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Ellie shrugged as she put away her book, How to Manage Rich, into her knapsack.  She stood up to quickly hug her friend before quickly sitting down. "You know, I have spent so much time recovering, I'd almost forgotten that I used to live by myself.  I feel like I need to reclaim me as I used to be a little bit. He did tell me that he doesn't mind if I wanted to bring you over whenever."

"When you get back to his home, it's fantastic of him to have paid for my plane ticket to come back here.  I was in business class this time so I was literally the most comfortable person on the plane. If he does these lil things for your friends, he must treat you so well.  You're very lucky you know."

"I think he feels guilty about my withdrawal.  I stayed at his house during the worst of it so he definitely saw me at my absolute worst.  Henry's just trying to figure out how to help me out with these small gestures. You probably would have been even more taken care of at the Wong Building.  At first, it feels wonderful. You don't even have to think. But, over time not having to think can make you feel irritable." Ellie shifted in her seat uncomfortably as she grabbed her coffee cup.  "But, enough about my own issues. I actually got a shock just before I was about to meet you. I'm going to be planning my brother's wedding with my sister in law to be very soon."

"That's such good news.  I'm so happy for you and your family." Helen clasped her hands in excitement. "I can't believe just a couple months ago you were talking as if you could die any day, but you've managed to beat all of your obstacles.  It's a real miracle to see you well, Ellie. I'm so in awe of you. You were in a hospital bed and you've done so well in settling yourself and your brother."

"Settling myself?  I don't know if I would say it's a blessing, I've just got a lot more things in perspective now that I understand health is not permanent.  I should remind Nolan that I'm the reason he met his future wife in the first place. But, that's not why I called you here. Um, I know we were friends in our youth.  What I was going to say before has changed a bit now that I've got this news." Ellie bit her lip as she finally made a decision. "I know you are a professional racer as well as I've decided to sell my stock car and retire.  I know that's it's pretty sudden. I'm not pregnant or Henry hasn't forced me too. But, I recently was offered--I think calling a job would be generous--but I have a project that should keep me occupied. I inherited it I guess."

Helen looked at her with a blush.  "Inherited? Is that your sneaky way that you're telling me that your planning on starting a family with your man, the perfect Henry Wong?  I know that I heard you wanted to make the relationship more about family and the future."

"I wish I was making more progress with my goals." Ellie tried to warm her suddenly cold hands with her coffee cup.  "Do you remember when I first moved to Rochester, I told you my dad lived in a castle in England?  All the neighborhoods didn't believe me, but you were the only one that did? I told you how I had two evil step sisters and that was why Cinderella was my favorite fairy tale?"

"I mean we were kids, Ellie.  You can't blame the other kids for not believing you.  I'm sure it was their parents telling them that it couldn't be true."

Ellie shrugged.  "What I didn't tell anybody was that the reason why my dad lived in a castle was because he was an English baron as in a member of the old aristocracy."

"No way?  Are you serious?  That's insane."

"What's even more insane is that just an hour ago, I found out that I am a Baroness because of some weird law that my ancestors did with the queen that whoever is next in line will inherit.  I found out my parents were married, but by the time I started school my mom just changed my last name to hers so I never knew about it. All of my step sisters have passed on so I'm now responsible for--"

Helen gasped. "--you're not going back to racing because you have to go to Europe to take care of your castle.  I should probably start calling you Lady Ellie. This is the best story I have ever heard. Something like this would only happen to you, you always have that type of luck."

Ellie eyebrows met as she felt a surge of disgust.  "Do you not believe me? I thought you of all people would understand."

Helen quickly shook her head and touched Ellie's hands.  "I do. I meant I of course can't understand what it's like to be what you are.  I'm not you, but I know that no matter what happens to you that you'll stay the old Ellie.  I know your relationship with Henry isn't going well. It's really good that you have something to move towards as you untangle yourself." Her thumbs rubbed soothing circles into the back of Ellie's hands. "It's ok, I know your hands get cold when you get scarred."

"I am.  I can't help how these quick changes are making me uncomfortable." She made a face. "My relationship isn't in the best place and I am happy that I can stand on my own two feet now.  But, it's still weird knowing I have a safety blanket now, I'm so used to having little."

"Ellie I know, I was there when your mom was bagging groceries and shopping with my mom at the thrift store.  I know that it's not going to be easy these couple months. You have my number so you can call me any time and we can discuss anything.  I'll always make time to be there for you. I'm glad I'm in a place where I'm not super stressed so I can offer you that. It's scares me to think about all those tabloids picking up on such a high profile relationship.  You becoming aristocracy does sound like somethings news outlets will love. But, I do think that it's good that this has happened."