CHAPTER 18: Isabelle

We piled the cart with all of Kendra’s favorite foods as we went down every aisle. Mom was quiet as we walked and I just grabbed stuff automatically. “That was the scariest moment of my life, apart from when you were in that car accident in college. Remember that?”

I nodded. A car had run a red light and sent me spinning into a pole, leaving some slight pain. It wasn’t serious but it could have been and Kendra would have been left without a mother. The accident affected all of us. “I remember it like it was yesterday. I was so scared.”

“I was watching you talk to Mason just a few feet away from Kendra. She’s been in the water so many times before but that wave came and just took her. I was frozen and your father was frozen. I don’t know if you were, but I heard you scream. Then Mason just jumped right in like it was nothing and brought her to us.” Mom looked at me. “I want you to give him a real chance. Mason is a good man, and he saved your daughter.”

“I am going to give him a chance, Mom. I am. I think I’m falling for him,” I told her as she stopped and stared at me. “It’s been a month since we met but he means more to me than even… Jackson did.” I looked around, relieved to be alone in the aisle.

“I never thought I would hear you say that, Belle. You were so scared about everything once you found out about the baby. Don’t worry about your job or anything enough to let him go. Everything will work out just the way it is meant to.” I frowned at her as she stared at me. “Don’t get scared, Isabelle.”

“I am going to try not to, Mom. It is so new and intense and… I get overwhelmed.” I shrugged as we started walking again.

“You do know that I married your father in six months, don’t you? Sometimes it just happens that way.” I laughed as we went to get the meat and check out, loading up the back of the car as we chatted together. We took our seats in the SUV and Dad drove to their house, parking back in the driveway as we got out. I carried Kendra in and tucked her into bed while we unpacked the food and got ready for a feast. Mom marinated the chicken in the fridge while I worked on some salads and cut up Kendra’s favorite fruits. Dad and Mason warmed up the grill outside in the backyard as I smiled at them through the window.

Kendra walked out rubbing her eyes, and I looked over at her. “Hi, baby girl. We are making so much food right now that we’ll be eating it all weekend.” I picked her up and hugged her tightly as Mom looked on.

“Should I be scared of the water, Mommy? That wave tried to take me today.” Her voice was soft, and I froze.

“No. Sometimes things happen at places you love, like the beach. We were lucky that Mason went in to get you but you have been there so many times in the past. We’ll go there so many more times.” I hugged her tighter and smiled.

“Is Mason your boyfriend, Mommy?” Kendra asked as I stared at Mom. “Chase at school has a girlfriend.”

“I don’t know yet, Kendra. I like him a lot and we’re working towards that. Do you like him?” I asked as she pulled back and looked at me with sincere eyes.

“I do. He’s fun, Mommy. He knows how to swim so good and I would like him at the beach with me again.” Kendra looked serious as she spoke and I laughed.

“That sounds like a plan,” I told her as she looked to the window.

“I am going to go tell him that he needs to be at the beach with me when we go,” Kendra stated as she slid down my body and walked towards the screen door. I looked at Mom and we both laughed.

“Okay, then.” I said and returned to the kitchen as I watched through the window. Kendra tapped Mason on his leg and he looked down at her with a smile on his face. He knelt in front of her and she spoke as he listened intently. Mason nodded at her and she gave him a hug as I pressed my hand to my mouth. “Oh, my God. Look at that.”

“My heart is melted,” Mom said as the men looked at each other and Kendra went to play in the yard. We brought out the meat and Dad placed it on the grill as Mom set a cold beer down beside him. I glanced around to see that it was beautiful outside and asked Mom if we should bring the food outside. She kissed my dad and told me that we’d do it buffet style inside and bring the plates out to the table. I nodded and leaned over the deck to watch Kendra play in the garden, feeling a sense of hope for the future.

We sat down to eat in forty-five minutes and talked about what to do the following day. Mason suggested that he take us out to lunch and Mom and Dad started arguing that it should be them doing that for him. I just watched as they went back and forth while Kendra butted in to tell them that she wanted to go for fish and chips at her favorite place.

I laughed as Mason assured her that he wanted to try them as well and I took another bite of chicken. I’d never been with a man that was good with Kendra. There were some along the way that wanted to date me but I wasn’t ready, I fought this thing with Mason until I couldn’t any longer, making me feel weak at moments.

I tucked Kendra in after she fell asleep on the couch again and went back out to see Mason standing out back. I smiled at Mom and walked out to join him, feeling him pull me against him. “So, Kendra asked if you were my boyfriend earlier.”

“Did she? What did you tell her?” Mason asked as I laughed.

“I said that we are working towards it. That was right before she went out to tell you that she always wants you at the beach with her. Are you sure that you can handle the lightning speed at which this is happening?” I looked at him as he gazed at me with a smile.

“I think so.” Mason leaned in to kiss me as I giggled, knowing that we were out of sight of my parents. Mom told him that he was welcome to stay here tonight and offered up the guest room as she gave me a knowing smile. “Should I stay?”

“You have that option. I will go in there with you until I need to sneak to my room to wake up with Kendra. Welcome to dating a woman with a child.” I laughed weakly as I felt doubt fill my brain. Was this right for him? Was it right for me?

“The time that we do have together will be great,” Mason assured me as he stole a kiss. It heated up, and I groaned softly as I felt need washing through me.

“It won’t be nearly enough,” I murmured as I kissed him again. We made our way inside and sat with my parents, sipping beers and watching a movie.

“Are you staying here?” Mom asked him as Mason smiled. “It’s fine. We’re all adults here.”

“Oh my God. I won’t spend the night in the guest room with him. Kendra is here,” I told her as she giggled.

“She won’t notice until the morning.” Dad told me as I rested my face in my hand. “I can get you something to sleep in, Mason. Your clothes are at the hotel?”

“They are. I’ll have to get them tomorrow before we fly out,” he said as I looked at him. “Maybe we can all go to breakfast and drop by in the morning.”

“That sounds great,” Mom agreed, frowning as he told her that it was his treat. She stretched and gave my dad a long look as she announced that it was getting late. They told us good night and headed to their bedroom as I shook my head.

“It’s not late and they aren’t tired,” I muttered as Mason chuckled. He slipped his arm around me, pulling me closer as he kissed my head.

“They obviously want you happy,” he told me softly as I gazed at him. “Are you?”

“Happy and scared,” I admitted as he nodded and kissed me.

“I know. We’re just going to take this slow and see where it goes.” Mason stared into my eyes for a long moment as I got lost in the depth of his gaze.

We fell asleep cuddled together on the couch and I woke up a few hours later to infomercials playing on the TV. I looked around and saw that I was lying on Mason’s chest with his arms wrapped around me, taking a moment to enjoy the view. This man, this gorgeous man… he wanted me. I smiled and breathed him in as I felt love filling my heart and fear filling my mind. I looked around to find a clock, seeing that it was three in the morning. I considered my options and just rested against him and closed my eyes for just a little longer.

Mason woke me up a bit later and told me that I should go and join Kendra. It was getting late or early, depending on how I was looking at it. I stretched and kissed him for a moment before pushing myself up. I offered to wash his clothes if he wanted to change into the stuff in the guest bedroom and Mason assured me that he would be fine. He could change at the hotel. I nodded and walked to my old room, changing into leggings and an over-sized shirt to sleep in before I crawled under the covers with Kendra. We stayed there for about three hours before she woke me up, telling me that she wanted some juice.