Chapter 4
Family Ties
Diane was satisfied with her daughter's plans. She got to spend another year with her daughter. She was practically giddy. Isabel saw the glow on her mother's face and was happy that she had chosen those words. Diane gave her children a quick kiss and headed out of the room.
"I'm going to fold the clothes. Dinner will be ready soon. We're having spaghetti and meatballs, your favorite," Diane couldn't hold in her pleasure. Isabel smiled warmly at her.
"Great! I can't wait," she told her smacking her lips.
"Isabel, you don't know how happy you've made me," she told her.
"I'm happy too, mom," Isabel said.
"I love you both," Diane said before turning and leaving the room. When she was gone, Isabel turned to her solemn brother. He was the first to speak.
"So why'd you do it?" he asked curiously. Isabel turned away from him and began looking around the room. She picked up a stuffed animal off the floor and cradled it to her. He moved toward her. She sat down on the bed pulling the fuzzy, but disheveled bear closer to her. "Izzy?"
"Do you remember this?" she said in a voice barely above a whisper. Max sat down on the bed next to her.
"Yeah, I remember it. Mom gave it to you. You've had it since that first day. You were so happy when she gave it to you. You were certain that it meant she wanted to keep you forever. That she really loved you. You took it everywhere, even school." Max chuckled at the memories of little Isabel Evans carrying a stuffed bear. Isabel giggled with him.
"She...she gave it to me the day she brought us here. She sat me down in my room and told me she had been waiting for me for a long time. I was amazed at how beautiful it was. She had every toy that she could buy in the room and it was decorated for a princess. I was a princess. Her princess. She handed me this bear and told me something I'll never forget. Ever since then..." Isabel patted the bear on it's head and listened as her brother's voice picked up.
"What did she tell you?" he inquired.
"Well, she said that this was hers," Isabel held the bear up to his face. "She had had it since she was a child...just about my age. It had been her mother's bear. Her grandmother had made it for her. Mom said that it was the most precious thing she had in the world. She looked down at me and put it in my hands. She..." Isabel began to tear up.
"Izzy? What happened then?" Max was listening to his sister relaying this story to him. He was finally understanding.
"She said that now that she had me....it wasn't the most precious thing in her life. She told me that she wanted me to have it. She had waited for the day that she could give it to her daughter...the most special person in the world...me. She said that she wanted me to take care of it and give it to my daughter. That's when I knew."
"When you knew what?" Max asked her.
"That's when I knew that she loved me. I was loved. I had a mother...a family. I knew that she'd protect me and never let anything happen to me. She'd love me unconditionally."
Then why didn't you tell her like you wanted too?" he inquired.
"I don't know!" Isabel said standing up and pacing. "I should have. I wanted too. But I didn't. All I kept thinking about is 'What if she didn't want me? 'What if she didn't love me anymore?'" Isabel was in tears.
"That's ridiculous!" Max cried out. "After what you just told me...Isabel, she loves you. I understand what you've been going through. If you want to tell her, I'm behind you. Just know that," he said sincerely.
Isabel choked back a giggle. "What?" he asked her with a smile.
"Now you're the one that wants to tell her and I'm the one who is being cautious," she said with a playful pat.
"Caution is good," he told her, "and I've been thinking about it a lot. We have put her through an awful lot this past year. We've lied to her numerous times. She's never questioned us. She's been totally supportive. I know we can trust her. I know she'll understand and support us."
"But I don't want to break her heart," Isabel said pacing again. "What should I do, Max?"
"Iz, that's your decision. Just make sure you think it through," he told her.
"But you stopped me from telling her. Does that mean you don't want me to?" she said biting her lip.
"No! Of course not! I trust your decision to tell her if you want. Just...just make sure it's what you really want. And...don't rush into it. You were kind of hysterical. I didn't want you to just blurt it out," he said looking inot her teary eyes.
Isabel nodded to him. "Well, I guess we can hold off a little while. When the time is right I'll know," she said turning her face down. "I'm definately telling her before it's too late. I just...don't want to hurt her. When I tell her, she'll have to know about our destiny to return home. She'll have to know..."
"She will Iz. But...she'll know that you'll always be her daughter. And wherever you are...you'll think about her every day. And you'll never stop loving her," her brother said wrapping his arm around her.
"Until the day I die," she whispered as a tear flowed down her face.
"Until the day we die," Max added bringing her close to his chest.
"Well, Teddy," Isabel said looking at the old bear in her arms, "looks like we won't be together forever like I thought." She pulled it close to her face as Max continued to hold her shaking frame. As her tears subsided to wimpers, Max pulled away and looked at her.
"It's OK Izzy, I'm sure that we won't be going for another good while. We have plenty of time," he whispered.
