Instead, she couldn’t tell what she saw. “You are right, of course, my Bella,” he began quietly. “You are right for many reasons, the best of which would be that I would never do anything around your kids. Remember, we have all the time in the world, right?”
Smiling and nodding, she wrapped herself in his arms and happily fell back to sleep. It wasn’t as easy for Gabriel, however. He was haunted by the image of Isabella on deck. She had been more than cold, of that he was certain. What was it he had seen in her eyes? Dare he hope that she was afraid of losing him? He knew she liked being around him, spending time with him, even when it didn’t cost a dime, but he found himself in unfamiliar territory. Suddenly he wanted more. He had surprised himself last night. He, the consummate playboy, found himself wanting children with Isabella, and marriage. He had planned on settling down eventually, but that was many many years into the future, once his appetite for women had faded, once he was certain he could be faithful to just one. He had never expected that to happen so soon, especially not with Bella. Smiling, he knew he had no regrets.
The morning was hectic, as they had to depart immediately for the airport to catch their flight home. From there, they dropped the kids off at Jack’s, then Isabella and Gabriel drove to Montreal. By now, Isabella felt as though she could make this trip in her sleep. Today she did. “Wake up, darling,” Gabriel murmured quietly into her ear.
Stretching, she asked, “Why didn’t you wake me? I was terrible company this trip.”
“I love watching you sleep. You are going to need it. We have a big weekend planned,” he commented mysteriously.
“Do I finally get to meet your friends?” She asked eagerly.
“Better,” he answered with a smile. “My mother.”
Gabriel’s parents, though both in Montreal, lived worlds apart. As elegant and spacious as the Charmant Estate was, his mother’s place was equally as small and dingy. He must have sensed what her reaction would be since, on the drive over later in the afternoon, he began telling his mother’s story.
“After my parents divorced, my mother was given a very beautiful apartment in a fine neighborhood. All the bills were paid for by my father as part of the settlement. That arrangement was to continue as long as my mother remained single. Once she remarried, she was on her own.
“Well, I’m certain she was very lonely. My father was granted custody of me. She had infrequent visitation. We talked on the phone much more than we ever saw each other. One day she met a man, a very suave man, who no doubt saw the way she lived and believed her to be well off. He courted her feverishly. She grew afraid of losing him. She didn’t speak to me, didn’t call, and didn’t accept my calls. I no longer went over to her place; instead, we would meet on occasion after school at a coffee shop for an hour or so.” At this point, Gabriel stopped talking and looked out the window. This period in his life obviously affected him very deeply.
“Okay, so anyway, my father reads the paper one morning at breakfast and storms out of the room, leaving the paper on the table. I can hear him on the phone in the study. He is furious at someone. He is screaming, ‘You are cut off. Do you hear me? I’m calling my lawyer, so you best figure out how to pay for all of that yourself. Understand?’ I walked over to his place setting, and there it was, a wedding announcement. My mother looked so happy. She had run off and gotten married, had been for over three months by now, during which time my father was still taking care of her bills. And I wasn’t even invited to the wedding.
“Her new husband knew nothing about me or her financial situation. As soon as he found out about both, he left her high and dry. She expected my father would start taking care of her again, but obviously that was not legally the case. She had never really worked, had no skills. Her jobs in the past were more of a hobby than a means for support. So here we are.” Those words not only signaled the end of his story, but their arrival at his mother’s meager dwelling.
“Call her Ava,” he whispered in Isabella’s ear as they climbed the rickety porch to her front door.
His mother seemed to have been expecting them. She shuffled to the door as she heard the steps creak. On first glance, Isabella was surprised to see that she seemed as weathered as the apartment she lived in, and in almost as much disrepair. Her clothes were shabby and out dated. She was slightly hunched over, too thin and frail looking for Isabella’s liking, with a head of dull blonde hair that was collected in a mass on the top of her head.
As soon as the door opened, Gabriel hugged his mother to his chest warmly. Then he introduced them with, “Ava, this is Isabella.” Turning to Isabella, “Bella, my mother.”
Isabella shook her hand firmly. It was apparent from her wrinkled face and wizened demeanor that Ava had survived a difficult life. It was also just as apparent that she adored her only son as much as Mr. Charmant did.
“Gabriel,” Ava said quietly, “I wanted to serve the two of you some tea and pastries. Could you...?”
“Yes, Ava,” he said. “Darling, do you mind? I’ll only be a minute.” He hugged her on his way out the door and whispered, “I think she wants to talk to you alone.” Smiling, he vacated the apartment. And Isabella was left alone to face his mother.
“There,” Ava murmured, sitting down in a threadbare Queen Ann chair. “Won’t you have a seat?” She motioned to the sun faded sofa opposite her.
Isabella smiled and sat, but felt as though her every move was being studied. If she didn’t know better, she’d think Ava was part gypsy.
