by Paula Kay
“Well, it wasn’t easy at first. That’s for sure. But once I understood that they were there to support me and help me when it came to finding out information about Arianna, then everything changed.”
“I’m glad. You have no idea how wonderful it makes me feel to know that you’re leading a good life—that you’re happy.”
“Yes, well, it’s all a journey, isn’t it?” Isabella yawned.
“Oh, look at you. You must be tired. You go on up to bed. I’ll just get the bill.”
They both stood up.
“It’s so nice meeting you. Thank you for dinner,” said Isabella.
Lucas hugged her close. “The pleasure is truly all mine. So before you go, we should talk about tomorrow. Kate says to come over any time after one, if that works for you? I can give you the address or I’m happy to come pick you up. We’re not far from here—about fifteen minutes with no traffic.”
“That sounds perfect, and no need to pick us up, we’ll get a taxi. Oh, I did tell you that my friend was with me, didn’t I?” Everything had happened so fast that she was now wondering if she’d imagined sending a text to Lucas about Thomas.
Lucas was nodding his head. “Yes, you did tell me, and Kate says the more the merrier. I’ll just text you the address then. Oh, and be aware, there’s a little girl who is very excited to meet you.”
“Annie.” Isabella loved the name. It seemed sweet, just how she imagined her younger sister to be. “You tell her that I can’t wait to play with her.”
They hugged one last time and then Isabella started back to her room for a quick chat with Thomas, who was hopefully still awake, and then a much-needed night’s sleep.
She was very happy, and suddenly, very exhausted.
Chapter 22
Isabella watched out the window of the taxi as she and Thomas made their way to where Lucas lived in Pacific Heights. She felt much less nervous after meeting him last night and she was mostly very excited to meet Annie—and to see where they lived.
“I’m really glad that your meeting went so well last night,” said Thomas. “Today should be fun.”
“Thanks for coming with me.” Isabella smiled at him. “After today, we’ll take some time to do the things that you want to do while we’re here.”
“I’m not worried about that. This trip is all about you, my darling.”
“San Francisco is really beautiful, isn’t it? Just look at those views.”
They were coming to the top of another hill, and the water with the Golden Gate Bridge in the background was breathtaking.
Isabella pointed. “I think that must be Sausalito over there—where Arianna lived.”
“Do you want to go there? We should try to find out the address.”
“I thought about asking Gigi and Douglas, but I know the house was sold several years ago now. I think maybe it’s enough to just be here—near where she lived, you know? I would definitely like to go for a walk across the bridge. Gigi and Blu have told me many times how much my mother loved to do that.”
Thomas reached out to touch her arm. “We’ll do that tomorrow if you like.”
Isabella continued to stare out the window, lost in thoughts about a young Arianna driving these same streets in the red convertible that she’d heard so much about.
When the taxi pulled up to a big three-story house on top of one of the hills, Isabella saw a young girl peek out the window and then disappear behind the curtain, only to come running out the front door toward them a few seconds later.
As Thomas paid the driver, Lucas appeared in the doorway with a big grin on his face.
The little girl ran over to Isabella, wrapping her arms around her waist. “I’m Annie.” She looked up at Isabella and grinned. “You’re my sister.”
Isabella laughed and bent down so that she was eye-to-eye with the little girl. “It’s so nice to finally meet you, Annie. And I feel so lucky to have you for a sister.”
“I’m four.”
“Well, you’re a big girl, aren’t you?” Isabella smiled and gestured to Thomas, who had walked over next to them. “This is my friend Thomas.”
“Hi Thomas.” Annie stuck her hand out and Isabella and Thomas both burst out laughing.
“Well, aren’t you a polite little girl.”
Lucas walked over to Isabella, giving her a big hug.
He stuck out his hand toward Thomas. “Lucas. It’s great to meet you, Thomas. Welcome to our home. Shall we go inside?”
Annie reached for Isabella’s hand.
They followed Lucas through the doorway into the foyer. Isabella could see a beautifully decorated living room with a set dining table in the room just beyond it. A woman, who could only be Lucas’s wife Kate, came walking toward them, wiping her hands on the apron she wore.
She wrapped her arms around Isabella’s neck in a big hug. “Isabella, it’s so great to finally meet you.” She pulled away to look at her. “I hope you don’t mind. I’m a hugger.” She laughed and studied Isabella for a few seconds before turning toward Lucas. “You’re right, honey, she’s very beautiful.”
Lucas laughed. “That, of course, is her mother’s Italian genes.”
“And you must be Thomas?” Kate stepped over to where Thomas stood, giving him a big hug as well. “We’re just so happy to have you both here.”
“Well, something sure does smell fantastic,” said Thomas, rubbing his stomach. “We skipped eating a big breakfast this morning, in preparation.”
Kare laughed. “Come sit down. Let me get you something to drink.”
They followed Kate into the living room, Annie close by Isabella’s side.
“Wanna come see my room? You too, Thomas,” said Annie.
Isabella looked over toward Kate, who’d come back in with the water they’d requested.
“Oh, go ahead. I think the food will be ready by the time you come back down. Then we can all have a nice big chat around the table. I’ve made enough food to keep us busy eating for hours.”
