Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Following Julian’s decision to hand her case off to his brother, Isla discovered that Jackson was an excellent attorney and was great about keeping her updated. From him, she learned that Gabriel had declined medical attention and had posted bail—again.
From him, she learned that Gabriel had been served with divorce papers and had tried to beat up the process server, leading to him being arrested—again.
And from Jackson, she learned that Gabriel had collapsed in jail and had been rushed to Cedars-Sinai’s emergency department, where he was being evaluated.
She began to wish that Jackson was a little less good at his job as each update was tougher to hear than the one before.
Hanging over everything was the pervasive sadness she’d felt since Julian had exited her life, taking with him the one thing, other than her babies, that’d given her some joy in the midst of chaos. She missed him, which made no sense whatsoever. She barely knew him.
When she updated Denny on the latest news, he’d come over with pizza for her and the kids, giving her a shoulder to lean on.
“I don’t understand anything anymore,” Isla told her brother. “What is happening with Gabriel, how can I miss a man I met three times, how is all of this going to shake out, and what does it all mean?”
“The man you met three times…”
“Julian. He made an impact.”
Denny took a sip of the beer he’d brought with the pizza and salad that Isla was picking at. “Did he?”
She nodded. “As if I’m in any position to be impacted by a guy when my husband is getting himself arrested three times in a week.”
“He’s about to be your ex-husband.”
“Right. It’s over. It has been for a long time. But I still shouldn’t be thinking about someone else when all this is going on.”
“He’s thinking about you, too.”
Denny’s words hit her like a lightning bolt from above. “What?” she said softly.
“You heard me.”
“He’s thinking about me?”
“Yes.”
“He quit me like a bad habit!”
“Not because he wanted to.”
“What does that mean, Denny?”
“He quit your case because of ethical concerns.”
“He said he has a big trial…”
“Maybe he does, but that’s not why he left your case.”
“Will you please tell me what you’re talking about and not one sentence at a time?”
“He left the case because he’s attracted to you, and because of that, he can’t represent you without risking his career.”
It would be strange to say at that juncture that nothing had ever shocked her more, because she’d had some pretty big shocks in her life, but this one was right up there at the top of the list.
“W-why didn’t he just say so?”
“Several reasons. One, you’re not exactly free and clear for a guy to state his intentions.
Two, he’s very determined to remain single and unencumbered, and you’re rather encumbered.
” He glanced at the kids, who were playing with Theo’s trucks in the living room while she and Denny sat at the kitchen counter.
“Third, he had no idea what I’d think of it until I told him I thought he’d be great for you. ”
“You told him what?”
“Just what I said. Problem is, I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
She didn’t want to ask. She really didn’t. But curiosity would make her crazy. “Why do you say that?”
“The guy doesn’t do relationships. He’s had one girlfriend in all the years I’ve known him. Everything else has been… transactional.”
“Why is he like that?”
“Two reasons. One, he dismantles marriages for a living, and two, his parents went through one of the nastiest divorces in human history, dragging him and his eight siblings through hell for a decade while they fought over them. You don’t remember it being on TV?”
“Not really. I wasn’t paying much attention to anything but my own life back then.”
Isla couldn’t believe what Denny was telling her. Julian Remington had been so attracted to her that he’d bowed out of her case because he’d had to for ethical reasons. But he also had no intention of doing anything about that attraction because he didn’t do relationships.
“Why are you telling me this?” she asked Denny. “What good does it do for me to know this when there’s nothing I can do about it?”
“Who says there’s nothing you can do about it?”
“You just said he wouldn’t be good for me.”
“Maybe you could be the one to crack the code with him.”
“Because that’d be a great thing for me to get into after this mess with Gabriel.”
Denny shrugged. “You never know what might be possible. From what I can see, you both had the same reaction to each other, which is a pretty good place to start.”
“Why are you encouraging this?”
“I like him. I trust him. He’s an incredibly successful, smart, stable, cool dude, and he’s crazy talented.
Plays the guitar and the bass and has an awesome voice.
I’ve known him half my life, and I’ve never seen him be anything other than an upstanding kind of guy.
If I had to trust my sister to anyone, I’d want it to be someone like him.
That is… If he wasn’t bound and determined to stay away from cozy domestic situations like you and your sweet little kids. ”
“We are not a situation,” Isla said indignantly.