"I don't think I could take it again, Max," she whispered sobbing. "I don't know that I could let go again. It was hard enough the first time."
"When the time comes, you can decide. Until then I really don't see a point in worrying over it," he said lifting her chin and looking into her eyes. "We're not going anywhere anytime soon. When the time comes, if you don't want to go, I'll understand."
Isabel looked into his deep brown eyes that were filled with truth and light. This was her brother. He wasn't the same boy who'd been suckered into sleeping with a traitor and liar. He brother was back. He seemed so different, so much more like himself. She couldn't help but smile and hug him.
"Uhuh," she murmured into his shoulder. "Thanks, Max."
"No problem, Iz," he whispered. "I love you."
"I love you too," she echoed and let go.
A moment later a far away voice called from downstairs, "Max...Izzy...Dinner!" The voice was muffled but chipper none-the-less.
"Shall we go?" Max asked motioning for Isabel to go ahead of him.
"Definately! I'm starved!" she said a little too excitedly and rushed past him to the door.
As she reached the opening she pushed herself back by the frame. She looked back toward her brother as he began to walk over to her. He stopped in his tracks as he saw her reach out her hand to him. She wiggled the top joints of her fingers which made him smile. She hadn't done that since they were little and he had to hold her hand when they crossed the street. He hadn't even held her hand since about that long. He placed his hand gently in hers and clasped it. She turned squeezing his hand and they walked out of the door and to the dining room.
Diane saw her children walk through the door hand-in-hand couldn't hold back her pleasure. She had never seen them so close. Lately she had noticed that her children were drifting farther away from her and, more importantly, each other. Isabel was practically threatening to leave and was dealing with the crisis of school only to lose her...well she didn't know what to call Alex. Her love. That was what she knew Isabel thought of him. He was her love. Diane knew that all of that had put a strain on her daughter but she was pulling through bravely with the help of her brother who seemed awfully chipper himself.
Max had been the most distant of all. Lately he'd seemed...different. That was the only way she could describe him. Different. He wasn't himself. He was distant, moody, and unhappy. He was in a state of total depression. He was low even for Max. Even though the lights danced in his eyes again, Diane could see that her baby boy was unhappy. There was something that was bothering him. Haunting him. She just hoped that in time he'd feel like he could trust her. She hoped that he'd find what he was looking for. She wanted her children to be happy.
"Mom?" Isabel said waving her free hand in front of her mother's glazed over eyes.
Diane's head snapped up immediately. "Huh? Oh, sorry swetheart," she said patting Isabel's shoulder, "I was just thinking about something. You guys hungry?"
Isabel turned to her brother and looked at him stowly releasing his hand. She turned her gaze back to her mother who was standing there holding the a wooden spoon. "Starved!" Isabel admonished, her eyes growing large. Diane moved her gaze to her son. He shook his head repeatedly.
"OK, go sit down. I'll bring dinner in," she said just as her husband walked through the kitchen door.
"Something smells good," he said breathing in deeply and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek and then Isabel.
"Uhuuuuuuuh," she said giving him sideways glare.
"What?" he asked innocently. "Can't I comment my wife on how fabulous her cooking is, how beautiful she is, and what a lucky person I am?"
"Oh you," she said swatting him away. Max and Isabel saw her parents' displays of affection and laughed.
"I think I'll just go sit down at the table," Isabel said motioning toward the table which had the place settings all layed out.
"Why don't you all go sit down," Diane told them and began swatting them out of her way. Isabel turned back to her mother as she waled toward the table.
"Are you sure you don't need any help?" she asked her waiting.
"I'm sure, honey. I've got it," Diane said and sat her family down. "Now sit," she said sternly but with a smile.
They all sat anxiously waiting for their plates to be filled. Before they knew it, Diane came forth and place the mouthwatering plates in front of them. Max licked his lips and Isabel nearly drooled. Diane was amazed. It was as if they hadn't been fed in weeks. They picked up their forks and began to chow down. Soon their plates were empty and they were full.
"That was amazing, Mom," Isabel said staring at her empty plate with a full grin.
"You act as if I haven't ever cooked for you guys," she said looking surprised. Her children exchanged glances and she made a mad face.
"Mom, you're a terrific cook, don't get us wrong," Max began, "but if we never have to eat another bite of fritata or tomato soup cake it will be too soon." After saying this he scrunched his face up into a pained look that made everyone laugh, even Diane.
"OK, I promise, no more recipe of the month clubs," she said holding her hand over her heart. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief which aroused even more fits of giggles around the table.
This was great. The whole family sitting around the table talking. They could forget all their troubles and just be a family It was enough to make Isabel forget her troubles at first but her mind always went back to what had happened earlier and how she'd almost left this. She didn't know if she could go through it again. Deep down, she prayed she'd never have to.
