Mistletoe & Kisses (47 page)

Chapter Seventeen

THE DAYS PASS quickly and, before they know it, the day has come to head to court.  The drive to the courthouse is long, giving Isabella plenty of time to worry about what is ahead.  Daniel and Taylor are leaving Isabella alone with her thoughts in the back.  They both know that today will take a toll on her, and don’t want to push her if they don’t have to.  The traffic gives Isabella the opportunity to dig deep and remember all the things Eric did to lead her to this point. 

Finally arriving, they park and head inside.  Isabella is still withdrawn, which worries Taylor a little, but Daniel assures him that she will be fine once they get started. 

“She just needs to see him being an ass again and she’ll remember every bad moment with him.  From what she’s said about their married life, she doesn’t have a lot of good memories.  In fact, I think she’s been alone for most of it.”  Daniel tells Taylor. 

“I hope so.  She looks like she’s going to be sick, and that’s not going to help her.  She needs to be strong.  If Eric acts like he did in Chicago, she’ll need to be as strong as she was there.  The girl behind us isn’t that strong.  I don’t know what to say to her, but maybe you should make sure she’s ready for this.” 

“Okay, I’ll talk to her before we go in.  We’ll meet you inside.”

“Don’t be long.  It won’t look good for her to be late.  Eric will find a way to use it against her.”

“Got it.  We won’t be late.”

Taylor heads in and Daniel stops Isabella. 

“Why aren’t we going in?” 

“I want to make sure you’re ready.  Taylor’s worried about you.  He thinks if you put up a big fight and appear strong to Eric, he’ll back down and let it go.  He won’t want to look bad at his firm.”

“I’m ready.  Strong?  Not really.  But I’m ready to fight for sure.” 

Daniel is convinced that she’s as ready as she can be, and hopes that when she comes face-to-face with Eric, she won’t falter.  Taylor is sitting at a table organizing papers when they walk inside the courtroom.  It isn’t like what is she’s seen on television; it’s much smaller, and only has a large table sitting below a raised platform where the judge sits.  Nobody else is in the courtroom yet, and Isabella visibly relaxes a bit. 

“Isabella, you ready?  We’ve got about fifteen minutes before everyone is here and we’ll be starting.  How you act today will say a lot to the judge and Eric.  If Eric sees an opportunity to make this harder for you, I think he’s going to take it.  If you can act cold and unaffected in front of him, I think it may be easier to get him to let this fight go.  You can let all your emotions go with me and Daniel after the proceedings are over.”

“I’m ready.  He won’t affect me.  My emotions are more disappointment in myself, not sadness over him.” 

With a nod of his head, Taylor goes back to preparing his papers. Soon after, a court clerk comes in and walks over to him.  Quietly, they have a quick conversation that leaves Taylor looking frustrated. 

“Well, it appears that we have a little problem,” Taylor says. The look on Isabella’s face guts him, but he can’t tell if it’s fear or anger.  “Eric was called into court this morning unexpectedly, and couldn’t get out of it.  The judge in his case has a family emergency and needed to get these pre-trial things taken care of quickly.  We’ve been rescheduled for tomorrow, right after the lunch break.”

Instead of heading back to Orange County right away, they decide to stop at Chipotle for some lunch. Taylor and Daniel order, while Isabella grabs them a table outside, since the early November air in Los Angeles is so beautiful. 

Enjoying the fresh air, eating, and just talking about what the next week will bring actually helps Isabella feel content with her new arrangement.  Although she’s a little anxious about not getting things taken care of in court today, listening to Taylor talk about what his plan is for the hearing tomorrow and what he’s hoping will come of it, puts Isabella at ease.  She loves the sound of his voice, and it’s reassuring to have him on her side. 

Once they return home, Daniel follows Isabella to her room to assure her that he’ll be there again tomorrow, but also to let her to know that he’ll be heading out the following day.  “I’ve been away from the shops a little longer than I intended.  I’m sure everything is fine, but I’m getting antsy about it.  I need to see for myself.  But don’t worry, I know Taylor will handle everything perfectly.  Trust him, he’ll take care of you.”

“I know he will.  Listening to him today, he’s got it all figured out.  I’m just worried about being in this apartment with him.”

“Bella, it’ll be fine.   He’s set up another account in his name and I’m gonna send him money to put in there.  Not a lot at a time because I don’t want him to get into any trouble.  His firm knows about it and thinks it’s a great idea for you to have your own money that Eric doesn’t know about.” 

“It feels like I’m under everyone else’s control now, not just Eric’s.  I just want it all to be over so I can get on with my life, ya know.”

