by Paula Kay
Jemma was sitting on one side of Rafael—no longer in her pajamas, Isabella noticed—and Gabriella sat on the other side, staring at him like she couldn’t quite figure out what was going on. She’d been adopted from Casa de los Niños when she was very young, so it was doubtful that she had any real memory of Rafael.
Isabella pulled up a chair next to the young girl. “Gabriella, do you remember Rafael?”
Gabriella shook her head, just as Lia entered the kitchen, bending down first to kiss Gabriella on the top of the head and then to give Isabella a quick hug.
“But she’s seen lots of pictures of Rafael. Many of which are him holding her, isn’t that right, Gabby?” Lia said.
Gabriella nodded and then reached out to hug Rafael, whispering in his ear just loud enough for everyone to hear. “I think I remember playing with you.”
“And you’re so big now. Are you really nine?” Rafael said, winking at Jemma next to him.
“Yes, I’m almost ten and so is Kylie.” Gabriella’s eyes were wide.
“Speaking of, where is that munchkin sister of mine?” said Jemma.
“Kylie’s upstairs getting ready for our tea party. Oh—” Gabriella jumped up from her chair suddenly, as if she’d just remembered something very important. “I was sent here on a mission, actually.” She grinned and looked at Gigi, who was already laughing at her.
“Would that mission have to do with getting some scones for your tea party?”
“You got it!” Gabriella gave Gigi a hug around the waist and then carefully took the small plate of scones that she handed her. “See you all later.”
Rafael looked at Lia, who’d sat down in the chair that Gabriella had vacated. “She certainly seems like a happy child.”
“She is. She’s the best, and especially happy when all her friends and family are around. She and Kylie are pretty inseparable when they’re visiting.” She turned toward Isabella. “And just so you know, those two have big plans for when Annie arrives. They’re so cute up there, making sure they have just enough chairs and place settings.”
Isabella laughed. “I’m sure they’ll be the best welcoming committee for a little girl who is pretty excited herself. I introduced them all to one another on a video chat yesterday. Gabriella was trying to give Annie a mini-lesson in Italian.”
Lia reached out to take Isabella’s hand. “Well, I can’t wait to meet Lucas and the whole family.”
“Do you have an idea when my parents are coming back?” Isabella asked.
Emily and Richard had left for Florence the day before, promising they’d only be gone for a day or two at the most. Knowing her mom, Isabella guessed that she’d wanted to do a bit more Christmas shopping, which she knew would be fun for them in Italy.
“I think they’re coming back sometime tomorrow. Well, your mom told me they’d be here in time for dinner.”
“I’ll bet.” Isabella laughed. “They both love your cooking, and with both you and Chase in the kitchen, I don’t think anyone is willing to miss a meal around here.”
“Not me, anyway,” said Jemma.
“Nor me,” Douglas chimed in from the doorway where he’d been standing with his arm around Gigi. He walked over to give Lia a kiss on the cheek as she stood up from her chair. “Everything looks so wonderful, by the way. It always feels good to be here.”
Isabella didn’t miss the look that passed between Douglas and Gigi. She couldn’t help but smile, as she thought about her earlier conversation with Gigi. It did feel as if they belonged there in Tuscany.
“Alright, gang, I’d like the older folks outside on the patio for a small meeting please,” said Lia, as she grabbed for Gigi’s hand. “Let’s leave the kids alone so they can catch up.”
Jemma laughed. “There are no quote unquote older folks in this house. Oh, and by the way, Mom and Chase went out early for a drive. Sorry. I forgot to tell you. And Chase said to let you know that he’ll pick up everything you need for dinner.”
“Perfect. Thanks, honey.” Lia leaned over to give Jemma a quick hug before she went out to join the others on the terrace.
“I wonder what that’s all about?” said Isabella.
“Oh, I don’t think it’s anything—just Lia giving us some privacy, I suppose,” said Jemma.
