Second Chances (60 page)

She stood before him at the end of the bed, nervously wondering if she made the right decision.  He smiled, seeing the robe and remembering the last time she wore it.  She untied it, letting it fall open, slide down her shoulders, and slip noiselessly to the floor in a floral silk heap.  He inhaled sharply.  She knew that the light flickered across her body seductively, and she wanted to ensure he understood her intentions.

“I don’t want to give you the wrong idea,” she murmured, crossing the floor to sit against his side on the bed.  He moved over hurriedly to make room without taking his eyes off her face.  She could see him aching to touch her, but fearing her reaction.  His hands were hanging mid-air.  His mouth opened slightly as though trying to think of something to say.  Ignoring this, she pulled the sheets back, so that she could climb in.  She laid parallel to him, shielding her breasts with an arm.  She must have his complete attention while she finished what she had to say.

“I’m not ready yet, but I want to get closer.  I want you to get to know me, know my body.  I want to get comfortable with us naked and alone together.”  She bent her head slightly so as not to look him directly in the eye while she awaited his response.

He lifted her head, forcing the eye contact she dreaded.  “I can live with that,” he whispered, as his lips closed the gap to hers.  Again they kissed, softly, then more passionately.  He opened his arms to welcome her, and they lay there skin to skin.  The fan whirred over their heads.  The ocean crashed against the sand outside the balcony doors.  And for the first time in a long time, all was right in Isabella’s world.  And in that moment, without a care in the world, she easily drifted off to sleep.

For a second time since they had begun sharing a bed, Isabella awakened alone.  She wasn’t at all worried this time.  In fact, the moment she glanced around and saw the trail of white rose petals leading out of the bedroom, she bounded out of bed in anticipation. 

Today they were returning home, and Isabella had mixed feelings about it.  She loved her time in Aruba, time spent with Gabriel.  She had never felt so free, so alive.  And yet at the same time, she had missed her kids so much that she could hardly express it.  Being away from them had left a constant ache in her heart that only seemed to intensify after speaking with them each night.

Usually, little Kyle would ask when she was coming home, and didn’t she miss them?  And Rebecca was quick to criticize Jack.  She seemed to tally a list of his wrong doings.  “Daddy doesn’t give us a bath every night like you do, Mommy.”  Or, “He let us watch a scary movie.”  It was in moments such as these that Isabella felt she couldn’t get home quickly enough.

So, now, hours from departure, she prepared to follow an endless trail of white rose petals to goodness knows where, and found herself giggling like a school girl.  Isabella rushed to the end of the bed, where the silk robe that she had so hastily discarded on the floor the previous night remained untouched.  She paused for a moment to pull her mass of shoulder length honey brown hair into a messy bun.  Then, she meandered down the stairs, following the fragrant petals out to the verandah where Gabriel, wearing his own robe, patiently waited.

As he saw her glide through the French doors, he lifted the lid of the silver platter to reveal her breakfast, which consisted of chocolate filled croissants and Eggs Benedict.  Just behind the plate, propped up against a long stemmed white rose sat a black velvet box.  Isabella froze in her place and put a hand to her chest as she inhaled sharply.  She had never had much luck with velvet boxes and this one had come way too quickly.  She paused, unsure of what to do first.

Gabriel walked over to her, and led her to the table.  “Don’t be afraid, my Bella,” Gabriel urged.  “Open it.  I just wanted you to have a memento of our trip.”

“I have mementos,” Isabella argued.  “You have more than doubled my pajama wardrobe, bought me dresses and the jewelry I wore last night...”  She threw her hands up, unable to say more.

“I know,” Gabriel said gently.  “I wanted you to have those things, just as I now want you to have this.”  He passed her the velvet box. 

She felt the weight of it in her hand for a moment as she struggled to find the courage to open it.  Isabella glanced up to see that Gabriel merely stood there patiently, waiting for her to reveal his gift.   Gradually, she pushed the lid back until it popped completely open, gift exposed.

To her relief, the box contained a beautiful diamond pendant necklace set in platinum.  Gabriel stood behind her now.  He took the necklace from the box, and competently worked the clasp to secure it around her neck, sealing the act with a kiss on her exposed shoulder.  Isabella turned around, locked her arms behind his head, and kissed him appreciatively.

“I’m sorry I was so scared.”  She looked down for a moment to cover her embarrassment,
then back up at his adoring face.  “It’s just...well, I just want you to know that I love this.  It’s perfect.  Just like you.”  She kept her arms around his neck and freely offered him more kisses.

“Whew,” he exclaimed laughing, “Had I known you would respond like this, I would have bought you diamonds sooner.”

Isabella scrunched up her face.  “It isn’t the diamonds...” She felt incapable of explaining.

“It’s okay,” Gabriel said tenderly.  “I know.  You don’t have to say anything.  I already know.”

