Mistletoe & Kisses (46 page)

Chapter Fourteen

THE NEXT FEW weeks pass much the same, except when Isabella keeps refusing to get out of the house, Daniel finally goes in to work.  He makes sure to call her during the day, and always gets back early enough to drag her out to dinner.  She doesn’t always protest, but usually tries to.  By week two, she just gives in and doesn’t even argue.  In fact, she’s ready for him when he comes home, much to his surprise. 

“Wow, Bella.  I guess you’re feeling better.  Ready?”

“I’m not feeling better.  I’m just tired of arguing with you.  I need to eat and, apparently, we can’t do it here.  So, yes.  I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” 

Daniel’s only response is a full, deep belly laugh.  He laughs so hard, he can hardly catch his breath.  Isabella just stares at him, not at all amused.  She still somehow feels like she has no control over her own life. 

Dinner is typical, not full of conversation, but comfortable.  Both eat quickly, then head back home.  In the car, Isabella’s phone dings with an incoming text message.

Eric: We have our first court date in two weeks.  You need to be present.

Isabella:  I will be there. 

She throws her phone back in her purse and huffs a little, catching Daniel’s attention. 

“Bella, who was it?  What’s wrong?”

“It was Eric.  We have our first court date in two weeks, and he told me I have to be there.  I already knew about it, but he has to make it seem like he’s ordering me, and I feel like I’m jumping at the directions.”

“Do you need me to go with you?  Or are you okay with just having Taylor there for you?  I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Let me think about it.  I’m not really sure.  I guess I actually need to talk to Taylor to see what to expect from this appearance.”

“You haven’t talked to him since he left?”

“Um . . . no, I was embarrassed to call him.  What if he doesn’t really want to help me?  What if I made him mad by not going back there with him?”

“Bella, he’s not mad.  He knows you’ve been pushed around and need to deal with all this.  But you do need to talk to him if he’s going to be your lawyer.  He needs to be able to help you.  Has he tried calling you?”

She drops her head so she doesn’t have to make eye contact, and responds in almost a whisper,  “Yeah.  A few times.”

“Bella.”  Daniel’s voice booms across the car.  “You need to communicate with him.”

“I’m sorry.  This is all so embarrassing.  How do I talk to him about this?  I know I’ll have to with strangers, but I’m afraid he’ll see me as weak and pathetic when I tell him everything.”  

Daniel pulls up to the house and turns the car off, then turns and says,  “Bella, you aren’t weak or pathetic.  You left.  Maybe you let things go farther than they should have.  Maybe you should’ve seen the warning signs.  Maybe, maybe, maybe.  It doesn’t matter.  You left him.  You’re working on your independence.  None of that is pathetic.” 

“You make me sound so much stronger than I feel.  I feel lost, like I don’t even know who I am or what I want in life.  I’ve got to be the most pathetic twenty-three year old ever.  No degree, soon to be divorcee, with no job and no life.  Hell, I don’t even have a place of my own.”

“Bella, this house”—Daniel points in front of them—“is yours.  I can leave now if you want me to.  I love it here, but know it’s all yours.”

“Daniel, I didn’t mean it to sound that way.  I don’t want you to leave.  In fact, it feels more like your place than mine.  I just meant, I haven’t earned anthing.  It’s all been given to me.  Kinda pathetic, if you ask me.”

“Well then, I’m not asking you.  Stop saying you are pathetic.  There are women far older, and with much less of their own when they leave their horrible marriages.  Then there are others who never get the courage to leave, or just stay for the material things.  I say that’s what is pathetic.” 

Unable to speak, Isabella nods at him.  The confidence he has in her is a bit overwhelming.  She hasn’t felt supported in a long time.  Briefly, she wonders how much different life could have been had Daniel been able to make her see how bad Eric was for her. 

She’s not sure how long they sit in silence, but Daniel is being so patient with her.  Letting her work through her issues without pushing her is something he’s always been good at.  Not that she ever really talked too deeply with him, but she knew he could tell when she was upset.  He just made sure to be present.  Daniel was hands down the perfect best friend.

“Let’s go inside,”  Daniel says. 

She nods and gets out of the car.

Once inside, she pauses to really look around.  Daniel has made this his home, not hers.  She’s not sure she’ll ever be able to call it home again.  Nothing about being here feels comfortable.  It’s like she’s a visitor.  “Daniel, I think I need to be in California.  Do you think it’ll be okay to live with Taylor?  And what happens if I get there and we can’t stand each other?  What if Eric starts harassing me?  Daniel, I’m scared.”

