Chapter 25 #2
She woke in the morning to a text from Gabriel’s mother, letting her know there’d be a wake for him in Santa Barbara on Thursday afternoon.
No pressure to attend, Maggie had written along with the address for the funeral home where the service would take place.
He didn’t want anything religious, so we’re just doing the wake and a private burial for the family.
We know how busy you are with the children.
Hopefully, we can find a time to get together in the next few weeks so we can meet our grandchildren.
We’d so love to know them—and you, of course.
Gabriel spoke so highly of you in the short time we had together.
Isla thought about what she wanted to say before she replied.
Thank you for letting me know. I’ll try my best to be there, and of course you can meet the children.
They’d love that, too. Thank you also for letting me know he was remembering me fondly at the end of his life.
That’s nice to hear. Our time together was challenging and very difficult, especially toward the end, but I’m trying to remember that much of what happened was because of his illness.
As she reread the message before she sent it, she decided to strike that last sentence.
There was no sense in revisiting things that couldn’t be changed.
What difference did any of it make now? Gabriel had done what he’d done, he’d refused to seek the medical care that might’ve saved his life and their marriage, and now he was gone forever.
She had to live in the present rather than the past, and the present was looking rather lovely with a text from Julian that popped up after she’d replied to Maggie.
Morning, beautiful. Hope you slept well. I had dreams of you and was sad when I woke up and you weren’t here. I wish you were here.
Isla smiled as she typed her reply. I dreamed about you, too, and wished you were here. Hope your busy day isn’t too awful. What’s first on your agenda today?
Attending the arraignment for my client who shot and killed her ex-husband when he broke into the home where she and her kids were staying. I need to figure out what’s up with her kids and who has them.
Isn’t her case self-defense?
It should be a slam dunk for that.
Then why’s she being arraigned?
That’s routine procedure. Once the judge hears the ex was under a domestic violence restraining order and had a hunting knife with him when he broke in, she should be released on bond. Her criminal attorney will hopefully make it go away before it gets to trial.
I’ll be rooting for her—and you.
Thank you. When can I see you again?
What are you doing after work?
No plans—and if I did have plans, I’d cancel them for the chance to see you.
Awww, you’re so sweet. Gabriel’s mom texted to tell me there’s a wake for him on Thursday afternoon in Santa Barbara.
Are you thinking you might want to go?
Probably.
I can drive you up there if you don’t want to go alone.
That’s very kind of you, but you have to work so you don’t get fired.
I won’t get fired. I’ll take the afternoon off in case you need me.
Is this real? Are you real? Or am I dreaming?
If it’s a dream, I don’t want to wake up.
The phone rang with a call from him.
“Yes?” she asked with a chuckle.
“Why are we texting when we could be talking?”
“That’s a very good question. Where are you?”
“In the car on the way to the courthouse.”
“Where is it?”
“Downtown.”
“Is the traffic bad?”
“Is that a rhetorical question?”
She laughed. “I guess so.”
“I’ve got my pal Ernie driving me, so I don’t have to worry about parking. Thank God for him.”
“That’s a nice perk.”
“Sure is. I couldn’t do this job without him.”
“No, you couldn’t,” a man said in the background.
“And he’s entertaining to have around.”
“I see that. Has he been with you for long?”
“Years. While I was talking to you, I cleared my schedule for Thursday afternoon. No pressure, but if you want a ride, I’m happy to take you.”
“That’s very nice of you to do that. I know how busy you are.”
“It’s fine. I rarely take time off.”
“How come?”
“Because I haven’t found anything I like to do more than work.”
“That’s very sad, Julian.”
“I’m beginning to realize that. Can I ask you something unrelated to this depressing topic?”
“Sure.”
“How do you feel about going to a movie premiere?”
“Like an actual premiere?”
“Yep.”
“What movie?”
“Valiant. It’s the new Quantum—”
She let out a shriek. “Are you kidding me? I’m dying to see that movie. I’m a huge Natalie Godfrey fan. She’s such a badass, and her husband is dreamy, and oh my God! Are you kidding me?”
Julian was cracking up from the first “are you kidding me” all the way through to the second one. “Not kidding. The Godfreys are family friends, so we’re all invited and allowed a plus-one. You wanna be mine?”
“I’m dead.”
“Don’t do that!”
“It’s a saying, Julian. Get with it. ‘I’m dead’ means I can’t believe this is happening, and yes, I want to go. When is it?”
“A week from Saturday.”
“What would I wear?”
“I’ll hook you up with a stylist.”
“Do you have stylists on speed-dial for all your dates?”
“Put your claws away, killer. I’ve never once called a stylist in for any date, but I’ve needed one a few times myself, so I have a few names.”
“Oh. I see.”
“In case I haven’t mentioned it before, I don’t do stuff like this, so you don’t have to worry that you’re just another in a long line. It’s not like that with you.”
“You’re making me all fluttery.”
“Is that a good thing?”
“It’s the loveliest thing to happen to me in, well, ever.”
He sighed, desperately wishing he could tell Ernie to turn the car around and take him right to her. “Same, sweetheart. I’ll call you later, okay?”
“I’ll be here.”
“Can’t wait.”
“Me either.”
Julian ended the call with the same dazzled feeling he’d had last night when he’d had her warm and naked in his arms.
“Um, excuse me, boss,” Ernie said, glancing at him in the mirror, “but… what the hell is going on with you?”