Isela's Love (36 page)

He groaned. “You are so not making this any less awkward. I am not discussing my sex life with my sister.”

Maggie put her hands up defensively, backing away. She and Darrios went to their bedroom where Isela and Brendan heard them erupt with laughter.

Isela plopped down in a chair and covered her face with her hands. “Oh my God. I have never been more embarrassed.”

Brendan took her into his arms, crushing her into a hug. “I’m not. I love you. Last night was the greatest night of my life, and I don’t care who knows. I’ll scream it from the rooftops. I made love to the woman I love last night...a whole bunch of times!”

Isela laughed. “It was pretty special, wasn’t it?”

“Pretty special? A birthday cake is pretty special. What we did last night and into the wee hours of the morning? That was fucking phenomenal.” He picked up Isela and spun her around. “And don’t you forget it.”

She laughed again. “Okay, okay. So maybe someday I will be able to face your sister again.”

They finished cleaning up and went out for a walk. As they wandered the streets of Inland, Isela glanced around wide-eyed. It was so beautiful. Midland seemed dreadfully bleak in comparison. Isela knew she could easily live here. She sneaked a peek at Brendan, wondering if he’d ever thought about it.

She remembered Maggie talking about all the gadgets and conveniences of the world she and Brendan came from. Could her love make up for the loss of those things? As if reading her mind, Brendan said, “We’d better head back. It’s going to get dark soon, and God knows this place doesn’t have so much as a damn street lamp to light the way.”

Isela sighed, thinking those didn’t sound like the words of someone who wanted to stay here. They arrived at Maggie’s only to find Jezbah and Aunt Gin had come over for dinner. Isela held her breath, hoping Maggie hadn’t told her aunt what had happened earlier. She slipped past the group to the sanctuary of the bedroom happily unnoticed.

Brendan came in a few minutes later. “You can’t hide in here all night, you know.”

“Why not?”

“They’ll think something’s up. Besides, I told you. I’m not embarrassed. We are both consenting adults, and if we want to have sex hanging from trees, we can.”

“Do you think your sister said anything?”

“Nah, Maggie wouldn’t do that. She knows it made you uncomfortable. She won’t bring it up again. My sister might be overbearing and meddlesome, but she’s always had my back. Now, c’mon. Put on your happy face and let’s go mingle. Whatever it is she’s cooking smelled pretty darn good.”

Isela blew out a breath. Reluctantly, she took the hand Brendan offered and accompanied him down the hall to visit with his family.

Dinner proved to be delicious. Perhaps not as eventful as the night before, but good just the same. Afterwards, Darrios entertained everyone with tales of the camping trip while Maggie put Lucan to bed.

Brendan yawned and stretched. “I’m kind of tired myself. What about you, Is?”

Isela nodded. “Yeah, I’m beat. I think I’ll call it a night too.” She stood, stretching. “Good night everyone.”

“I’m right behind you, babe,” Brendan called out as she headed toward the bedroom.

Isela washed her face and brushed her teeth. She took off her clothes and put on an oversized T-shirt to sleep in. Brendan came in as she was climbing into bed.

“What are you wearing?” he asked, frowning.

“A T-shirt. I thought since everyone’s back...”

He pretended to pout. I liked last night’s outfit better.”

“Last night there was no outfit,” she reminded him.

“Exactly,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.

Isela slapped his arm, playfully. “What am I going to do with you?”

He dropped his head in her lap, looking up at her. “Want a list?”

She leaned over and kissed his forehead. “I think I’ve embarrassed myself in front of your family enough for one day. Don’t you?”

Brendan gave an exaggerated sigh. “All right. I’ll behave.”

He stripped down to nothing and hopped into bed. Isela stared at him.

“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice squeaking.

He grinned. “I said I’d behave. If you can’t control yourself, I’ll understand. Feel free to be naughty if you’d like.”

Isela rolled her eyes and turned onto her side. Brendan chuckled as he blew out the candles.

****

Brendan woke up first to the smell of coffee. He slipped out of bed and into the bathroom without Isela even stirring. Once he’d finished, he found his pants and put them on. He padded off to the kitchen in search of java.

Maggie smiled as he came into the room. Lucan giggled and gurgled from his high chair, smearing what might have once been a cookie all over his tray and his face. Brendan motioned with his head.

