Second Chances

by Nicole Andrews Moore

  “Thank you, Bella,” he said sweetly. Then his look became excited, more intense. “You know what I wanted to do with all of you this Halloween. I can tell you now, since Halloween doesn’t fall on a weekend and we weren’t able to do it.”

  “What?” Isabella asked with interest.

  “I wanted to take you to Salem, Massachusetts to experience Halloween there. Wouldn’t that have been magical? So much history...”

  Laughing, she exclaimed, “Not everything has to be huge. Watch the kids tonight. You’ll see. They are going to be having a simple little celebration and loving every minute of it.”

  Isabella should have mentioned that not everything had to be huge in advance. She quickly discovered that Gabriel does not understand the concept of small intimate celebrations. He watched eagerly as the kids traipsed through the mall and gathered candy and other treats at various stores. Then they arrived at their father’s toy store. He had been watching for them, and seeing them coming, gave them a special treat in addition to the candy.

  “Here,” Jack said proudly, “you each get to pick one,” referring to the assortment of Halloween beanies before them.

  Rebecca chose a wildly colored witch. Kyle decided upon a cloaked skeleton. They performed for their father. Rebecca wandered around saying, “Oh, bother,” and trying to act glum as Eeyore. Kyle panted and demonstrated how if he moved just right, his tail wagged. And though Isabella had expected the entire experience to be uncomfortable, with Gabriel standing beside her, one arm wrapped lovingly around her waist, she survived.

  Their stop at her mother’s place didn’t go nearly as smoothly. The kids arrived at her townhouse door first, ringing the bell and shouting, “Trick-or-Treat!” Isabella and Gabriel stood back. He had his arms around her as they happily watched the kids.

  Isabella felt apprehensive about this visit for a number of reasons. The main reason was that she hadn’t told her mother about Gabriel. It had taken Isabella a long time to even talk to her after walking in on Angelica and Jack. In addition, her mother was rather unpredictable. Who knew how she would react to Isabella’s presence, let alone that of a new man in her life?

  Initially, her mother appeared happy to see the kids, then looked back and saw Isabella and Gabriel. Her jaw line tensed immediately and she folded her arms across her chest.

  “I thought Jack was taking the kids out tonight,” she said succinctly.

  “He had to work,” Isabella responded quietly. It was obvious her mother would rather see Jack than her own daughter.

  “Well, come in,” her mother ordered, acting very put out.

  Gabriel, as he did with anyone he met, smiled warmly and said, “It is so nice to meet you.” Then he proceeded to kiss her on each cheek, for him an ordinary greeting, but her mother tensed further.

  When Gabriel excused himself to use the bathroom a minute later she hissed, “I don’t like him.”

  “Well, you liked Jack. Clearly you still do, despite how he hurt me and your grandchildren. So, I’m not so sure I trust you to be a good judge of character.” Isabella wasn’t being malicious. In her mind she simply stated a truth, although certainly more plainly than she ever would have previously. She was even a little surprised herself. She would normally have cowed to her mother’s whims, tried diligently to please her. She savored the feeling that came from finding this new side of her. It was amazingly freeing to suddenly trust her judgment and not be unduly influenced by others.

  Her mother noticed. “Well, I’m surprised at you, Isabella. Where is this attitude coming from? Him I suppose?” She asked, jerking her thumb up the stairs.

  Isabella smiled. Probably, she thought happily to herself. But before she could say another word, Gabriel strode confidently down the stairs, a sight that soothed Isabella immensely.

  Just when Isabella believed she had the situation in hand, that it could most certainly grow no worse, her sister arrived. “Hello, Angelica,” Isabella said coldly, her spine suddenly rigid, the hair on her neck prickled.

  Angelica waved, but her attention was entirely focused on Gabriel. She walked over to him and said coyly, “So, who do we have here?” She took great pleasure in looking him up and down. At last she said, “You must be Gabriel. I’ve heard so much about you.”

  From Jack, no doubt, Isabella thought; her eyes narrowing dangerously as Gabriel moved to greet her.

  “It is a pleasure to meet you,” he said stiffly, sensing the tension between the two sisters.

  “What? No kiss?” Her mother asked with a smirk.

  Angelica cuddled up to Gabriel, looping her hand through his arm, and stroking his bicep. Gabriel looked at Isabella helplessly, desperate to make a good impression, yet overwhelmed with discomfort.

  “Let go,” Isabella said slowly and deliberately in a low voice.

  Angelica batted her eye lashes and pouted, “What did I ever do to you?” Yet still her hands lingered on Gabriel.

  In the past, Isabella would have walked away, but today, armed with the confidence that Gabriel gave her, she felt able to speak her mind, regardless of the consequences. “Well, you slept with my husband for one!” She bellowed at Angelica.

