Enamored with Ellie

Prologue

Prologue15 Years Ago

Ice cold water splashed Ellie’s legs as she ran through the brook behind her house. She jumped over a tree that had fallen during the winter, and her tangled hair whipped across her face when she landed. Her twin was locked away in their bedroom, studying for an English test. Ellie had no doubt Sophie would ace the test, but it wasn’t enough to persuade Sophie to enjoy the warm spring day with her.

She skipped across the yard and yelled up to Sophie. Her head popped out of the window, her blue eyes just like her own staring down at her.

“I’m studying,” Sophie said for the hundredth time.

Ellie spun with her arms open wide. “But it’s so beautiful out. Aren’t you sick of being cooped up in the house?” The snow had finally melted, and while the ground was a little soggy, the sun was warm.

Sophie shook her head. “You have mud all over your pants. Mom’s going to kill you if you come in the house like that.”

“Then you can bring me a clean pair when you come out.”

“I’m studying!” Sophie said with a laugh. “And you should be, too. Don’t you have a history test?”

“There will be nothing on that test I don’t already know.” It was one of the few classes Ellie thoroughly enjoyed, and one day, Ellie would visit all the ancient places in her textbooks. But today she would bask in the glory of spring. “Don’t you want to feel the sun on your face?”

“I’ll have all summer for that. Right now, I need to—”

“Study. I know! Suit yourself.” With a wave, Ellie skipped from the house and toward the brook again. Maybe she’d see the beavers that had built a dam upstream or the deer that liked to come by for a drink. Or Stumpy, the squirrel with half a tail that constantly ate the bird seed out of all her mother’s feeders.

A small whimper caught her attention, and she stopped, listening more closely. Wind rustled the still bare tree limbs. She went to continue her trek when the sound came louder and more distinguishable.

She spun in the direction the sniffling came from and slowed at the sight of her little brother sitting against a tree and angrily swiping at his eyes.

“Ry,” she said, and he quickly looked away from her, swiping quicker now before turning back to her. He didn’t say anything, and she plopped down beside him.

“Want to tell me what’s going on?” she asked.

Again, he didn’t speak, but Ellie knew that was because if he did, he would cry harder. Even though he was her younger brother by two years, he always tried to act like a man. His sensitive nature made it hard at times, so she never discouraged his tears. Everyone deserved the right to cry. She could handle herself; she didn’t need him to protect her, but she was well aware she needed to protect him.

“You don’t have to,” she said. “But I’m sure you’ll feel better if you did. Sometimes holding it in makes it hurt more.”

His lip quivered. The deep blue of his eyes drowned beneath a wall of tears. She brushed his dark hair off his forehead and smiled.

“Brett didn’t invite me to his birthday party.”

“And why not?” At eleven, Brett Wilferd was already a jerk and loved to pick on Ryan. Was it wrong that she wanted to hit a kid? Right now, she didn’t think so. That little bastard made her brother cry.

“It’s stupid.”

“Then tell me.”

Ryan inhaled deeply, his shoulders rising and falling with the effort. “Mrs. St. Claire had us watch Charlotte’s Web because we read the book, and well… I cried when Charlotte died.”

“Okay, and what’s the problem? Everybody cries at that part.”

“Brett told everyone I was a baby, and he wouldn’t invite babies to his party.”

“You’re not a baby, and Brett’s a butthead.” That got a smile out of Ryan. “Besides, you don’t need his party.”

“Everyone is going to be there. I have no friends to play with.”

“You don’t need friends. You have me.”

Ryan shook his head and buried his chin into his arms that were crossed over his knees. “You have Sophie. I’ll just get in the way like I always do.”

“What are you talking about? You don’t get in the way.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Do you really think that?” All this time, and she had no idea. Yes, she and Sophie were as close as could be—they were twins after all, but Ryan was their brother, and he was equally as important. It hurt her to think he didn’t know that.

He nodded, and Ellie shifted to sit in front of him. “Hey.” She waited for him to meet her eyes then continued. “You don’t, okay? And if I ever do or say anything to make you feel that way, tell me please, because I promise you I don’t do it on purpose. You’re my brother, and I love you, even if you do leave the empty milk container in the fridge.”

Ryan gasped. “I did that once!”

“I still remember the cereal I was dreaming about having that morning.” Ellie pushed his shoulder and laughed. “I’m kidding.” She stood up. “I happen to have my entire day free. Why don’t you and I do something? Just the two of us. Then later you, me, and Soph can watch a movie and forget all about Brett’s stupid party.”

“Just me and you today?”

“Just me and you.” Ellie reached her hand down to him. “What do you say?”

He grabbed hold of her, and she pulled him to his feet. “Can we ride our bikes into town and get ice cream?”

“If Mom and Dad say that’s okay, we totally can.”

He threw his fist in the air, and the smile that had been missing reappeared. It was like a salve on Ellie’s aching heart. She hated to see Ryan in any other mood than happy. The boy had a smile that set a place on fire, and she wouldn’t let Brett Wilferd—or anyone for that matter—snuff it out.

With a skip in his step, he headed for the house, stopped, turned to Ellie, and flung himself into her arms, nearly knocking her off her feet.

“Whoa there,” she said and squeezed him tight.

He let go first and smiled at her. “Thanks, El.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Ry. It’s what big sisters do. I always have your back. Remember that.”

He nodded, the tears dissolving. “Always.”