15. Isabel
ISABEL
Isabel adjusted the collar of her button-down shirt in the bathroom mirror of the hotel suite, watching the morning sun stream through the high frosted window.
The cool light caught the soft streaks of silver hairs near her temples, and she reached for her brush, smoothing her dark locks back into a neat twist. It was early, the clock on the wall showing it was barely past six-thirty.
Isabel picked up her cosmetic bag, intending to apply a light touch of powder, when her phone buzzed loudly against the marble countertop.
She glanced down at the screen and frowned when she saw her brother's name flashing on the display. She swiped to answer, propping the device against a lotion bottle so she could finish organizing her workspace.
"Good morning, big brother," Isabel said, keeping her voice light. "What has you calling me at this hour?"
"Morning, Issy.” Darius greeted. “Can you and Penny come see me at the house before you head out for the day?" His tone sounded heavy, flat, lacking its typical clipped sharpness.
Isabel paused, her hand hovering in midair as her frown deepened.
"Darius, I have to get into the café exceptionally early today. Owen is closing down the regular operations for the day because most of his staff members are history and archaeology students from the college. They are all excited about the pool excavation findings, so they're signing up to get field experience and help clear the grid layers,” she explained, proud she’d remembered all that.
“ I promised Owen I'd come in early to manage the morning rush and ensure all the regular pastry and coffee deliveries are dropped off at the commercial offices around the town center. "
"You're really getting into this new job, Issy," Darius said. There was a distinct note of brotherly pride in his voice, a quiet happiness that traveled clearly through the line. "I'm glad to hear it. It's nice to see you getting your sparkle back."
Isabel felt a warmth touch her cheeks, grateful that the phone screen hid her blush. She let out a soft sigh, her expression softening.
"Thank you, big brother.” He sounded a little down and her heart strings pulled.
“Is this matter important? I can give you about ten minutes of my time, but you'll have to meet us near the marina.
Actually, you should come into the café.
We can have a coffee and meet inside the private manager's office at the back of the building. "
"Now you even have your own office there," Darius remarked, letting out a heavy, exaggerated sigh that made Isabel smile. "Yes, it's important. I need your help, Isabel. Yours and Penny's. Or rather, I need your advice on a pressing situation."
Isabel froze, her hand dropping back to the counter. The word advice coming from her brother was a rare occurrence. Suspicion immediately flared in her chest. "Is this situation about Linda?"
There was a long pause on the other end of the line, the quiet so thick she could hear the faint hum of the air conditioning through his receiver.
"Yes," Darius said, his voice dropping into a low, rough register.
"I've made a decision. I'm not going to tell her only my last name when she comes over for lunch today.
I'm going to tell her everything. The whole history.
I think she deserves to know the full truth about why I came to this island. "
Isabel felt floored. Tiny waves of shock vibrated through her system, leaving her staring blankly at her reflection in the glass. She stood there in the quiet bathroom, unable to formulate an answer for a beat too long.
"Issy?" Darius's voice called out from the speaker. "Are you still there?"
"Yes," Isabel said, her voice snapping back into focus. "I'm here. Meet us at the Bay Café in twenty minutes. Don't be late."
She disconnected the call before he could say another word. She tossed her hairbrush into her bag and hurried out of the bathroom, her shoes squeaking against the tile as she marched through the suite living room. Isable reached the bedroom door where she began banging loudly against it.
She heard footsteps and then Penny pulled the door open.
Her hair was still damp from the shower, a towel draped over her shoulders.
She was wearing a faded pair of denim jeans, a plain cotton t-shirt, and a pair of stained sneakers that she always referred to as her restoration clothes whenever they were inspecting old properties.
"Oh, good, you're dressed," Isabel said, not giving her a chance to greet her. "Grab your purse. We're going to the café. Coffee and croissants are on my tab today."
Penny blinked in confusion, holding the edge of the doorframe. "Okay, Isabel. Can you give me a minute to finish drying my hair and—"
"No, there isn't any time," Isabel stated, reaching out to grab her friend's wrist. "We have to leave right now."
"Where's the fire?" Penny asked, her voice rising in alarm as she scrambled backward to snatch her leather handbag and a light knit sweater from the chair before Isabel dragged her out into the main suite hallway.