Isabella didn’t miss the fact that Rafael had Jemma’s hand under the table and she was blushing in a way that Isabella had not seen before. There was something going on between the two, alright. Isabella felt herself grinning at Jemma, not wanting to embarrass her friend, but at the same time, unable to hold back her teasing.
“Maybe you two want a little privacy, I’m thinking.”
“Don’t be silly. Stay here with us.” Jemma leaned over to swat gently at her arm just as Isabella’s phone began to ring.
Isabella took her phone out to see that it was Thomas before zipping it back in her pocket.
“Bella.” Jemma gave her a stern look. “Come on. Talk to him. It’s been long enough.”
Isabella felt her face grow warm as she got up from the table. “I will. Just not right now. I’m not ready to talk to him yet.”
Chapter 6
Isabella laughed as her mom showed her yet another outfit that she’d picked up for Annie in Florence. “Mom, good grief. That’s a lot of Christmas presents.”
Emily and Richard had come home earlier in the day with bags and bags of goodies from their shopping trip. It made Isabella truly happy to see them finally spending some money on the things that seemed to be bringing them joy. Although they weren’t quick to accept extravagant gifts from Isabella since she’d gotten her inheritance, they had finally decided to take their retirement early and spend some of their hard-earned money on themselves. There was no need any longer for the money they’d worked tirelessly to save for Isabella’s education. She’d finally convinced them of that.
“Oh, I know.” Emily looked over at Isabella, her forehead creased as she held the dress up in front of her. “It’s too much, isn’t it? They’re going to think I’m ridiculous. But look how adorable!”
Isabella leaned over on the bed to give her mother a long hug. “No. I’m joking. She’d going to love the presents—all the girls will—and I think it’s incredibly sweet. You’re incredibly sweet, Mom.”
Isabella felt tears stinging her eyes for the love she had for her adoptive mother—the only mother she’d ever truly known. She deserved all the love and respect that Isabella had to give. Both she and Isabella’s father had been so incredibly supportive throughout all the changes that had been happening in their daughter’s life over the past months.
Emily looked at Isabella and reached out to wipe the tears from her face with one hand as she grabbed Isabella’s hand with her other. “Honey—Izzy, why are you crying?”
“Oh, they’re happy tears, Mom. I just really love you.”
“Well, I love you too, sweet girl. And nothing makes your father and me happier than to be here with you—with everyone—right now. It’s quite festive around here, isn’t it?”
They both laughed when, just at that moment, they heard the Christmas music turned on downstairs.
“That it is. I think Lia and Gigi are definitely in their happy place with the house full of people.”
Her mother was eyeing her with a look that Isabella recognized.
“What, Mom? What’s that look for?”
“Oh, nothing. I’ve just been wanting to talk to you—about your trip, Harvard, Thomas…”
Isabella felt her face change. No one knew the history of her relationship with Thomas better than her mother and she hadn’t told her much of what was really going on—she hadn’t told her about the kiss. But her mother knew about Natasha.
“Well, the trip has been amazing. Traveling with Jemma was exactly the right choice. It turns out we make really good travel partners.”
“And it seems you two have become the best of friends.”
“Oh, we have. Mom, I really adore her.”
&n
bsp; “That’s good, honey. And Thomas? Is everything alright between you two? Usually I’d have heard you mention his name at least several times by now, and you’ve hardly said one word about him.”
Isabella looked away, unsure of how to answer. Maybe her mom could actually shed some light on everything for her. She did know Thomas better than anyone else in Isabella’s life right now. She took a deep breath before she spoke.
“Something happened between Thomas and me—a kiss happened, actually. It was right before I left London. It was completely out of the blue and we both kinda freaked out about it afterward. And now—now I’m just not quite sure of how to feel.”
Isabella couldn’t help the tears. It felt good to open up to her mother and it felt good when Emily reached to hug Isabella to her.
“Wow, honey. I can’t say that I was expecting you to tell me that.”
Isabella leaned back so that she could look at her. “It’s awful, right? A very bad idea that never should have happened.”
