Second Chances (86 page)

“But what, my darling?”  He asked.

“I was just hoping to spend some time with the kids before we leave and maybe have some dinner…” Her voice trailed off again.

“Don’t worry.  You will be ready in under an hour.  And I have a surprise planned for when you come downstairs.”  He stepped out, toweled off, and helped Isabella do the same.

It was just as he promised.  Isabella was ready in thirty-five minutes.  Apparently, that was what happened when three people worked on an individual at one time. 
I’ll never get used to this,
Isabella thought to herself.  As she exited the bedroom after thanking the stylist profusely, she wandered down the stairs to the great hall.  Halfway down, her jaw dropped.  Gabriel, always the first to notice her, met her on the stairs, and offered her an arm as they continued to make their way to the main floor.  She could feel her eyes tearing up, so she fanned her face in a desperate attempt to keep from ruining her makeup.

In the great hall were all the old familiar guests.  Gabriel had invited everyone in their life to share in her special night.  A full blown cocktail party was taking place, complete with hors d’oeuvres, wait staff, and a fully manned bar.  Jessie walked over to greet her.  “I swear I’m afraid to touch you.  You look like you walked out of a magazine.”

“Stop,” Isabella said, blushing.  “I just can’t believe he did this for me.”

“Why not?”  Jessie asked seriously.  “When are you going to accept that this man loves you and will do everything in his power to make you happy?”  She shook her head as she and Isabella walked around with their arms looped.

She sighed.  “I know.  I’m just so blessed.  And nervous.”  She glanced around the room.  “This is a whole lot of people to fail in front of,” Isabella admitted quietly.  “I was kind of hoping it would be only a few close friends.  What if no one shows up at the gallery?  What if I get terrible reviews?  What if no one likes my work?”

Jessie frowned at her.  “How do you not know how talented you are?  How do you not realize that none of us are here to judge you?  Where did that confident woman go?  I really liked her.  I saw her emerging over the last few months, but tonight…” Her voice trailed off.  “I believe in you.  Gabriel believes in you.  Nothing else matters.”

And Isabella knew Jessie was right, even if there were still some lingering doubts.

She sat quietly during the drive, staring out at the passing cityscape.  Cars and lights passed by in a flash.  A group of them were riding together in the limo.  Normally, Isabella would be caught up in the conversation, but tonight, she felt apart from it.  She tried to envision the reaction of the public to her work.  She knew why she was so concerned.  This gallery show wasn’t just her work; it was far more personal than that.  She was sharing the culmination of her hopes and dreams with the world.  She was sharing her life, her love, and her passions.  Her palms were sweating seemingly uncontrollably.  She wiped them frequently on her lap.

Gabriel noticed and reached out to her.  “I don’t know what you are worried about.  You are amazing.  I’m sure your work is incredible, even though you wouldn’t let me see it.”  He shot a glance her way.

She sighed.  “I’m sorry.  It is just so strange.  It is our story, you know?”

“I know.”  He squeezed her hand affectionately.

They pulled up to the curb in front of the gallery and walked up the dilapidated sidewalk together.  Just inside the door they reached the hallway and Gabriel was greeted by the owner.  “A friend?”  She asked.

“No.  In fact, I’m surprised he remembers me.  I have only been here a few times.  The last time was over a year ago.  I was picking up a piece for my father.”  He recalled the visit.  “Oh, that’s right.  I bet he remembers me because I helped him out.”

“Of course you did, darling,” Isabella smiled, imagining his heroics.

Knowing what she might be envisioning, he explained.  “It was no big deal.  A woman called to set up a gallery show and I had to translate for them…”  His voice trailed off as a startling realization emerged.  He looked at her with a smile.  Isabella, too, seemed pensive as she bit her lip to contain her grin.  This was the place where they began.  They looked at each other.  Isabella smiled.  “Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

“I hope so,” he smiled back, squeezing her hand.  He drew her close and whispered in her ear.  “I think that cinches it, Bella.  We were meant to be.”

She sighed contentedly and nodded.

The room filled with people, many she knew, many more that were unfamiliar.  The owner had asked that she introduce herself to the room.  And although she knew this in advance, she still wasn’t certain of what she would say.

The owner gathered all the guests in the largest open area of the gallery.  Gabriel had given her a last minute pep talk.  “Don’t be afraid to speak out.  You can talk very quietly sometimes when you are nervous.  Don’t forget to make eye contact and draw them in.  Don’t worry if you can‘t think of what to say...”

