Page 49 of Timeless Pages
"Well, each tear is breaking me, so I need a few minutes away from her," Nate replied, falling to the couch in defeat.
"After you've recovered, don't forget to clean up all the glass," I said as I left the living room. I made a quick detour to the kitchen to grab a bottle of water and then went into what was now our bedroom. Isa was curled in a ball under the covers, her soft sobs breaking my heart in two. Dom might be right about her needing this purge of emotions, but it didn't make it any easier.
"Hey, Baby. Can you sit up and drink some water for me?" I asked softly. "That's a good girl," I praised when she started to emerge from the blanket nest she had burrowed into. I opened the bottle and handed it to her. After a few tentative sips, she chugged more than half the bottle as her body's needs took over. I wondered if I could get a snack into her as well, but decided not to push my luck. On the next shift change, we could try to get her to eat a little food.
When Isa handed the bottle back to me, I capped it and set it on the nightstand. I lay down and opened my arms for Isa to snuggle in. She came willingly and buried her wet face in my neck. I held her close as she continued to cry, quietly murmuring an endless litany of promises and assurances, in an attempt to comfort her. I made a deal with myself. I'd give her today, but that was it. Today was traumatic but also likely freeing to see Morris finally in handcuffs. To know that after a lifetimeof abuse and nobody listening, that it was over. That someone listened, and her father would pay for what he's done.
She deserved today.
But if she were still crying tomorrow, we'd have to call in the Doc.
"Tell me there is coffee," I grumbled as I padded out into the kitchen the following morning. Last night was rough for us all, but sometime in the early hours of the morning, the tears stopped and Isa finally fell asleep.
Dom poured coffee into a mug and passed it to me. "I'll put another pot on."
"Is she still sleeping?" Nate asked.
I nodded as I savored the first sip of my coffee. A few more of these, and I might feel human again. "Soundly, no tears."
"Thank fuck," Nate replied. "I couldn't do this for another day."
"I have news," Dom announced. "It should only be a couple more weeks until we can transfer the properties to Isa. I think we should tell her before then. It might help give her something positive to focus on during Morris's trial.”
"That's a good idea," I agreed. We both looked at Nate, who had been more resistant to this plan from the start.
"I'm in. If it will stop the tears, I'll do anything. Isa can have all of our properties for all I care, just as long as she never cries again." I bit back my smirk. If anyone ever clued Isa into the power she holds over Nate with a single tear, the man would be screwed.
The sound of the bedroom door opening had us holding our breath as we braced for whatever state Isa was in this morning. The fact that she was getting out of bed was a good sign. Braced or not, we weren't prepared for the showered and perky woman who bounced into the kitchen.
"Good morning!" she said as she kissed us each in turn before pulling out a mug and pouring herself a cup of coffee.
"You look like you're feeling better," Nate said cautiously.
"Loads," Isa agreed. "Sometimes all you need is a good cry. Now I need to call Daniel. I want to see my father."
She wants to do what now?
Chapter twenty-four
Isa
Iwoke up the day after Morris's arrest with a renewed sense of purpose. A weight had been lifted from my chest, and for the first time in my life, I felt truly free. Lighter. Happier. So much of my happiness was wrapped around my three men, and I was determined not to let Morris ruin another minute of my life. That part of my life was over, and I wasn't looking back, but I needed one more thing to close that door. I needed a face-to-face with my abuser.
My announcement shocked the men into silence, and for a minute, I worried I had broken their brains. "I'm sure you don’t like or agree with it. I don’t expect you to understand why I must do this. Just trust me and know I know why I need this, even if it isn’t something I can accurately articulate to you.”
It took a few seconds longer for the words to sink in for them to react finally.
“We support you in whatever you need, Beauty,” Dom said, hugging me from behind.
“And if you want one or all of us to go in with you, we will,” Evan added.
Nate moved to stand in front of me, and I waited nervously for him to speak. Of the three of them, he was the most rigid. “And if you don’t, we’ll be right outside that door waiting for you when you are done.”
I smiled and cupped his face. “Thank you.” I rose to my tiptoes and gave him a peck on the lips. I had expected more pushback from them and was relieved that they hadn't. I pulled out my phone and called Daniel to explain what I wanted.
“Isa, are you sure that’s such a good idea?” Daniel asked.
“I need this, Daniel. I need to face him alone one last time,” I replied firmly.
