Second Chances (67 page)

“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 t
ook 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.

“What are you doing?”  She asked, realizing that he was watching her and smiling.

“I love listening to you sing.  You have a great voice.  You should always sing out, so everyone can appreciate what I am hearing.”  He reached over to grab her gloved hand.

They stayed up late, eager for the kids to drop off to sleep so that they could play Santa and complete all the finishing touches.  Gabriel insisted that they hang mistletoe all over the living room and kitchen because he never had any as a child.  Isabella gave him a sideways glance when day he made that announcement.  She sometimes believed he used that excuse to get his way, but regardless it worked.  She relented and virtually every square foot of ceiling over the two rooms had been covered in kissing balls.

Needless to say, with all the smooch breaks they had to take in order to keep with tradition, it took twice as long as normal to lay out all the presents, eat the cookies, drink the milk, and write a special thank you from Santa.  At last, very late, or very early, depending on the frame of reference, they finally dropped off to sleep, almost too tired, and feeling it was rather superfluous, to kiss again in bed.

Isabella tried valiantly to put on a happy face for Rebecca and Kyle Christmas morning, but her focus remained on the loneliness that would engulf her during the remainder of the holiday.  She had overheard Gabriel talking on the phone with friends, and he had mentioned on more than one occasion that he made arrangements to go away with them.

“This trip has been planned for more than a year,” he said apologetically to Isabella.  “I can’t cancel on my friends now.  Do you understand?”

Each time Isabella nodded or stated outright that she understood, but inside her heart was breaking.  This would be the true test of her coping skills, to be completely childless and Gabriel-less for a week.  What a time for Jessie to decide to visit family in Boston.

They were busy unwrapping presents for what seemed like an eternity.  Gabriel had gone overboard on the spending, as usual.  Just when Isabella thought that everything had been opened and she could safely shower prior to making breakfast, Gabriel stopped her before she climbed up the stairs.

“Ummm, beautiful one,” he said in a sing-song voice, “I think you may have forgotten something in the tree.”  He pointed at an envelope that she didn’t remember seeing there before.