“I don’t read minds,” Ava began slowly, “but I wouldn’t have to in order to see that my son is incredibly taken with you.” She looked Isabella over. “I can see why. You are quite attractive. No doubt my ex finds you appealing as well.”
Isabella’s brow furrowed in perplexity as she tried to anticipate the direction the conversation would take.
“You are the first woman my son has ever introduced me to.” Ava spoke the words evenly and watched Isabella for a reaction.
Isabella leaned back, surprised. She would normally be trying to find something intelligent to say, but could tell the time for that had not arrived yet. She waited quietly so that Ava might speak her mind.
“So, he must want my opinion on something, my insight into this matter of you two. Does he seek my blessing?” This question Ava did not intend for Isabella to answer, but too soon the ones requiring a response began coming at her like rapid fire. “What do you do, Isabella? How is it you earn a living?”
“I’m a photographer in the States,” Isabella answered simply.
“Ahh. An honest day’s work. An artist. Of course, my son would expect no less than a creative spirit. I believe he needs that, business can be so dull. Maybe you are good for him?”
Isabella smiled. This too did not require an answer.
The questions kept coming. How long have you been together? Where did you meet? What kinds of things do you do together? Isabella held her cool through all of them, until the last hit a nerve. Have you had sex with my son?
“Ava!” Isabella exploded sharply. “What is this obsession everyone has with our sex life? No, we haven’t had sex. I’m not ready. I’m just getting through a divorce. I have two young children to think about. I can take care of myself. I don’t need ‘your son’ financially. And I try not to need him emotionally. I simply want him to be a part of my life. He treats me extremely well and behaves as though my children are his own. I wasn’t looking for him, but I’m overjoyed that we have found each other. And when and if we sleep together is our business.” Her rampage finished, she looked Ava directly in the eye, daring her to say something else to set Isabella off.
“Well done, my dear,” Ava said with sincerity. “You are patient as well. I have been baiting you for quite some time, but you held your own. Oh, and that assertiveness, able to stick up for yourself. You will need it when dealing with my ex.” She reached down and poured two cups of tea from the chipped tea pot on the coffee table.
�
�So, does Mr. Charmant approve of the kids?” The question hung between them, awaiting a response.
Before Isabella could answer Ava’s question Gabriel walked in. She couldn’t be sure that he had heard any of their conversation, but his stark white face spoke volumes. His enormous eyes were set on Ava, whose jaw immediately snapped shut.
When they rose to leave, Ava hugged Isabella close. “If it was my blessing he sought by introduction,” she whispered, “he has it. I think you shall be very good for each other.”
Gabriel opened her car door for her, but as she climbed in he said, “I just want to say goodbye to Ava, okay?” Isabella nodded and he strode back to the porch.
The two of them appeared serious for a moment. Ava shook her head continuously. She seemed to be pleading with him. Isabella only understood one phrase of the conversation that Ava kept repeating miserably, “Gabriel, don’t repeat my mistakes. Please, don’t repeat my mistakes.”
Isabella had an irrepressible urge to ask what Ava meant by that, but as they drove away, Gabriel seemed to be brooding over something. Now would obviously not be a good time to bring the subject up. Instead, she concentrated on lifting his foul mood.
“You know how I was upset when we first arrived in Florida?” She asked slowly.
“Yes,” Gabriel responded, puzzled.
“Well, I’m going to draw us a bath before dinner. We can’t have you looking like that in front of this evening’s guests, whoever they may be.” She leaned over and whispered in his ear. “And I’ll scrub your back, and snuggle you for once.” His look seemed to soften. She dropped her head on his shoulder. “Gabriel, let me take care of you for a change.”
They snuck back into the estate and went directly to Gabriel’s room. He moped around introspectively in a way that Isabella had never seen before. He sat somberly down on the bed. She watched him for a moment before walking over and locking the door. Instantly, she returned to stand before him and hug him to her chest.
Swallowing, he clung to her. Gabriel always knew what to do. In business he was known for being decisive, and those choices he made were rarely wrong. Now, he didn’t know what to do. Ava was right. He was making a huge mistake, taking a great risk, but he didn’t want to give her up. His throat ached and he sniffled his nose. Frustration and fear consumed him. How was he going to fix this without hurting…the people he loved?
“I thought Ava liked me,” Isabella said quietly, trying not to intrude on his thoughts. “I didn’t mean to disappoint you so.”
His head snapped upward as he looked at her in amazement. “Disappoint me? You could never disappoint me. Why do you think that?” His hands were on her shoulders now, a tightening grip.
“Well, I heard her say not to make the same mistake she did. I thought she meant in being with me.” She studied his face for a reaction.
“Oh, no,” Gabriel said weakly. “She likes you very much. She says you are made for me. Isn’t that a lovely way to put it?”
In that moment, Gabriel returned to his normal self. “I love being wet and naked with you,” he said, “but what if we wait until after dinner, when we can truly relax and then just dissolve into bed together?”
“Agreed.” Isabella nodded, happy to have him back.