He had prepared to continue, but Isabella interrupted.  “Okay, you have to stop now.  You are actually making me nervous.  It hadn’t occurred to me that I might have nothing to say and now I’m afraid of what terrible idea you might put into my head next.”  She offered a weak smile.

“Sorry, Bella.”  He bent to give her a kiss on the cheek.  “I’ll be right here.”

The owner motioned for her to stand by his side.  Here, he presented her to the room and asked her to say a few words.  She looked to Gabriel for a moment and took a deep breath.  Slowly, she began.  “Once upon a very recent time I thought my life was over.  I could see no future; I had lost my passion for life and photography.”  She spoke effortlessly, as though she had a planned and practiced speech.

They all seemed to be paying attention.  Actually, they all seemed enthralled.  Who wouldn’t be?  “So, while you are all here to study what is on display, please indulge me for a moment as I tell you a story,” she continued calmly.  “And as you walk around the room, I hope you will see this story in the pictures lining the walls.”  She wove a magical tale.  The hero just happened to be a foreign royal, tall, sandy blond, and handsome.  The heroine was a wronged woman with a pure heart, not perfect, except for in his eyes.  There were amazing settings, trips around the globe, an endless cash flow, and several villains, each worst than the last.

The audience smiled in all the right places.  The women dabbed at their eyes and clutched at their chests when the heroine had her heart broken.  They leaned in, hanging on her every word when the would-be princess, a commoner, ran from the prince and his web of lies.  A few applauded when they reunited after weeks apart.  And at least one woman sighed happily during the description of the proposal and wedding.  Isabella knew exactly how she felt.  She was almost
home-free.

“I would love to end this tale in the nature of all fairy tales, with ‘and they lived happily ever after.’  That wouldn’t be accurate.”  She paused for a breath, and a bit of drama.  Gabriel straightened.  Other guests leaned forward intently; unsure of what to expect, what twist might evolve.  Isabella exhaled slowly, nervously.  “You see, happy cannot adequately describe their lives.  No words sufficiently describe how euphoric they were.  So pure was their love, so devoted were they to each other that many would look upon them and wonder where one ended and the other began.  No, they didn’t live happily ever after, they lived happily every day.”  She stood there for a moment to gaze upon their faces, watch as they broke into smiles, relieved that their belief in fairy tales had been once again reaffirmed.  “So, please, stroll through the gallery, and enjoy the photographs.”

A moment later she moved from the podium to stand once again at Gabriel‘s side.  After all this time, she knew for certain that was where she belonged.  Gabriel leaned over and whispered, “Beautifully done,” in her ears.  He massaged her tense shoulders lovingly.  Isabella watched as the guests looked at them, watched as they realized how much Gabriel resembled the hero, how the ring Isabella couldn’t stop touching appeared to be identical to the one in the tale.  A few smiled.  Others nodded.  All of the guests moved to stroll through the rooms, staring at the walls with a new understanding of the works mounted on the walls before them.

Isabella watched as critics walked around taking notes, as photographs were sold, as wait staff circulated with hors d’oeuvres and drinks, as guests chattered animatedly.  She watched as she herself was watched.  And at long last she believed that she had seen this as through as she needed to.  She tugged on Gabriel’s sleeve.

“Yes, Bella, my love,” he said wrapping an arm around her.

“Let’s go,” she said simply.

“Don’t you want to see how it turns out?”  He asked confused.

She shrugged.  “Not really.”  She saw the surprise on his face and explained.  “I thought this was so important.”  He opened his mouth to speak, but she placed her finger lightly against his lips.  “This is nice.  Don’t get me wrong.  I’ll be thrilled if the show is successful.  The money will be nice.  I don’t like relying on you.”  He shook his head and rolled his eyes.  “That’s not what’s important about this evening.”

He moved her finger away and planted a kiss on her lips.  “So, what is important?”

Her face radiated pure calm.  “I found out I am capable of putting together a show.  I have a new found confidence in my abilities.  And, most importantly, I have you no matter what.”    

“You’re right,” Gabriel admitted.  “So, I’ll get your wrap.” 

Isabella spent a few moments saying her goodbyes, thanking her friends for coming, and finalizing arrangements with the gallery owner.  Gabriel came up behind her and lovingly draped the wrap around her shoulders.  And together they departed eager to return hand-in-hand to their magical kingdom.