“I think he’s got more on him than in him,” he said.

Maggie shrugged. “As long as he’s happy.” She poured a cup of coffee and handed it to Brendan. “So, have you made any decisions?”

“About?” he asked, bringing the cup to his lips.

“You and Isela. Your life. The future.”

He smiled, hesitating long enough to make her make a noise like a cat coughing up a hairball. “I think I have,” he said cryptically.

Maggie rolled her eyes. “Brendan Malone, I swear—”

“Okay, okay. Don’t get your panties in a bunch. I really have been thinking about this. I love Isela, Maggie. I mean I really love her. As in spend the rest of my life with her love her. Problem is we come from two different worlds.”

“That doesn’t have to be a problem, Bren. Not if you love each other. Look at me and Darrios.”

“I know. I agree with you. Besides, I started thinking. Most of the places I lived when I was in Social Saviors weren’t nearly as nice as this. Certainly not any more sophisticated. It’s beautiful here. And you’re here, and Aunt Gin. Plus, Isela has been a prisoner since she was a child. She’s just getting to experience the outside world for the first time. How can I ask her to give that up? To leave her home?”

“Don’t you think she would if it meant she could be with you?”

“Probably, but what kind of dick would I be to put her in that position? I’ve lived. I’ve experienced things. All she’s done is serve in that fucking prison. No, she needs a chance to spread her wings. If she is willing to have me in her life, I don’t care where we live.”

Maggie grinned ear to ear. “So, are you saying you’d move here, permanently?”

Brendan nodded. “Yeah, I think I am. Of course, I have to talk to Isela first. And I have to go back and let Social Saviors know I’m not doing another tour. Tie up some loose ends. I need to get a hold of Bernie. He said he can exchange currency. I’d need to find us a place.”

“You can stay here as long as you like.”

“Thanks, Mags.”

“What about your car?”

He stared at her incredulously.

“It isn’t just a car, Maggie. God, I’ve told you a million times. It is a vintage 1967 GTO, and she has a name.”

“Oh, brother. She?”

“How could you have forgotten her name?”

“Because she is a car.”

“Her name is Betsy,” Brendan said indignantly.

“Well what are you going to do with her?”

Brendan thought about it for a moment. “I guess I’ll have to leave her behind. I can’t very well bring her with me. It’s not like she’d ever fit in here.”

“Won’t she be devastated?” Maggie asked sarcastically. Brendan lightly smacked Maggie in the back of the head as brothers do. “I’m pretty sure she’ll get over it,” he said, smirking.

“You don’t seem too upset about it.”

Brendan cocked his head to the side. “Priorities change, you know? I guess she just doesn’t mean as much to me as she used to.”

“So, when are you going to talk to Isela?”

“I don’t know. I guess it should be pretty soon.”

“Ya think? Hey, do you want some breakfast?” Maggie asked.

“I’m not really hungry. Maybe I’ll go for a run.”

“I’m going to clean Lucan up and put him down for his nap.”

“See you after while.”

Brendan opened the bedroom door slowly, in case Isela was still sleeping. She stretched and sat up, smiling.

Brendan sat down on the side of the bed, smiling back. He pushed a lock of her hair behind her ear.

“Wanna go for a run?”

“Actually, I thought I’d go see Mae, if you don’t mind.”

“ ’Course I don’t mind. Do you want me to go with you?”

“No, you go for your run. I’ll go see Mae, and we’ll meet up after.”

He kissed her on the forehead. Do you know where you’re going?”

“I think I can find my way. You go ahead.”

****

Isela got up and dressed. She wandered out to the kitchen to find Maggie cleaning up the kitchen.

“Want some breakfast?” she asked Isela.

“No thanks. I’ll get something later.”

“Did you talk to Brendan?”

“Yeah, he went for a run.”

“No, I meant did you talk about the future?”

Isela cocked her head, uncomfortable with the question. Maggie glanced down, embarrassed. “I’m sorry. It’s none of my business.”

“No, you’re fine. He’s your brother. I understand.”

“Still, that’s between...”

“Maggie, it’s okay. I love him. I’d do anything to be with him. It’s just...”

“What, Isela?”

She looked into Maggie’s eyes. “He hasn’t asked me to.”

Maggie came around the counter, taking hold of Isela’s hands. “Talk to him, Isela. He loves you. I know he does.”