“And Bella,” he said seriously. “Thank you for taking care of me.”
The month of December dissipated all too quickly for Isabella. She found herself constantly busy with shopping, wrapping, baking, entertaining, and traveling. To her surprise, she actually managed to send out Christmas cards this year. In each one she slipped a wallet size photo of her precious children and scrawled a personal note. Gabriel arrived one Friday afternoon as she finished that arduous task.
“Oh, good,” she gushed. “Here. I just realized I don’t have your mailing address. I thought I’d hand deliver this one to you, but could you give me the addresses to your parents?”
Gabriel reeled off the address for his mother, but hesitated before giving her his father’s address. “What if I hand deliver it to him as well?” He asked quietly.
He watched as she began to sign her name and the children’s on his father’s card. He stopped her before she even placed the comma after her name. “Why do you write the kids’ names?” He asked, trying to sound light hearted. “They didn’t actually write them, eh?” Isabella nodded slowly, curiously.
“Well,” he added, thinking deeply. “Their names are on the photo, right?” Again she nodded, brow furrowed. “So, just leave it ‘Isabella.’”
Isabella hesitated, but since it seemed to make sense to Gabriel and he understood his father better than she, ‘Isabella’ it was.
Satisfied, Gabriel pocketed both the cards and revealed his surprise for Sunday.
Isabella had mentioned on more than one occasion that she wanted the kids to experience The Nutcracker. Naturally, the ballet would be professionally performed in Montreal prior to Christmas. Gabriel had made arrangements for them to go for a Sunday matinee, no overnight required. He even offered to invite Ava, much to Isabella’s delight.
Rebecca and Kyle found the stooped woman charming. She pleasantly agreed to sit in between Gabriel and Rebecca, a place of honor. Afterwards, they grabbed a quick bite at a nice restaurant in the city before dropping Ava at her domicile.
“Can I walk you to the door, Ava?” Gabriel queried jovially.
“No, let Isabella,” she said seriously.
The two women traipsed slowly to the door since the ice underfoot made the walk treacherous. Isabella knew that Gabriel watched nervously from the car, lest they require his assistance. When they reached the door, Ava turned to speak to Isabella.
“I think you have a long road ahead of you, dear,” she said cryptically. “Always remember that you have two wonderful children who love you. And if you ever need a friend, call me. I know all the parties involved.” And with those parting words, and a quick squeeze of Isabella’s hand, Ava let herself into the house and shut the door behind her.
Isabella stared after her for a moment, simply wondering what she meant by her remarks. Then, she cautiously braved the icy walkway to return to Gabriel and her children. With some degree of determination, she managed to set aside her concern over Ava’s strange remarks to enjoy the remainder of her day.
“Do you ever get the feeling there are things going on under the surface that you don’t even know about?” Isabella asked Jessie at lunch one afternoon as they wrapped up their shopping.
“I’m not sure I understand what you mean,” Jessie said honestly. “Do you think Gabriel is doing something behind your back?”
Isabella laughed. “No, no more than the usual Christmas secrets, which reminds me, I have to shop for his birthday and Christmas, which are only five days apart. So, what do you get for the man that has everything?”
“I don’t know,” Jessie joked, “but maybe if you dressed in some sexy lingerie and stuck a bow on your head, you’d be covered through New Years.”
“Very funny.” She responded, pushing her food around her plate nervously at the suggestion.
“So, now what exactly do you think is going on?”
Isabella relayed the story of the strange incidents between herself and Ava, and between Ava and Gabriel. “I just get the feeling something is brewing, like she is trying to warn me. I think she has given Gabriel advice and seen that he somehow didn’t take it. I just wish I knew what was going on.”
“Oh, you’ll find out,” Jessie warned. “Think about it. Don’t you always?”
Isabella shuddered, remembering the last terrible secret she discovered. “And I always have you to count on when it all goes bad, right?” She and Jessie grabbed each other’s hand and shared an affectionate squeeze.
And then it happened. As much as she tried to hide from it, as much as she tried to bury herself in work and pretend it wouldn’t occur, Christmas Eve arrived. Isabella dreaded this Christmas on so many levels. This would be her first Christmas without Jack, which meant it
would also be the first Christmas she had to spend without her children. Jack would be taking them away on the morning of the twenty-sixth to visit his sister in North Carolina. They wouldn’t return until the day before school started in January. The matter wasn’t one for negotiation or agreement. She took the kids away last vacation so in fairness Jack should receive his turn.
Thankfully, Gabriel had come for Christmas to help Isabella maintain her sanity. He arrived with a bag of presents that rivaled Santa’s stash. Together they dressed the kids for the candlelight service at church. And mercifully, despite the fact that this year would be Kyle’s first year holding a lit candle in church, no one and nothing happened to be accidentally lit ablaze. As they sang carols on the ride home, Gabriel stopped frequently to listen to Isabella.
Second Chances Page 45
