Interrupted Romance
Strong winds and heavy rain pelted the roof of the old farmhouse. Ella crept quietly over to her precious baby girl sleeping peacefully in the wicker bassinet. Ella sat down on the old worn tan couch. Lost in thought about how great her ex Simon was. Until the day she told him she was pregnant. He flipped out and told her to get rid of it and when she refused he picked up and left, that's when she returned to the family farm. A very loud crash of thunder startled Ella out of thought. Poor little Lilly was awake screaming. “It's okay Lilly sweetheart. Mommy is here.” "Are you hungry." She'd been asleep for a few hours Ella thought to herself. Ella rushed to the kitchen to fix a warm bottle. Not having a microwave it would take longer to heat in a pan of water. The wails of Lilly's screaming were deafening. To anyone who didn't know better you would think she was starving to death. Ella tried to calm her with her pacifier, but she just kept spitting it back out and wailed louder. Ella carefully put Lilly back down to check her bottle. Ella removed the pan off the stove and tested the formula on her wrist to make sure it wasn't to hot, it felt warm enough. She gathered Lilly's favorite blanket and a burp rag. Ella settled down in the wooden rocker with baby and bottle in tow and went to work getting her fed.
Ella had just laid Lilly down when the lights went out. Ella remembered there was candles in a drawer in the kitchen. She retrieved the candles and lit them around the living room, and sat down when there was a knock at the door. She wondered who would be out in this horrid storm. Ella opened the door just enough to see his face, his eyes looked deep blue against his tan face.
“Hi I'm Clay Wils. Actually officer Wils. I was driving home; I live at the farm just past yours. The road is flooded a mile down the road. Do you or you husband mind if I wait here?”
“I'm Ella Mackenly and it's just me and Lilly. I guess you can I really can't have you sitting out there; now can I.” I opened the door wider and stepped aside so he could enter. His wet shirt clanged to his muscular body. My pulse raced, get a grip Ella thought to herself.
“Please sit down.” “Would you like something to drink?”
“I'd take a glass of water if it's not to much trouble,” he replied with a smile. His eyes seemed to dance in the candle light. “Not a problem,” Ella said with a smile. Turning towards the kitchen she walked out of the room. She didn't look back, but she could feel his gaze on her. In the kitchen she grabbed for a glass knocking over the one next to it, shattering it all over the floor. Clay entered the room with Lilly in his arms. She looked so very fragile cradled in his arms. Ella's heart melted. Lilly was so content in his arms. The crashing glass had woken her. “I see you have met Lilly.” she said trying to hide her amazement. He looked so wonderful and at ease with Lilly.
"I sure have, how old?" he asked with a smile. She's so tiny," he said.
“ Lilly's four weeks old. You're really good with her. Do you have any kids of your own?” Ella couldn't take her eyes off of him. She'd never seen a man look at a baby like he did.
“No. I have no children,” he said as he very carefully placed Lilly into Ella's arms. His arm brushed hers sending sparks through her body.
“I'll clean up the glass if you point me in the direction of the broom and dust pan.” Clay needed to get away from Ella before he made a fool out of himself. She grabbed the broom and dust pan and handed them over to Clay. “I could do it later when the lights are back,” she told him, but he started sweeping up. Ella watched him for a few minutes before heading into the living room with Lilly. As soon as she sat down with Lilly the lights came back on. She laid Lilly down and went about the room blowing out the candles. Lilly was drifting back to sleep when Clay entered the room. He walked over to the window, looking out.
“It looks like the storm has blown over,” he said as Ella joined him at the window.
“ It sure does.” Ella felt the dread of being alone again pull at her heart. “Do you think the road is still flooded?” She turned to him; he could see the sadness in her eyes. “I don't think so, as long as it isn't raining my 4x4 can get through it.” He didn't want to leave. It felt good being there with Ella and Lilly. Better than being alone at home. He walked over; kissed Lilly on the forehead, then walked over to Ella and kissed her on the cheek.
“Thank you for letting me ride the storm out with you,” he said to Ella as he walked out the door. Ella watched out the window as he climbed into his truck. She felt all alone once again.
It was a week before she saw him again. He pulled up in his truck. He walked up to the door carrying a gift bag. She greeted him at the door with a smile. Once inside he handed her the pretty pink bag. “This is for Lilly,” he said smiling. Ella opened it and pulled out the most adorable pink floral-print ruffled play set with matching ruffled diaper cover. Tears formed in Ella's eyes. She quickly left the room to collect herself. “Your spoiling her rotten” Ella said when she reentered the room and saw that Clay had Lilly in his arms. “I'm sorry, but I couldn't help myself. She was laying there looking up at me.” He laid Lilly back down. “How have things been going?” he asked Ella.
