Eventually, they cleaned out Cam's room. Everyone took a few things that they wanted. Amy took his silver cufflinks, with the intention of passing them on to Jimmy someday. Leo wanted his watch, to add it to his collection. David collected his stationary, including his engraved compass. Rob had taken his wallet, and a couple of shirts. Andrew had a vested interest in his bedframe, since it was slightly larger than his own. Elle had taken his CDs, a string of polaroids he had hung up on the wall of their most recent trip to see Ian, and her favourite shirt of his. Dad took custody of his electronics, and Aunty Julie wanted his school books. Everything else they donated.
It was the hardest thing Elle had ever done up to that point, but she got through it. Now, her room was just her room. One queensized bed in the middle of the space, one desk, her new desktop computer. Her fishtank had stayed where it was, her fish seemingly none the wiser to the changes. But everything was sorted now, and Dad had even let Carmella stay over a few nights in the new room, under some fairly strict stipulations of course.
But now this might be the new hardest thing she would ever do.
She stood out the front of an unassuming condo on a quiet little street out in the suburbs. It wasn't a cul-de-sac like Ramsey st but it was friendly feeling. Carmella stood by her side, their fingers entwined and smiled at her. Her scar is still there, as pink as ever. She's beautiful, and Elle is happy to be basking in her sunlight. Her t-shirt has a print of Taylor Swift on it again. They're planning to see her live next time she's in town.
"You'll never know if you don't try." She said, "I prayed on it, I think it's going to go well for you." Elle nodded her head. And sighed. When she asked Carmella if she felt weird for being Catholic and with a woman, she had replied that God made her this way on purpose, and he sent her to be with her on purpose. She repeated her refrain of God never doing anything by mistake. Rosie did not seem especially taken with her, but she didn't seem to outright hate her. She was doubtful of the future Elle had planned for them but was impressed with her initiative with the Tea Shop.
Speaking of the Tea Shop once she and Rob started doing things there way, profits were up. Advertising is a lot easier when you have social medias to advertise on, and you know how to use Facebook. It's not Leo's fault, but really, it is his limitation as a result of his past involvement with the Renshaws. But the Bar is doing better too now Leo can focus all his time on it. He's even talking about this new guy he's seeing. Ned, again. Different Ned to the one Elle had gone out with. Apparently, he met him through Terese. Which annoyed her because she didn't want Terese around particularly but she was hating her less and less by the day. She made Dad happy. For now, that's enough. Julie and Phillip were talking. She dances around the kitchen like a love struck teenager. For now, that's enough too. She hasn't had an update on Katya from Rob but she hopes that she didn't dump him.
A week ago, she and Amy went for their high tea and the whole time Amy was acting like she was maybe finally realizing that Liam was a total jerk so her hopes were high about that, too. Things seemed to finally be looking up for the Robinson family. Cam would be proud of her, she knows that he would be.
"Here goes nothing." She knocked twice on the door, it opened. Inside, Christina Alessi stood, looking eyes wide at seeing her ex stepdaughter standing on her staircase.
"Elle." She said, softly.
"Hi, Chrissy." She said, and was pulled into a tight hug by her.
"I love you." Chrissy said, "I'm so sorry, I love you, I love you."
"I love you too." Elle promised, "Everything's going to be okay now. I know it is."