“Bella, Taylor will take good care of you.  I promise.  I’ll only be a phone call away.  I can get there in a day if you need me.  It’s gonna work out.”

Chapter Fifteen

THE WEEK PASSES quickly as Daniel helps Isabella get ready for the big move back to California.  She can’t wait to sink her toes in the sand and smell the ocean breeze again.  The gorgeous Southern California beaches are the only place she ever truly felt at peace.  That calm inside has been missing, but hopefully the move back will get it back. 

It isn’t surprising that it takes such a short time to pack.  After all, she only has what she came here with to worry about, and it all fit in the car.  As she packs, she comes across the box she found on the beach the day she left.  She had forgotten all about it.  She sits back on the bed and looks for a way to open it.  As it turns, she can hear something inside, and she’s dying to figure out what it is.  She’s so engulfed in figuring out how to open the box, that she doesn’t notice Daniel watching her from the doorway. 

“What are you doing?” 

His voice startles her, and she throws the box in the air.  “Shit, you scared me.”  Isabella gets up and grabs the box. 

“What is that?”  He walks towards her to get a closer look.  “Where did you get it?”

“I found it on the beach before I left California.”  She shakes it for him.  “There’s something inside.  I’d forgotten about it.  What do you think it is?”

“Why do you care?  Just throw it away and finish packing.”

Disappointed, Isabella appeases him by putting the box in the trash can by the bed, even though she plans to take it out as soon as he leaves.  She doesn’t know why, but she
needs
to know what is inside.  Her curiosity has definitely gotten the best of her, but it’s even more than that.  She’s drawn to the inside, connected in a way, feeling like it’s a step in the healing process because of how she found it. 

Daniel helps gather the suitcases she has packed and takes them into the living room.  When he comes back inside, he finds Isabella trying to open that damn box again.  “Fine.  Let me have it, if you must know what’s inside.” 

Isabella gets comfortable on the bed, while watching Daniel try to figure out how to open it.  “See, it’s not that easy, is it?”  She giggles a little, which warms Daniels heart, if only that carefree attitude showed itself more these days.  He misses his happy Bella of old. 

“How badly do you want this open?  Should I break out tools?” 

“Admit it, you’re curious too.  Of course you should get tools!” 

“Okay, okay.  Geez.  Let’s do this in the garage.”  He walks out of the room laughing, and Isabella bounces behind him. 

Once inside the garage, Daniel searches for something to use. After opening every drawer once, he opens the top one again and pulls out a pocket knife. 

“Really, your pocket knife is going to open it?”  Isabella scoffs.

“Do you think you can find something better?  If I recall correctly, you thought just looking at it would open it.” 

She laughs and concedes, “You’re right, go right ahead and do it your way.” 

Daniel is concentrating so hard, Isabella can’t help but bust into a fit of laughter.  Daniel doesn’t find it amusing at all, and starts throwing little nuts that are sitting atop the workbench at her. 

“AH!  Daniel, stop!”  She runs and hides behind the motorcycle. 

He, of course, stops dead in his tracks.  “Okay, I give.  I don’t want to hit the bike.”  Daniel drops the nut in his hand and puts both hands in the air in surrender.

“Whose bike is this?”  Isabella’s always been intrigued by them, but has never been on one, too chicken. 

“Like it, Bella?”  He puts the box on the workbench and joins Isabella by the bike.

“It’s beautiful.” She runs her hand along it. 

“I just got her.  I’ve always wanted one, but never had the opportunity.  The garages are doing well, so I treated myself.”

“Wow, you really are doing well.  I’m so proud of you, Daniel.” 

“Why don’t you let me take you for a spin?  We can ride around the lake.  It’s a beautiful day for a ride.”

“Oh, no.  I couldn’t get on one.”

“Bella, would I ever let you get hurt?” 

The sincerity in his eyes is all it takes to convince her.  “As long as you go slowly.”  She closes her eyes, summoning the courage to actually do this.  “Oh, and I have to wear a helmet.” 

“Sure thing.  Go put on a jacket and boots.  You might get chilly when we get to the lake.” 

She nods and runs inside, exhilarated at the thought of riding a motorcycle.  She’d never trust just anyone to keep her safe, but she knows Daniel would die before letting something happen to her.  She grabs her leather jacket, changes into-knee length boots, and is back outside in the blink of an eye. 

Daniel’s already on the bike and has it started when she gets out.  “Hop on, Bella girl.” 

Butterflies flood her stomach, but she doesn’t let them stop her.  It’s time to live a little.  This is adventure number one in her new life.  Adventure two starts tomorrow when she moves back to California and into Taylor’s house. 

