by Paula Kay
Chapter 28
Isabella adjusted her earbuds as she pulled up the video app on her computer. She really needed to talk to Nina.
She’d sent a note off to Jemma, who was busy with everyone in Tuscany, but she’d promised that she and Thomas would be calling in for Christmas at some point.
As soon as they’d gotten back to the apartment, Thomas had packed up his computer and taken off, saying he was going to go to a cafe for a couple of hours.
Isabella went back and forth between wondering if he really was being secretive about her so-called Christmas surprise or if he, in fact, had a secret girlfriend back home. She didn’t really think that was the case, but she did wonder if something was going on that she wasn’t really going to ever be privy to. Thomas still hadn’t wanted to talk about school with her and there were other topics as well that he’d shied away from ever since he’d arrived.
Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw that her call to Nina was connecting. Seconds later, her friend’s face filled her computer screen.
“Hey, you. I’ve been thinking about you and wondering how everything’s going. Have you been having a good time with Thomas?”
“Hi, Nina. Oh, I’m so glad you’re able to chat. Yes, it’s been fun having Thomas here and…well, I have a lot to fill you in on, really. But first I want to hear how you’re doing. And where are you? Still in Italy?”
“Yes, I’m in Rome now—not a new place for me, but I never tire of this city. There’s so much to do and I have a few friends here, so I thought I’d come for a few weeks.”
“And then?”
“Well, I’ve been wanting to ask you what your plans are actually. I’ve been thinking about Thailand a lot—or maybe somewhere else in Southeast Asia. Do you know what your plans are for after Christmas?”
“No. Not yet. I do really love Chiang Mai, though, so I guess in the back of my mind, I’m thinking of doing another trip somewhere to get a visa and then settling back in here to finish my current book. I definitely agree with your thoughts about getting work done here. It’s an easy place for that. Oh, and of course I’d love it if you were here too!”
“Well, let’s keep one another posted then about our plans. Now tell me everything. Tell me about Thomas, but we haven’t really talked since right before your retreat and I want to hear all about that too.”
Isabella had only sent Nina a few quick and rather generic e-mails about her time at the retreat center and she hadn’t told her anything about what had happened between her and Dylan. At the time she’d felt ashamed, but now that she was on the other side of everything—now that Thomas knew—she decided to open up to her friend about it. It would be good to get another’s woman’s perspective. Nina could help remind Isabella of the things that she’d learned at the retreat center about trust and being in the present instead of worrying about the future so much.
Isabella took a deep breath. “Okay, have you got a few minutes? I guess I have a lot to fill you in on.”
Over the next thirty minutes or so, Isabella proceeded to tell Nina everything. She surprised herself in that she left nothing out and was also able to relay it all without tears. Nina was a good listener, taking it all in without interruption. Isabella eventually finished by expressing her feelings about whatever secret things Thomas had been doing on his computer and phone pretty much since he’d been there.
“Wow. I guess you did have a lot to tell me. But it sure sounds like you’re handing things okay—emotionally, I mean. I’m proud of you for that.”
“Trust me, had I talked to you right after everything happened with Dylan, you would have been dealing with a basket case.” Isabella laughed lightly. “I was seriously a mess.”
“Well, it sounds like your retreat was good timing, then. I’m glad that you found it so helpful. I think it’s the perfect thing to do in that part of the world. So much of the environment and spirituality of the place is conducive to that kind of personal growth.”
“I agree, and if I decide to stay, I’ll definitely be going back for another session. So, what do you think about Thomas? Am I just being paranoid? I mean, I can’t really get too worked up when he keeps saying that he’s sorting things out back home—whatever that means.” Isabella couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “Well, and then there’s this whole official secret Christmas surprise.” Isabella did air quotes around the words “secret Christmas surprise.”
Nina laughed. “Bella.”
“I know, I know. I’m being a jerk. Just because I’ve been keeping secrets from him doesn’t mean that he’s got some big dark one that’s going to tear my heart to shreds.”
Nina smiled. “No, it doesn’t. Thomas loves you. It sounds like he forgives you and wants to move past everything, so maybe you just need to give him a break—at least until after Christmas, right?”
“Yes. You’re right, of course. It’s my old nature creeping in—that need to know absolutely everything that is happening for the next year or so.” Isabella laughed.
“Well, from what you’ve told me, you and Thomas have been through it all together, so if that’s true, I’m sure that he must be pretty used to it by now.”
Isabella smiled. Nina’s words hit a truth that she hadn’t been allowing herself to think about. Thomas did know her—better than anyone. He’d seen the changes and growth in her over the past year, but he’d also been there for her for every year prior to that. And if she believed him—and she did—he’d loved her even back then—not that it was the kind of love a young boy would confess to, but it was a genuine acceptance of a girl whose heart he’d stolen years ago.
Isabella heard the door open, and minutes later Thomas was standing next to her looking down at the computer screen.
“Speak of the devil,” Nina said.
Isabella laughed as she looked up at Thomas. “Only good things.”
