Page 42 of Ma Belle Marguerite
Nodding, they get up and hug their mom before leaving the room.
I walk over and lock the door behind them. “Now it’s time for you to take a nice long bath while I put your things away for you. You’ve had a long day and need to relax before you start your new job tomorrow.” I wink at Bella as I walk towards the bathroom.
I look through the medicine cabinet for the special oils I had one of the housekeepers pick up. I don’t know what most of this is, but I told her to get anything and everything that’d be needed. I didn’t realize there would be so many options. I find a pomegranate-scented oil that I’m sure she’ll love. It used to be her favorite smell.
As I turn to start her bath, I see her watching me from the doorway, arms wrapped around herself with a small smile on her face. “See something you like,Ma Belle?”
She answers confidently, gesturing with her arm around the room, “I do. When did you have time to get all this? I know you said you were preparing for me, but this is all so much.”
“I’ve always hoped you would change your mind and come back for me one day. I did, however, have one of the housekeepers go out today to purchase a few last minute items for you.” I talk as I turn the taps on and try to get the water to that perfect temperature. “Once I knew you were back in town,there was no way I was going to let you get away again. You’re mine, and I intend to prove that to you.”
I look back at Bella and see that she is deep in thought. “Mkay, do you mind letting me get undressed and get in alone?” She asks me in her cute, sassy tone.
I try to hide the hurt I feel at her pushing me away, yet again. I walk to the door and don’t look back so she can’t see the disappointment on my face when I say, “I’ll go get you the letter that I have here. We need to get this figured out and in the past. I need you in my life,Ma Belle Marguerite. I will do whatever it takes.” It has already been too long without her, I don’t want to waste another minute.
Using the door that joins our bedrooms, I enter my room and take a deep breath. As much as I prepared everything for her to return, I never thought it would happen. She is actually here with me. I can’t mess this up. I’ll find out who came between us all those years ago and I will kill them.
I walk to my safe and open it. I find the letter I thought she had sent me, along with the ones she gave me at the hospital. I take them all to my desk in the corner of the room. Since I have a moment, I want to compare the writing between them. I don’t know why I never thought to do this before today.
Sitting in the chair, I open the letter asking me to let her leave and set it on the desk. I also open the letter I have read a few times now, telling me all about the apartment we should have shared together. I place the letter I thought she sent me so it is on the left, and the new one she gave me on the right. Looking at the writing, I can see they are very similar, but the ‘y’ and ‘g’ are different. In the letter on the left, the ‘y’ and ‘g’ are straight at the bottom. On the other letter, they curl up and are more ‘fancy.’
How could I have been so stupid? Someone obviously forged this letter and I was too blind to realize.
Chapter 17
Isabella
Once Rex leaves the room, I feel myself let out a breath. This is all so much so fast. I’ve wondered over the years what it would’ve been like if things had been different. Seeing the things he’s done for me shows me some of what I missed out on; not that I would change my years with the twins for anything.
I quickly get undressed and into the tub. Once I’m in, I see a remote for the tub’s settings sitting on the ledge. Looking at thedifferent options, I turn on the jets all around me, and wow. This feels amazing! Why am I just learning about this now?
Where has this been all my life? A girl could get used to this!I need to remember that this is only temporary. I’ll need to look into getting one of these installed back at my place. I don’t want to give this luxury up even though I have only been in here a few minutes.
I play with a few more settings before I think I hear the door between the bedrooms close. I knew he would be back. He never could stay away long, even when we were younger.
“Knock, knock. Ready or hopefully not I’m coming in,” I hear him say as he slowly opens the door and peeks around. Although it’s hard to hear with the jets running.
Considering he left to get this letter he claims I sent him, I have a feeling from the serious look on his face that he’s here to talk about it. But I don’t know if I have the ability to deal with him tonight. I just want to sleep.Can’t this wait until tomorrow?
“Hey, what’s up, Rex?” I ask him as I turn the jets down. It’s now or never, I guess.
His left hand is hidden behind his back as he comes through the door. “I wanted to show you the letter I got from you after you left for college. I just compared it to the letters you gave me at the hospital.” He stops close to the side of the bathtub. “Surprise, the writing doesn’t match. I don’t know how I didn’t see that it was different when I first received it.”
I can see in his face that he honestly believes he should have known the difference. His eyes don’t hold their usual spark, and he can’t seem to maintain eye contact with me. He holds out two papers to me, along with a hand towel he grabs from the counter beside him. I consider telling him we can talk tomorrow because this is a lot, but my curiosity gets the best of me. Plus, I have afeeling this stubborn man won’t take no for an answer. I take the towel and dry my hands so I don’t ruin the papers.
Once I have the pages, Rex pulls a stool up beside me so he can lean back against the cupboard and looks up at the ceiling—apparently, this is all the privacy I will be getting.
Looking at the letters in my hand, I see that the page on top is one of the ones I had sent him but came back to me as undelivered. I switch to the next page and slowly read through it. This is the one he claims I sent to him. I can see how the writing is very close to mine, but not quite the same.
I re-read one section of the letter.
Please let me explore what life outside of our hometown can give me. Alone. I don’t want your father’s shadow following me around. My own father is bad enough. I want to see what it is like to be free, with no obligations. If you love me, you will let me have this. Do not come looking for me.
I can’t fathom how he must have felt reading this, thinking I didn’t want him, when all I wanted was him. I feel tears threatening to fall. Reaching up to place the papers on the counter, Rex continues to stare at the ceiling as if in a daze.
I place my hand on top of his, resting on his knee and he jolts as if I’ve startled him. “Rex, I’m so sorry that you thought I didn’t want you all these years. I don’t know how you could stand to look at me, let alone want me back.” Even though I know I didn’t write these careless words, I can’t help but to feel ashamed.
I move to take my hand away, but he quickly places his other hand on top of mine to hold me there. Without looking at me, he says, “I always hoped that you would change your mind. We were young. How would you know that I was the one for you if you had only been with me?”