She managed to fling the towel that was on her shoulders back into the suite before Isabel banged the door closed
"It's Darius," Isabel told her, leading the way toward the elevator banks and jamming her thumb against the wall button.
"What about Darius?" Penny asked, her expression tightening with immediate worry.
"He's about to go nuclear with telling Linda the whole truth," Isabel answered, watching the floor indicator light remain stationary on the lobby level. "He wants to meet us now to help him with what to say when she meets him for lunch.”
Penny’s eyes widened to their limits. "The entire truth? About everything?"
Isabel nodded firmly. Penny’s face turned pale under the hallway lights. She glanced at the elevator doors, which were taking a long time to rise. Without a word, Penny caught Isabel’s arm, pivoting toward the exit sign.
"Forget the elevator. Take the stairs." It was Penny’s turn to drag Isabel to the meeting.
Twenty minutes later, the back office of the Bay Café was filled with the rich aroma of dark roast espresso.
Isabel sat behind the small wooden desk, while Penny occupied one of the chairs in front of the desk.
Right on time, the back door clicked open, and Darius was ushered into the small room by one of the kitchen staff.
A large tray holding three porcelain mugs of coffee and a plate of fresh, warm croissants was already sitting on the corner of the desk.
Darius offered a quiet nod of greeting, his eyes drifting to the food.
"Thank you for the spread. I haven't had a chance to eat a single thing yet this morning." He pulled out the empty chair beside Penny, sinking into the seat.
Darius reached his hand out toward the pastry plate, but before his fingers could touch the crust, Penny reached across the desk and snatched the plate away.
"Oh, no you don't," Penny hissed, setting the pastries firmly out of Darius’s reach. "You speak first. Food comes after."
"That's unfair, Penny. They're going to get cold," Darius groaned, casting a longing look at the croissants.
"I'll have the kitchen heat them up or bring you a fresh plate later," Isabel told him, her voice impatient as she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the blotter. "For now, listen to Penny and tell us what is going on in that head of yours."
Darius let out a slow sigh, conceding the point. He reached for his coffee mug instead, taking a long sip of the hot liquid before setting the porcelain back onto the wood.
"Now that I've allowed you to have some coffee," Penny stated, her eyes narrowing as she studied his face. "Tell us why you've had this change of heart. Two days ago you were mapping out an aggressive workaround strategy."
"Because I met Linda on the beach for a walk early this morning, and I kissed her," Darius told them, his voice dropping into a quiet, steady register that held zero corporate defense.
"The moment that happened, I knew that if I was ever going to have a spark of a chance at a real future with her, I had to be honest. Not just about my last name or my position at the firm.
I need to tell her everything. The rivalry, and what the Carolina Group is trying to do to her hotel.
If she listens to the truth and decides she wants nothing to do with me ever again, I'll accept her decision.
It's my fault for letting the deception go this far. "
Isabel gaped at her brother, her chest expanding with a mixture of surprise and immense relief. She had never seen him display this level of vulnerability over any person before.
"Oh, wow," Isabel whispered, her voice softening. "You've really fallen for Linda, haven't you?"
"Even if she turns her back on me, I’m not moving forward with the original development play," Darius told them, looking between his sister and best friend.
"I inadvertently started this whole mess by targeting the island in the first place, and I'm going to ensure it's protected.
You were right during our argument the other day, Isabel.
I was on a mission of revenge against this coast, wrapping my anger in the illusion of our parents' last dream.
" He gave his sister a sad, lingering smile.
"But Harold and Eleanor wanted to save this community, not flatten it. "
“For you to have such a big change of heart and openly admit you were wrong…” Penny watched him closely, her eyes searching his profile for any sign of executive calculation.
Finding none, her expression filled with a quiet warmth.
"You genuinely care about Linda, Darius.
It's written all over your face and pulling from deep within your heart. "
"Yes," Darius nodded, letting out a rough breath as he ran a hand over his face. "I'm certain that's exactly what I just admitted to both of you. And I've come to love this town too. The peace of it. The way the shoreline looks in the morning."
Isabel let out a slow, long sigh, leaning back against the cushion of her chair as the last remnant of her anger vanished.
"We all love it here, Darius." She adjusted her folder on the desk, looking at him with a resolute expression. "So, tell us exactly how you plan to execute this disclosure to Linda, and let us know how we can help you with it."