Henry’s hands were careful with Ella as he guided her up the two steps in the garage that led to Remus’ home. With an arm curved behind her and his other hand clutching hers, he moved as if escorting a delicate woman in her nineties.
Now that she had the freedom to breathe without threat of Lady Tremaine’s vindictive nature, Ella was finally allowed to feel the aches and pains of the common cold, which had been made worse by going outside with wet hair. The sound of her rasping coughs scared her as they moved further into the house.
Remus pushed past them and darted up the stairs, while Henry lowered her to sit on a stool in the kitchen. He fished around in the fridge and pulled out a pot of freshly made chicken soup Chef Lionel had whipped up before going home for the evening. In front of the pot was a Get Well Soon note from him, at which Henry frowned. “Hey, now. Lionel has never given me a card when I’ve been sick. Back when I had my tonsils out, he force-fed me ice cream and kept asking me questions I couldn’t answer, because I couldn’t talk.” He shook his head at Ella, who was slumped with her elbows atop the granite counter. “You’ve enchanted him, you minx.”
Ella blew her nose. “What can I say? I’ve got it going on.”
“Indeed.” Henry heated up her soup, and then stood next to her stool so she could rest her head on his chest. He ran his fingers through her hair while she ate, not looking up when Remus trotted back down the stairs toward them, his sleeves rolled.
“The bath is ready for you when you’re finished with your supper, Miss Ella.” Remus always spoke to her with respect, as if he were the servant in his own home, content to wait on anyone who should need it.
Ella’s nose was runny, her head ached, and she was too tired to examine anything, save for the gratitude that rose up in her ribs, which were sore from coughing. She moved from the comfort of Henry’s chest only to stand and wrap her arms around Remus, finally accepting that he was who he claimed to be, and nothing more duplicitous. “Please,” she asked, hoping for a dose of his Pulse to quell her anxiety.
“Of course.” Remus didn’t hesitate, engulfing her in the hug she craved, while giving her a little something extra to take the edge off. “Good for you for asking.”
“You’re not trying to use my abilities for anything selfish,” she whispered as she gripped him.
Remus melted around her. “Of course not, darling. The best teachers are perpetual students. I merely want to understand, and then to help.”
“I see it now.” She didn’t stiffen when his hand cupped the back of her head to lean it on his shoulder. She felt protected with her head resting there, which wasn’t a feeling she was altogether used to yet. Oh, how she’d needed a place to rest. “You’re sure I can stay here until I figure out my next move?”
Both Henry and Remus didn’t hesitate. “Of course.” Remus gently swayed from side to side, rocking her as if she was his treasure. “Stay as long as you like. Make this your permanent address. As long as I’m in your life, there will be no more darkness. I’ll keep you safe.”
“Safe?” Ella echoed, turning the word over on her tongue to test how it tasted. There was too much beauty in that one word for her to feel like she belonged in the same room as it, but Remus held her to the spot, assuring her that she very much did.
Too many emotions swam to the surface, breaking through the dam she’d needed in place to keep her head above water, day in and day out. An avalanche of shame crashed around her when she broke down in his arms, sobbing into his clean dress shirt. Fearing that something so perfect might be snatched away, she gripped the pressed fabric, threatening with all of her resolve that this one good thing wouldn’t be stolen from her fingers. Of all the things Lady Tremaine had taken from her, this one word, this concept too grand for comprehension, would remain forever hers.
Remus didn’t shy away from her tears. The only thing he asked was for Henry to fetch a box of tissues, and to make her some tea. By the time her tears had quieted to mere hiccups of exhaustion, the tea was ready, and Remus lowered her back to her stool so she could drink it, his hand never leaving her back. That simple touch assured her that the stability she craved wouldn’t be gone in the morning. She didn’t resist it, but leaned into the touch, silently begging for the Comfort he had on tap.
Henry was careful with her besotted state as he led her up the stairs once she’d finished with her tea. He only whispered words of love and loyalty as he led her not to her bedroom, but to his. “Go on into your bath and relax. I’ll make you a sandwich while you’re in there.”
Ella’s heart seemed to be on perpetual swell and shatter mode, causing new tears to trickle down her cheeks. “You don’t have to do that. You’re both being too nice to me; it’s all so confusing.”
Henry tilted his head to the side, as if to ask her how she expected a boyfriend might behave under the circumstances. He didn’t argue with her perplexed expression, nor did he sweep away her tears to pretend they didn’t exist. Henry kissed her cheek, and then pulled her into his arms, letting her feel his solid body.
Ella permitted herself to rest against his chest, finally understanding that the beacon of safety she’d only just begun to trust wasn’t going anywhere if she let herself lean on it.