Second Chances (62 page)

Isabella and Gabriel forced themselves to go to bed earlier at night so that they might rise at the crack of dawn and go sightseeing before the
kids tired mid- afternoon.  Then, they returned to their cozy villa to take a swim before sending the kids into their room each day for a much needed nap. 

These peaceful moments, and the ones following their bedtime, were the only truly intimate moments Isabella and Gabriel allowed themselves, another major difference from their previous excursion.  Gabriel seemed to understand instinctively that Isabella would not allow him to behave towards her as he did in Aruba.  There he could touch her constantly, and did.  As confident as he appeared, she observed sometimes, ever so suddenly, insecurities reared up.  And, more surprisingly still, that these insecurities appeared to involve her.  Every night Gabriel heaved a sigh of relief when, after waiting expectantly all day, Isabella again became the woman he remembered from Aruba and gave him her undivided attention.

Their week in Florida passed in a whirlwind of activity.  One day they might be at Sea World, where they watched dolphin shows, or the Shamus performing.  They covered every inch of the place in little time, as the
kids were a fount of unbridled energy.  Next, several days were spent at Disney, riding all the rides they met the height restriction on.  And even more importantly, and most touching for Isabella, they created a special book together for each of the children.  It began on their first day in Disney, when Gabriel insisted they wait while he ran into the gift shop.

“I have a surprise for you,” he said enthusiastically upon his return as he handed each of them a gift bag.

Rebecca and Kyle looked at their mother for permission to check out the gift.  Isabella nodded and prodded, “What do you say?”

Giggling, both children rushed at Gabriel, throw their arms around his legs and middle, depending on the child, and exclaimed sincerely, “Thank you, Gabriel!”

“You haven’t even opened them yet,” he reminded them, laughing.

They reached into the bags, only to discover a photo album with autograph pages.  They looked up quizzically, and so he explained.  “We are going to fill them together!”

Gabriel had purchased a camera, not a nice, convenient, disposable one like all the other tourists, or even a nice digital one; instead he pulled from the bag a real quality, incredibly expensive camera that Isabella feared carrying, let alone using.  She knew too much about cameras to be cavalier in handling this one.  And suddenly it occurred to her that she had been missing some prime photo opportunities the last few weeks.  How strange that she hadn’t thought about it before.   So all over Disney they would stand in line to meet a character, snap pictures, get autographs in both books, and then move on to the next. 

After, of course, came the stop at Animal Kingdom, where if tourists arrived early enough in the morning, before the blistering heat forced the animals to take cover, they might be regaled by the undomesticated beasts.  EPCOT, while at times boring for little Kyle, became Rebecca’s dream destination.  Like a sponge, she walked from exhibit to exhibit, soaking in newfound knowledge, reading everything available, and questioning anyone who would listen.  Isabella, who was accustomed to this side of her daughter, barely noticed, but Gabriel stood back amazed. 

“I’ve never seen anything like it,” he said astonished.  “Does she do this often?”

“Every chance she gets,” Isabella replied with unmistakable pride.

And then, on virtually their final day, they took a drive to glorious Daytona Beach to collect shells and play in the waves.  The sun that day shined brightly, with just enough clouds in the sky to offer periodic breaks from the penetrating rays.  They saw jellyfish up close, too close for Isabella’s liking, but excitingly close for the kids. 

Finally, on their last day, they decided to try out the amenities the resort promised.  They went horseback riding in the morning.  Gabriel rode with Rebecca and Isabella rode with Kyle.  Then, they proceed to take a brief hike.  After that, they enjoyed lunch in their villa.  A short swim cooled the kids off before their nap.  Isabella prepared to convince Gabriel to lay down with her and relax when an unexpected knock at the door interrupted.

“Why don’t you get it,” Gabriel said while feigning a yawn, to cover up a smile.

Isabella eyed him suspiciously then opened the door.  Standing outside were a man and a woman with portable massage tables.  “Gabriel?”  She questioned in awe.

He instructed them where to set up in the sitting room of their bedroom then wrapped his arms around Isabella as he explained.  “I just wanted to share another special moment with you.  We leave tomorrow.  We’ve been on the go constantly for the past week.  This seemed like the perfect way for us to spend our last afternoon.”  And with that having been said, they walk into the bedroom for their second couple’s massage. 

