Divorced Once Married Twice

2

The huge gates that led to her mother's house opened up and Ellen stared at it intently. She could not believe that the woman was able to successfully blackmail her into coming back just for her sixty birthday party.

She had argued that there was nothing so special about celebrating so elaborately but the woman had tried her best to guilt trip her using her children. Ellen had no choice but to cave. It had been four years since she left, returning to the city wouldn't hurt a fly if she came back to the same city her ex-husband was in, except for the fact that her children's father could find out about them.

The mansion behind the gates was so much more than the pictures her mom had sent her. She had been the sacrificial lamb to lift her family out of their sorry state. She had used the alimony given to her by Varian to grow her business into a world-class business and then her family came rushing with a mission to bleed her dry. The house she was standing in front of was more or less hers.

"Ellen" a voice shrieked from the doorway.

Ellen squinted so she could take in the face of the person who was now hurriedly walking towards her. The face of her sister flashed through her mind, although some features about her face had changed she was still recognisable.

"Oh my god, I missed you so much" she said taking her sister into her arms and squeezing her so tightly. She pulled away when she noticed she was not hugging her back. She studied her face. Ellen opened her mouth and closed it again.

"What do you want to say?" Elowen said tilting her head and narrowing her eyes. She was aware of her sister's sharp mouth and could not believe she was going to nitpick the moment she came.

"Did you get surgery?" Ellen said with a smirk on her face.

"What's it to you?" Elowen replied her hand touching her face slightly.

"You got it didn't you?" Ellen said nodding vigorously.

"We are just seeing for the first time in four years and you can't act normal can you?" Elowen said with a nasty expression.

"You know that Ellen has always had the sharpest mouth," Elise said walking towards them.

"Did you hear what she said to me though?" Elowen said with a scowl facing Elise.

"I did" Elise said and Elowen opened her mouth to speak but was stopped by Elise's finger in her face. "She is not wrong though, the surgery did not do you at all"

"It did not" Ellen said nodding and facing her sister.

"Welcome home," Elise said taking her hand and squeezing it. "I know you don't want to come and Mom had to force you to, but I am so glad to see you here"

"Mean girls, no wonder you get along" Elowen said stamping her feet before turning around in anger and walking away.

"I missed you as well" Ellen called after her with a snicker at the end of her statement. "Do you think she is angry?" She turned to face Elise.

"She would get over it" Elise replied and both of them burst into a fits of laughter. "Where are the triplets?" Her eyes darted around till they fell on the car behind them.

Ellen had asked the nanny to stay put with them in the car until she was ready for them. "There" Ellen said gesturing to the car with her head.

"I see, what are you waiting for?" Elise asked turning back to her.

"Where is mom?" Ellen tried to change the topic. She was not sure if she was ready to let her babies into the hands of her chaotic family. She knew she had to do it eventually but she wanted to be as careful as possible and stall for longer.

"Out and about with the planner, "Elise said with an eye roll. She had been against the party but her mom and Elowen had pushed through till they had their way.

Ellen walked back to the car, pulled the door open and her children ran down the car as if they had been waiting to be set loose for a long time now. They ran towards the stairs in front of the house, and the three of them struggled to get themselves onto the top of the stairs.

"Let's go in" Elise said pulling Ellen's hand.

"Our luggage" Ellen said turning back to her car.

"The staff will take care of it, you should rest, I am sure your trip was stressful," Elise said in a dismissing tone.

Ellen looked back to see some persons offloading the luggage from the car. She nodded in agreement, if they were acting the wealthy part they had to live it as well.

"Arlo, Alicia, Aaron" Ellen called as they entered the house and they seemed to be out of sight.

Arlo popped his head out of one of the passageways with a toothy smile on his face. "Where are your siblings?" Ellen asked and he giggled like she had told a joke.

He pointed into the hallway he was and then she heard two tiny feet splatter on the ground before their bodies appeared.

"Come say hello to your aunt" Ellen beckoned and they came to stand in front of them in a straight line.

"This is Alicia, Arlo and Aaron" Ellen added pointing them out to Elise. "And this is Aunty Elise" she added.

A grin crossed Alicia's face as she took some steps forward till she was within reach of Elise, she stretched her hand and took her hand into her. "Hello," she said in a cute voice.

"Oh hello" Elise said bending down to her level. It was as if Alicia's action gave the boys courage because they moved closer to Elise and offered their greetings.

"Can we see our rooms now?" Ellen said cutting Elise off before she could dote over her loving niece and nephews.

"Sure," she said jumping to her feet and turning before adding "Follow me"

She led them first to the room prepared for the triplets, it was room at the far end corner of the hallway, they were downstairs. "Do you like your room?" Alicia asked and the three children responded with a squeal.

They left them there with the nanny and Elise took Ellen to her room. "Something is bothering you"

"What? Nothing is bothering me" Ellen said quickly.

"Ahh the famous, instant denial and the expression on your face. Fess up"

"I saw Varian Meriwether"

"Oh f**k"