Page 106 of Until You (Forgive Me)

When it was finally time to say goodbye, the two girls hugged, like little ladies. Skylar promised to video call when she was with Theo and introduce her friend to her baby brother. Olivia left happy, and Skylar skipped between the two of them as they made it back to the car.

It wasn’t a long trip back to Star and Damian’s, as they’d chosen the cinema nearby rather than travel further into the centre of London.

Star opened the door to them, Skylar throwing her arms around her waist. “Hey, Munchkin, I missed you,” Star said, stepping back and ushering them all into the house.

Isabella looked around. Their home was beautiful. The detached house, was closed off from the street, with a large laurel hedge and tall wooden electric gates. Although a new build, it had two enormous bay windows, that spanned the upstairs and downstairs rooms at the front of the house. They entered a large hallway in the middle of the house, with the rooms spreading off it. Star directed them to the left and into a large living room where Damian was lying on the floor next to a play-mat that housed a sleeping baby boy.

“Don’t mind us, although if you want a drink, I would suggest helping yourself,” Star said, laughing, before motioning for them all to sit down.

Isabella sat quietly in the corner of the sofa, while Christian and Damian headed off to the kitchen, clearly to make some drinks. She would have offered, but having never been to their house before, it was a little impossible to make that offer.

“Would you like to have a cuddle?” Star asked her, scooping up a newly woken Theo.

Isabella felt her colour rise. “Do you mind?”

“Not at all. There will be plenty of time for cuddles later when everyone has gone.”

Star placed Theo in her arms, and her breath caught in her throat. His eyes blinked up at her, his little nose scrunching up as he got ready to yell. Isabella lifted him up, placing him over her shoulder as she had done so many times with Kalaya before rubbing soothing circles on his back. He instantly settled.

Isabella looked up to see Star smiling. “You’re a natural.”

Isabella grinned back. “No, I’ve just had plenty of practice with Kalaya, May’s baby. She didn’t like to sleep, so I would take her for a few hours after she was born to let May get some rest. Arkhom worked long hours, and he needed his rest when he was home.”

“You’ll make a great mum,” Star said.

“I think I’m resigned to being a great aunty,” Isabella said, absorbing the feel of the baby in her arms. She knew when she returned to Thailand, the chances of her meeting anyone were slim to impossible. No-one would be able to compete with Christian. She knew he had ruined her for all other men. But there was no option to stay, and that sat heavily in her heart. London was no longer her home, but she had a strong feeling, Thailand was no-longer going to be the paradise it had been, without a certain someone there.

“You’re only twenty-nine,” Star said. “You have plenty of time yet.”

Isabella smiled. “Maybe.”

She wouldn’t go into the hopelessness of her current situation with Star. It didn’t seem appropriate.

Isabella breathed a sigh of relief as Damian and Christian took that moment to re-enter the living room.

“Ahh, a natural,” Damian said, looking over at Isabella holding his son.

“If she wasn’t leaving, I think we would have the perfect child sitter,” Star said, laughing.

Isabella couldn’t bring herself to look at Christian. Her leaving was not something they had discussed, both of them distracting the other with mind-blowing sex instead. Why discuss what they could not change and sour the mood?

They drank their drinks and left Skylar with Star and Damian. Star once again thanking Christian for his thoughtfulness. She also thanked them for all the gifts they’d brought the day before. Isabella couldn’t hide her blush. She knew she’d gone a little overboard but had been unable to help herself. As she said to Star, she really didn’t think she would be a mother herself, so she took every opportunity to spoil everyone else’s babies.

∞∞∞

The next month went by in a flash.

“Are you sure you have to leave?” Seb said as they drew their final meeting to a close.

They were sat in her father’s old office, and it only seemed right, Seb should use it. Isabella knew her dad would have loved him and would be happy with his vision for the company.

“Yes. I am.” Isabella’s heart clenched, but she forced a smile. “I’ve been gone too long, and May is going to run out of patience if I don’t get back.”

“You’re going to be missed,” Seb said, getting up and pulling her in for a brotherly hug. “And not just by me. Everyone has loved having you here. You seem to make quite the impact wherever you go.”

They’d developed a strong bond over the past two months, as they fought to rectify the mess Pierce had left behind. Sebastian was now just one more person Isabella would miss when she got on that plane tomorrow. In the time they had been together, Seb had become like an older brother, helping her navigate the company as they both found their feet. Together, they’d made a great team, but all good things had to come to an end. She had promised May she would only stay two months, and that time was up. She’d booked her plane ticket for the following morning.

She had already said a tearful farewell to Skylar. That had been one of the hardest things she had ever had to do. She’d grown incredibly fond of her in the time she’d lived with Christian, and she promised to keep in contact. Star had thanked her for all she’d done, questioning once again whether she had to leave. But as Isabella’s chest had felt like it was being ripped in two, she explained how her stay had only ever been temporary. Even after her father had died and she’d left England, she had never felt the sense of loss that seemed to envelop her now.

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