“Things been good, how about you?” she asked with a smile.
“Been good but kind of lonely after spending time in your company,” he shyly answered. Ella wondered what he meant by that, but just couldn't come out and ask. “Is your wife out of town?” Dread washed over her as she waited for him to answer. He chuckled as he started to talk. “There is no wife or girlfriend.” He could see the relief on her face and that's when he knew she felt the same. He told himself to just take it slow. He had just about forgot the other reason why he was there. “I have a calf that I just don't have room for. I was wondering if I could use your barn to keep her in?”
“Sorry, but the barn is a little rundown and needs some minor repairs that I haven't had time to get to,”she explained to him. She wanted so much to hold him in her arms. Damn hormones she thought to herself. “If you wouldn't mind I can buy what is needed and do the labor myself in exchange for boarding the calf,” he told her. She thought for a quick minute than with a smile said. “I think that would be fair enough.” She watched his nice butt as he walked out to the old dull looking barn. After a few minutes he left and came back with a truck full of wood, poles, and a roll of fencing. He got started repairing. It was dark when he left that night. He thought Ella was sleeping so he didn't bother going up to the house.
The next morning he returned with the calf. Clay went up and knocked on the door. Ella answered it with Lilly in arm. He reached for Lilly. Ella stepped back. “No way your touching her with dirty hands.” He looked down at his hands. “I forgot I had loaded up the calf.” They both laughed. Whenever he got around them he forgot everything else. “Ella; I'm attracted to you. I've never felt this way before,” he said. As he turned to walk out the door he stopped; pulling Ella's lips to his. Ella pushed away and closed the door. Why is he attracted to me Ella wondered to herself. Five minutes later he was back at her door. “Ella I just heard over the police radio a convict escaped from prison and last sighted heading our direction. Do you want me to stay here for safety?” Ella laughed and told him, “I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself.” She was now scared and wanted him there badly, but felt childish asking him too.
He left for home to shower and get a bite to eat. When it started to get dark he worried about Ella and Lilly's safety. If she didn't want him there he'd park on the road and watch her house. At least this way he felt better, but would rather be holding them both in his arms. Clay was so lost in thought he almost didn't see the man sneaking around Ella's front porch. Clay grabbed his 9mm out of the glove box and ran for the house. “Police. Freeze dirt bag!” Clay yelled pointing the gun at the masked man. But before Clay knew what happened the guy pulled a gun and shot at him; hitting him in the right shoulder, and quickly ran over taking the keys out of Clay's pocket. He ran down the driveway to the truck; jumped into it and sped away. Ella heard the gunshot and opened the door just in time to see the truck speed off. She flipped on the porch light. Laying there in the yard was Clay. The color drained from her face. She had to get a grip or she was going to lose Clay forever. She could do this. She had medical training before Lilly came along. She ran to the phone and called for help. She had to stop some of the bleeding until help could get there. She grabbed clean towels from the clothes basket. She knelt beside him applying pressure on the wound. He laid moaning. It broke her heart seeing him like this. He started to talk. “Ella; when I look into your soft green eyes I know I'm in love with you. I want to be a part of Lilly and your life's.” “I love you too, just hang on!” her eyes filling with tears. She figured the pain was getting to him. She heard sirens getting closer. The ambulance pulled up. The EMTs jumped out. As soon as they took over and had him loaded up Ella rushed into the house and got Lilly packed up and into the station-wagon. She took off for the hospital. When she arrived he was still in the ER. She tried to find out how he was doing, but no one would tell her anything. A half hour later a nurse walked up to her. “Are you Ella?”
“Yes I'm Ella.”
“Clay is recovering and going to be fine. He's asking for you. I'll take you to him.” She led Ella down the hall and stopped at his door. “Go right in,”she said as she turned and walked back down the hall.
Ella opened the door and walked to his bedside. He reached for her hand. She let him take a hold of it. “Ella! what I said to you before the ambulance got there.” Ella interrupted him before he finished.
“It's okay. I know you were in a lot of pain and didn't mean it.” Tears welled up in her eyes when Clay pulled her close. “But Ella, I meant every word.” he voice broke. Ella looked into his eyes and whispered. “I love you to0."