Family Ties
Diane was satisfied with her daughter's plans. She got to spend another year with her daughter. She was practically giddy. Isabel saw the glow on her mother's face and was happy that she had chosen those words. Diane gave her children a quick kiss and headed out of the room.
"I'm going to fold the clothes. Dinner will be ready soon. We're having spaghetti and meatballs, your favorite," Diane couldn't hold in her pleasure. Isabel smiled warmly at her.
"Great! I can't wait," she told her smacking her lips.
"Isabel, you don't know how happy you've made me," she told her.
"I'm happy too, mom," Isabel said.
"I love you both," Diane said before turning and leaving the room. When she was gone, Isabel turned to her solemn brother. He was the first to speak.
"So why'd you do it?" he asked curiously. Isabel turned away from him and began looking around the room. She picked up a stuffed animal off the floor and cradled it to her. He moved toward her. She sat down on the bed pulling the fuzzy, but disheveled bear closer to her. "Izzy?"
"Do you remember this?" she said in a voice barely above a whisper. Max sat down on the bed next to her.
"Yeah, I remember it. Mom gave it to you. You've had it since that first day. You were so happy when she gave it to you. You were certain that it meant she wanted to keep you forever. That she really loved you. You took it everywhere, even school." Max chuckled at the memories of little Isabel Evans carrying a stuffed bear. Isabel giggled with him.
"She...she gave it to me the day she brought us here. She sat me down in my room and told me she had been waiting for me for a long time. I was amazed at how beautiful it was. She had every toy that she could buy in the room and it was decorated for a princess. I was a princess. Her princess. She handed me this bear and told me something I'll never forget. Ever since then..." Isabel patted the bear on it's head and listened as her brother's voice picked up.
"What did she tell you?" he inquired.
"Well, she said that this was hers," Isabel held the bear up to his face. "She had had it since she was a child...just about my age. It had been her mother's bear. Her grandmother had made it for her. Mom said that it was the most precious thing she had in the world. She looked down at me and put it in my hands. She..." Isabel began to tear up.
"Izzy? What happened then?" Max was listening to his sister relaying this story to him. He was finally understanding.
"She said that now that she had me....it wasn't the most precious thing in her life. She told me that she wanted me to have it. She had waited for the day that she could give it to her daughter...the most special person in the world...me. She said that she wanted me to take care of it and give it to my daughter. That's when I knew."
"When you knew what?" Max asked her.
"That's when I knew that she loved me. I was loved. I had a mother...a family. I knew that she'd protect me and never let anything happen to me. She'd love me unconditionally."
Then why didn't you tell her like you wanted too?" he inquired.
"I don't know!" Isabel said standing up and pacing. "I should have. I wanted too. But I didn't. All I kept thinking about is 'What if she didn't want me? 'What if she didn't love me anymore?'" Isabel was in tears.
"That's ridiculous!" Max cried out. "After what you just told me...Isabel, she loves you. I understand what you've been going through. If you want to tell her, I'm behind you. Just know that," he said sincerely.
Isabel choked back a giggle. "What?" he asked her with a smile.
"Now you're the one that wants to tell her and I'm the one who is being cautious," she said with a playful pat.
"Caution is good," he told her, "and I've been thinking about it a lot. We have put her through an awful lot this past year. We've lied to her numerous times. She's never questioned us. She's been totally supportive. I know we can trust her. I know she'll understand and support us."
"But I don't want to break her heart," Isabel said pacing again. "What should I do, Max?"
"Iz, that's your decision. Just make sure you think it through," he told her.
"But you stopped me from telling her. Does that mean you don't want me to?" she said biting her lip.
"No! Of course not! I trust your decision to tell her if you want. Just...just make sure it's what you really want. And...don't rush into it. You were kind of hysterical. I didn't want you to just blurt it out," he said looking inot her teary eyes.
Isabel nodded to him. "Well, I guess we can hold off a little while. When the time is right I'll know," she said turning her face down. "I'm definately telling her before it's too late. I just...don't want to hurt her. When I tell her, she'll have to know about our destiny to return home. She'll have to know..."
"She will Iz. But...she'll know that you'll always be her daughter. And wherever you are...you'll think about her every day. And you'll never stop loving her," her brother said wrapping his arm around her.
"Until the day I die," she whispered as a tear flowed down her face.
"Until the day we die," Max added bringing her close to his chest.
"Well, Teddy," Isabel said looking at the old bear in her arms, "looks like we won't be together forever like I thought." She pulled it close to her face as Max continued to hold her shaking frame. As her tears subsided to wimpers, Max pulled away and looked at her.
"It's OK Izzy, I'm sure that we won't be going for another good while. We have plenty of time," he whispered.