She looked into his eyes and knew that he meant it, knew that it was true.  He knew her.  He wanted to know her.  And more importantly, he seemed to like what he knew.  Isabella buried her head in his chest, listening to his heart for a few moments before she looked up at him and challenged, “Race you to the beach.”

She won, probably because he wanted to watch her robe fall to the sand.  She let it loose at the last possible moment, not feeling as daring as she had in the safety of the dark night sky.  The clear blue-green water washed over them, and they clung together with the waves rushing around them until the time arrived for them to prepare for the journey home.

The flight home stretched on intolerably.  At least it seemed that way to Isabella.  She always loved to travel, but when the time arrived for her departure, she always found herself more than ready for home and wanted to be there instantly.  The same held true on this occasion, even though she had Gabriel beside her.  She shifted impatiently in her seat.  She couldn’t seem to settle into her novel.  She flipped constantly through magazine after magazine, not truly reading or seeing anything within the glossy pages. She twitched and turned, expecting she annoyed him terribly, yet Gabriel sat patiently, watching her.  At one point, in an effort to settle her, he grasped her hand, although he seemed to be smirking as he did so.

“I think you are laughing at me,” Isabella accused.

“Moi?”  Gabriel questioned innocently.  “Never.”  Still, he emitted a laugh as Isabella pretended to glare at him.

After what seemed like forever, they landed, made a dash for the luggage, and eventually emerged from Mirabelle Airport in Montreal.  As they reached the curb, Isabella recognized the same car and driver that had so graciously deposited them
there only ten days prior.  She tried to be as friendly as possible, but everyone and everything around her seemed to be moving in slow motion. 

And at the present time, Isabella had one mission: see the kids.  The driver placed their luggage in the trunk then finally moved to open the door for Isabella.  He, too, seemed to be laughing at her, as if he played a role in some grand prank.  As the door to the back seat opened, everything became clear to her.  Bouncing around inside with the same restless energy that had consumed their mother during the plane ride were Rebecca and Kyle.  Instantly, Isabella and her children were a tangle of hugs and kisses.  Gabriel had worked his magic once again.  She turned to him and showed the appreciation he deserved by grabbing him around the waist and squealing, “Oh, thank you, Gabriel.  Thank you!”

“My surprise isn’t over yet, my darling,” he said smiling broadly, eyes twinkling.  “I thought that Rebecca and Kyle needed a
real
vacation before going back to school.”  He looked down at her children warmly.  “First grade can be tough.  Right, Rebecca?”  In response, Rebecca nodded vigorously.  Then he turned to Kyle.  “And Kyle might like a break before his return to day care.  Don’t you agree, Kyle?”  With a little coaching from Rebecca, he too, nodded enthusiastically.

“Where are you going with this?”  Isabella questioned suspiciously, after watching this well rehearsed drama unfold before her.  It hadn’t taken her long to pick up on when Gabriel had some surprise planned.

“Tonight,” he began slowly, but with much ardor, “We leave for Disney!”  He seemed so pleased with himself that he didn’t even notice the fearful look creeping over Isabella’s face. 

How could she possibly explain her phobia?  It would probably seem ridiculous to him anyway, since it had happened so long ago.  Yet, since it involved one of the few remaining memories she had of her father, Disney had become a festering wound.  Disney was their first and last vacation, not just as a family, ever.  Her father had scrimped and saved to make it possible.  It was Isabella’s first time on a plane, first time staying in a hotel, first time swimming in a pool, and she was filled with hope.  She realized only later why her father was so desperate to get away with the family.  Apparently this was their last ditch effort to save their marriage. 

Somehow, Isabella had been blissfully unaware of the signs, much like in her own marriage years later.  She hadn’t noticed her mother shrugging his arm off her shoulder when he tried to walk with her, or her refusal to hold his hand, or even share the same bed.  Isabella had always believed that it really was too hot to be that close or that the couch was better for her mother’s back. 

It was only after studying her Disney album, the first album she had ever made, that she was able to see what she had missed.  Her parents were miserable.  And Disney wasn’t magical.  And if it was magical, it had selfishly chosen to withhold its gift from her family.  And she had avoided all things Disney ever since.

Once, as an adult, she had almost given up her Disney fear as irrational.  That was until she had given in and gone with Jack on their honeymoon.  Everything in their relationship had gone downhill from that point on.  Soon after their return, while they were still organizing their love nest, before the ink had even dried on the thank you notes, rumors of Jack’s infidelities had begun to reach Isabella’s ears.  Maybe it was more than a phobia.  For her, it was a curse.

Puffing out her chest, Isabella resolved to make the most out of their remaining time together.  She had been foolish to think that they had a future anyway.  Their worlds were light years apart.  She would merely decide to enjoy the trip.  So what if it would signal the end of their relationship?  At least she would walk away with colorful memories.