“Now, I wouldn’t say that. Wanna tell me about it? What’s happened since then?”
Isabella nodded and filled Emily in on the conversation that she and Thomas had had, her confused thoughts about it all now, and the fact that she’d been unwilling to talk to him since the day they’d last spoken at the diner.
Her mother listened intently and finally, after there was nothing left to tell her, Isabella sat back and looked at her. “So what do you think? Is it hopeless? Our being friends again?”
“No. No, not at all. But I think you need to communicate with him. Don’t you?”
“Yes. I know I do. I just don’t trust myself, I guess.”
“But Izzy, isn’t that part of what these last few months have been about for you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you’ve talked to your father and me so much about how you’ve been learning a lot about yourself and what it is you really want. You’ve been willing to take chances with travel and with your writing. So, maybe it’s time that you start taking some chances with your heart, too? Trusting yourself, I mean—that you’re going to be okay, regardless of the outcome.”
Isabella sucked in her breath. It was surreal to hear her mom speaking words to her that felt so similar to the ones that her birth mother had written to her in a journal so many years ago. Dare she? She had only really shared the journal with Jemma that one time, but somehow this felt right to her.
“I think you’re right. Thanks, Mom.” Isabella leaned in to give her another hug. “I’ll be right back. I want to share something with you.”
She returned seconds later with Arianna’s leather journal in her hand. She and Emily moved over to the sofa in the bedroom, reading the journal together, laughing and crying at the words that had been written so long ago from the one person who had brought them together as mother and daughter.
When they’d finished reading, Isabella studied her mother intently. “I hope that you’re okay reading this. I mean, I’d never want to make you feel hurt or weird about anything.”
Emily nodded. “I’m okay, sweetie. I’m glad that you’ve chosen to share this with me.” She seemed to be studying Isabella’s face for a few seconds while they were both quiet. “I think it’s actually pretty incredible that Arianna did all this for you—all these letters, the map she left you. I think it’s helped you a lot. Your father and I made some mistakes, that’s for sure.”
“No, Mom.”
“It’s okay, honey. We did. Somehow we didn’t realize all the pressure that you’d been feeling—with the track team, how well you were always doing in school, the pressure you felt to get accepted to Harvard—”
“Mom, no. I don’t blame you guys.”
Emily reached out to take Isabella’s hand. “I know you don’t. I just want you to know—to really know—that’s we’ve always been proud of you and that it didn’t have to do with your grades or anything that you were aspiring to be or do. It’s always been about the person you are, and we’re as equally proud of you now as we’ve ever been, maybe even more so.”
“Really?”
“Sure. It takes a lot of courage to do what you’ve done these past months. And mostly—well, mostly I’m just really proud of the young woman you’re becoming.”
Emily wiped at the tears that flowed freely down her cheeks and Isabella reached in to give her another big hug, before grinning at her.
“Even if I decide to not go to Harvard at all? Because I’ve been meaning to talk to you and Dad about that.”
Emily laughed. “Have you now? And the answer is, yes. Even if you never set foot on any college campus in your lifetime.”
“Well, good. Because I’m pretty sure that my future plans include more travel and lots of writing.”
“Speaking of your writing…” Emily grinned at her daughter.
“We weren’t, and I’ll be filling you in about that soon.” Isabella laughed and thought about all the presents she had yet to put under the tree. She knew that everyone would be surprised to see her book, and she could hardly wait to see their reactions.
Just as quickly her laugh faded as she thought about when she’d given Thomas’s book to him. He’d reacted with the most amazing kiss that she’d ever experienced yet in her lifetime and it had messed her up completely. She sighed.
“Iz.”
“Yeah, Mom?”
“Everything’s going to be just fine. You’ll see.”
Chapter 7
Jemma sat outside on the terrace with Gigi and Douglas, sipping her early morning coffee. She had such an appreciation for them—for everything they’d done for her, and most importantly for the way that they’d always loved her unconditionally. They were like the grandparents that she’d never had, and she knew that they felt the same way about her too.
