Chapter 26
Ella and Erin had been back in Chicago for a couple weeks before Ella decided it was time to meet with her mom.
The two were getting prepared to go meet with Ella’s mom for coffee, and the forward was anything but calm.
“Babe, it’s going to go well I promise.” Erin assured her, wrapping Ella in a hug.
“You don’t know that, what if she isn’t okay with us?”
“Ella, you told me that she said she was excited to meet me.”
“I know but-”
“No buts, it’s going to be alright El, we should get going or we’ll be late.”
“Okay…”
“Hey, I’ll be holding your hand the whole time okay baby? I’ve got you.”
Ella smiled up at the keeper and visibly relaxed. “Thank you Erin.”
“Ella! I’m so glad you came.”
“Of course, um mom, this is Erin, my girlfriend.” Ella spoke slowly, waiting for her mom’s reaction.
“Hello dear, it’s nice to officially meet you, I know it wasn’t exactly pleasant during our first encounter and I’m truly sorry about that.”
“It’s nice to meet you too Ms. Masar.” Erin reached out her hand.
After they got their coffee’s the three found a place to sit.
“So how was your camp Ella, you sounded exhausted when we talked that one day?”
“It was great actually, I um, If all goes well I’m going to be playing in the world cup next year.”
“Are you… really? Ella that is amazing, I… I’m so proud of you.”
“Thank you.” The forward smiled and squeezed Erin’s hand under the table.
“And Erin, Ella mentioned you were at camp too?” Ella smiled, glad that her mom was including the keeper in their conversation.
“Yeah, I was at the Canadian team camp and I’m actually going to be going to the world cup as well.”
“Oh you both say it like that’s no big deal, that is incredible, congratulations.”
“Thank you, I’m still trying to wrap my head around it, but it definitely helps that Ella knows how I feel, even if we will be competing against each other.”
“Well that is great for both of you, where is the world cup?”
“It’s being held in Brazil next year, It’s going to be so cool, we’ll be there for almost a month.
The three were deep in conversation for almost an hour when it became time for Erin and Ella to head home.
Erin said goodbye to Ella’s mom, before walking out to the car to give the forward a minute alone with her mom.
“Thank you again for coming Ella, it means so much to me that you are willing to talk. I know that I can never make up for what I put you through, but I’m glad we can maybe have some kind of relationship.”
“Of course, no matter what happened, you will always be my mom and I’ll always love and care about you. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to live with you again but as long as you are doing good I always want you to be a part of my life, even if it’s just like this.”
“God how did you turn out so perfect after everything you’ve been through. I’m so glad you met Erin dear, she is a lovely girl, and I know you were worried about what I would think, but honestly I am just so glad that you are happy.”
“Thank you.” Ella whispered, pulling her mom into a hug.
“I’ll see you soon dear.”
“Bye mom.”
--------------
“How are you doing babe?” Erin asked as the couple walked upstairs to their room.
“I’m good, I don’t know I guess it was just weird having a real conversation with her you know? She’s changed so much, she’s a completely different person from the woman I’ve known her as for so long.”
Erin sat on the edge of their bed and pulled the forward onto her lap.
“I know it’s got to be a lot to take in, just remember that you’ve got me to listen if you need to talk about it.”
“I know baby, and thank you for that, and for coming with me today, it really meant a lot.”
“Of course Ella.”
“Erin is it weird that I don’t want to live with her?”
“I don’t think so, you went through a lot with your mom El and I think it’s perfectly understandable that you don’t want to be in that house again. I know she has changed, you and I both saw that today, but if that isn’t something you want then you shouldn’t feel bad about it okay? You know you’re welcome here as long as you want, but also if you ever did want to go and live with your mom again when she is back home and done with rehab I would completely understand.”
“How did I get so lucky with you?” Ella whispered as she pulled the keeper into a kiss. Erin laid back as the forward stretched out on top of her.
“Can you believe tomorrow is six months?” Ella breathed out as she placed light kisses on the keeper’s neck.
“Our first part of forever.” Erin whispered, this caused Ella to stop what she was doing and pull back to look into Erin’s eyes.
“I think that was the cutest thing I’ve ever heard.”
“I love you Ella.”
“I love you too Erin.”
“Girls dinner is ready!” Both girls groaned as they pulled apart, hearing Erin’s mom.
“Don’t worry babe, we’ll have the whole day alone together tomorrow.” Erin smirked as she rolled off her bed.
--------------------
“Want to watch a movie babe?”
Erin asked after dinner.
“Sure, I’ll go grab one, you set the computer up.”
Just as Ella walked out of the room, Erin’s phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hi Erin…” As soon as the person on the other end answered, the keeper’s smile faded as she immediately recognized the voice.
“Kate…”
“How are you doing?”
“How… how am I doing? Really? You cheat on me, don’t talk to me for a year and then you just phone me up and ask how I’m doing?”
“Erin I’m sorry-”
“I don’t want your apology Kate, why did you call me?”
“I miss you…, Erin hurting you was the worst mistake I’ve ever made and I have regretted it since the day it happened, you deserved better than me, you deserved someone who was willing to be out with you.”
“So you cheated on me because you felt bad for me? That makes perfect sense.”
“Erin please I’m out now, please give me a chance…”
“Kate I don’t need this. I am happy, and I don’t need my past coming back into my life to ruin that, and I have a girlfriend.”
“You… how long have you been together?”
“It will be six months tomorrow.”
“Do you love her more than you loved me?”
“Kate-”
“Tell me. What we had was special Erin, you can’t just replace that.”
“Kate I am in love with Ella.”
“Six months is nothing! Erin come on be honest with me. I still love you, just say you love me too.”
Ella stopped outside the doorway when she heard Erin talking.
“Kate you need to stop. I am in love with Ella and nothing will change that. Sure maybe six months is nothing, but whether we have been together for a week or ten years I plan on spending the rest of my life with her and nothing you are saying is going to change that. I stopped being in love with you the moment I met her, please respect that and please don’t call me again, I moved on a long time ago.”
“Erin-” The keeper hung up the phone before Kate could get out another word.
Erin let out a deep breath and laid back on her bed as Ella walked back into the room.
The keeper jumped slightly when she felt Ella sit next to her.
“How much did you hear?”
“Just the last part.” Ella spoke, pulling Erin into a hug.
“I meant it. I haven’t thought about her once since I realized I was in love with you.”
“I believe you Erin.”
The couple got comfortable in bed to watch the movie, although both of them fell asleep before it ended, both thinking about how amazing the last six months had been.