Finding Isadora(82)

I hugged him back, savoring the warm comfort of his arms, the familiar brush of his beard against my cheek, and realized I was smiling. “Yeah. Yeah it is.” Then I dared to turn my smile toward Gabriel. “Hello, Gabriel.”

Why did I so often feel his eyes were sending me secret messages? Messages I couldn’t quite—or didn’t dare—interpret? Hurriedly, I said, “Have you met Alyssa McKenzie?”

Gabriel came into the crowded kitchen and bent to offer Alyssa his hand. “Hi, Alyssa. I’m sorry your mom isn’t feeling so well. But I hear she’s getting out of the hospital soon.”

“She’s coming to live with us,” the girl said.

Gabriel’s face went still, then he gave a rueful chuckle. “Must be slipping. I should’ve seen that one coming.”

The girl gazed at him and said shyly, “Who are you?”

“Sorry,” I said. “His name is Gabriel DeLuca. He’s … a friend of Grace’s and Jimmy Lee’s.” It was true, and much less complicated than explaining that he was Jimmy Lee’s lawyer.

Jimmy Lee turned from hugging Grace and gave Alyssa a squeeze. “Hey, I like your earrings,” he told her.

“Izzie gave them to me. She said you gave them to her.”

Jimmy Lee turned to me. “Thought they looked familiar. Well, I’m glad those parrots have found another happy home. Your earrings are pretty fine too, Izzie. Haven’t seen those ones before, have I?”

“No.” I couldn’t keep myself from darting a glance at Gabriel, who was watching me. “They were a gift from a friend.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Gabriel smile again.

Grace made a shooing motion with her hands. “There are too many people in this kitchen and nothing’s getting done. Jimmy Lee, you and Gabriel get yourself drinks and go on into the living room. Dinner’ll be ready in about twenty minutes. If you leave us alone.”

Jimmy Lee reached into the fridge, pulled out two cans of beer, and tossed one to Gabriel, who caught it neatly.

“Like I told you before,” Gabriel said, “I need to talk to you and Grace.” The smile had turned into a frown, and his voice had an edge I’d never heard before. “Could Isadora and Alyssa go read a book or something for a while?”

Grace shook her head firmly. “We can talk after dinner. Speaking of which, why not call Richard and invite him over?”

Gabriel fumbled the beer can, almost dropping it.

Heart aching, I tried to think what to say. Well, I could give them part of the truth. “Richard’s at a hockey game.” Avoiding Gabriel’s eyes, I explained briefly about Richard’s new relationship with Eric and Caroline Winston.

Grace paused in the middle of stirring a cream sauce. “That’s really nice. It makes me think more highly of Richard.” Then she rushed to add, “Not that I didn’t like him, Gabriel, but I hadn’t seen that side of him.”

“Me either,” Gabriel murmured so quietly I doubted anyone else heard him.

“So, Izzie,” Jimmy Lee said, “maybe you knew what you were doing after all, hooking up with Richard.”

“I…” I swallowed hard, feeling the burn of unshed tears. It was hardly the moment to spread the news of our breakup, and yet this conversation was getting increasingly awkward. And deceptive. I was too exhausted to carry on the pretense any longer. Besides, they’d all know sooner or later. So I cleared my throat and said softly, “Richard and I aren’t … a couple any longer. We’re—I hope we’re going to be—friends.”

All action ceased momentarily, except for Alyssa flicking her earrings with her fingertips. I didn’t look at Gabriel, but I felt the tension level in the room rise.

“Oh, yeah?” Jimmy Lee said disbelievingly. “How come?”

“Uh…” How to explain it, with Gabriel only a few feet away? I shrugged helplessly.

“This isn’t the right time, Jimmy Lee,” Grace said quietly.

“Huh? Oh, yeah. Guess not.” He came over to peer into my eyes. “You okay, Izzie?”

“I’m okay.” I met his gaze, letting him see everything. My hurt and disappointment, my fear, but also the certainty I was doing the right thing.

He rested a hand on my shoulder, and his touch made the tears rise again. I patted his hand, murmured, “Not now,” and hurried over to the fridge. “I’ll start the salad.” Flinging the door open, I took refuge behind the heavy door and let the chill air cool my flushed cheeks.

When I’d gathered the ingredients and emerged from the fridge, Gabriel and Jimmy Lee had retreated to the living room. I rinsed a head of romaine and gave it to Alyssa to tear into the salad bowl, then began to slice raw vegetables.

“Are you really okay, hon?” Grace asked me softly, hugging my shoulders.

It was too much. I couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. For a moment, just a moment, I put my head on my mother’s shoulder and let myself cry.

A warm little hand crept into mine and tugged on it. “Izzie? Did you and your boyfriend break up?” Alyssa’s voice was full of concern.

I swiped my hands under my eyes and flicked away the tears, then knelt down. “Yes, we did, Alyssa. But it’s okay. I thought we belonged together, but we really don’t.”