Isabella didn’t look at Prentice as she straightened but when she was upright she saw his broad-shouldered back turning into his son’s room.
Slowly, she walked down the stairs. Mikey was standing, face pale as a ghost, in front of the couch.
Isabella wished she felt fury. Instead, she felt nothing but heartache.
When she got close, Mikey asked in a low voice, “Girlie-girl, why didn’t you tell him?”
She shook her head, too weak even to speak.
And besides, what little strength she had she was using to stop herself from weeping.
“Tonight… all my stories… he didn’t…” Mikey stopped and his eyes grew narrow with confusion and sadness. “When you were with him, did you tell him anything?”
She shook her head but this time, she explained.
“When I was here, I wasn’t that girl with sad eyes,” Isabella whispered in a voice that could barely be heard. “When I was with him, I could be free.”
“Oh darling,” Mikey muttered, pulling her in for a close hug and he hugged her for a long time. Then he murmured in her ear, “Walk me to the door, darling.”
She did as she was told.
He hugged her again at the door and then looked her in the eyes.
“You should tell him, you know. Everything.”
It’s too late, way too late, she thought.
But she said nothing.
Mikey gave her a look before he sighed, kissed her temple and walked out the door.
Isabella went back into the great room and stood motionless, waiting for Prentice to return. It felt like years but was more likely five minutes when she saw him walk down the stairs.
He stopped four feet away from her, his beautiful, every-colored eyes locked on her, his face closed.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“It wasn’t your fault,” he replied.
“I’m still sorry,” she pushed.
He gave a jerk of his chin but said nothing else.
“Is he okay?” Isabella asked.
“He will be,” Prentice answered.
Isabella slowly closed her eyes.
Then she opened them and repeated, “I’m so sorry.”
Prentice didn’t reply.
Isabella squared her shoulders and licked her lips, waiting for him to say something.
He said nothing. In fact, he looked like he was waiting for her to say something.
She pulled in a deep breath. Then she let it go.