Second Chances (47 page)

Her eyes sparkling, Isabella murmured from behind the rose, “Yes, Gabriel.  I can’t think of a better way to begin a friendship.”

Gabriel had an amazing way of helping Isabella relax.  He waited patiently for her to feel comfortable opening up.  He never asked her questions, but instead paused for her to find a topic that she wanted to speak about.  He told her stories of what his life had been like, places he had visited and his dreams for the future.  The more time they spent together, the more willing Isabella became to divulge information about herself.  She decided that she had to know, before they move forward, how he felt about children.   Yet, at the same time, she hesitated about how to bring the subject up.  She finally decided to just be herself and blurt it out.

“Gabriel, I want to you to know I’ve really enjoyed our time together.”  She began, trying to select her words carefully.  She was nervous and it showed.  She clasped her hands together in her lap nervously, gripped them tightly, almost to the white knuckle stage.

He studied her and worried instantly where he had gone wrong.  The way she was speaking, already in the past tense, made him think that he had somehow offended her, or that she had already determined that they were incompatible.  And for reasons he, the consummate playboy, couldn’t understand the idea of not having the opportunity to get to know her better bothered him. “You sound as though you are trying to tell me you don’t want to see me anymore.”  Gabriel began quietly while harboring a hurt look in his eyes.

“It’s not that.”  She stumbled over the words that were racing through her head.  “It’s just that I don’t know if you’ll want to have anything to do with me after I tell you what I have to tell you.”  She took a drink of her Midori Sour.  Her hand shook as she placed it back on its coaster.  To her, it was entirely unimaginable that a man of his intelligence, looks, and background would want to be saddled with another man’s children when the world was most definitely his oyster.  She continued,  “I suppose if you can’t accept what I have to tell you, or you don’t want to be around me anymore then it was better I find out now, but...I am just so out of practice.”

Gabriel reached across the table and steadied her hands that were now whipping around animatedly as she spoke.  Her nervous behavior was definitely affecting him.  “Breathe, Bella.  I can’t imagine you saying anything that would cause me to not want to get to know you better.”  He gave her a warm smile and squeezed her hand reassuringly.

Isabella looked down at his hand holding hers.  It felt so warm, so natural.  And he called her ‘Bella.’  No one had ever called her that before; not even her father who had all kinds of cute pet names for her.  She tilted her head sideways, staring at his face.  Something she saw in his blue-green eyes made her want to believe him, trust him even.  It was risky, but inevitable.  Isabella would never waste a minute on a man who couldn’t like her children.  “Well, you know I have been married before.  I told you that last time.”  She watched him carefully for a reaction.  He stared at her unblinking.

“I have two children.”  Still he had no visible reaction, no fading smile, no withdrawal of his hand, no glancing about for the nearest exit.  “Did you hear me?”  She couldn’t believe that he was still here...

“I heard you, Bella.  I was waiting for you to tell me about them.  You don’t strike me as the type of mother who wouldn’t want to talk about her children.  And I would love to hear it.”  He leaned forward to show his interest, more than a little relieved that this trivial matter was what had her so unhinged. 

Isabella, shocked, leaned back.  Then she smiled, rose from her chair, wrapped her arms quickly around his neck, gave him a swift peck on the cheek, and asked to be excused while she sauntered over to the ladies room.  She looked back just before entering the doorway.  Gabriel sat where she left him with a silly grin on his face.  Maybe he wasn’t as detached as she had imagined.  Maybe he wasn’t the player she believed him to be.

After walking her to the car, Gabriel spent a moment musing.  She was unlike anyone he had ever known.  It was rare to find a beautiful woman who could carry on an intelligent conversation.  So, in that respect, she passed both of his tests.  He needed to be surrounded by beauty, and hated to be bored.  Yet, something more stirred within him.  He genuinely liked her.  He didn’t just want to get her into bed, although every time they touched he felt poignantly aware of his attraction.  He wanted to get to know her better.  And for him, that was an unusual position to be in. 
Well,
he thought,
this could be interesting.