  At once, they realized the kids, who had been quietly sorting their loot in the middle of the living room floor, were now staring intently at the drama unfolding before them. Isabella froze for a moment. How could she have blurted it out like that in front of Gabriel? She must look so…pathetic. She was almost afraid to look him in the eyes, worried what she might see there. Instead, she looked at the clock and made their excuses. “We really must be going. Rebecca has school tomorrow.” She sighed and slowly turned to face Gabriel. “Can you walk them to the car, please?” She asked quietly, trying desperately to mask the pain she was feeling.

  Gabriel, still dumbfounded from Isabella’s revelation, nodded, blinking his eyes. Taking one step to be at her side, he enveloped her in a warm squeeze and whispered, “I’ll meet you in the car. Take your time.” Then he led Rebecca and Kyle to the door without even saying goodbye to Isabella’s dysfunctional family.

  Once she heard the door click shut, Isabella turned to face them. “Angelica,” she said severely, “don’t you ever mess with me again. I know you. This behavior has nothing to do with what you want. You’ve never wanted anything to do with Jack, just like you don’t truly want Gabriel. For some unknown reason, you simply want to lash out at me.” Angelica and her mother stared at her in shock. “Well, that time of our lives has passed. Neither one of you has the power to hurt me any more. I’m taking it away from you. I release me.” And with that, she turned on her heels and walked with a light heart to spend the rest of the night with her true family.

  They rode back to her barn in silence. Isabella spent the ride staring out the window, still too ashamed to face Gabriel. And Gabriel was desperate to repair the damage her family had done. He reached over and stroked her hair as he drove, he caressed her neck, he massaged her thigh. He tried to tell her with every touch how much he cared about her, how desirable she was. And if she had paid attention she would have noticed the desperateness of his touch. With every stroke he showed her how he longed to make her his, to keep her forever. But Isabella was too hurt, too sad, struggling against her emotions to keep those pesky tears in check. She kept repeating her mantra over and over again in her head. Never let them see you cry. Never let them see you cry.

  When she had finally calmed down and the kids had been tucked ever so lovingly into their beds. Once all the candy was checked and the costumes put away, Isabella and Gabriel made their way quietly up the stairs.

  “I’m sorry you had to be a part of that,” she said, looking at Gabriel as they lay six inches apart on their sides facing each other in bed.

  Gabriel said quietly, “I’m sorry you had to experience that. I do think it explains a few things about you, though. Wouldn’t you say?” He caressed her face gently.

  Distracted by his touch and determined not to grow emotional again, she
began slowly. “I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”

  “After what Jack and Angelica did,” he stopped to control his anger. “I mean, I guess I would hesitate to be intimate with someone after an experience like that.”

  Isabella looked down, “It’s just that...” She trailed off, uncertain and unable to explain the thoughts and feelings that coursed through her. How could she possibly make him understand that she couldn’t allow herself to grow attached to him only to lose him? How could she reveal that without also revealing how much he already meant to her? Isabella couldn’t put her heart at risk like that.

  Before she could collect her thoughts, Gabriel interjected. “It’s not just sex, Bella. It could never be so between us. You have changed me.” He swallowed after such an admission. “I’m sure you know that,” he added quietly. He looked at her, forced her chin up to face him, and to see the sincerity in his eyes. “Don’t you know that? I want to be in your heart before I’m ever, ever,” he said emphatically, “in your panties.”

  Isabella sat up to blink away tears, as she found herself so moved by Gabriel’s words. “Thank you,” she said simply, in a quiet voice. She wanted to tell him he had changed her too, that she was more confident, that he made her feel beautiful, that he had healed her in ways he could never understand. Yet she found herself still too afraid to let that information become public knowledge.

  Gabriel’s tone changed again. He spoke angrily, “I could hate them for what they did to you.”

  “Don’t,” Isabella said gently, hoping to put the experience in perspective, “if not for all of that pain, that hardship, I wouldn’t have you.”

  Their relationship seemed to be land marked by one celebration after another. The next one happened to be Kyle’s birthday. “You know,” Gabriel remarked, “I never really had a birthday party until I was old enough to invite people. I guess I was...oh, maybe twelve.”

  “Twelve! What did you do prior to that? Didn’t you celebrate at all?” Isabella sat visibly stunned at this new revelation of Gabriel’s childhood. “I mean, I was expecting that you had miniature circuses, or magicians, or something.”

  “No,” Gabriel answered matter-of-factly. “We would have a cake and presents at dinner. They were always big presents, but that was it.” He glanced at his watch. “Hey, speaking of cake, don’t you have to run and pick up Kyle’s and the balloons before everyone gets here?”

  She eyed him suspiciously for a moment. “This is the third time you have tried to get me to leave. Tired of me?” She batted her lashes at him teasingly as he shooed her out the door.

  Isabella was gone no more than two hours. She went and picked up the balloons, the plates, napkins, and cups, all in the Toy Story II theme Kyle requested. She was about to get the cake when Gabriel called his cell phone, which he had given to her before she left in case he thought of anything they needed. Apparently they needed more chips and drinks.

  Her return to the barn was further hampered as she struggled through some unusual traffic to get home. The two-lane road on the way to her house had turned into a parking lot. Looking ahead she could barely make out cars parked on the road and people out taking pictures. Her stomach lurched as she realized that her place appeared to be the center of attraction.

