A Sanctuary for Elle (17 page)

'Yes, Mark.  I'll listen.'

'Okay.  I stood you up last night.  I am very sorry for that but
I'm hoping that when you hear why I stood you up you may understand.'

'Okay, I'm listening,' Elle said, paying close attention to his words.

'I have been thinking for a while now.  I told you that I've pretty much made up, professionally.  I have travelle
d the world, know every corner and niche in the property market.  I have earned a lot of money.  I feel like I've accomplished what I wanted to.  The thing is, I'm bored of it.  It no longer holds the same appeal as it did before.  The other week, when yo
u
spoke to me about your ideas for The Sanctuary, your plans about building a home..well, I realised something Elle.'

Elle waited for him to continue but he paused a little too long.

'Mark.  I'm on the edge of my seat here. What did you realise?'

'I realise
d that my family are right.  You're right.  What I want, what is missing from my life, its a home, its a family, a partner.  I started thinking about you and how much you've come to mean to me.  I thought of me being the person you built that home with an
d
I realised that that was what I wanted.  Now, working as I have done for many years wouldn't give me that stable, settled life I am craving.  No, its a life for a young man, an ambitious carefree person.  I began thinking about how I could still be fulfi
l
led in my career while also happy personally.'

Once again he paused, much to Elle's annoyance.  What he was saying was life-changing, couldn't he get to the point?

'I have been thinking long and hard.  I came to a conclusion.  I could sell off part of my h
uge company.  I could also work independently from home to a small, elite clientè
le. I began putting the idea out there and that was when Daniel and Marjorie came to see me.  Marjorie's father is in property and she has been working for him since she was
a
girl.  She's bright and brilliant and together with Daniel is prepared to buy out a large part of the company and run it themselves.  I really like the idea of what I've achieved being continued by my brother, it works on many levels.  The idea that I co
u
ld work from home is completely possible now and fills me with pleasure.  A little office, a computer...its all I need.  Building a home, well that's something I could pour my heart into.  I've got far enough professionally.  It's now time for me.  For us.
  Now, I need to complete the deal, sign the papers, finalise everything.  I'm hoping that you'll be here waiting for me when I'm through though.  I'm going to have to go away for a week, maybe two.  Once I've sorted this, we can talk about us.  About our
future.  What do you think?'

Elle's heart was pounding.  What did she think?  She thought it was wonderful.  'I think that I look forward to having that chat,' Elle smiled.

Mark leaned down and kissed Elle tenderly.  'I'll be back soon, sweetheart.'

'I'll
be here,' Elle smiled as he walked out grinning.  Come back quick, she thought gleefully.

Chapter 14

Elle watched as Mark drove away and willed him to be back again soon. She felt pretty sure she knew what he was going to come back and say so she was kee
n he get his pretty butt back as quick as possible.

Elle sat down on the sofa and became lost in her thoughts.  She was rudely interrupted by the ringing phone.  She snapped out of her reverie and picked it up quickly.

'Hello?' Elle answered.

'Hello, is that Elle Forster?'

'Yes, speaking.'

'Hello, Miss Forster, this is Dr Hodges from the hospital.'

'Oh, hello doctor,' she replied, a little confused by a phone call from him.

'Miss Forster, I'm phoning about the blood test we performed when you c
ame in recently with your broken arm,' he stated matter of factly.

'Yes?' Elle said, becoming alarmed.  What was wrong with her blood? Did she have some horrible disease?

'Well, we routinely check the blood we take and something cropped up on your test.  Y
ou see the thing is, you're pregnant.  Miss Forster, your blood showed you were positively expecting.'

Elle's mouth actually dropped in shock. She plopped down hard onto the sofa and the phone dropped out of her hand onto the floor.  She sat stock still, t
aking in the unexpected news.  Pregnant.  Pregnant.  She was pregnant.  With child.  Expecting a baby.  Up the duff. Oh my God.  She couldn't believe it.  She was on the pill.  She wasn't expecting this.  She suddenly heard the doctor again, shouting her
n
ame down phone. 

Elle snapped the phone up again, 'Hello doctor. Sorry.  It was just..unexpected..to say the least.'

Elle talked through next steps with the doctor, agreed to visit her local GP for an appointment.  She then assured him that she was fine a
nd then hung up.  She then sat down on the sofa, drew her feet up beneath her and placed a hand on her flat stomach. 

Pregnant.  She was still in a state of disbelief.  She thought back to all the times with Mark.  Sure, there had been plenty of opportuni
ty to become pregnant.  The pill was not always fool proof.  She ran her hand over her stomach.  A baby.  There was a baby growing inside her.  Her baby.  Mark's baby.  Their baby.  A person they had created.  It seemed altogether too much to comprehend.

Her thoughts turned to Mark.  What on earth would he think?  They had never discussed children. She was pretty sure he wanted to be with her now but children?  That was something they had never talked about, never considered yet.  They were still at the b
eginnings of their relationship.  Did Mark want to be a father?  Did he even like kids?  She didn't know him well enough to know this. 

Elle closed her eyes and tried to visualise herself as a mother.  She imagined holding a baby in her arms, feeding it,
changing it, comforting it when it cried.  She could see it so clearly in her mind.  In that moment, Elle without any doubt that she would do anything and everything for the baby that grew inside her.  She had been so alone and suddenly, her body was fill
e
d with life, she knew that with this baby, she never would be alone again.  Never.  The baby lived in her now.  The baby would live with her, beside her for all time.  Elle suddenly felt joyful and tears of joy sprung from her eyes.  This was a gift.  Whe
t
her Mark joined her in this wonderful experience or not, she knew that she would be the best mother she could possibly be. 