Isabella was barely in the door when the inquisition began.  “So tell me everything,” Jessie commanded, as Isabella wandered in, ready to drop from exhaustion.

“Man,” she commented, “I am full of energy when I’m out, but the minute I get home I’m ready for bed.”  She behaved as though she wanted to shove her friend out the door and head upstairs when Jessie stopped her.

“I know I said I was free child care, but I do believe you have forgotten part of our agreement.”  Jessie’s hands were on her hips while her foot tapped impatiently.

“Oh, you slave driver.”  Isabella joked as she collapsed into her rocking chair.  A moment later, however, her mood changed completely, her brow furrowed as she spoke.  “I don’t know what to say.  I feel like mulling this entire evening over before I share.”  She rocked slowly while flooded with memories of the evening.

“Well, why don’t you mull out loud.”  Jessie flopped down on the sofa at the end nearest to the chair.  “I may be able to help.”  She tried to seem patient, but Isabella knew that Jessie ached to grill her.

“Okay, but give me a moment.  I don’t know what to think.”  She saw Jessie open her mouth and began talking again, answering her anticipated question.  “I like him.  He was easy to talk to, very attractive, intelligent, and behaved like the perfect gentleman.  He even opened my car door for me.”  She paused for a moment, hopped up from the chair and rushed out the front door.

Jessie sat in stunned silence, staring at the door.  A minute later, Isabella returned, carrying the rose.

“Oh, and he brought me this.”  She handed the rose to Jessie so that she could admire it up close.  “He says that yellow stands for friendship.  He wants us to start as friends.  I like that.  I like him.”  She sounded unconvinced.

“So you said.  But...
”  Jessie prompted her.

“I don’t know.”  She threw her hands up in defeat. 

Jessie whispered, “You’re afraid, aren’t you?”  She leaned over and patted Isabella’s arm.  “It’s normal, after what you’ve been through.  Just have fun.”

Isabella shook her head.  “I’m not built that way, Jessie.  You know that.  I allow myself to become attached to people.  I don’t want to.  I’m not ready.”  She put her head down in her hands.

“Take your time, Isabella.  Just go slow.”  She watched her friend for a moment then asked, “Are you seeing him again?”

Sheepishly, Isabella looked up at Jessie.  “So, what are you doing next Thursday?”

Jessie laughed.  “Same time, same place?”

“You bet.”  Isabella leaned over to give Jessie a hug.

The third date seemed very promising.  Isabella dressed herself, and Jessie had no complaints abut her attire.  She wore a green tank top and khaki shorts with brown sandals.  Her anklet matched her toe rings and her nails were painted in a deep burgundy color.  Her hair, secured in a French twist, accentuated her swan-like neck.

“Good move,” Jessie complimented her.  “Men find exposed necks very alluring.”  She nodded approvingly. 

Isabella simply shook her head with a slight smile.  “Where exactly do you get your research?”  Her smile widened as she realized what word would next escape Jessie’s lips.

“Cosmo.”  They spoke in unison and laughed.

Jessie suddenly became very serious.  “So, going to break down and give him your number yet?”

“I haven’t really thought about it.”  Isabella looked away mysteriously.

“Just who do you think you are talking to?  That’s all you’ve been thinking about.”  Jessie smirked as she spoke.

She touched her purse as Jessie said that, pulling it closer to her.  It held something more precious than money, or credit cards, or even her wallet sized photos of the kids.  On a small piece of lilac linen paper tucked carefully within the zippered change section rested Isabella’s phone number.   It might upon initial inspection appear to be just a phone number, but in reality it represented an enormous piece of trust, a sign of good faith, and maybe even a bit of hope.  Would Gabriel understand and appreciate what an enormous step she had taken when he received it?  Would he recognize the amazing gift that came with an even more amazing responsibility attached?