Cleared for Takeoff

Chapter 3 The Soup That Wasn't Hers

"No way!" Winslow blurted the refusal before he could stop himself. But the moment he met Eleanor's faint, almost amused look, he realized he had reacted too strongly and forced out an awkward laugh to cover it.

Nicole refused to be left out of the conversation and jumped in immediately. "My sister would never dare ignore me, Winslow. You can stop worrying."

Her rock-solid confidence and the flash of guilt in Winslow's eyes both landed squarely in Eleanor's sight.

But this time, deep inside her chest, she answered with a silent, unbreakable "No."

Judith finished cleaning and bandaging the cut on Eleanor's forehead, hooked her up to an IV, and reminded her to rest. Then he turned to his assistant and muttered under his breath, "I have no idea what Winslow is thinking. His wife is hurt that badly, and he just leaves her here while he runs around playing nurse for her little sister."

"Tell me about it. When I was setting up Eleanor's IV, I could hear her stomach rumbling the whole time..."

Every single word reached Eleanor clearly, yet she stayed completely still.

What was there left to say?

Her husband had gone out and bought Nicole warm, fragrant soup, delicious side dishes, and even gum to help pass the time. When he finally glanced at Eleanor, he gave her an embarrassed look and said, "Sorry, Eleanor. I rushed off earlier and forgot to get anything for you."

The guilt and regret in his eyes felt real in that second, but they also made one thing painfully clear.

There was no longer any room for her in Winslow's heart. It was already filled with Nicole, and nothing else.

"Don't worry, Eleanor. I'll run out right now and grab another portion for you."

Winslow looked flustered and started to turn away, but Nicole's voice stopped him cold. "Winslow, you bought that soup for me, and I haven't even touched it yet. Just give it to Eleanor. She hit her head, so something light would be better for her anyway. This soup is perfect."

Winslow shot her a disapproving glance, but his tone dripped with indulgence. "Don't talk nonsense. I bought that soup especially for you. How could I give it to someone else?"

Even though Eleanor felt completely numb by now, those words still sliced straight through her. Her heart gave a sharp, painful twist.

Someone else. So that was what she had become. They were the real family now.

With that, Winslow turned and walked out, carefully closing the door behind him because Nicole had complained that she felt cold.

Yet back at home, he had never once bothered to close any door. Every time Eleanor gently asked him to, he would respond with that same mocking tone. "We're in our own house. Why are you being so fussy? You might be the captain at work, but at home, I'm your husband. Don't try to tell me what to do."

Eleanor's stomach growled again, loud in the quiet room. Nicole gave her a mocking look. "Sis, stop trying to act tough. Just drink the soup. You've been eating my leftovers your whole life anyway. This wouldn't be the first time."

A cruel little smile curved across Nicole's beautiful face, as if the woman sitting across from her were not her adoptive sister but some stray dog with nowhere else to go.

Eleanor shook her head and answered in a calm, even voice that gave away nothing. "You keep the soup. Winslow will bring me something to eat in a little while."

Nicole let out a soft scoff, as if she had just heard the funniest joke in the world. "Want to bet? One phone call from me and you won't see a single bite of food."

Before the words had even faded, she pulled out her phone and dialed Winslow. With sharp eyes, Eleanor caught the name saved on the screen: Darling.