Gigi reached over to squeeze her hand. “Honey, what did you think about your surprise yesterday?”
“About Raf?”
Gigi nodded, stealing a quick glance at Douglas. “Rafael wanted it to be a surprise, but I wasn’t so sure it was a good idea.”
Jemma laughed. “Well, I most certainly was surprised.” She felt her face go warm. “And it was good. Really good.”
“Sweetie, I don’t want to pry—you know I don’t, but he’s quite taken with you, I think.”
“Honey—” Douglas interrupted.
“Oh, shush. I’m not telling her anything she doesn’t know,” said Gigi.
“Oh, you two. Don’t fight about me and Raf. And you know I think the world of him. Time will tell. Neither of us is in a hurry. We’ve got plenty of time, right?”
“That’s right, honey. You take all the time you need. And if that includes you coming to Guatemala to spend some time with us all, all the better.”
“Gigi.” Douglas pretended to be stern, then he leaned over to kiss his wife squarely on the lips. “You leave them be. They’ll figure it out.”
“Oh, I know. I just want my girls to be happy.”
“What girls?” Isabella said, walking out on the terrace. She leaned down to give Gigi a big kiss on the cheek.
“You and Jemma,” Gigi said, putting her arm around Isabella’s waist to pull her closer. “I just want to see you girls both happy.”
“Well, I can’t speak for Jemma, but I, for one, am pretty happy these days.” Isabella laughed.
“Me too.” Jemma put her hand up for a high five from Isabella. “Seriously, aside from any talk about guys, I’d say that the last few months have been pretty incredible for both of us, wouldn’t you, Bella?”
“Most definitely. I’ve seen things and lived places I only would have imagined just a few short months ago. And Jemma has been the best travel partner I could ever ask for.”
“Speaking of travel…” said Blu as she came out to join them at the table. “What are you two thinking might be next? Is anyone planning to come back to the beach? Because we sure would like to have you there.”
Jemma looked at Isabel
la. They had yet to decide what their next location would be. Jemma was starting to feel her heart leading her down another path, and she wasn’t at all sure that it was going to end up the same for Isabella. But she needed to talk to Isabella about that privately.
“We haven’t really decided that yet, but we will. We need to—soon, I suppose.”
Isabella nodded her head.
Jemma got up from the table. “And if you all will excuse me, I’ve promised Rafael I’d take him into town. Mom, is it still okay if I borrow the car?”
Blu reached into her jacket pocket and then handed Jemma the keys. “Yep, have fun.”
“Are you going to Thyme? Lia’s there and I’m sure she’d love to show him around,” said Isabella.
“Yeah, I was planning on taking him for a little walk around town and then to the restaurant for lunch. Anyone want to join us? Bella?”
Isabella and Gigi looked at one another and laughed. “No. No,” said Isabella. “You two go on. Lucas and his family are arriving this afternoon and I have a few things to do before they get here,”
“Oh, I didn’t realize. I can stay. I’m so anxious to meet them.”
Isabella stood up to give Jemma a hug. “Don’t be silly. I’m sure you’ll be back before they arrive and besides, I think someone is waiting for you.”
Jemma followed Isabella’s gaze to where Rafael was exiting the kitchen to come out to the patio. Wow, he looked handsome—in his dark jeans and white button-down shirt. They hadn’t really had much time to spend alone together since he’d arrived, so she was looking forward to the afternoon. It seemed they had a few things to talk about.
Jemma felt herself smiling from ear to ear as Rafael came beside her to take her hand and kiss her sweetly on the cheek before turning to everyone else seated at the table.
“Morning, everyone. It sure is lovely out here this time of day, isn’t it?”
Gigi stood up to give Rafael a hug. “That it is for sure. Now, do you kids want some coffee before you go? Something to eat?”
Jemma looked at Rafael and then back at Gigi. “No, I think we’re gonna get going. We’ll pick up a coffee in the square. It will be a good way for Rafael to get a feel for the town.”