on and sat down to think. A few minutes later a well-dressed middle-aged gentleman sat down on the bench next to her.
"Is somethin' botherin' ya lass?" he asked in a rich Irish brogue.
"No, I guess I'm just missing my big brother," she said, absently fiddling with her locket.
"And where might he be?" the man asked kindly.
"He's back home in New York City."
" What be your name, lass, if ya don't mind me askin'?"
"My name's Elizabeth, but I'm called Ella," she replied, still fiddling with her necklace.
"What be that you're playin' wit?"
"Oh, it's just a necklace of my mother's," she said guardedly, becoming suspicious of this interrogation.
"Can I show you somethin' lass?"
"I guess so."
"When I was a lad of about 20 years old, I married the town beauty and we moved to the United States and were extremely happy for a little over 3 years. Then, I began to miss Ireland and we began to fight. She said I had a duty to give our children a chance at a good life. One day we decided that we should get a divorce, so I could go back to Ireland and leave her in peace. She remarried about 6 months later. I found out that she died about 6 years ago. I've always kept her picture close to me heart," he said as he reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a faded picture and handed it to Ella. She looked at the picture and gasped.
