CPOV
The first dance starts and Elliot sways with Kate across the dance floor while I stare at him disbelievingly as if I've never before seen him like this. Usually he doesn't stay long with a single woman but takes three at a time home with him. But it seems like something serious is starting to develop in this case. As soon as the dance is over Elena gets up and hisses to me that she wants to dance. Rather reluctantly I follow her to the dance floor and we begin to swoosh over the parquet.
"I can barely recognize you! What was that supposed to be? Do you want to denounce me in front of everyone?" Elena worries.
"Good Lord, Elena, I had a little bit of fun. What is your problem? You should chill a bit," I tell her irritated.
"My problem is that this hall is full of the most important businessmen of Seattle. It doesn't give a good impression if you offer a lot of money for a cheap blonde while sitting beside your fiancée. One might think you are skittish and that wouldn't be good for business!" she argues.
"If this is the case they shouldn't attend charity events. But well, like this or like that it is too late, so please calm down," I stifle the conversation.
After the dance I guide Elena to our table, put her chair in place and excuse myself as I want to go into my old room for a little timeout. I enter the room and a wave of regret splashes over me. I take a seat on my bed and can see my 15-years-old self in this room. It pains me that I sealed myself off like that. I had a family that stood by my side in good and in bad times and I made nothing good out of it. Even quite the opposite is true: I pushed them away.
Suddenly there is a knock at the door and I ask whoever is standing behind it to come in. Grace enters, walks over to me, sits down beside me on the bed and crosses her legs.
"You know I am quite good at just sitting here while listening, but I am sure you already know that" she says and lies down on my bed while moving her arms as if she is trying to make a snow angel.
"I remember the day you arrived at the hospital well. I had been sitting by your side for three days straight until you finally started to interact with me. Not to mention the following two years until you spoke your first word. So don't you even dare to believe that you can keep a secret from me just because you don't talk about it. I know that there is something amiss, I only don't know what is wrong," she tells me confident before she falls quiet.
"Mom, I cannot talk about it, I want to leave this chapter behind!" I try to explain it all away but my mother only roars with laughter.
"I beg you, you don't want to leave this chapter behind, you want to jump right into it and never get out again. I can guess so just by looking at you! But alright, if you want to talk about it you know where to find me. I will always have an open ear for you," replies Grace as she gets up again and turns to leave. I take her hand into mine and squeeze it grateful. I'd love to tell her all that happened but I wouldn't even know where to start. She looks into my face and smiles fondly, just as if she knows what is going on inside my head. She walks out of the door but before she closes it from the outside she turns around and adds:
"Of course it would be nice if you bring her here soon!" she says hopefully and winks at me before she turns around and closes the door behind her. I sit there with my eyes wide open and my mouth agape. What the hell? How is she doing that? I believe she doesn't even know that she has hit the bull's-eye.
So the phone incident from the last chapter was a cause for complaint. Here's the thing: I wrote four storylines for this story, and the phone incident was an oddment from one of them. I wanted Elena to intercept a phone call regarding Ana needing help, but this didn't make it into the story ;). Maybe I delete this scene, when I go over the story again ... some day. PS: Elena having an appointment in chapter 26 was from another storyline too, when Elena wanted to murder Christian and obviously something went wrong, so she met with the killer. But this didn't make it into the story too ;).
emi17 - I think with adults, men are way more patient than woman. With children, it's vice versa. Or at least the men in my life ;D.
Truebloodfan83 - Thanks for your review! Be patient, the reencounter will come ;)
joan . goldman . 9 - Yeah, well, that's my opinion too ;D
Christian618 - Oh I hope you are ok with my version of Elena's goodbye. If not, then at least you will be happy that she's gone ;)
Little1009 - Thank you for your review! It's one of my favorites, too.
malugargula - Yeah, I had a lot of fun too writing this chapter ;)
Pielietje - Well, fortunately it's not a story about Elliot and Kate, so they both have just a minor part in it ;)
mya4snape - Well, in this chapter it's Grace's turn to try and knock some sense into Christian and next chapter will be from Ana's POV - booking a trip to New York ;)