“You must be exhausted.”
“I am, but I’m not sure I could sleep.”
“You should try.The kids will be up and at it early.”
“Yes, they will.”
“Go ahead.I’ll crash on the sofa so I’m here if you need me.”
“You don’t have to do that.I’m okay.I swear.Go home and get some good sleep.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am.Thank you for everything.”
He helped her up and then hugged her.“Always.”
Isla walked him to the door and waved him off before locking up and shutting off the outside lights.She checked on her sleeping babies, kissed them and tucked them in before heading to her room to change into her favorite flannel pajamas.Even though it was in the sixties outside, she was chilled to the bone.
Having experienced shock before, she recognized it for what it was—a full-body experience.
When she was in bed, she checked her phone for the first time in hours and found a text from Jackson Remington.
Checking in to see how it went at the hospital and if there’s anything you need.I heard from Gabriel’s attorney that he signed the papers, which is good news.
Thank you for checking on me.The news at the hospital was devastating.Gabriel has an advanced brain tumor and is entering hospice at his parents’ home.Apparently, this is the reason for his erratic behavior and poor judgment.Needless to say, this news has hit me hard.He told me he signed the papers, but I left them there, since there’s no point in continuing the divorce proceeding.
Jackson wrote back a few minutes later.I’m so sorry, Isla.I can’t imagine how hard it must’ve been to hear that news.If there’s anything we can do to help, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
Thank you so much, Jackson.I appreciate your kind words.
Isla put her phone on the charger and shut off the light.For a long time, she lay awake thinking about Gabriel and her time with him.With the benefit of hindsight, there were signs from the start that something was “off.”She’d chalked it up to eccentricity and had always thought he was more interesting than any other guy she’d ever met.Now that she knew the truth, she could see that nothing had added up like it should have.
Perhaps she’d been so desperate to create a family of her own after losing her parents so tragically that she’d ignored things that should’ve been red flags.
But she could never regret her time with Gabriel, because it had brought her beautiful kids into her life, and they were the greatest gifts she’d ever been given.
If she kept her focus on them, she might just survive this latest catastrophe.
ChapterSixteen
Julian stared at the text from Isla for so long, his eyes watered.Was she sending him some sort of subliminal message with her song choices?Why was it that he could picture that cozy little scene from “Our House” with her staring at the fire for hours and hours next to him on the sofa while he played love songs for her?Why did he ache at the simple sweetness of the scene with the two of them playing the central characters?
He was losing control of his emotions, which normally would terrify him.But with her, he couldn’t bring himself to care as he wrote back to her.
I’ve got a whole lot of love songs I could play for you next to that cozy fireplace.Let me know when and where.I’ll bring the firewood.
Before he pressed send, he read and reread the message.If he sent it, he’d be opening a door to something he’d spent his entire adult life trying to avoid.Who was he kidding?She’d thrown that door wide open just by walking into his office and saying hello.It also wasn’t lost on him that if she was sending him not-so-subliminal messages, Denny must’ve told her why he moved her case to Jackson’s care, which meant his friend approved.
Julian sent the message.
And then he waited.
And waited.
And waited.
But it never showed that she’d read it.