"I don't think I could take it again, Max," she whispered sobbing. "I don't know that I could let go again. It was hard enough the first time."
"When the time comes, you can decide. Until then I really don't see a point in worrying over it," he said lifting her chin and looking into her eyes. "We're not going anywhere anytime soon. When the time comes, if you don't want to go, I'll understand."
Isabel looked into his deep brown eyes that were filled with truth and light. This was her brother. He wasn't the same boy who'd been suckered into sleeping with a traitor and liar. He brother was back. He seemed so different, so much more like himself. She couldn't help but smile and hug him.
"Uhuh," she murmured into his shoulder. "Thanks, Max."
"No problem, Iz," he whispered. "I love you."
"I love you too," she echoed and let go.
A moment later a far away voice called from downstairs, "Max...Izzy...Dinner!" The voice was muffled but chipper none-the-less.
"Shall we go?" Max asked motioning for Isabel to go ahead of him.
"Definately! I'm starved!" she said a little too excitedly and rushed past him to the door.
As she reached the opening she pushed herself back by the frame. She looked back toward her brother as he began to walk over to her. He stopped in his tracks as he saw her reach out her hand to him. She wiggled the top joints of her fingers which made him smile. She hadn't done that since they were little and he had to hold her hand when they crossed the street. He hadn't even held her hand since about that long. He placed his hand gently in hers and clasped it. She turned squeezing his hand and they walked out of the door and to the dining room.
Diane saw her children walk through the door hand-in-hand couldn't hold back her pleasure. She had never seen them so close. Lately she had noticed that her children were drifting farther away from her and, more importantly, each other. Isabel was practically threatening to leave and was dealing with the crisis of school only to lose her...well she didn't know what to call Alex. Her love. That was what she knew Isabel thought of him. He was her love. Diane knew that all of that had put a strain on her daughter but she was pulling through bravely with the help of her brother who seemed awfully chipper himself.
Max had been the most distant of all. Lately he'd seemed...different. That was the only way she could describe him. Different. He wasn't himself. He was distant, moody, and unhappy. He was in a state of total depression. He was low even for Max. Even though the lights danced in his eyes again, Diane could see that her baby boy was unhappy. There was something that was bothering him. Haunting him. She just hoped that in time he'd feel like he could trust her. She hoped that he'd find what he was looking for. She wanted her children to be happy.
"Mom?" Isabel said waving her free hand in front of her mother's glazed over eyes.
Diane's head snapped up immediately. "Huh? Oh, sorry swetheart," she said patting Isabel's shoulder, "I was just thinking about something. You guys hungry?"
Isabel turned to her brother and looked at him stowly releasing his hand. She turned her gaze back to her mother who was standing there holding the a wooden spoon. "Starved!" Isabel admonished, her eyes growing large. Diane moved her gaze to her son. He shook his head repeatedly.
"OK, go sit down. I'll bring dinner in," she said just as her husband walked through the kitchen door.
"Something smells good," he said breathing in deeply and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek and then Isabel.
"Uhuuuuuuuh," she said giving him sideways glare.
"What?" he asked innocently. "Can't I comment my wife on how fabulous her cooking is, how beautiful she is, and what a lucky person I am?"
"Oh you," she said swatting him away. Max and Isabel saw her parents' displays of affection and laughed.
"I think I'll just go sit down at the table," Isabel said motioning toward the table which had the place settings all layed out.
"Why don't you all go sit down," Diane told them and began swatting them out of her way. Isabel turned back to her mother as she waled toward the table.
"Are you sure you don't need any help?" she asked her waiting.
"I'm sure, honey. I've got it," Diane said and sat her family down. "Now sit," she said sternly but with a smile.
They all sat anxiously waiting for their plates to be filled. Before they knew it, Diane came forth and place the mouthwatering plates in front of them. Max licked his lips and Isabel nearly drooled. Diane was amazed. It was as if they hadn't been fed in weeks. They picked up their forks and began to chow down. Soon their plates were empty and they were full.
"That was amazing, Mom," Isabel said staring at her empty plate with a full grin.
"You act as if I haven't ever cooked for you guys," she said looking surprised. Her children exchanged glances and she made a mad face.
"Mom, you're a terrific cook, don't get us wrong," Max began, "but if we never have to eat another bite of fritata or tomato soup cake it will be too soon." After saying this he scrunched his face up into a pained look that made everyone laugh, even Diane.
"OK, I promise, no more recipe of the month clubs," she said holding her hand over her heart. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief which aroused even more fits of giggles around the table.
This was great. The whole family sitting around the table talking. They could forget all their troubles and just be a family It was enough to make Isabel forget her troubles at first but her mind always went back to what had happened earlier and how she'd almost left this. She didn't know if she could go through it again. Deep down, she prayed she'd never have to.