“I get it.  I know it feels like we’re telling you what to do, but we’re not trying to control you.  I just want to get you set up and out of isolation.  Let Taylor introduce you to people.  Make some friends and figure out where you want to go from here.  I know you love California, so decide if you want to stay after the divorce is done.  Take this time to find you again.  I’m not sure how he did it, but you haven’t been the same since you met Eric.  I just hope you’ll figure out how to make yourself happy with your entire life.  Learn to be you.”

“When did you get so wise?”  She lets out a little laugh at him.

“I’ve always been wise.  That’s why you always stuck with me.”  He laughs along with her. 

“You’re so full of yourself.”

“Well, I’ll let you get some rest.  I’m sorry we have to do it again tomorrow.”

“I actually feel better about.  I’m not as nervous tonight as I was last night.  Maybe because I saw the room, or maybe because Taylor’s plan sounds like it’ll work.  I don’t know.  I just feel better.”

“Good.  I was worried postponing it would make things harder.”

“Me too, but I feel calm for some reason.”

“I’m glad.  Get a good night’s sleep, Bella.”

“You too, Daniel.  Thank you.”  She smiles and adds, “For everything.”

When he walks out, Taylor hands him a beer.

“Thanks, man.”

“I figured we should talk before you leave.”

“Yeah.  I’m glad Isabella wanted to turn in early so I didn’t have to sneak a conversation in with you.

“That doesn’t sound good.”

“I just wanted to ask you to make sure she doesn’t sit here alone all the time.  Help her meet some people.  Bring that girl we knew in high school back out of her.  I want her to be happy, and I’m not sure she remembers how.”

“That’s not a problem.  Well, except, I really don’t get out much.  Between the job and studying for the BAR exam, I don’t have a lot of spare time.  I’m just so glad the firm trusts me and is allowing me to help her pro bono.”

“I am too.  I trust you completely, and I don’t want her to get railroaded by Eric.  Knowing you will keep her from being manipulated into staying with him will help me focus on work back home.”

“Um . . . ” Taylor squirms a bit in his seat, making Daniel wonder what is happening.  “I never told you in high school because we all knew she was off limits, but man, did I ever have a crush on Isabella.  She was more than beautiful, she was fun and had a glow about her that you couldn’t help but want to be a part of.   Is that weird for you to know?”

“Why the hell was she off limits?”

“Well, nobody really believed you guys were related.  We all thought she was yours.   I think we all expected you to be married soon after high school.”

The full belly laugh that comes out of Daniel makes Taylor squirm even more, and now he’s not sure if he’s being ridiculed or if the rumors were truth. 

“That’s the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.”  He continues laughing.  “We are most definitely cousins.  Our moms were sisters.  There has never, and will never be, anything more than a best friend relationship between us.”

“I know that now.  But then, everybody believed the rumor.  That’s why nobody ever asked her out.  How did you not notice that?  She was the most beautiful girl at school, and everyone liked her.”

“Imagine how different her life would’ve been had she been prepared for some asshole like Eric.  If she’d had a few boyfriends in high school, she might’ve seen through his exterior and seen the warning signs,” Daniel says sadly 

“Maybe.  But no use in dwelling on what could’ve been.  It’s time to help her live again.”

“It is.  Thanks for helping with that.  Take care of her.”

“I will, man,” Taylor assures.

Leaving their empty beers on the table, they both head to bed, Taylor to his room and Daniel to the couch. 

Chapter Eighteen

NOT SURPRISINGLY, ERIC isn’t available for court again the next day and, instead of being granted another continuance, the judge is angry and starts the six month period, telling Eric’s lawyer that they should know better.  Isabella is thrilled to not have to see him.  But Taylor feels like there must be an ulterior motive for this, and that feeling shows in his expression.  

The ride home is quiet.  Isabella can sense the concern and finally just blurts out, “What is wrong?  Isn’t this good?  In six months, I am permanently free from him.”

“That’s the thing, Isabella. I expected him to tie things up in the beginning, but just because the judge has started the time period, doesn’t mean he can’t still make problems.  And those problems could cause this to drag on longer than the six months.  I’ll go into the office and see what the others think of this, and what I need to watch out for.”

“Thank you, Taylor.  I know you’ll do everything you can for me.  If I had to find a lawyer on my own, I wouldn’t trust them.  I’d have feared they were working with him.  I appreciate all you’re doing for me.”

“We’ll figure it all out, Isabella.”  Taylor’s confidence helps Isabella relax, so much so that she sleeps the rest of the ride home, giving Taylor and Daniel the opportunity to talk quietly. 

“Thanks again for taking care of her,” Daniel says.

“Daniel, man.  I told you it’s no problem.  It’ll be fun to have her around.  Once she starts feeling comfortable, her sunny disposition will come back and she’ll be fine.” 

