by J. J. Bella
This had to be exactly how Isla was feeling, though she didn’t really dwell on things. Still, I did my best to pamper her and see to her needs, sometimes sleeping beside her when she asked and telling her new stories that made her laugh. Our bond just kept getting stronger and stronger, and I knew without a doubt now that I loved her with all my heart.
When we weren’t busy doing homework, baking or redecorating, Isla helped me out with chores. I did a little spring cleaning, too, something that Peter apparently wanted to do for a while now but just didn’t have the time to start with. We found things in their garage that they didn’t use anymore, boxes and boxes that Peter was about to sell but forgot eventually. We placed a table right on the driveway, laid out the items, and began to have our mini garage sale. It started off slow but picked up by the time word of mouth spread.
I knew most of Peter’s neighbors came to take a look at me, the new bride that they were all curious about. They were friendly enough, and I realized the garage sale was a perfect way for me to get to know the people here and get myself acquainted with them. It was also the perfect way for Isla to stop getting cooped up at home getting bored.
It was obvious that the neighbors adored her, too, as they let her sweet-talk them into buying most of our stuff until our tables were emptied out. Seriously, this girl was so talented with talking and charming that if her ballet or any other hobby didn’t work out, she would really have some kind of future in marketing.
Other than finding things to do at home, Isla also continued her piano lessons. I drove her off three times a day, sometimes leaving her to run some errands and just pick her up when she was done. Today, however, I had plenty of free time, having already done the groceries, the household chores and even planning some house redesigns that I wanted to run by Peter first. I stayed because of this, chatting up Isla’s teacher before going outside to sit on the available bench that faced the side road.
Isla’s chatter could be heard all the way from outside, and I smiled at how the teacher laughed at whatever it was she said. Then she started playing, and I lost myself in the music as I listened to the soothing, vibrant sound. She’d gotten a great deal better, and I knew it was because of all her hard work practicing.
As I immersed myself in the beat, I found myself thinking about Peter again and missing him so much. It had been almost two weeks since he was gone, and though I knew the Navy would inform me had something gone wrong, I still couldn’t help worrying. Isla had mentioned that her father was usually gone a week, but being gone for two weeks was rare. His boss must really be in trouble, and I could only cross my fingers that they were okay and holding on. I wasn’t privy to mission details and I understood that, but I also understood how dangerous it could get, especially when you were in enemy territory. I prayed nightly that wherever they were, they’d be safe and sound, and Isla prayed along with me for the same.
My thoughts were just drifting to where I would take Isla out for dinner when something familiar caught my eye—or rather, someone familiar.
It was one of my old university classmates, Jenny, who was close to Michelle but wasn’t really part of her party crowd, and we got acquainted when she did tag along once or twice. Then we ended up having some of the same classes and would sit beside each other, making small talk until we became somewhat friends.
I was about to call out her name when she glanced in my direction. Her eyes flared in recognition, then she was stopping in front of me to say hello. I said hello back, and Jenny took that as an indication to come closer. We smiled at each other, and I couldn’t help but feel a surge of familiarity and pleasantness at seeing an old friend.
We chatted for a while, with Jenny revealing that she actually lived just two blocks away here at Little Stone. I told her my address, and she finally dropped down on the bench beside me, nodding eagerly.
“Oh, right,” she said, thinking it over. “There was some mention in the university that you actually got married so quickly. Is it true?”
I nodded. “Yes, it was pretty quick. My husband’s in the Navy and we wanted to get married before he got another mission again.”
“Oh, wow. That’s great news! I won’t mention it to anyone, though, if you want to keep it private.”
I shrugged. “It doesn’t really matter to me if people find out. I mean, I’m pretty sure Michelle and the others would tease me to death.”
We reminisced the time we played some kind of party game and I was deemed the last one to ever get into a relationship with a guy, hook up with a guy or get married. It was funny how things worked out. Jenny grinned at me as she remembered the same thing, and we had a good-natured laugh about it. Remembering that in that same game, Jenny had been deemed the one to graduate early, I asked her how school was working out for her. She was such a good student back then, always keeping a level head and prioritizing her studies more than partying.
To my surprise, Jenny admitted that she actually dropped out of the university just a week after me. When I prodded her why, she opened up to me that she just got tired of the pressure and really didn’t even want to go to that place—it had been her parents’ decision for her to go there, study hard, and become a lawyer someday. She’d been all along for it until she realized that it wasn’t what she wanted in life—and so with lots of courage and plenty of arguments, her parents finally relented and accepted her decision.
“That’s really brave of you,” I said, sincerely. “I think you really should go after your passion, because that’s what will make you happy in the long run.”
“Yeah,” she murmured.
“So what did you want if you didn’t want to become a lawyer?”
Jenny brightened. “I wanted to become a teacher. I want to teach economics.”
Considering how she was very patient when I asked for her help before with a homework I didn’t understand, I got what she was saying. “That’s really great.”
“Yes.” She laughed. “I’m actually taking community college classes right now. It’s not as fancy as universities, but it’s education all the same.”
