Ellen moved through the crowd, her eyes scanning the sea of faces in search of Mason. Anxiety gnawed at her, a deep worry that she couldn’t shake.
Where was he? And more importantly, what was he doing with her?
The thought made her stomach twist uncomfortably. Aubrey was a master at playing on their shared history. The last thing Ellen wanted was for Mason to fall for any of her tricks.
She sighed, quickening her pace as her gaze darted around the room. People were chatting, laughing, and clinking glasses, completely unaware of the mess inside her. Her chest felt tight, her steps becoming more hurried as she mentally pleaded, Please, Mason, don’t let her get to you.
Just then, a voice called out, breaking Ellen from her frantic thoughts.
"Ellen!"
She stopped abruptly, turning to see Clara, smiling brightly as she approached. Ellen blinked, forcing a polite smile onto her face despite the storm raging in her mind. "Oh, Clara. Hi."
"Why are you all by yourself, dear?" Clara asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. She was so attentive, looking out for everyone at these party.
"I was, uh, just looking for Mason," Ellen admitted, glancing around again. "We got separated."
Clara chuckled warmly, her tone light and teasing. "Newlyweds can’t bear to be apart from each other even for a second, huh?" She winked, her voice full of amusement.
Ellen laughed awkwardly, rubbing the back of her neck. "Something like that," she muttered, though her thoughts were far from that.
That’s not the reason at all, she thought. It’s because the woman your son is crazy about can’t keep her hands off my husband. Ellen couldn’t stand how much that bothered her.
Clara waved her hand dismissively. "Don’t worry, dear. I’m sure you’ll find him soon enough. He’s probably around here somewhere, just as eager to find you."
Ellen nodded, though the worry still simmered beneath the surface. Before she could say anything more, Clara looped her arm through Ellen’s, gently pulling her toward a set of chairs near the edge of the room. "Come, sit with me for a moment. No need to rush around like that."
Reluctantly, Ellen allowed herself to be led, though her eyes still flickered around the room, scanning for Mason. They reached the chairs, and Clara asked for Ellen to sit. Ellen hesitated, but finally sat down, her hands resting in her lap as she wondered why Clara had pulled her aside like this.
"I’m so happy Mason finally got married," Clara began once they were seated, her tone soft and full of warmth. "It’s about time he found someone to build a family with."
Ellen looked at her, slightly surprised by the sudden shift in conversation. She offered a small smile, though her thoughts were still scattered. "Thank you, Clara. I’m happy too."
Clara’s eyes softened, and she seemed lost in thought. "Richard and I... well, we’ve always thought of Mason as one of our own. You know how close Gerald is with him. Mason’s been a part of our family for so long now."
Ellen could hear the sincerity in her voice. There was no mistaking the genuine care Clara had for Mason. The older woman’s expression, earlier so cheerful, got serious as she kept talking. "It was devastating, what happened to his family. They’re our friends, and we’re totally wrecked. I can’t even imagine the pain he went through. But seeing him with you now, seeing him happy again... it means the world to us."
Ellen watched as Clara’s gaze turned distant, lost in memories. The sadness in her eyes was undeniable, and Ellen felt a pang of empathy. Clara clearly cared deeply about Mason, almost as if he were her own son. The way her voice softened as she spoke, the way her eyes glistened with emotion—it was clear that Mason’s past had a big impact on her too.
"I never knew Mason’s family," Ellen said quietly, noticing how serious the topic was getting. "He doesn’t talk about them much."
Clara nodded, her expression turning even more serious. "That doesn’t surprise me. He’s always kept that part of himself locked away. But trust me, dear, it was hard for him. Losing them like that... it changed him." She paused, glancing at Ellen. "But you’ve been good for him. I can see how much he cares about you. He’s found something again, something that makes him want to live, not just exist."
Really?
Ellen’s eyes dropped to her lap, and she fiddled with her fingers, a flicker of sadness crossing her face. "But... it’s all an arranged marriage," she said softly, her voice tinged with doubt. "How can I know for sure that he really cares about me? I mean, none of this was our choice."
Clara’s smile softened as she leaned in, her hand resting gently on Ellen’s arm. "Oh, sweetheart," she began, her tone warm and understanding, "I know it may have started as an arrangement, but that doesn’t mean feelings can’t grow from it."
Ellen smiled faintly at Clara’s words. She wanted to be hopeful, to believe in what Clara was saying, but it was hard to shake the feeling that her situation wasn’t so simple. Still, the idea wasn’t entirely unpleasant.
Sure, it was nice to hear that things could turn out that way. It’d definitely make things easier too if Aubrey would just give up, she mused.
Clara smiled at her, reaching out to place a comforting hand on Ellen’s. "You’re exactly what he needed, Ellen. Don’t ever doubt that."
Ellen returned the smile, though it was tinged with a sense of unease. She appreciated Clara’s words, but the nagging worry about Aubrey still clung to her, like a shadow she couldn’t shake. "I hope so," she said softly, glancing down at her hands. "I just want him to be happy."
Clara squeezed her hand gently. "He is. And as long as you’re by his side, he will be."
Ellen smiled at Clara before she excused herself to search for Mason again. As she walked away, she thought it was too bad Gerald didn’t think like his parents.
But, hey, her talk with Clara helped Ellen come up with a good idea.