Elle got up and began to pace.  She had begun to come to terms with her new situation but how to tell Mark.  He had said he was com
ing back later and yet she didn't know how to tell him.  What would he say?  Would he be happy? Maybe he would feel trapped, obligated to stay with her.  A whirlwind of possibilities flashed through her mind.  It could go any number of ways.  She resolved
to mull it over and tell him as soon as he arrived.  She hoped he would be happy.  Longed for it.  If he reacted well, they would become a family, a unit.  Elle realised that that was exactly what she wanted, what she had hoped for.  It may be coming soon
e
r than expected but she felt happy.  Blessed.  This was wonderful news.

Elle threw herself into her new business in the first week of Mark's absence.  She needed to occupy her mind, the pregnancy had thrown her completely.  Her emotions were varied, unce
rtain.  She was desperate to speak to Mark and at the same time terrified.  While her mind idled, her thoughts taunted her.  She therefore kept busy.

The day after Mark left, Elle phoned around for workmen to begin the jobs  in The Sanctuary.  She used the
contact list that Mark had given her so she would only be using reliable workers.  She managed to set up four appointments for the week ahead and soon the hustle and bustle began.  An electrician was in first checking the electrics and connecting up wire
s
where there were issues.  A plumber and his team came in and reconnected the water works.  They also fixed a leak and installed showers in the en-suite bathrooms.  Bathrooms were also re-tiled and new flooring installed with underfloor heating. 

Elle fou
nd a painting and decorating company who were keen for the big contract job.  Elle offered a good amount of money for the work to be completed quickly and efficiently.  A team of ten men started immediately and the look of The Sanctuary gradually re-emerg
e
d beautifully. 

Elle let the workmen get on while she set herself up an office in the attic space she and her grandmother used to live in.  She had a desk moved up into the space on which she laid a new laptop, stationary and lamp.  She used her new lapto
p to place adverts for the staff she would require and began advertising the reopening of the hotel.  She set up a website for her hotel which allowed bookings for one months time.  That way she forced a deadline upon herself for the work to be done.  Thi
n
gs could be accomplished quickly in one put their minds to it. 

During the first week of work, Elle refused to think about her pregnancy in the day time.  It was when she walked the short distance back to the house every evening.  Thoughts would creep in.
  She would begin to dwell on what Mark's reaction would be.  She would think about impending motherhood and worry about what kind of mother she would be.  At the end of the week Mark phoned Elle briefly.  'Hey sweetheart, how are you?'

'Hi Mark, I'm fine
thanks. Busy. How about you?'

'I'm good, but it's hectic.  I'm not going to be back for a while, at least another week.  I just wanted to phone and tell you that I'm thinking about you.  Every day.  Every hour.  I can't wait to come home and see you, I jus
t need to get this all sorted out.'

'It's fine Mark, really. I'm busy with the hotel. I'll see you when you tie up all the loose ends.'  Elle thought of all the things she had to tell him, things she couldn't talk about over the phone.  She kept it brief a
nd friendly.  The important conversation could wait until they were face to face.

Mark was slightly confused.  Elle sounded distant, as if she wanted the conversation over.  He thought they were on the same page.  Thought that they had something building b
etween them.  'Are you sure Elle.  You sound a little, well, off.'

'Mark, you're being paranoid.  Get your work done and then come home, you don't need to phone me again, just get home when you can. I'll talk to you soon.'

'Okay,' Mark mumbled, still not s
ure about her tone.

'Bye then.'

'Yeah, bye.'

Elle hung up.  Mark was left staring at the phone.  Uncertainty settled like a cloud over him.  He shouldn't have come away, should have stayed and guaranteed their promises first.  He worried she had changed her mind.  She sounded so different of the pho
n
e. What was going on?

Elle sat back heavily.  She had found the phone call stressful.  How on earth would she tell him about the baby?  Best keep busy she told herself.  Think about it when the time came. 

The following day Elle received an unexpected pho
ne call.  Elle was a little distracted when she answered as she had been busy filling orders and invoices for the various pieces of furniture which had to be ordered for the hotel. 'Hello, Elle Forster speaking,' she answered automatically.

'Hello Elle.  M
y name is Lucy.  Lucy Day.  I don't know if you remember me?  We knew each other years ago.'

Elle's mind reeled. Lucy.  Yes, she did recall Lucy.  She had been the daughter of John, one of her grandmother's staff.  He had
been manager for a time at The Sanctuary and Lucy had been around at points when she was younger.  She had been a few years younger but she remembered playing with the girl when they had had staff barbecue
’
s and parties in the gardens.

'Lucy! Yes I remembe
r you! How are you?'

'I'm well thanks, Very well.  I was wondering if we could meet, maybe catch up.  I also was wondering if you would consider talking me through the manager job I saw for The Sanctuary.  It's something I'd be really interested in you see
.'

Elle felt excited all of a sudden. It sounded too good to be true.  An old acquaintance filling the most important job she had advertised would be ideal.  She leapt at the chance to find out more,' Of course, that sounds great. Hey I'm not very busy tod
ay, do you fancy coming over?'

'Oh, uh, when?' Lucy sounded surprised.

'Now! Today, any time.'

'Well, I'd love too.  It's just, I have a little boy.  Would you mind if I brought him with me?  My husband is working and I don't use childcare at the moment.'
Lucy sounded unsure, as if she would be putting Elle out.

'Lucy, you didn't even need to ask.  Bring your son, that's not a problem at all.  I would love to meet him!  I'll be at the house, when did you want to come over?'