Isela smiled weakly. “I know he does...right now.” Isela glanced down at her feet, shaking her head, fighting back the tears threatening to fall. “But once he leaves, he’ll go back to his life and this will all be in the past.”

“Oh, Isela, clearly you don’t know Brendan—”

Their eyes locked. “Exactly. I don’t. We met in a terrible situation. The attraction we felt for each other was a light in a dark, dark place. But what do we know about each other? Hell, we’re from two different worlds.”

“Uh huh, and so are Darrios and I...and we love each other more than anything. We worked.”

“Because you stayed. You’re here.”

Maggie laughed. “I didn’t stay. I left. I went back. Darrios came after me...and we came back together. That’s what it’s about, Isela. We almost didn’t make it because we weren’t honest...no, because I wasn’t honest...with Darrios or myself. Don’t make that mistake, Isela. Please. For your sake and for my brother’s.”

Isela looked into Maggie’s eyes, wanting desperately to believe she and Brendan could have the same happy ending. The heaviness in her chest made it difficult to take a breath.

“I’ll try, Maggie. I will.”

Maggie nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. “Go see your friends, then come home and talk to Brendan.

****

Isela headed out, her conversation with Maggie heavy on her mind. She began walking, but then broke into a run just to clear her head.

Isela didn’t know how long she’d been running. She stopped, taking in deep ragged breaths. Clutching her stomach, she bent over.

Finally, she stood up and looked around, trying to get her bearings and figure out where she was. “Damn it, I should’ve been paying attention. None of this looks familiar.”

The sound of running water drew her focus. She began walking toward it. She stepped through a dense patch of brush. The lake she and Mae had happened on before.
Wow
.
So beautiful
.

Isela sat down staring at it as if it were going to speak to her. She leaned back against a tree, thinking about Brendan and wondering how much time she had with him before he returned to his world. Taking a deep breath, she let her tears fall. Tears for Brendan and tears for herself.

Covering her head with her hands, Isela laid down in the cool, soft grass and let herself be soothed by the sound of the waterfalls, lulling her to sleep like a child’s lullaby.

She dreamed then of her and Brendan splashing in the lake, happy and together when suddenly a large hole opened up and swallowed him. He screamed her name as the hole closed up, taking him from her.

Isela woke with a start. She glanced around disoriented. Slowly, she remembered where she was. It was easy to understand how she’d fallen asleep here. It was certainly more comfortable than her accommodations had been at the prison.

****

Brendan returned from his run to find the house empty. He grabbed a cookie off the counter and headed for the shower.

Dried and dressed, he went looking to see if Isela was back yet. Maggie sat in the rocking chair, Lucan sleeping in her arms. She looked up and smiled when she saw him.

“Where’s Isela?” he whispered.

“I haven’t seen her since this morning. I assumed you two had met up.”

Brendan glanced around, becoming a little concerned.

“This is weird. I would’ve thought she’d be back by now.”

“She went over to the farm to see her friends.”

“Yeah, I know,” Brendan said. “I think I’ll head over there and see if I can find her. If she comes back here will you ask her to stay put until I get back?”

“Will do.”

Brendan broke into a run as soon as he got out the door. Something wasn’t right. He wouldn’t relax until he found Isela and knew she was safe. He saw Mae and Jerric as soon as he came through the gate. They were raking a smaller plot of soil.

“We’re planting a garden of our own,” Mae explained.

“That’s great, Mae. Hey, have you seen Isela?”

“Today?”

He nodded.

“No, not since she came last time. Why?”

Brendan knew Mae had a tendency to worry, and he was already doing enough of that for the both of them. He acted like nothing was amiss. “Oh, nothing, it’s just I went for a run and when I came back she was gone. I thought she might come by here.”

Jerric snorted. “Not likely. We had a huge shipment to unload. All of us, including the bosses, busted our asses all morning.”

“I’m gonna go find her. You two take care.”

He took off in the other direction, cursing the lack of technology in this place. He’d liked it up until this moment when he wished he could simply grab his phone and hit a button to reach her.

He ran through the meadow calling to her, but got no answer. He went around town the back way, hoping to run into her. When he reached Maggie’s house, he went in desperate to see Isela’s face. Maggie looked up, but her smile quickly faded when she saw her brother’s expression.