Chapter 2 ~ Isabella #2
His mother takes a seat beside me. My mother and sister sit across from us. Rose comes in and pours us coffee. I look at her and smile while everyone else ignores her. I mumble thank you, and she softly rubs my back as she leaves the table.
Rose comes back with breakfast and food and forks are flying as well as a million conversations I’m not following. My father said my mother makes all the decisions, and I’m good with that. I see this as one more petal that has to fall. One more leaf in the bowl till it’s full and I’m free.
I pick at my food, agreeing at the appropriate times and making sure there is a smile ever present on my face. Rose removes our plates and we linger over another cup of coffee, which so far is the only true thing I'm enjoying. I love my coffee.
Alex’s mother moves us to the library; she has the whole thing all laid out on the coffee table and the writing desk.
There are huge books, swatches, and menus.
It’s like a bridal boutique exploded in here.
I take a seat on the chair while my mother and his mother take a seat on the couch.
Rebekah sits on the loveseat, flipping through a bridal gown book in her hand.
As they plan, I watch and listen. I nod, smile, and nod again in agreement, and say my part of the excited bride, ‘Oh, that’s lovely.’ or ‘It’s perfect’. The morning flies by, and soon we are kissing cheeks and saying goodbye.
It is close to lunchtime, so I glance around the library before I’m dragged back to my room. I’m shocked to find “All The Bright Places” on his bookshelf. It is a sad love story; one I feel I can identify with in a way. This book is not one I’d expect to see on his shelves.
I pick up the book and walk out of the library, and up the stairs to my room. Sasha follows me; I smile at her and close the door behind me as I approach the sitting area. Flopping back on the couch, I pick up another fallen flower and put it in the bowl and open my book.
I try to read but my thoughts keep going over all the craziness of the morning. Alexander's mother said that the dress fittings will be held here. I’m assuming that was Alexander’s doing since I’m under house arrest.
The only bright light is that Anna will be here. I can’t wait to see her, to hug her and hold her tight. I want to enjoy the day with her and have good memories of tomorrow with her.
Lunch comes and goes, and dinner comes and goes. The previous day repeats itself.
Pick the dying flowers off the table, and put them in my bowl. Bathe, put my jammies on, grab my book, and go to my room. I make my bed, turn off the light and snuggle in and read by the dim light till I can’t see anymore and fall asleep.
This morning when I opened my eyes a sense of excitement tingled in my belly. Today I get to see Anna. I jump up and shower, get dressed as quickly as I can, and pull my hair into a ponytail. I sit on the couch, pick up the fallen leaves, and wait.
Soon Sasha comes and gets me and I follow her, I can hear Anna before I even reach the stairs.
“What the fuck do you mean, I can’t go upstairs?”
A male’s deep voice says, “That’s right Pixie, you’re not allowed up. You can wait down here till everyone else arrives, or until she comes down.”
There’s grunting and more swearing. I rush down the stairs and see Anna in Danny’s arms getting tossed back on her feet as he holds his hands out wide, dodging back and forth, trying to stop her attempts to dart by him.
Anna’s not one to give up and she heads straight for him, bent over, going for his waist. He grabs her and scoops her up, carrying her off. I run down the stairs.
“Wait! Danny, wait!” but he’s taken her into the bathroom. I run to the door and try to open it, but it’s locked.
I hear grunting, and swearing, then a low male groan, some slamming, and I hear something clatter to the floor.
“ANNA!” I keep shaking the door handle, “ANNA!”
She takes a few minutes, but she finally opens the door enough to slide her tiny body through, kicking a large male boot out of her way and closing it. She fixes her hair and adjusts her shirt.
I grab her and hug her tight. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry.” I back up, grab her cheeks and look her over.
“Did he hurt you?”
She laughs and hugs me back. “Naaa… I’m tougher than I look.”
I go to open the door, but she slaps my hand.
“Nope. He needs a timeout. Come on.” She tugs my hand. “Show me where we can sit. We need to talk.”
I pull her in for another hug; I love this little spitfire so much. My eyes water over her head as the pain of missing her slices ribbons across my heart. Anna won’t understand and will never forgive me. But we have today and we are going to make the best of it.
“Come on, everything is in the Library. I think we have time before they all show up.”