“I’m sure.” Thomas bent down to give Isabella a quick kiss on the lips before he looked back to her computer screen. “Hey Nina. How’s Italy?”
“Italy is—well, you know—beautiful food, beautiful language, beautiful men…” Nina laughed, as did Thomas.
“So, in one word—beautiful.”
“Sì.”
“Okay, I’ll let you two finish your call.” He turned toward Isabella from the doorway. “I’ll be out on the balcony, babe.”
Isabella nodded and then turned her attention back to Nina. “It’s been so good talking to you. Let’s do it again soon. And thanks for your always great advice.”
“You’re welcome any time. Oh, and I was going to say too—about the waiting.”
“Yes?”
“I was just going to encourage you that if it’s really bothering you so much, you should just bring it up again. I’m sure it’s better for your relationship not to hide how you’re feeling from him. Well, that’s something I was not good at myself, so I think it’s worth mentioning.” Nina winked. “But you two will figure it all out. I have confidence in that. And also, who the heck am I to be giving relationship advice?”
They both laughed.
“You’re my good friend who cares about me, that’s who. Okay, Nina. Bye for now. Enjoy Rome.”
Isabella clicked off the video app and closed her computer. She always felt better after talking to Nina. There was something about her that was both calming and invigorating.
Yes, she’d try to calm her own weird feelings and just enjoy the time that she and Thomas had together. The days were ticking away and she could already feel the dread of his leaving coming soon enough. She certainly wanted to enjoy and embrace every minute that they had together in the meantime. Thomas deserved that. They both deserved that.
Chapter 29
Isabella stopped by the fridge to grab a couple of Cokes and then headed toward the balcony. She could hear Thomas talking through the open window in the living room and without her meaning to eavesdrop, his words stopped her in her tracks just short of the door to the outside.
; “Yes, that’s fine. Feel free to just move my clothes to the other closet…That’s right.” He laughed. “Yes, help yourself to anything in the fridge.”
Without thinking, Isabella burst out onto the balcony.
“Thomas, you need to tell me what is going on.”
Thomas looked up, his face showing the shock of suddenly seeing Isabella standing there beside him. “Okay, I gotta go. Yes, I’ll e-mail that to you. Bye.” He clicked off the phone and reached for Isabella’s hand. “Iz, what’s going on?”
Isabella pulled her hand away from him as she sat down in the chair. “I’m asking you—what’s going on? I heard you, Thomas, so just tell me. Please.” Her heart was still racing and she had no idea what he could possibly tell her that was going to make her feel any better. It sure sounded to her like Thomas had a woman moving into his apartment while he was gone. How could he do that to her? Let her think that everything was okay and all the while…Her suspicions about all his secrecy had been right after all.
“Iz, what did you hear? Or what do you think that you heard? Because I can promise you that you absolutely have the wrong idea.”
“Well, I think you have a girlfriend back in New York—why you would bother coming here to be with me, I don’t know—and it sure sounds like she’s moving into your apartment.” Isabella looked up at him with the tears flowing down her face. “How could you, Thomas?”
But the look on Thomas’s face was not the look of someone who had been caught cheating. It was a look she knew well—slightly teasing, slightly perplexed.
“Iz, are you serious? Do you really believe that?”
“Then tell me, Thomas. Tell me I’m wrong.”
Thomas pulled her into his lap, despite her objection. He carefully wiped away the wetness under her eyes with his fingers, all the while giving her a funny look.
“Well, my love, in fact, you are wrong. The person I was talking to just now is a friend of mine from school—Kyle is his name. And he’s staying at my apartment while I’m away.”
Isabella felt instant relief and instant shame all at the same time. “Really?”
“Really.” Thomas nodded, then gently pushed a few strands of her hair behind one ear. “But now the question I have for you, my dear, is why would you even jump to that conclusion? I thought we just spent a whole lot of time talking about trust, our relationship, and how much I love you. Do you really think I would do that to you?”
Isabella shook her head and put her hands around his neck. “No. I don’t think you would. And I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s gotten into me, but—”
“But what?”
Isabella did feel relieved at his words and she did believe him, but if she was being honest with herself, she was feeling annoyed because of whatever Thomas had been doing and not telling her about. Why hadn’t he bothered to mention that he had a friend staying at his apartment in the first place? It wasn’t like him, and she did need to get to the bottom of it or she was going to drive herself crazy over thinking everything.
“Well, you have been acting so secretive and I just don’t get why you’re not sharing things with me. The fact that you have someone staying at your place, this big Christmas surprise—which I might add is coming up in just three days, you know. I dunno. And other things too. I just notice that there’s a lot of things that you don’t seem to be sharing with me. And it’s bothering me, Thomas. A lot. I just—I’m not trying to nag you. I just need to be honest about it.”
Thomas seemed to be studying her, which made her slightly uncomfortable. “What, Thomas? Do you think I’m crazy?”
He kissed her on the nose. “No. I don’t think you’re crazy. Well, not in a bad way.” He grinned at her and stuck his finger lightly in the ticklish spot in her side. “I guess I can see how things could look a little strange. But Iz?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you trust me? I mean, this is important, right?”