Isabella and Thomas followed the excited Annie up the staircase. She was singing a song for them and when she wasn’t singing she was talking a mile a minute.
Isabella looked over at Thomas and mouthed the words “my sister.” She thought Annie was adorable, and she nearly had to pinch herself to remind her that she was a big sister now.
They let Annie give them the tour of her room, which included her pink canopy bed, her huge dollhouse, her corner stage and dressing area, and a closet full of the costumes that she said her mother made for her.
By the time Kate called them down to eat twenty minutes later, Isabella, Thomas, and Annie were fast friends. This time it was Thomas’s hand the little girl held as they made their way down the stairs to the kitchen.
Isabella walked behind them smiling to herself as she watched Thomas with her little sister. He really was going to make a great father one day. He had just the right balance of playfulness and common sense—and he was always so gentle. It was a word that often came to her mind to describe her best friend, and now as she saw him brush Annie’s hair out of her eyes, the sweetness of it almost made her tear up.
They made their way into the dining room and laughed when Annie positioned herself right between them at the table.
“Honey, maybe Isabella and Thomas would like to sit next to each other,” said Lucas as he patted the seat next to him. “Why don’t you come sit over here across from Isabella?”
“Oh, no. You’re fine right where you are, right, Thomas?” Isabella said, smiling.
“Certainly. I’d love to sit next to you. I can sit next to Isabella any old time.”
They all laughed and Kate set the turkey on the table.
“Kate, that looks amazing. Thank you so much for going to all the trouble,” said Isabella.
“Oh, it’s not trouble at all. This is one of our favorite days of the year, right, Annie?”
Annie nodded. “Yep, it’s when we give thanks for everything we have and all the
people we love.” She turned to look at Isabella, for the first time appearing to be just slightly shy in her demeanor. “Know what, Isabella?”
“What, Annie?” Isabella laughed lightly.
“I love you now too.” Annie grinned
Isabella felt instant tears and she saw Lucas wiping at his own eyes across the table too. She leaned down to kiss the top of Annie’s head. “I love you too and I’m so happy to finally have a sister.”
Thomas smiled over the little girl’s head at Isabella and she thought again how incredible it was that he’d come with her.
The meal was delicious—everything Isabella loved in a Thanksgiving feast—and the conversation flowed easily. She really liked Kate and the feel of being with them all in their home. There’d been no awkwardness at all, and Isabella felt as if she’d known them for years.
Annie had fallen asleep after lunch while watching a video, and the grown-ups were enjoying coffee and dessert out on the patio. Isabella had had quite a nice chat while helping Kate clean up in the kitchen, and now she watched her interact with Lucas as the four of them laughed and told stories. They seemed to have a very loving easy marriage, often finishing one another’s sentences and not shy with their affection at all.
Isabella laughed with Lucas and Kate as Thomas told them funny stories about Isabella’s childhood. He reached over to tug at her hair and pull her in for a quick hug.
“So how long have you two been together then?” Kate asked.
Isabella felt her face go warm, which was ridiculous. She looked at Thomas and laughed. “Oh, we’re just friends.”
“Well, come on now. We’re not just friends,” Thomas laughed when Isabella looked at him with what she was sure was a very confused expression. He reached over to take her hand. “Izzy’s the best friend I’ve ever had.” He looked across the table at Lucas and Kate. “That’s seriously the truth. Iz is an amazing person. You’ll be glad to know her.”
Isabella punched him lightly in the arm. “Gee, talk about a love fest. Thanks for that, Thomas.” She really hoped that she wasn’t blushing as much as she thought she might be.
Lucas and Kate started laughing at the same time.
“Well, everyone should be as lucky to have such a good friend,” said Kate.
“I concur,” said Lucas.
Chapter 23
Isabella reached over to the nightstand to get her phone, which had dinged with an incoming text. She and Thomas had gotten home from Lucas’s about a half hour ago and decided that they’d rest for a little while and then go out for a small meal. The day had been beyond incredible. She’d enjoyed every minute, and they’d made plans to all have one more meal out together before she left town.
She looked down at the text on her phone and sat straight up in bed. It was from Douglas.
Surprise! Gigi and I are in town. Call me?
She punched in a response.
You’re in San Francisco??!
We are. Can I call you?
Yes, please.
Her phone buzzed a second later.
“Douglas? What are you two doing here and why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
She heard him laughing on the other end of the phone.
“Well, we weren’t sure about it until a few days ago. Gigi had some family in town who really wanted us to come spend the holiday with them and we were able to get a few days covered at the orphanage, which wasn’t easy with our big Christmas trip coming up too.”
“Well, I want to see you guys. Oh, and Thomas is with me. I really want you to meet.”
“Well, that’s partly why I’m calling. I have a surprise that you might like.”
“I do like surprises.” Isabella laughed.
“I think I mentioned to you that it was a buddy of mine that ended up buying the Sausalito house from us. When I found out that we were going to be here at the same time as you, I gave him a call. It turns out they’re out of town but he said that he’d be more than happy for me to let us in so that I could show you the house where Arianna lived.”
