Second Chances (79 page)

Gabriel was ecstatic that night, and still exuberant as they prepared for bed.  “I think you may have just done it, Bella.  I think he now sees the woman I fell in love with.  Oh, and Rebecca and Kyle!  They were...perfect.  He definitely likes them.”  He picked her up and whirled her around in the air.  “Oh Bella, this is more than I ever could have hoped for.”

In mid-May, Gabriel made one of his usual nightly calls to tuck her in and didn’t like what he heard.  “Bella, darling, what troubles you?  You sound strange.”  Anxiously he awaited her response.

She sighed.  “I just spoke with Jack.  He still refuses to sign the divorce papers.”  Her words were greeted with silence.  “Did you hear me?”  She asked irritably.

“Yes, I heard you,” Gabriel said slowly, deep in thought.  “On what grounds does he refuse?”

“No grounds really.  He just keeps saying that if I want a divorce so badly it’s going to cost me.”  She sighed.

“What does he mean by that?”  Gabriel asked, although he suspected he already knew the answer to his query.

Another
sigh.  “Well, I asked that same question.  He said that you were a business man and that you’d understand.”  Isabella waited silently for a moment, then she said slowly, “Do you...understand?”

“Oh, I understand,” Gabriel growled.  “He means to blackmail me for a divorce.”

“That’s illegal!”  Isabella exclaimed suddenly.

“Yes, I know that, but only if he gets caught.”  Not wanting her to dwell on it, he simply said, “I’m talking to him.”  He could hear Isabella beginning to object, but stopped her before she could utter another sound.  “I know you don’t want me involved, but it is too late.  Jack has already done that.  Please let me handle this.”

“I don’t need to be rescued,” she reminded him gravely.

“How true,” Gabriel admitted sadly, then decided to change the subject to one that he expected would be happier.  “So, Beautiful One, any plans for summer vacation?”

Isabella paused for a moment, confused.  What happened to them making all of their plans together?  “No,” she said quietly.  “Have you?”

“Oh, I’ve made some,” he countered.

“Do they include me?”  She snapped momentarily, the stress of everything going on evidently taking its toll, then paused.  “I’m sorry.  I’m just tense.  I have piles of photographs to organize over the next few weeks.  I know you are basically finished for the semester, but we’re not.  Rebecca has a solid month.  Plus her birthday is coming up in two weeks.”  She sighed.  “And now there’s this added difficulty with Jack.”

“Oh, my Bella.  You are stressed.  Let me come over and stay a while.  Permit me to take away some of your burdens.  I will help you around the house so you can finish your work.  And I’ll deal with Jack.  Okay?”  He sounded so sincere, so determined, that she couldn’t imagine declining his offer.

Thus one week before Rebecca’s birthday Gabriel arrived laden down with two large suitcases, and Maggie.

“Surprise!”  They yelled in unison.

Isabella couldn’t help but laugh.  The laughter turned to shock, however, when she opened the envelope Gabriel handed her.

Inside were passports for the kids, visas for all of them, and five airline tickets to Paris.  They were all going to Europe for the summer, even Maggie.   “See,” Gabriel said, upon observing the look on Isabella’s face.  “When I was asking you those questions about your summer plans I wasn’t trying to get away from you, I was trying to get away
with
you.”  He hugged her close.

Not wanting to seem ungrateful, Isabella took a few breaths before voicing her concerns.  “I really want to go away with you,” she began slowly.

“But?”  He interrupted, one eyebrow raised.

“I have a show to get ready for in the fall,” she explained quietly.  Before she could share any of her other objections, he discounted the first.

“The fall is a long way off.  And,” he countered, “what better place to collect more photos for the gallery opening that Europe?”  He crossed his arms, daring her to refute his argument.

She scowled.  “And…I have a job.  I can’t just desert Christopher for the summer.”  She looked at him sadly.

“I spoke to Christopher,” Gabriel said.  “He thought the trip would be good for your soul and great for your show.  He had nothing but encouraging words for you.”

“It’s the wedding season!”  She exclaimed.  “He must need me.”

“Bella, it’s under control,” he assured her.  “Anything else?”

Swallowing sadly, she said, “Only one that I can think of.”  She glanced at the kids, playing in the living room with Maggie.  “Jack.”

“Even that has been settled.  Jack will get some extra weekends both before and after our trip to balance out the visitation agreement.  Now,” he whispered, “we must plan our next big event.”

Knowing it was fruitless to continue to argue with him, she decided to allow the change in topics.  “Which event would that be?”  Isabella asked suspiciously.

Gabriel feigned innocence.  “Why, Rebecca’s birthday of course.”