When she saw my surprise, Jenny began to explain how she got in and what other kind of classes were offered there. Apparently, the community college was just a few minutes away from Peter’s house—and well, my house now—and just beside the hospital. I must have missed it when the ambulance drove to the hospital during Isla’s accident, concentrated as I was on her during that time.
Jenny and I talked some more, and I opened up as well about my life—having a stepdaughter and the fear of failing her and my husband. But she encouraged me, and her words felt like a warm balm.
“You’ve always been the nurturing one when we were in college, Rachel,” she said with a smile. “Even Michelle’s antics couldn’t really touch you. I’m sure you’ll figure it out. You seem happy.”
I nodded, realizing the last part was true. “I am. I really am happy.”
“That’s good to know,” she said, her voice ringing with sincerity. “Just keep your head up and you’ll be supermom before we know it!”
We both laughed about it, then talked some more about the people we knew mutually at our old school. The biggest news was that Michelle had actually fallen in love and was now steadily dating a guy we wouldn’t have thought she would date—a quiet scholar who was more into comic books than parties. I remembered that certain guy, Aldrin, always hanging out in the library to study, and I had to wonder what made his and Michelle’s path collide and how they got to know each other. Whatever it was, I was glad Michelle was happy. It only further cemented the truth that everyone’s lives turned towards the unexpected at some point, and we were living proof of that.
When Isla finally came out of her piano lesson, I introduced her to Jenny as my stepdaughter. Isla and Jenny hit it off, so I invited my old college friend to have dinner with us, which she happily accepted. We bonded over pizza and salad, and I could see a knowing gleam in Jenny’s eyes every time she watched me and Isla interact. I gue
ss she was remembering her encouragement earlier.
When dinner was done, Jenny said she still had to do some last-minute errands and had to say goodbye. We exchanged numbers and promised we would keep in touch, considering we were already in the same town. Isla gave her a hug and told her she was happy I found an old friend of mine, and it touched me so much that I gave the little girl a hug in return.
We waved to Jenny before piling in the car and driving home, where I settled Isla in sleeping clothes and got her in bed. She requested to be the one to tell me a story this time, and I sat beside her and listened as she told me of good-hearted dragons that breathed fire and kept jewels of love with them. The kid certainly had an overactive imagination, one that I knew would be put to good use someday.
Once Isla was asleep, I got ready for sleep too and decided to stay beside her, looking up at the dim but sparkly ceiling and wondering about my life—wondering about community college, to be more specific.
I’d never even considered it, but now that Jenny brought it up…it seemed like the most logical thing if I wanted to do something and be someone other than a housewife.
What was it that I enjoyed the most now, other than taking care of my new family?
Not cooking, no. I liked decorating and realized I had a flair for it, one that I wanted to explore further and see where it would take me. Wedding planning had been fun, and I definitely found my organization skills useful in that aspect. But recreating room designs and redecorating, considering aesthetics versus practicality and space…it was much more fun. In fact, it was so exciting that I was looking forward to redecorating more spaces around the house as soon as I consulted with Peter and he was okay with it.
It had to be passion, because it was burning in me and urging me to become better at it.
And I realized that I wanted to pursue it.
I also realized that maybe I could have the best of both worlds: a husband and some kind of career.
Would it work?
There was only one way to find out.
Rachel
A few days after Isla’s last piano lesson and my accidental encounter with Jenny, I took Isla back to the hospital, where the doctor checked her up again to see how her leg was doing. I knew she was vibrating with excitement and anxiety as she waited for the doctor’s verdict, and it was connected to her want to finally get walking on her own two feet. She was getting a bit impatient at home because of it, and I guess Isla wanted to finally do the things that she couldn’t do when she was on cast, like go to school and take long walks at the park.
When the doctor announced that her leg was good and they could finally remove her cast today, she was practically bouncing with happiness and could barely be contained. I had to calm her down and talk her through the removal. Eventually, Isla became fascinated with the process and finally calmed down enough to watch as the cast was sawed off. Her leg was prodded with some equipment, then she was asked to do some test walking right there, which she did eagerly. To my relief, she could walk straight with no problem at all, though the doctor advised me to get her lots of rest in between walking and not to overdo it.
When we finally got out of the hospital with the colorful cast in hand, Isla pleaded with me that she wanted to walk and get some fresh air instead of going home right away. An idea popped in my head—one that I’d been setting aside as I became busy, but realized that the perfect time had now come. I asked her if she wanted to accompany me somewhere important, and Isla only got more excited as we walked over to the place I wanted to check out.
It was only a few minutes’ walk from the hospital to the community center, and the questions started once I got to the lobby. I knelt down and explained to Isla about my talk with Jenny, asking her what she thought about it. Isla tilted her head as if thinking it over. Then a grin broke on her face as she eagerly nodded her head.
“I think that’s a good idea!” she exclaimed. I laughed as my stepdaughter was suddenly the one dragging me through the pathway to the main center.
I was given a form to fill out, and we sat down on one of the stone tables at the back garden. While I filled out the basic information, Isla amused herself by watching squirrels chase each other around a tree, then declaring that she was going to write a story about squirrels next. I smiled and kept writing, then chose the course I wanted to take before finally submitting it to the registration center.
