Chapter 94: Hell's Kitchen

Tuesday, January 3rd, Evening

It had been one hell of a day. She finished her work and emailed the work to the editor. Coming back to the townhouse she put everything away and went upstairs to shower. After the shower, she changed into her lounge pants and a purple t-shirt.

Elizabeth "Ellie" Scott came out of the master bathroom drying her hair. She took a seat at the dressing table, she figured it was once her Mom's. With a thoughtful sigh, she picked up her brush and started brushing her hair. Looking across the room she could see the touches of both her parents, but she did feel strong vibes of her Mom.

Looking in the mirror she studied the blue eyes that looked back at her. The light blonde curly hair, which inherited from her Mom, but the blue eyes were her Dad's. Of all the children she and her next youngest sibling, Sawyer, looked the most like their Mom, where Keith and Kay looked like their Dad. Hell, even her sister Candi had a passing resemblance to their Dad, even though Candi claims she looks more like her Mom. Studying her eyes, she could see the touch of sadness and loneliness enter her eyes as she thought about her family and her Southern Home.

Sighing, she pulled her hair back and put it up in a clip. Getting up, she straightened her t-shirt and went down to the parlor level (second floor). Upon reaching the living room, she decided she was hungry, and descended to the garden level (first floor). In the kitchen, Ellie went through the fridge looking for dinner, and once she found it, she started cooking it. Checking the clock, she would have to eat while listening to the game.

Once it was done, she carried her plate and drink upstairs to the living room and took a seat. She rarely sat and ate in the kitchen or the dining room. The kitchen was just slightly bigger than a galley kitchen so there really wasn't room there. The dining room reminded her too much of her family, and she didn't need to add to the loneliness. As she settled in, she talked to her smart speaker system to play some relaxing music, and to set an alarm for the game.

As she sat back, she thought about the music. Her sophomore and most of her junior year of high school she was sick with her Cancer and was homeschooled. Many days Ellie would be in bed, and this music was her constant companion. Several people would keep her company when school was over, her constant company was her Mom, her Dad, her big sister Candi, her best friend Trin, and her brother Keith. Keith especially after his son Adam died. Kay would spend time with her as well, but not as much.

Keith would sit and play games with her and would change the music that she listened too. Ellie was secretly thankful for. Through her brother, she developed a love of music. It was almost as eclectic as his own.

During this period the first pages of the first draft of her writing began to take shape. She and Kay would, when they were younger, do a few of their own "comic books" together. Kay would do the drawings was and Ellie would write the words and story. Before Kay's accident, they were playing around with the idea of doing a graphic novel together. They even had a concept worked out. On their trip to the Caribbean together they discussed it in more detail and even worked out the first draft of an outline of the plot. Everything was looking good for a pitch, and that was when Kay's accident happened, and it fell to the wayside.

Ellie dropped everything and rushed to her twin sister's bedside. For years Kay had to recover the use of her right arm. Kay's right arm was nearly worthless for the first year. Ellie would sit with her and help her with her recovery, and even some of her PT. At one point, during that horrible year, the Annus Horribilis, Ellie was even running her family.

Once things settled down, she returned to New York City. Ellie remembered that day, she walked into her old bedroom, the one she shared with Kay in this townhouse, and collapsed on her bed, just passing out from mental and physical exhaustion. Five or more hours later, she lost track, she woke up crying.

That was when Trin and Wyatt came over, and for the second time in her life, Trin helped her through a rough time. Two years ago, Ellie spent her time to get her emotions back together. That was when the last page of the last draft of her story she started to record in her sickbed down south was finished. That time fourteen years ago until just two years ago formed the basis of what would become something that would change her life.

Ellie sighed, it's nice to visit the past, she reflected, but you couldn't live in it. Anna Becca and her book "The Girl Who Always Wore Purple," changed her life, for the better, but she wanted her novel to be published.

Once she finished eating, she collected her dishes and carried them to the kitchen. After washing the dishes off, she put them into the dishwasher and started it. Next, she grabbed a beer out of the fridge and went back into the living room.

The smart speaker lowered the music and the alarm went off. The games were about to begin. Ellie shut off the music and asked her smart speaker to stream the channel the games were on. She took a seat on the sofa. Putting her feet up, she opened her beer and looked at her toes. Nodding she noted that after this check cleared, she should treat herself. That was when her smartphone buzzed. Ellie picked it up and looked at it.

Ainsley: What are you doing tonight, Bitch?

So, Ainsley, not politically correct at all.

Ellie: That's not very supportive of a fellow woman.

Ainsley: Whatever Libby, whatcha doing?'

Ellie: Having a beer and listening to the game.

Ainsley: Your cousin?"

Ellie: No, the games my sister cheer at.

Ainsley: You so lose cool points, Libby

Ellie: I'm supporting my sister for one.

Ainsley: And?

Ellie: James is playing Phoenix, so it's a late game.

Ainsley: Oh, still no excuse, get dressed and let's cause trouble.

Ellie: Why do you want to cause trouble now?

Ainsley: I'm tired of being bored today.

Ellie: I can't I have a conference call with my agent tomorrow.

Ainsley: Still pushing to have that book published.

Ellie: Yes

Ainsley: Why don't you do it on Amazon?

Ellie: I want someone to pay me for publishing my work.

Ainsley: Sometimes you have to take the bull by the horns and do it yourself. Also, so you can come out and cause trouble with Moi

Ellie: Goodnight, Ains.

Ainsley: Seriously Libby?

Ellie: Yes, I'm not going out tonight.

Ainsley: Nerd!

Ellie: Whatever, talk to you later, Ains.

Ellie put her smartphone down and shook her head. She listened to the commentary of the beginning stuff with the game. Thank god she didn't miss the tip-off. Every so often she would her the cheerleaders in the background and wondered if it was her sister she was hearing.

She leaned back and sipped her beer. Part of her missed game night back home. What she really missed was her family.