Elodie's Library of Second Chances by Rebecca Raisin

Author:Rebecca Raisin [Raisin, Rebecca]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2022-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

‘Good morning, Mum, it’s me.’

‘Ellie! It’s lovely to hear from you. Where are you?’

There’s no point hiding it anymore. I don’t have the energy for it and maybe if she knows I’m gainfully employed she’ll be more understanding. One can only hope! ‘I’m in Willow Grove. I’m working at a library here.’

I’m met with silence and then finally: ‘You left Astor to work at a library?’

I close my eyes briefly. ‘It’s not that much of a surprise, is it? I did study librarianship for a reason, Mum. You know I’ve always wanted to follow that path.’

‘But Astor offers you so much more. Why …? I will never understand you, Ellie.’

I let out a laugh, we’re polar opposites and yet she’s still trying to change me, mould me into a version of her. ‘Teddy called. He said things are a bit hectic at Astor. He’s concerned you’re taking on a lot of extra work and the pressure is intense. And now Dad has been back in hospital? How bad is it?’

‘You really did choose a terrible time to leave, darling,’ she admonishes me. ‘Your father is OK, but his corporate days are numbered. The cardiologist seems to think that stress is the culprit so has advised him to consider retirement. Can you imagine?’ Her voice rises.

‘Imagine retirement?’ I frown.

‘Yes retirement, what else! It’s ridiculous. What’s one supposed to do? Sit around all day and watch Netflix? That’s just not the Astor way.’

I roll my eyes. Everything always circles back to Astor. ‘Have you ever thought that Dad might like retirement? He might like to watch TV all day and take an afternoon nap. Or go on a cruise around the Caribbean. Eat creamy camembert in Paris? Climb the steps of Machu Picchu.’

She scoffs. ‘Machu Picchu! They’re called the Steps of Death for a reason, Ellie! When you retire, you’re basically throwing your hands up to the universe and saying: “Take me, Death, I’m ready.” He can’t retire, he’s mid-sixties for crying out loud. His doctor is a buffoon.’

‘Oh, Mum! That’s not true at all! Why wouldn’t you want to enjoy this season of your life together? It’s not like I’m suggesting you should retire too but you could definitely ease back a little. Take some time to travel. You and Dad have achieved great things but you’ve never enjoyed life outside of work. What about lying in on Sundays and eating buttery croissants in a hotel in Paris. Walking the Camino in Spain. Swimming in the Aegean Sea at sunset. Won’t you regret that you didn’t take this time, under doctor’s orders, to spend with Dad? You said you were all set on handing me the reins of Astor, yet it appears that was never the case.’

‘How can I, Ellie? You’re nowhere to be found. I can’t leave Astor in Teddy’s hands; even if I trusted him, he’s still got so much to learn. It’s a billion-dollar business. One can’t just walk away on a whim.’

Deep down I knew she was never going to hand Astor over to me.

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