“I sure hope so.”

“Me too man, me too.”

* * *

After a few weeks of routine, Taylor and Isabella seem comfortable having each other around, and there hasn’t been any news from the courts or Eric. Isabella is finally starting to feel better about herself.  She’s surprised, though, that Taylor’s home every evening for dinner and most of the weekend.  He’s even gone to the beach with her a few times, and she worries that he thinks he has to entertain her. When he’s home, he’s usually studying, but it’s been nice.  Maybe too nice.  She’s starting to feel too comfortable with him.  Eventually, he’ll have a girlfriend to spend time with and, whoever that is, probably won’t like having her around.  It causes a deep ache in her stomach thinking about what to do next.  The plan has been for her to stay here until the divorce was final, but she needs a back-up just in case.  She’d never want to cause problems for him.

“Taylor,” she starts as she sits down at dinner, “should I plan to go home for Thanksgiving next week?  I’m not sure what Daniel and Aunt Susan are doing, but I can go home if you want to have someone here or if you’re going to be with your family.”

“I’m sorry, Isabella.  I almost forgot about the holiday, since I take my test the following week.  I hadn’t planned on going anywhere.  I’d love to do Thanksgiving together.  I won’t even study that day if you want to do something.”

“Really?  I don’t understand.  Why don’t you have someone special to share the holiday with?  How are you still single?”

“Well, I guess I’m too busy right now, and the few people I have dated in recent years just weren’t a good fit.  We wanted different things. None of them made me want to change my life at all.”

“Oh.”  She’s not sure if she should pry any further.  Does she really want to hear about his love life?  If he shares too much, she may be sick.  But there is a little part of her that wonders what kind of woman he is interested in.  She thinks maybe, just maybe, it’ll help her figure out what a guy like him is looking for.  After all those years of watching the people around her fall in love, she thought Eric would be her happily ever after.  Oh, how she was wrong. 

“What are you thinking?”  Taylor pushes his empty plate aside and give her his undivided attention.

“Um . . . well, I was.” She takes a deep breath, trying to slow her racing heart.  “I was just wondering what kind of . . . um . . . ah, woman you would be interested in.”  Closing her eyes, she adds, “Clearly I need help in that department.  I couldn’t even hold the attention of my own husband for long.  Guess I should figure out what I did wrong.”

When she opens her eyes, she makes eye contact with Taylor accidentally, and is surprised by the compassion in his eyes.  “Isabella, why on Earth do you think you did something wrong?” 

“Why would my husband not want to come home to me?  To the house he picked?  With all his beloved belongings in it.  It has to be me, or something I did or didn’t do. He . . .”

“Stop!”  Taylor practically yells, interrupting her, but realizes his mistake when she jumps and her seat to screeches along the floor. “I’m sorry.  I’m not mad at you.  It just makes me angry that he took that beautiful girl and turned her into this”—he points at her—“this unconfident, insecure woman.  He broke you, not the other way around.”

“Um . . . thanks. I think.”  She pulls her chair back to the table and tries to the fact that she’s shaking inside, afraid of where this is going.  And yet, she’s hopeful. Maybe she’ll find out why he was so opposed to going out with her in high school, and maybe even how she can keep a man’s attention.  After all, she doesn’t want to be lonely forever.  It’s been long enough.

After a few calming breaths, he tries again, saying, “Isabella, the marriage fell apart because of him, not you.   A man doesn’t cheat because there is something wrong with his woman, he cheats because there is something wrong with him.  Don’t take one ounce of blame in this situation.  It’s all his.  All. Of. It.”

“It can’t all be him.”  Her eyes are filling with tears and she’s trying her hardest to fight them.  She doesn’t want Taylor to see her as weak.  With a huff, she admits, “I really don’t know what happened.  I just know one day he was around and the next he was distant.  I just need to know what to do to keep it from happening again.”

“Isabella, please don’t cry,” Taylor says, but it doesn’t stop the tears from falling. Taylor gets up and walks around the table.  When he gets to her, she lets him help her stand up.  Then he takes her hand and guides her to the living room to sit on the couch.  When he pulls her close to hug her, her breath hitches and her brain gets fuzzy.  It’s been so long since she’s had anyone’s arms around her, and his are so strong.  She closes her eyes and tries to imprint this moment on her memory, knowing it won’t be a regular thing for them.  It’s what she dreamed about her whole senior year, and even into college . . . until she met Eric. 

“Thank you,” she whispers, while trying to pull herself back out of his arms. But Taylor just squeezes tighter.

“I like holding you.  Just relax.”  He rests his head on Isabella’s as she relaxes into him.

“I like it too.”