A few minutes later, I was officially signed up, and I found that I couldn’t stop the grin from my face even if I tried. It was such a refreshing feeling, and I knew I made the right decision.
Because we both didn’t want to go home yet, Isla and I decided to just drive around and enjoy the scenery. It was a Friday, and the removal of the cast meant she could be back in school on Monday.
I asked her about all the things she wanted to do once she got back in school, and Isla said she really just wanted to be back with her school friends and to listen to the lessons real time. She missed being there when the teacher was discussing something interesting, saying that it didn’t really translate well when she just had to do boring assignments without any interaction.
To my surprise, Isla also thanked me for being so patient with her, admitting that her mother kind of hated it when she talked too much or wanted to do things that weren’t according to schedule. I frowned at this but made no comment, knowing that no matter what I did or said, Evelyn was still her mother in the long run and it couldn’t be changed. Evelyn was also still part of Isla’s schedule, though she opted to leave Isla with us for a month due to some traveling she had to do with her husband. That was fine with me, as I wanted to spend more time with Isla, anyway. But I would be civil as long as I could, and I would keep treating Isla like she was my own kid.
When we got home, we had some chicken noodle soup and tuna sandwich on the porch, reading a storybook and just lazing around. I promised Isla I would take her grocery shopping with me tomorrow, and I knew she was excited about stretching her legs down the aisles.
After dinner, we got some mint chocolate ice cream in cones and just kept sitting on the porch, enjoying the cool weather. There were stars in the sky and a crescent moon, and it was just perfect.
Isla grew sleepy around nine, so I suggested that we get inside and ushered her in. We did our usual nightly routine, something that we’d gotten used to in our time together. We added some prayers in, with Isla praying that I would stay with them forever and for her dad to get home soon. I smiled, knowing that I was going to do my best to keep my end of that staying bargain.
I went back to the porch when she was finally asleep, basking in the night breeze. It was so quiet but not unsafe—in fact, this had to be one of the safest neighborhoods I’d been in. All the neighbors were close but not necessarily nosy, and in the past few weeks they really made me feel welcome and reminded me that I could always come knock on their doors if I ever needed anything.
There was a particular neighbor of Peter and Isla, one named Laura, who just moved in with an adopted boy who was more or less Isla’s age. Laura was old enough to be Isla’s grandmother, but she was still bright as a bee and twice as active, visiting us once or twice during the garage sale and telling us that she was really happy to have moved here. I could tell her little boy was shy, and I knew Isla asked about him often. Maybe we could pay them a visit this weekend and see how they were doing. That boy could probably use someone talkative like Isla to get him out of his shell.
With that nice thought in mind, I stood up, about to go in and get ready for bed.
Just as I opened the front door, a car drove down the road and slid up the driveway. I blinked.
It was Peter’s black SUV, of course, but I was so shocked seeing it that I could only stand in place. I watched as he got out of the driver’s seat, carrying his duffel bag and wearing clean jeans and a gray shirt that hugged his muscles. The sight of him looking so fresh and healthy had my heart aching, and memories of how much I missed him came rushing back at
me. In that instant, clarity hit me with a bang.
I was in love with this man.
Peter took one look at me before he strode over and dropped the duffel bag beside our feet. His gaze never left mine, and I finally cleared my suddenly dry throat.
“You’re back,” I blurted out.
A smile slid out of the side of his mouth, and it was so achingly sexy. His gaze roamed my face as if he was devouring the sight, and my knees felt so weak. He radiated hunger, and it was so raw and primitive that I could feel the same desire rushing inside me and pooling in between my legs.
“Isla?”
“She’s asleep,” I managed. I cleared my throat again. “Have you had dinner—”
“I’d rather have you,” he interrupted.
The words registered, and I gasped. Then, before I could say anything else, he was already yanking me towards him and crashing his mouth against mine.
I opened myself up to the kiss instantly, feeling like I’d been without water for so long and was thirsty beyond belief. His kisses were the water, and I drank him in and pressed closer against him, eager to have his body against mine. He was as hard and warm as I remembered, and I wanted to have more of it. Our kisses turned passionate and hot, too hungry for us to control, and I knew it would be dangerous to stay on this porch for too long.
As if he read my mind, Peter broke the kiss and placed his mouth on my cheek. His breathing came out erratic, and I felt his fast-beating heart when I placed my palm on his chest.
“I’ve missed you so much,” he admitted, his voice low and rough. It had my belly quivering. “I’ve waited for weeks to be near you, Rachel…I just couldn’t stop thinking about you. Damn it.”
His words washed over me like a balm. Then I was launching myself in his arms without a word, tugging him inside as I told him through touch that I felt exactly the same.
We stumbled in the living room and would have ripped each other’s clothes there, but there was always the fear of us becoming too loud because of our eagerness and eventually waking up Isla. So we gritted our teeth and struggled towards the bedroom, finally closing the door. Peter pressed me up against the wall and pressed his body against mine, resuming our kisses from the porch. Dimly, I was aware that we left his bag there, but my mind turned blank when he ended up ripping my clothes.
