Second Chances (72 page)

Isabella smiled lovingly at him.  “I know how you feel,” she began sincerely.  “Thank you so much for the bracelet, and for your love.”  She paused, then stood to wrap her arms around his neck and complete her thought.  “I never knew I could love anyone as I love you.”  She spoke from her heart, then rested her head upon his.

Jessie and Isabella met for Girl’s Night at The Turtle the Thursday following her return from Brazil.  They ordered drinks and a light dinner.  Jessie had several topics of conversation in mind and didn’t hesitate discussing them.

“So, are you in
love
?”  She asked wickedly.

Isabella blushed and giggled a little, but then sobered.  “Yes, it’s easy to be in love when it’s exciting and new, when we are jetting off here and there and everywhere, but...”

“But what?”  Jessie asked incredulously.  “How could there be a ‘but?’”

“Well,” she began, taking a breath, selecting her words carefully to fully explain her concern to her best friend.  “The love I want is the love for all times.  I want to be in love when it is dull and boring, when we are experiencing the monotony of everyday life.  I want to be loved even when I smell like puke from taking care of a sick kid, or when I can’t run away and play because I have too much work to do.  I love him.  And I know he loves me, but can he give me that kind of love, or will he grow tired of real life?”

Jessie put down her drink to look at her friend earnestly.  “I don’t have an answer for you, Isabella, but give him a chance.  He may show you something.”

Their salads arrived and the two munched happily for a few minutes before Jessie remembered why she really dragged her friend out on a school night.  “Oh, yeah,” she said as she dabbed her mouth with the napkin.  “So, let’s see them,” she prompted.

Isabella seemed confused for a moment, but then held out her wrist for Jessie to admire.  “Okay, nice ice, but really.  Where are the pictures?”

“Pictures?”  Isabella asked bewildered.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t take any pictures!  You didn’t take any pictures in Aruba.  I understand that, somewhat.  I mean, the relationship was relatively new.  You were probably afraid to jinx it.  You took lots of pictures of the kids in Disney, but none of you and Gabriel.  I can understand that as well, what with your Disney phobia and all.  Then there was Boston.  Short trip, really busy.  Fine.  But come on!  Brazil?”

Isabella leaned back in the chair.  Her skin glowed a lovely shade of bronze.  Brazil had definitely agreed with her.  “I know I’m a photographer,” she said pensively.  “I used to be really into my albums, Jess.  I guess I just don’t have time for that with Gabriel.  I don’t want to see life diffused from behind a camera lens.  I am just too busy
living
it.  I’m so much a part of it that I don’t need pictures.  I don’t need to capture these moments of happiness as if they are something so rare and fleeting.  I absorb every moment we spend together.  Now I keep it all right here,” she said with her index finger to her temple, “and here,” pointing now to her heart.  She blushed and looked down at her half eaten salad.  She hadn’t anticipated she would become so passionate.

In response to her words, Jessie leaned back in her chair.  She smiled to herself and nodded.  Isabella had never been better.

The next evening Gabriel arrived as planned, but had a surprise for her.  “Here,” he said, passing her a pewter Montreal souvenir key chain with a key on it.

“What’s this?”  She asked laughing.

“That, darling,” he said gathering her in his arms, “is your key to my apartment.”

Isabella looked surprised.  “Are you sure?”  She asked with concern. 

“Positive,” he responded, punctuating his word with a kiss on her nose.  “So, want to go try it out?  I’m eager to start decorating.  We’ll pack the kids and be there by their bed time.”

“We’re staying over?  All of us?”  This was new.  Always the kids were with Jack if they were in Montreal overnight.

“Yes, so we’ll go now?  They have their own room.  I bought bunk beds, but I thought you could decorate the rest of it.  Anything you want.”

In just over an hour’s time, Isabella stood before the lock, allowing everyone in to Gabriel’s new home.  While it obviously didn’t compare to the Charmant Estate, the apartment had its own appeal.  To begin with, they were alone, no Jack to worry about, no one to entertain if they didn’t want to, and it had a lot of square footage.

