Hello December

Who was she going to share this with? Ellie paced about when she had a chance, thinking she should talk to her mother about this, but they were barely on speaking terms these days. Besides, when her mom did call it was to talk about herself and all the things she was doing with her life at the Reservation in South Dakota where she was head of some education project. She was also married to the chief. These were things Ellie was supposed to be proud of. And she was...it was just ...her mom gave up on her after she divorced that cowboy from Texas.

"I should have told her something," Ellie winced, thinking Mae her neighbor wouldn't want to hear about her life, either.

"Maybe she heard it in your voice," Mae smiled.

"Oh, she never listens to me." Ellie gritted, slightly. It was best not to dwell on her past with her mom. Besides, Ellie was happy. Drew finally moved in and, all was well. For the most part...

"He, he wants us to get married." There were several reasons why, yet what remained was the fact it was love and they wanted to celebrate it.

"And, I try to tell myself we..we shouldn't rush into things, but, you know, he hasn't really changed. I mean, I knew him when I was six and I thought he was wonderful then and I think that now, too." Ellie wrapped her pale fingers around her coffee mug. "It's just, there was a time, I used to think, oh be a grown up and have a grownup relationship. I mean, there were times I was so sure I was in love, just to find that person found the love of their life with someone else." She told Mae she felt as if she'd been stuck in a rut. But it wasn't that way with Drew.

"We'd like to go somewhere during Christmas break and just get married. You know, not ... make a big deal out of it." She finally told Mae.

"Oh, but the girls wouldn't like that. They would want to be a part of the wedding." Mae smiled, telling her it didn't have to be big, but at least something they could all enjoy.

"I know." Ellie pressed her lips tight. She pushed her coffee away. She couldn't handle it lately, even with cream. Still, she was certain she and Drew needed to do this quietly. It was something she could celebrate with the girls later. Besides, their father would make a big deal about it, and she didn't need any stress right now. After all, they would have a baby brother by mid-summer.