Isabella rolled her eyes.  “Promise me you won’t go crazy like you did for Kyle?”

“I’m hurt that you don’t trust me,” he said, grabbing his chest.

“I mean it.  You are here to alleviate stress, not cause it.”  She looked at him as sternly as she could muster.  “How about a barbecue at home?  After all, the birthday does fall on Memorial Day weekend.”

“I think I can work with that,” Gabriel mused.  “But, what if we ask Rebecca what she wants?  She will be seven.  She knows what she likes.”

“I want to wear a crown,” Rebecca announced at dinner that evening.  “Sometimes, when you have your birthday at Burger King, they give you a crown.  But mostly I want cake, and ice cream, and a real dinner party like you and mommy have had.”

Gabriel smiled.  “I know just what to do.” 

The week passed in a flash, and the morning of Rebecca’s birthday arrived.  Again, Isabella found herself being sent on an errand.  “You promised,” she hissed at Gabriel as she begrudgingly walked to her car.  “You said you wouldn’t go crazy again.”

“No,” Gabriel laughed.  “
You
said I wouldn’t go crazy.  I asked Rebecca what she wants and I intend to deliver it.”

Her mind filled with questions, Isabella set out to pick up the ice cream cake.  The situation troubled her on so many levels.  What would she find upon her return?  Gabriel prided himself in being always full of surprises, which might be part of his charm, but could also be equally frustrating.  In addition, Jack would attend today’s celebration, possibly even arriving before her return, which could be catastrophic, as Gabriel seemed unusually disturbed by Jack’s unwillingness to sign the divorce papers.  So, the possibility existed that she might return to an old fashioned backyard brawl. 

The ice cream shop misspelled Rebecca’s name, an all too familiar traffic jam prevented her speedy return, and when she finally reached her barn she understood why.  An entirely enchanting structure that seemed utterly out of place in this pastoral setting peeked around the edge of her barn.  A not so miniature castle stood there with flags streaming from the four towers, and a huge banner over the draw bridge that read “Happy Birthday, Rebecca.”

As she parked, Isabella’s mouth fell open in astonishment.  Rebecca raced out to greet her, in full princess attire right down to the tiny tiara on her head.

“Mommy, did you see?”  She asked, squealing in excitement.  “Look what Gabriel gave me!  It’s my very own castle, mommy.  There are even bedrooms and play rooms, and everything.  I have my own fridge in my own kitchen.  I could live in it, Mommy.  And Gabriel said someday the bathroom will be functioning!”

As soon as Isabella deposited the cake in the kitchen, Rebecca led her out the back door to the castle.  She shot a shocked glance at Gabriel who simply beamed.  He followed them out, proud of his accomplishment.   They crossed over the draw bridge into the main hall, which was lit by a miniature chandelier.  Gabriel must duck through the entire tour, but Isabella could walk through comfortably.  Found to the right of the hall, the dining room had a long cherry table and eight matching chairs, for the eight places set with matching china and silver patterns.  These items must belong in the hutch that stood on the far wall, empty, save for the silver tea set.  Directly across the hall, the formal living room/study came equipped with walls lined with book cases, filled with all the greatest literary works. 

Rebecca was right.  In the back of the home, across from the fully furnished family room with cathedral ceilings and stone fireplace stood the partially functioning kitchen.

“We don’t have water or sewer hook-up right now,” Gabriel explained, “but we will soon.  Probably before the end of summer.”

“How can you possibly arrange that?”  Isabella asked incredulously.

“I have my ways,” he remarked, smiling.

If the downstairs could be described as impressive, the upstairs would be considered nothing less than spectacular.  The room intended for Rebecca held an enormous canopy bed decorated in rich fabrics and even richer royal colors.  A miniature lounger near a lamp gave her a place to unwind and read.  The wardrobe contained innumerable dress up clothes fit for castle dwelling. 

One spare room had been decorated for Kyle in knightly fashion with shields, swords, and rocking horse.  His bed, another canopy, bore an unmistakable likeness to a medieval tent.  A chest found in one corner held make believe gear and clothing.  Kyle sat in the farthest corner, barely noticeable due to being so engrossed in playing with a model castle and action figures,

“Hello, Kyle,” Isabella greeted him as she squatted down to his level.

He glanced over at her, paused, then rushed into her arms.  “Mommy, did you see?  Gabiyell gave this to us.  This stuff is for me!”  He ran past Isabella now to hug Gabriel who reveled in the affection.

An amazing full bathroom, play room, and spare room for guests, completed the upstairs tour.  The open hallway overlooked the family room, and now in it stood a very disgruntled looking Jack.