As they walked in the front door, Gabriel began the grand tour.  They were standing in a relatively large foyer, with the closet directly to their left.  To the right was a closed door, which would be the study, but currently only held Gabriel’s desk, computer equipment, a file cabinet, and the sofa from his bedroom.  “The sofa pulls out,” he explained.  “So I thought we might use it as a guest room if need be.”  Isabella nodded numbly.

The next door after the study belonged to one of the full baths.  “The other is off of the master suite.  So, this is the one the kids and all our guests will be using.”  He spoke as though he hoped to remind her of the decorating task at hand.

Straight back they found the fully equipped angular kitchen with a large shelved pantry.  Every appliance from the fridge to the stove, to the microwave, dishwasher, and disposal was stainless steel.  The granite counter looked through to the dining room.  “Good for entertaining, eh?”  He said proudly while demonstrating the depth of thought that went into his apartment choice.  “And I thought maybe we could find some stools for the counter?”  Again, Isabella nodded while walking around the room numbly.

The dining room had a horrible brass chandelier.  She looked to Gabriel for a reaction.  “We can change it,” he announced.  “Whatever makes you happy.  I want you to feel at home here, Bella.”  He didn’t have a dining room table yet, but again apparently the choice would be hers.

Separating the dining room from the living room were two half walls with an archway opening and two large graceful columns that stretched to the floor on either side.  Isabella smiled widely.  Even more impressive were the French doors in the back wall, which no doubt opened into the master bedroom.  The fireplace in the living room had a beige marble facade and was surrounded by built in book cases.  The spacious living room had an airy feel because of the high ceilings throughout the apartment, and appeared light filled due to the generous amount of large windows in that and every other room.

She opened the door to the right, just inside the living room to find the kid’s bedroom, which held a maple twin bunk bed and a matching dresser.  The current comforters were simple down linen ones that she recognized from Thanksgiving.  “We can keep them in a closet for guests,” he remarked, “once you’ve done over the kids’ room.”  Isabella smiled slightly, overwhelmed by the apartment and Gabriel.

At last she opened the French doors, almost too afraid to look.  Straight back, in between the windows stood a huge four post mahogany bed, similar to the one Bella had at home, but far more expensive and with more intricate carvings.  There was also a matching armoire, dresser, jewelry chest, and mirror.  “Is it okay?”  He asked concerned.  “I know I didn’t wait for you, but my father wanted me to leave my bed there so that I could always come home.  And I know it’s only queen sized, but I never want to ever sleep that far away from you.”  He smiled warmly at her while he waited for a reaction. Her response took too long in coming.  “Bella?  Darling?”

Without speaking, she wandered through the dressing area into the bathroom, with its double sinks, built in vanity, Jacuzzi tub, and separate shower with multiple shower heads.  Every aspect of the place amazed her.  And it seemed as though most of it had been done with Isabella and the children in mind.

One aspect of his apartment choice seemed obvious.  “This isn’t a bachelor pad,” she said quietly.

“No,” he responded confused.  “Why would I have a bachelor pad?”

“You are a bachelor.”  She spoke plainly, her back ram-rod straight, a serious expression on her face.

“No, I’m not.”  Gabriel folded his arms across his broad chest.

Isabella shook her head.  “This is a family apartment.”

His eyes narrowed.  “I have a family.” 

Isabella grew frustrated.  Either he truly didn’t understand or he refused to see what she tried so desperately to point out to him.  Regardless, she found herself aggravated.   She stared at him a moment, tapping her foot.  Finally she shrugged, recognizing the futility of the discussion.  “Okay.  I give up.”

“So you like it?” 

She could tell he really did want her approval, truly did care about her opinion.  And it would not be as though she had to lie.  “Yes.  I love it.”

“So you’ll come every weekend, with or without the kids?”  He walked towards her now, ready to wrap his arms around her.

Isabella cocked her head to one side, pondering the unexpected change.  Suddenly the kids would be coming to Montreal?  “We’ll see,” she said.

“No, promise.”  He stood mere inches from her.

“You know how I feel about promises.”  She shrank from him.

Using his entire foot taller frame, he loomed over her, pretending to be threatening.  “Promise,” he said firmly.

Isabella giggled.  “Okay.  I promise we’ll see.”

Gabriel groaned, picked her up, and tossed her on the bed.