A Sanctuary for Elle (9 page)

Elle walked to the end of the corridor then
walked through the door which led to their secret staircase.  When the hotel had been open, this door had been locked so that guests could not access their little area of the house.  Elle found the door open and then climbed the stairs to the top.  She o
p
ened the door and walked through to their living space.  It was empty now, no personal possessions lay there, they had all been moved to the new house when it had been built. 

Memories swamped Elle's mind.  Her grandmother pottering around the kitchen sin
ging along to her favourite tapes, sitting on her grandmother's bed and talking about her dreams, her friends, asking advice.  They had developed such as close bond living here.  Their close quarters had fostered it.  Elle's need to be loved and protected
had been fulfilled by the warmth her grandmother showed her.  She was everything to her. When she had first arrived she had been broken, scared, the loss of her parents too much to bear on her small shoulders.  Elle's grandmother had welcomed her into he
r
home and even her bed at first, cuddling her until she slept, holding her while she cried.  They had shared their grief together, Elle for her parents, her grandmother crying for the daughter she had lost.

They had quickly grown close.  They shared a bond
through blood and grief.  They also shared a friendship.  Elle could talk to her grandmother about anything, could share anything with her.  When she was scared or hurt, worried or upset, it was her grandmother she would turn to.

Elle looked around once m
ore.  This would make a good office for her.  She could add a desk and a few other items, maybe add a skylight and it would be a wonderful get away for her.  She could use it to do the day to day running of the hotel while the people she would employ took
control of the guests.  Elle didn't imagine herself at the front of house.  No, she wanted to run and manage The Sanctuary but have others working for her, like in the days her grandmother ran the hotel.   She wanted to enjoy it from the perspective of a
m
anager, not dealing with the ins and outs of the hotel.

So she wrote on her list, employees-front of house, manager, deputy, waiters/waitresses, cleaners, gardeners and chamber maids. 

Elle finished her list and headed back for the stairs.  She would head
back to the house and start making phone calls to book in the work that needed to be done.  Soon, The Sanctuary would be looking as good as new and ready to take its first guests in years.  Elle was sure her grandmother would be looking down on her and s
m
iling. 

Elle stepped onto the first stair and just as she let her weight onto it she heard a creaking noise which had her looking down just in time to see her foot crushing through the wood.  Surprise made Elle jerk and she lost her footing.  Unable to st
op herself from falling Elle fell against the side of the wall but her stuck foot tugged against her and suddenly she found herself heading head first down the stairs.  The stuck foot had released itself under her tugging and Elle toppled and crumpled in
a
heaped mess over and over and down the stairs.  She landed in a mess of limbs at the bottom, a resounding crack echoed through the empty hall as she struck the ground.  Elle was stunned and stay where she laid for a moment, pain coursing through her body.
  As she came too and took stock of what had just happened, she focused in on the incredible pain.  She shifted onto one side, as she did so a white light of agony coursed through her body.  She screamed loud and high as the pain intensified.  She looked
d
own and saw that her arm was looking all wrong.  It was misshapen, hanging almost.  She cried out again, the pain worse since seeing what she had done. It must be broken she thought wildly.  She suddenly felt very scared and frightened. She didn't know wh
a
t to do, how to help her self.  There was no-one around to help her.  Elle cried and this did nothing but add to the pain.

Elle sobs were interrupted by someone shouting.  'Elle! Elle!  Where are you? Elle!'

It was Mark! Oh thank god it was Mark!

'Mark! He
lp me! Mark!'

Elle shouted with all her might.  She continued to shout his name through her sobs.  He came crashing through the door, eyes wild with worry.  He took it all in quickly.  He looked at her lying on on one side, arm nestled gently against her,
her tear streaked face, her scared eyes wide. 

'Elle!  What's happened?'

'I fell down the stairs Mark.  I think I've broken my arm. It hurts Mark, it hurts so bad. You've got to help me.'

Mark needed to hear no more.  He moved to crouch alongside her and
scooped her into her arms gently.  He eased them through the door and down the corridor.  He carried her down the steps and out of the front door.

'The key?'  Mark enquired.

'In my back pocket,' Elle told him.

Mark shifted her weight in his arms but manage
d to retrieve the key and lock up The Sanctuary before they left.  They got in his car and Mark drove Elle to the closest hospital. 

As they drove they spoke.  'I guess this means you're going to have to talk to me again, huh?' Mark said.

'I guess so,' El
le murmured.

'I didn't like it when you ignored me this morning. You've been on my mind all day.' Mark confessed.

Elle was surprised. 'Really?'

'Yes, believe it or not Elle, I like you and never wished to upset you or your grandmother.  I want to tell you
the full story. That is, if you'll listen.'

Elle was curious if nothing else.  She knew little about her grandmother's dealings with Mark except for the few things she had mentioned on the phone.  Maybe she should hear him out.  He seemed so sincere.

'I'll
hear you out Mark.  I think I owe you that after you helping me like this.'

Elle breathed deeply, trying to quell the pain.  It had become an awful throbbing ache and was hugely swollen.  Mark glanced across at her and saw her trying to control the pain c
oursing through her.  She was being very brave.  Mark had broken his arm as a boy and remembered the awful pain, the terrifying trip to the hospital, the pain as the doctor reset his arm and put it in a cast.

'Don't worry Elle, we're almost there now.  The
y will give you something for the pain when we get there.'

'That would be good.  Thank you for helping me Mark.'

'Its my pleasure,' he smiled and glanced sideways at her, briefly taking his eyes off the road.  Their eyes met and his smiled into hers.  He looked back at the road and continued.  Elle felt the spark of electricity between them and marvelled that it was
always there, an undeniable chemistry.