  “What is going on?” She mumbled to herself. In truth, this had all the earmarks of Gabriel. What had he done now?

  At last she finally managed to pull into the driveway, and stopped at the end in shock. Across the top of the porch swayed a huge banner that read, “Happy 3rd Birthday, Kyle!” An enormous heated outdoor tent had been erected, covering all of her side yard and part of the front. Buzz Lightyear, so authentic that she’d have sworn he came from Disney, walked around greeting the kids. An enormous air filled space ship stood in front of the house for the kids to bounce in. A horse, decorated to look like Bullseye, wandered the yard giving rides and being led by none other than Jessie, Woody’s sidekick. Oh, and Woody seemed to be manning the camp fire built in the front yard that everyone stood cooking hot dogs and marshmallows over. For a moment, Isabella didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

  Gabriel rushed over to greet her car, eagerly seeking her approval. He appeared to be bursting with pride at his accomplishment. “So what do you think?”

  “I don’t know what to think. How did you...? My landlord...” She couldn’t seem to complete a thought with the crazy atmosphere around her.

  “Don’t worry,” he said gently. “I have taken care of everything. You just sit back and relax.”

  Between the fire and the farm animals, Isabella guessed that would be easier said than done. She stood there in shock for a few moments watching it all until a voice spoke from behind her.

  “He’s really something, isn’t he?” Jessie marveled.

  “Yes,” Isabella replied wryly. “At the moment, I’m just trying to decide what.” She crossed her arms over her chest in dismay.

  Shaking her head in disbelief, her friend chastised her. “Look at all he’s done, Isabella. Have you figured it out yet?”

  Turning to her friend with a quizzical look, she asked, “What?”

  Smiling, Jessie murmured in her ear as she walked towards Jeff who was motioning to her. “He loves you.”

  And before she could get over her initial shock and question Jessie thoroughly on what made her think so, her friend was halfway across the yard.

  Although he had never planned a three-year-old’s birthday before, Gabriel was confident that it was a success. Everyone was smiling. Well, almost everyone. Isabella seemed a bit nervous. He smiled. He knew how to take care of that later. He couldn’t wait to drop into bed with her every night, even without the promise of sex.

  Of course, Isabella’s mother and Angelica were none too happy either. They stood on the fringe of the party with Jack. Gabriel tried to hide a scowl as he glanced their way, but he apparently wasn’t terribly successful.

  “Careful,” Jessie joked, “those could be your in-laws.” She smiled up at Gabriel as she watched his reaction.

  “I never thought of it that way,” he admitted, now pondering the idea.

  “Ah, but I see you aren’t overly distraught at the concept.” She smirked. “I knew it.”

  “Knew what?” He asked, growing pink even as he feigned confusion.

  “You love Isabella,” she announced proudly.

  Gabriel stepped back and inhaled sharply. “I never said that.”

  Shaking her head, still smiling, Jessie explained. “You didn’t have to. I can see it in everything you do. And…I can see it in your face.” The way she said it was almost a challenge. She arched an eyebrow.

  Clearing his throat but denying nothing, Gabriel decided the best move would be to change the subject. “Speaking of faces, I noticed that Isabella looks nothing like her mother or sister.”

  “Oh, Isabella didn’t tell you?” Jessie squirmed uncomfortably for a moment. “Well, it’s not like it’s a secret, I guess.” She seemed to be choosing her words carefully. “Isabella is adopted.” She shrugged.

  Gabriel frowned. “But not Angelica, right?” He watched as Jessie nodded weakly. “Well, I suppose that explains some things.”

  Sighing, she said, “I never really thought about it, but you’re probably right.”

  His heart hurt thinking about the kind of life she had led, but he knew if he confronted Bella about it, she would merely turn philosophical on him and tell him that she had no regrets; that these experiences had shaped her into the woman he loved. Gabriel swallowed. She wouldn’t use that word. She didn’t know he loved her yet. He longed to tell her, but how, and when?

  That night, after everyone had at last departed and the yard was restored to its original rustic glory, Gabriel began addressing the upcoming holidays while lying beside her in bed. “What are you doing for Thanksgiving? Do you have the kids?”

  “In the past everyone would go over to my mother’s house for Thanksgiving,” she stated. “Jack still may.
I do get the kids for the actual holiday because he has them for the weekend.”

  “What if we go away?” Gabriel asked hesitantly. “My father is out of town, and you seem to feel as though you have nowhere to go. Let’s go someplace. Start our own custom.”

  Propping herself on one side, Isabella selected her words carefully. “I love everything you do for us,” she began slowly, “but I don’t ever want to be accused of taking advantage of you.”

  “Who would do that?” He shrugged.

  “Well, your father might.” She continued quickly before he could interject. “And you always have to do everything so...big.”

  “Hey, Kyle is only going to be three once. And besides, I just thought about what would have made my eyes go wide at that age and provided it.”

  Isabella rolled her eyes. “Well, you certainly did accomplish that.”