Thomas wasn’t teasing her any more. She felt the change in his voice. It was a serious question. She stood up from his lap and sat back down in the chair next to him. Thomas turned the chair with her in it so that they were facing one another, knee to knee. He took her hands in his and looked her in the eyes.
“Iz, we do trust one another, don’t we? Even after what happened—what you shared with me about Dylan—I do trust you. You know that, right? I believe in you—in the love that we have for one another. But Iz, I gotta know that you believe in me like that too.”
Isabella thought it was almost the most serious she’d ever seen him. She felt the weight of the question he was asking her.
“Yes. I do trust you. You’ve never given me a reason not to and I’m sorry if I seem to be looking for a reason lately.” She squeezed his hands. “I’m going to stop doing that now. I promise.”
Thomas grinned. “Good.” He leaned in and kissed her on the lips. “Now would you like me to put you out of your misery and tell you about the fantastic surprise I’ve planned for you for Christmas?”
Isabella grinned. “Yes, please.”
“Well, what if I said that I’ve arranged a very romantic Christmas getaway for us in Bali?”
“Oh, Thomas, really?” Isabella got up quickly and placed herself right back down in his lap, throwing her hands around his neck. “I’ve been dying to go there.”
“I know you have.” He kissed her gently on the lips. “Me too, and now we’ll go there together.”
“When? When are we leaving?”
“The day after tomorrow—in the morning. And you don’t have to worry about a thing. I’ve got everything organized.”
Isabella kissed him again. “I’m sorry for doubting you. I can’t believe that I ever did. And you must have been so annoyed with me as you were planning everything.”
“Well, I’m not going to lie. I nearly canceled everything a few times.”
Isabella’s eyebrow shot up in reaction to his words.
Thomas laughed. “I’m kidding. I figured you’d be surprised when I told you and that it would all be worth it in the end.”
“So worth it. Oh, I can’t wait, Thomas. This is going to be the best Christmas.”
“Yes, I think it is.” He winked at her right before he hugged her tighter.
Chapter 30
Isabella squeezed Thomas’s hand as she looked out the window of the car he’d hired to pick them up at the airport in Denpasar. They were nearing the end of a long drive that would have them at their destination very soon.
She looked over at Thomas, who seemed to be enjoying the view out the window as much as she was. “I can’t believe we’re actually in Bali.”
“I know. Me too. How many times have we talked about coming here?”
She leaned over to kiss him on the cheek.
Thomas laughed. “What was that for?”
“Thank you. For this—for putting up with my craziness the last few days—just for everything.”
Isabella had been feeling insanely happy—and relieved. Ever since she and Thomas had had their big talk a few days ago, she’d felt a huge weight lift from her shoulders. She’d become the old her again and she knew that Thomas had felt that too. She still had some questions in her mind. She still noticed the quick phone calls and the time that Thomas spent checking his e-mail—which was more than usual for him—but she’d decided to trust him that everything was fine.
And they’d had so much fun the day before in Chiang Mai—playing tourists—checking out the temples and markets, and wandering around the twisty little streets of the old city. In the afternoon, Thomas had rented a motorbike and they’d gone up to Doi Suthep just before sunset. The view of the city below did not disappoint, and they both agreed that they’d like to come back again after they returned from Bali.
Thomas was looking at her, studying her, as he seemed to be doing a lot in the past few days.
“Iz, you don’t have to keep thanking me.” He was teasing her. “I enjoy seeing you so happy.” He reached
out and put her hair back behind her shoulder. “You’re always beautiful, but that smile—I love it when you smile.”
How was it that he could still make her blush like a twelve-year-old girl? Way before she’d ever realized her crush on her best friend, he’d always showered her with compliments and had a way of making her feel good about herself.
“Well, you make me extremely happy.” She was thoughtful. “Thomas?”
“Yeah?”
“You know that it’s not about the surprise or the gifts or anything to do with money, don’t you? I mean, I’d be with you if we were living in a tent somewhere without electricity.”
Thomas feigned a look of shock. “Oh, really?”
Isabella laughed. “Okay, maybe not a tent exactly, but my point is that I’m happiest when we’re together, no matter where we are or what we’re doing. I mean we’re so lucky—I know that—to have everything that we have, but none of that matters to me without you.”
Thomas smiled before he leaned in to kiss her deeply.
Moments later, as she looked out her window, they ascended a small hill to arrive at the most beautiful villa she’d ever seen.
“Thomas. Wow!”
“Wow is right. It looks just like the pictures.”
They pulled up into the circular driveway, and a man and woman were immediately out the front door to greet them and take their bags.
“Is it a room or—Thomas, you didn’t rent the whole place, did you?”
“I did. Merry Christmas, babe.”
Isabella threw her arms around him and he picked her up to give her a big kiss.
“Now, shall we go inside to check it out? I think I’ll tell the driver to come back in a few hours. That way we can have a little rest before we go exploring. Sound good?”
Isabella grabbed his hand and started walking toward the entrance. “That sounds perfect.”