Chapter Sixteen

DRIVING BACK to California is exhausting.  Daniel doesn’t want to stop at all along the way, so he and Isabella take turns sleeping and driving.  When they arrive in Irvine, she is tired and cranky.  Thankfully, they left in the afternoon, so it’s after dinner when they arrive.  All she wants to do it settle into her room and go to sleep . . . in a real bed, not the passenger seat of her car.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t appear as though that will happen when Taylor comes bouncing down the stairs to greet them. 

“You guys got here fast!  Welcome.”  Taylor’s excitement is a little overwhelming. “I’ve got dinner ready, come on in and eat.  We’ll get all your stuff after dinner.”

“Thanks, man.  I just wanted to have time to spend here.  It’s been a while since I visited you, and I was hoping to hang a little before leaving.”

Isabella looks between the two, confused.  She didn’t know that Daniel had been to Southern California, and she’s a little upset that he didn’t come see her.  Not that she can really blame him, after how isolated she had become. 

She follows them up the steps and into the apartment, where the aroma of home-cooked spaghetti hits her.  “Wow.  It smells amazing.”  Isabella’s mouth is practically watering. 

Taylor chuckles. “It’s just spaghetti.  Nothing special.”  He guides them to the table.  “Sit, I’ll get you guys some.  What would you like to drink?  I’ve got juice, soda, milk, beer, wine, and of course water.”

Daniel and Taylor both drink beer and Isabella has milk.  She’s too exhausted to have any alcohol, and afraid she’ll be knocked out before enjoying the spaghetti.  The boys are chatting away while they eat, but Isabella is focused on eating and getting to bed. 

“Can I grab my things and get settled?  I’m really tired.” 

Daniel jumps up immediately.  “I’ll grab your things, you just go with Taylor and see your room.” 

“I can help.”

“It’s not much.  This way you can go through them as I bring them in.  You’ll be settled in no time.”  And just like that Daniel’s out the door. 

“Come on.  I’ll show you your room.”  Taylor motions for her to follow him. 

She’s surprised by the size of the apartment, not that she’s ever lived in one to compare it to.  The hallway is lined with pictures, but she doesn’t look closely, figuring she’s got plenty of time for that.   When Taylor stops and opens the door, Isabella moves past him and can’t help noticing how nice he smells up close.  Once she realizes what she’s doing, she quickly opens her eyes and tries to shake it off.  She has to get past the attraction if she’s going to live here. 

“Thanks again for letting me stay here.  It’s nice to be back in California.”

“The divorce stress will be easier for you if you don’t have to travel.  Once it’s over, we can figure out where you want to live.  You’re gonna get through this.”

“I hate that I have to.  Thanks for your help.” 

Just then, Daniel comes in with her things.  They quickly jump into helping her unpack.   Daniel and Taylor have a good time joking around, but working diligently.  Isabella moves around in a haze, finding it hard to believe that all she owns fits in this room.  She knows that she has all the things from her family, as well as the home, back near Chicago, but she doesn’t feel like it’s hers.  She didn’t do anything to earn it.

It doesn’t take them long. Daniel and Taylor hug her and leave her to rest.  Once they leave, she realizes that even though she doesn’t feel like doing anything, having them around comforts her.  Since she doesn’t know how to bring that up, she just lies down in bed and falls asleep.

When she awakes in the morning, she finally feels ready to take on this damn fight with Eric.  Not wanting to spend any more time alone in her room, she throws on a sweatshirt and pulls her hair into a ponytail before heading into the kitchen where the boys are making breakfast. 

“It smells wonderful in here,” she says as she enters the room.

“There’s our girl.”  Daniel walks over and hugs her.  “Sleep well?” 

“Actually, I can’t remember the last time I slept so well.  How long did I sleep?”

“Well, we left your room at nine, and it’s nine-thirty now, so it could’ve been twelve hours.” 

“I don’t remember when I fell asleep, but it couldn’t have been long after you guys left.   I guess I really needed sleep.”

“Glad you feel rested.  You’re going to need to be on you’re A-game for court this week.  I doubt Eric’s had a change of heart.”  Taylor’s remark snaps Isabella back to reality, and it must show because he continues, “Thankfully, you have a few days before the court date.  You and Daniel can go out for some fun while I’m at work.”

“Daniel, you’re staying until my court date?” 

“I am.  I told you I’d be here to support you.  Don’t worry about my work, I own it.  I can take whatever time off I want.  Trust me.  It’s all good.”

“Thank you,” she says, her voice full of emotion.