Isabella couldn’t speak. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she listened to what Douglas was telling her. It seemed an unreal possibility, yet it was one of the last missing pieces to knowing more about her birth mother.
“Bella, are you there?”
It was Gigi’s voice in her ear now.
“Are you okay, honey? I can’t wait to see you.”
“Sorry.” Isabella tried to force the words out. “It will be so nice to see you, Gigi. And the house. I can’t believe I’m going to get to see it.”
“I know, honey. I’m so happy that we get a chance to show it to you. We’ll make a nice day of it, okay? I’m going to put Douglas back on so that you can work out the details.”
“Okay.”
“Sorry. I know this is a little unexpected—hopefully in a good way.”
“Yes, its very good news. You have no idea how happy you’re making me right now. First meeting my father and now this.”
“Gigi and I want to hear all about that meeting when we see you, by the way. So will tomorrow work for you then? We’ve got a driver while we’re here, so we could pick you up around ten? And then after we see the house, we’ll all have lunch together. Thomas too, of course.”
“That sounds perfect. I can’t wait to see you both tomorrow. Give Gigi a kiss for me.”
Isabella clicked off the phone and then called Thomas.
“Hello?”
“Sorry. Are you awake?”
“Am now.” He laughed into the phone. “Are you hungry already?”
“Oh no. Not really. But I do have some news that I’m very excited about.” She felt herself grinning just talking about it. “Can you come down to my room?”
“Sure. Give me ten minutes.”
She filled Thomas in on the plans for the next day. They ordered a pizza, deciding a good night’s sleep was more important than a night out. Thomas had been excited for her, and seemed very pleased to be able to share in all of these firsts that were happening for Isabella in relation to her family and who Arianna had been.
By the time Isabella went to bed, her head was swimming with thoughts of Lucas, Annie, Kate—and now this big piece of her birth mother’s history that was going to be opened up to her. She made a mental note to phone Jemma in the morning as well as her parents later on in the day.
It was important to her that she keep her parents in the loop about everything that had been going on. She’d texted them to wish them a happy Thanksgiving and to tell them everything had gone well with Lucas, but she needed for them to hear her voice as well.
Finally she felt herself drifting off to sleep, with good thoughts about seeing Gigi and Douglas the next day and what it would mean for all of them to be together in the house across the bridge.
Chapter 24
Isabella sat on the window seat in Arianna’s bedroom, looking at Douglas and Thomas, who were sitting outside in the garden. Gigi sat on the small sofa just opposite her, and Isabella didn’t miss the tears in her eyes as she watched her. She turned around to face Gigi.
“You look just like her, you know, Bella. I can picture Ari sitting there right now—just as you are—and it plays with my mind a bit, if I’m being honest. We had many chats sitting up here.” Gigi traced a finger along the edge of the sofa. “Douglas and I included all of the furniture with the sale of the house, and I must say how pleased I am that they’ve not changed this room.”
“I’m sorry if it’s painful for you to be here, Gigi.” Isabella crossed to sit beside Gigi on the small sofa. “We don’t have to stay long.”
“No. Don’t be silly. This day and this visit is all about you.” Gigi reached over to take Isabella’s hand in hers. “I love it that you’re here. It sends chills up and down my spine to think what Ari would have thought about you being here. I think it would have made her very happy.”
“I think so too.” Isabella smiled and then went back to the window seat.
“I wonder what those two are talking about out there.” She could see Thomas laughing below as Douglas appeared to be pointing something out in the distance.
“I’m glad we finally get to meet your Thomas, by the way.”
Isabella looked at Gigi when she spoke, not missing the amused look on her face. Her Thomas. It was a funny way to describe a best friend. She laughed.
“Well, I’m not so sure that he’s my Thomas—especially if his new girlfriend has anything to say about it—but I am really glad that you got to meet him. He’s been a big part of my life for so many years.”
“It’s important to have people like that in your life,” said Gigi. “I hope the two of you will guard that incredible friendship you have—don’t let anything come between you, even significant others.” She winked and Isabella laughed.
“Time will tell. Right now everything is fine, but I think when he gets back to London, he’s going to have a lot of making up to do.”
She’d already filled Gigi in just briefly about Thomas’s decision to come to San Francisco with her. Gigi had said that he was a true keeper for recognizing what that would mean to Isabella.
Gigi stood up from the sofa. “I’m going to go downstairs and see what the boys are up to. Do you want a little time to yourself here?”
Isabella nodded. “Yeah, I’d like that. I won’t be long.”
“Take your time, Bella.”
Isabella got up to walk around the bedroom to the bathroom. She looked at herself in the mirror, imagining Arianna getting ready for a night out or taking a bath in the big tub. Gigi had told her that it had been one of Arianna’s favorite things to do—to relax in a big bubble bath.
She walked back out to the window seat again, thinking about her mother looking out over the very same view of the Golden Gate Bridge in the distance. She’d spent hours in this very seat writing in her journal or poring over the world map that Isabella now kept so carefully with her at all times. It was easy to imagine Arianna here. It was easy to imagine herself doing so many of those same kinds of things. She wished that her mother would have known those things about her.