Mark parked in the hospital car park and they rode the lifts to the emergency department.  They were given a form to fill out and then had to wait to be seen.  Elle waited what seemed an indeterminably long time but e
ventually she was seen, x-rayed and put into plaster.

As the nurse finished dressing the plaster and arranging her sling she asked, 'I presume you have someone at home tonight with you?  You're boyfriend maybe?' she said nodding her head towards Mark.

'He
's not my,' Elle began but as immediately interrupted by Mark.

'Yes I am.  I will be there for Elle tonight.  I can make sure she's okay.'

'Well, just so long as you're not alone tonight.  You've had a nasty break and a bump down the stairs.  You will need
someone to keep an eye on you.' The nurse was determined in her tone.  Elle decided to concede.

'Okay, of course.  My boyfriend will look after me tonight.  Thank you for all that you've done.'

The nurse left and Elle looked over to see Mark grinning at h
er.  'Not a word,' she warned as he continued looking pleased with himself.

So much for staying away from Mark!

Chapter 9

Mark drove them home.  It was dusky. Time had disappeared today. The trip to the hospital had taken up most of the afternoon. Elle y
awned, covering her mouth with her good hand.  She suddenly felt bone-tired.  Mark glanced at her and frowned.

As they pulled up, Elle got herself out and headed towards her house.

'Thanks for helping me today Mark.  I really appreciate it,' Elle smiled.

'
Where do you think you're going?' Mark asked.

'I'm going inside.  What are you talking about?'

'Elle. This is not where we say goodbye.  I'm staying with you this evening whether you like it or not.' Mark's face was set, fierce determination arched across
his brows.

'Mark, you are not staying with me this evening.  There's no way.' Elle could not have him in her house at night.  No way.

'Elle, you have two choices.  You either let me come in and make sure you're okay tonight or I drive you back to the hospi
tal now and you can stay there tonight.'

One look at Mark's face told her he was deadly serious.  Elle felt too tired to keep fighting and the last thing she wanted was to be anywhere but at home right now. 

'Looks like you're joining me then.' Elle turned and walked down her path, admitting defeat.  He could come in but he was staying on the sofa.

Elle slumped on the sofa, weary.  Mark wondered in looking around curiously but not saying anything.  He looked a
t Elle sat on the sofa and saw how exhausted she was.  He was damn well going to look after her tonight whether she liked it or not.  He walked into the kitchen and started rifling through the fridge.  He came across the ingredients to making an omelette.
Mark then diced and chopped onions and mushrooms, grated some cheese and threw it all into a saucepan.  He tore up some ham and added that too.  While it cooked he sliced some bread and buttered it, placing the heaped slices on a plate. He then got out c
u
tlery and made some drinks for them both.

Elle watched in amazed wonder as Mark easily navigated around her kitchen.  He worked quickly but methodically as he cooked for her.  He cooked with care and attention to detail.  She had no doubt that the meal wo
uld be delicious and well presented.  He seemed to be a man of many skills.

'Your dinner awaits, Princess,' he called out from the kitchen, unaware she had been watching him.

Elle wondered over to the table and looked down at her waiting meal. She had been
right, it looked amazing.  Perfectly cooked and well presented.  She sat down and picked up her fork, suddenly ravenous.  One bite and she was melting. 'Mark, this is amazing.  You can cook for me any time.  It was almost worth breaking my arm.  Almost.'

'Surely a woman as beautiful as you has been cooked for many times before?' Mark said as he ate.

Elle smiled at his compliment. 'I've been taken out for plenty of lovely meals Mark.  But being cooked for at home?  No, I haven't..not ever. Wow, can you beli
eve it, I've just realised that you're the only one to ever cook for me.'

'I'm honoured to be your first,' he smiled slyly at her over his dinner.  Elle felt a blush creep up her neck so she lowered her gaze to her meal and started eating.

They ate the rest of the meal in companionable silence.  The spark was still coursing around them, their chemistry electric.  Elle polished off every single bit on her plate as well as two large chunks of buttery bread.  She sat back full and content, her
stomach satisfied.  'Thanks, Mark.  Yummy!' she smiled. 

'It a pleasure.  Okay, now to get you comfortable.  Its getting late.  I'll be back in a minute.'

And with that, Mark walked away and headed up the stairs once again leaving Elle stunned.  What was
he doing now?  Would this man ever stop surprising her?

He came back a few minutes later.  Elle was just putting the dishes into the sink.

'Don't do that Elle.  I'm on duty tonight.  You're meant to be letting me take care of you.'

'I'm not an invalid you
know Mark.  Its just a broken arm.'

'Yes, but you broke it only a matter of hours ago and you need to get used to doing everything one-handed.  Something you can let me help you with for one measly night. Okay?'

'Okay.'

'Right, well I just need one more th
ing,' and he started opening and then banging cupboard doors in search of who knows what.  He kept on this way for a good minute before coming up triumphant.'Aha! Here we go!' He was holding a roll of cling film.  What was he planning on doing with that?

'
Upstairs Missy. You're having a bath.'  Mark headed up the stairs.

'Mark! Now hang on! I am not having a bath with your help.  No way.  Just cos we, well, you know, doesn't mean you just have the green light to see me naked any time you choose.' Elle scamp
ered up the stairs behind him protesting all the way.

At the top he turned to her.  'Elle, I hate to dampen your wild fantasies but I had no intention of seeing you naked.  I have run you a bath, I plan to cover your cast in cling film to prevent any splas
hes of water on it and then leave you to it. If that's not okay then I'm confused.'