That night, Gabriel returned from an errand with developed pictures.  “I thought we might assemble these together tonight to surprise the kids,” he said eagerly.

Isabella walked over to him, wrapped her arms around him in a warm hug, and smiled.  “I think that is a great idea.”

As they work, Isabella noted that Gabriel maneuvered himself into many of the pictures for each of the kids’ books and commented.  “My, aren’t we photogenic?”

He blushed.  “I just wanted...
”  He paused, inhaled, then said, “I wanted them to be able to look back at these one day and know I was a part of their lives.”

Isabella shuddered.  ‘Was.’  Past tense.  Maybe the Disney curse was alive and well. 

Though Isabella and Gabriel had only known each other for four months, and the kids had only known him for a few weeks, they seemed to belong together.  Isabella even had a few moments when she forced herself to remember what it was like before Gabriel came into their lives.  In her happiest moments, she couldn’t remember.  In her worrisome moments, she hoped never to find out what indelible void his abrupt departure might create.

Despite being raised in an environment where he never had to lift a finger, Gabriel had been quick to contribute around the villa.  On more than one occasion she had emerged from the shower to discover that he had made pancakes for breakfast.  Always he would be quick to load and unload the dishwasher.  And one evening as they neared the end of their stay, she returned from tucking in the kids only to find him sorting laundry to be washed.

Although she loved every moment they spent together, Isabella began to treasure their evenings the most.  Every night they found each other out on the patio.  They snuggled together and talked about what they enjoyed most about each day.  Then they reluctantly tore themselves away to climb into their big bed and drift off to sleep.

They returned home three days before school began, and the reality of the situation hit Isabella.  She had to return to the studio tomorrow.  How would she get all of the school shopping done?  Rebecca needed school supplies and fall and winter clothing.  Kyle, though in a less desperate situation because he w
ould only be going to day care, still required clothes.

Gabriel had driven them home in the BMW the driver left for him at the airport.  Isabella found that to be strange.  She had imagined that the driver would deliver them to the Charmant Estate where she would have an opportunity to thank his father again for Aruba before the drive home.  Oddly enough that was not the case, but Isabella decided not to ask, not to push it.

He helped them in the door with the luggage, for which Isabella thanked him profusely.  She had been making mental lists the entire drive home and now eagerly prepared for their completion.  “Well, thank you, Gabriel,” she said distractedly.  She expected him to dash off to Montreal, since his classes began the same day as Rebecca‘s.  She gave him a warm kiss then walked him to the door.

“Oh,” Gabriel said with surprise.  “Am I leaving now?  I just thought...”

She looked at him for a moment, trying to read his thoughts.  He seemed...disappointed?  “I assumed you had to go get yourself ready for classes.  And I guess I thought you might want to see your father, since you haven’t seen him for a while.”  Isabella continued to stare, baffled.  She shrugged her shoulders. 

“Well,” he began thoughtfully.  “I know that you return to work tomorrow.  And Rebecca starts in a few days.”  He paused for a moment to smile.  He seemed already to have formulated his own plan for what he would like to transpire over the next few days.  Isabella patiently waited, wondering what he had in mind.

“I thought it might help if I took them shopping for school clothes,” he continued.  “You can give me a list if you don’t trust me.  Or we can go after you get done work.  I can watch the kids so that you don’t have to hire someone.”  He paused, but Isabella still had no reaction.  “I had even hoped I might stay and put Rebecca on the bus her first day.”  He ended with a shy smile. 

Immediately, one concept became clear to Isabella.  She smiled to herself.  Disney curse be damned.  He wasn’t trying to run off on them.  He didn’t want to leave.  He wanted to stay and help. Right now everything involving the children qualified as an adventure for him, but what happened when the newness wore thin?

Alone for the moment, Isabella sorted through mail and listened to her messages while Gabriel ran to the store to buy food for dinner.  He was still pulling out of the driveway when the phone rang.  She knew who it must be, since Jessie had apparently been calling every day while she was gone to Florida.  Her answering machine was full.

“Where have you been?”  Jessie screamed into the phone before Isabella could even give a proper greeting.

“Oh, we just returned from Florida about ten minutes ago,” Isabella said lazily, while chuckling to herself.