He extended his hand to her.“Isla.”
She approached his bed but didn’t take the hand he offered.
“These are my parents, Ramon and Maggie.Mom, Dad, this is my wife, Isla.”
“Oh, um, it’s nice to finally meet you,” Isla said, feeling as if she were living in some sort of surreal universe.
“You, as well,” Maggie said tearfully.“Gabriel has told us all about you and your children.They’re absolutely beautiful.”
What the hell was happening?Gabriel hadn’t spoken to his parents or siblings in more than ten years after a falling-out he’d refused to talk to her about
“I… I called them because… Isla… I have a brain tumor.They say it’s benign but inoperable at this point.I don’t have a lot of time left, so I asked my parents to come.”
“We’ve made arrangements to bring him home with us on hospice care,” Ramon said.
Isla stared at the man she’d loved and married and had two children with, blindsided by this news.
“I signed the divorce papers so you can be free of me.”
“A brain tumor,” she said softly.
Tears filled his golden-brown eyes, Theo’s eyes, as he nodded.“I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you when you begged me to see a doctor.The tumor… It’s the kind that affects personality and judgment, and it’s the reason why… I’m sorry.For everything.”
At long last, an explanation, albeit a devastating one.
“They think it started as long as fifteen years ago,” Maggie said.“It’s explained a lot to us, as well.”
“They’ve got me on something that has me thinking clearer than I have in years, but they told us it won’t last.That’s why I asked you to come.I wanted to see you before…”
“I, uh… I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say anything.I’ve put you through hell, and I want you to move on with your life.And the kids… I love them so much, but I don’t want them to see me like this.”His voice caught on a sob.“It wouldn’t be fair to them.They’re too little to understand.”
He reached for her hand again, and this time, she let him.
“I’m so, so sorry for everything,” he said.“I didn’t know what was happening to me, and I was so scared.Rather than find out, I… I’ll always be sorry that I did this to us.”
Isla wiped away a tear.“You’re sick.It’s not your fault.”
“Don’t let me off the hook.If I’d listened to you, things might’ve been different.”
His mother wept silently as she watched over him.
Isla couldn’t imagine what she must be feeling and hoped to never find out.
“When it’s over, I want the kids to see my parents, okay?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Gabriel gave us your number,” Maggie said.“We’ll keep in touch.”
“Okay.”Isla had no idea what to do or say or feel.Nothing in her life could’ve prepared her for something like this.
“The signed papers are there, on the tray.”
She looked to where he pointed.
“You were a perfect wife and mother.I never deserved you.”