Rose brings us coffee, and she starts in.
Telling me about what happened after I left the lab, how Carlos was kind and stayed with her and took her home.
She gives me shit about leaving and scaring her.
Then she tells me about her and Danny getting into it at the gate and her attempt to climb over and see me.
All I can do is laugh. If there was anyone who would take on the world to get to me, it would be her. I’d honestly like to see the footage. No wonder she and Danny got into it.
I no sooner tell her my side of the story, that Alexander took my phone, he made me take a leave from work.
She blows her top, but when my mother and sister arrive, she gives me the look as if to say this conversation isn't over. Alexander’s mother follows close behind. I introduce Anna and it starts.
They bring racks of dresses in; they pour champagne, and the marathon of colors, styles, and headdresses are ripped off and on me. I feel like a chubby Barbie.
Lunch is served, I take a break, and I’m actually hungry. I pile a few berries, cheese, and a bun on my plate. My sister, of course, has to mention I should try to drop a few pounds just to take the water weight off since it is too close to the wedding to drop any actual weight.
I smile at her and nod. It’s who she is and she will never change.
Anna goes to say something in my defense, but I clasp her hand and smile.
I want to have fun today with her. I don’t care what anyone says, I just want today to mean something to her and me.
Even though the symbolism of this day means nothing to me, I want it to be a memory that was fun, something we will share forever.
Both Rebekah and Anna have their dresses picked out, and they look absolutely stunning.
Anna pretends she’s on a runway, swinging her hips and flipping her nonexistent long hair over her shoulder.
Danny walks by, and he stops, she stops, and their faces turn pink.
She gives him the finger, and he breaks out with a huge smile and walks on by.
She slams the library door and goes back behind the room divider to get back into her clothes.
My dress is picked out and is in its bag.
I just went with what the girls liked. It really doesn’t matter to me what I’m wearing.
I did my due diligence with the oohs and the aww’s.
We even managed to pick out a dress to wear to the rehearsal dinner.
Alexander’s mother picked it out, and I felt comfortable in it, so I didn’t argue.
The racks of clothes are slowly being taken out of the library, getting loaded onto the truck, and we settle back, just chatting, munching on the leftover tray of crackers and cheese.
I watch as Anna tells one of her crazy bar stories, making everyone laugh.
She is so animated, so bright. I pull her to me, resting my head on top of hers.
She keeps on telling her story, and I let her go, just watching her.
What a great day!
It's well past four o'clock and everyone is getting ready to leave. The day has come to an end, the champagne flowed a little too freely, and everyone is slightly tipsy.
Danny walks in and heads right to Anna.
“Keys.” He holds his hand out.
Anna points at him, almost slurring, “Oh, I don’t think so, hairy ass. You are NOT driving my car. Nope! No way.” She leans on me, grabbing my waist for support.
“Well, you’re not driving Pixie, so give me your keys or I’ll haul your ass out of here.”
She glares at him. Leaning down, I whisper in her ear as I pull her in for a tight hug, “Give him your keys; I’d like you to be alive for my wedding.” I smile at her.
“Fine, but only because Izzy says. You’re still a dick.”
She digs in her handbag, tossing the keys at him.
Danny catches them and grabs her around the waist.
“I thought you liked my dick?”
Anna laughs and leans on his shoulder as she staggers out. I follow so I can watch her and my emotions get the better of me.
I run to her and pull her tight into my arms once more. “I love you, Anna. More than you’ll ever know.” My eyes prickle as I smile at her, holding her cheeks.
Her blue eyes wrinkle, “Hey? What the fuck? I love you too; we have a spa date on Thursday. I’m not going anywhere.” She thumbs the tear from my eye.
I nod my head and let her go. Danny whispers in her ear and makes her laugh. I wrap my arms around my waist and watch them. They look good together.
Returning to my bedroom, I go to the coffee table, pick up the fallen petals, and put them in the bowl on my way to take my bath.
I put on my pajamas and head to the studio to make my bed on the floor.
Once I snuggle in, I fix my gaze on my garden painting and go to sleep knowing today was a good day.
Thursday arrives all too soon, and the same routine falls as the rest of the week. Wake up, get dressed, wait, and follow the orders set for the day by Sasha.