“To him, you are.”
Isla thought about all that for a few minutes as she sipped her wine. Then she reached for her phone and opened a text to Julian.
I’ve been obsessively listening to the music you sent.
I listened to “Our House” a hundred times.
I could picture the cozy scene in a little house with a fireplace, the cats, the love…
The other one I’ve been listening to on repeat is “When Will I Be Loved” by Linda Ronstadt.
I can really relate to that one, especially lately.
Thank you for introducing me to Laurel Canyon’s musical history. I’ve really been missing out.
“What’re you doing?” Denny asked.
“Texting him.”
“About what?”
“Music.”
Denny chuckled. “You’ve already got him figured out.”
“Not yet, but I’d like to find out more.”
“Just be careful. Remember what I said. He’s not a forever kinda guy.”
“Maybe not, but he could be a ‘for now’ kinda guy to get me back on my feet after a huge disappointment.”
“That kind of situationship is his specialty.”
“The fact that you trust and respect him means a lot.”
“I hope I don’t regret telling you this.”
“I’m in the no-regrets part of the program. Don’t worry. I can handle him.”
Denny muttered something that sounded like, “I sure as hell hope so.”
Before she could confirm what he’d said, her phone rang with a call from Jackson. “I have to take this. It’s my new attorney.” She pushed the green button. “Hi, Jackson.”
“Isla… I heard from Gabriel’s attorney that he’s been diagnosed with a serious illness. He’s asking for you.”
The bottom fell out of her stomach. “What kind of serious illness?”
“The lawyer wasn’t at liberty to tell me the details due to HIPAA regulations. Are you able to go to Cedars on Beverly Boulevard?”
“I, um, yes, I will. Thank you for calling.”
“Of course. Let me know if you need anything.”
“I will. Thank you again.”
Her hands were trembling as she ended the call and updated Denny.
“I can stay with the kids while you go.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am. Go ahead.”
She kissed Denny’s cheek and ran to the bedroom to change her clothes, brush her hair and teeth and find her keys.
Then she told the kids she had to go out for a little while, and Uncle Denny was going to stay with them. They were thrilled by that news because Denny was always willing to get on the floor and play with them.
“I’m scared,” she whispered to her brother. “What now?”
“Go find out. It may explain some things.”
“Yeah, maybe.” She was filled with dread over what she might hear at the hospital and how it might change her life as well as Gabriel’s. “I’ll call you as soon as I know anything.”
“I’ll be waiting to hear.” He gave her a hug. “Drive carefully.”
On the way to Cedars, she focused only on driving and tried not to think about what this could be about. There was no sense in speculating and making herself crazier with theories. It could be anything at this point.
At the reception desk inside the main entrance, she asked for Gabriel and was directed to a room on the fourth floor.
In the elevator, she stared straight ahead and tried to force breath past the weight in her chest. Outside his room, she took another deep breath and released it slowly, preparing herself to see him for the first time since he’d destroyed their home.
Isla was surprised to find an older couple, people she’d never met, standing next to Gabriel’s bed, watching over him. Gabriel’s curly, dark blond hair hadn’t seen a comb in days. He had deep, dark circles under his eyes and a bruise on his cheek.
He extended his hand to her. “Isla.”
She approached his bed but didn’t take the hand he offered.
“These are my parents, Ramon and Maggie. Mom, Dad, this is my wife, Isla.”
“Oh, um, it’s nice to finally meet you,” Isla said, feeling as if she were living in some sort of surreal universe.
“You, as well,” Maggie said tearfully. “Gabriel has told us all about you and your children. They’re absolutely beautiful.”
What the hell was happening? Gabriel hadn’t spoken to his parents or siblings in more than ten years after a falling-out he’d refused to talk to her about
“I… I called them because… Isla… I have a brain tumor. They say it’s benign but inoperable at this point. I don’t have a lot of time left, so I asked my parents to come.”
“We’ve made arrangements to bring him home with us on hospice care,” Ramon said.
Isla stared at the man she’d loved and married and had two children with, blindsided by this news.
“I signed the divorce papers so you can be free of me.”
“A brain tumor,” she said softly.
Tears filled his golden-brown eyes, Theo’s eyes, as he nodded. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you when you begged me to see a doctor. The tumor… It’s the kind that affects personality and judgment, and it’s the reason why… I’m sorry. For everything.”