Page 73 of Chase

Theo

Izzy is a bundle of nerves, even Stella can sense it; she’s sticking to her side like glue, whimpering at me now and then to take note of our girl. I try to soothe the both of them, but seeing as Iz is not going to feel any better until all of this is over, there’s nothing I can do to help either of them except be here. I have to admit I’ve got my own concerns over today, mainly trying to stop myself from breaking Ethan’s fucking neck, the sick perverted bastard. I could easily swing for her father too. But losing my shit now isn’t going to help anyone, particularly Izzy.

The only positive thing is the fact that it’s a beautiful day, and as we drive down the motorway, back toward where everything started, Stella sticks her head out the window and enjoys letting her wet tongue fly out behind her. At least she’s found something to calm her nerves, unlike Izzy who is getting more and more agitated the closer we get closer to her old house. It looks like we’re the last to arrive when we get there, everyone’s cars are already blocking up the drive.

With this in mind, I swing by to Nonna’s old place at the last minute and park there. Izzy breaks her anxious daydreaming to look at me quizzically.

“I thought we could walk Stella through the woods, show her our old haunts,” I answer her silent question, smiling as I point to the old bridge.

“But we’re late already, aren’t we?”

She might be frowning but she also looks incredibly relieved.

“Nope,” I grin, looking at my watch, “we have two minutes to go. Besides, when has Izzy Chase ever worried about being on time? Or what her parents think of her for that matter?”

“Which ones?” she scoffs but continues to let Sella out the back.

I choose not to answer, for there is no answer to give her, so instead, I link my fingers through hers and head toward the woods she used to hide out in so often. They look exactly the same as they used to, even the bridge where we stop to play Pooh sticks for a little while. We take long moments to enjoy the sight of our big, silly puppy nose diving for stones that aren’t even the ones we threw in for her. Every time I deliver a kiss to Izzy, she seems torelax a little bit more, taking my presence as the comfort she needs to get her through the day.

Eventually, and with some reluctance, we move away and ramble through the woods, pushing through the overgrown brambles. Izzy points to the primroses and other such flowers, as if I should know what they. She told me Nonna used to point them out to her when she was younger and it’s the type of useless information that just stuck with her. Stella goes leaping after squirrels and chasing rabbits, so by the time we reach her old back yard, she’s a little less wound up and a little more ready to face the people who caused her so much pain.

“Izzy,” I begin as I spin her around to face me, just before we walk through the back door, “remember my Christmas party night, when I blew it off to come here for you?”

“How could I forget, it was both the best night of my life,” she begins, pausing to sigh before she says, “followed by the worst morning.”

“But I’m not leaving you this time, nothing could take me away.” I press my lips to hers. “You understand what I’m saying to you?” She places her fingertips to my mouth and nods. “We’re in this together. And they’re going to get what’s coming to them, I promise. One day, Izzy.”

One more kiss and then she turns to me with a look of determination, ready to face it all, but this time, with me by her side.

_____

Izzy

“Your dog will have to wait outside, Isobel!” Alex, my so-called mother, orders with a point of her finger toward the backdoor. Theo squeezes my hand while I adjust my fake smile that even she can see through. “I’ve just hoovered, and you would choose to have a long haired, slobbery breed, wouldn’t you.”

She laughs as she turns her back on me and heads off into the living room. Theo grips hold of my arms as I attempt to lunge after her and her bloody perfect cardigan set and pearls. It’s one thing to abuse me for years but insult my puppy and it’s on!

“Izzy,” Theo whispers calmly, “look, Stella is perfectly happy out there. She’s probably much better off than we are right now.”

“Fine,” I grit out through clenched teeth, still wanting to rip her hair out of her pretentious head. “We won’t be long, baby,” I call out to Stella with a little envy as she saunters off into the garden to chew on a dog treat gifted to her by Theo.

Walking into my parents’ living room is akin to walking through the gates of hell. As soon as Theo moves to the side in front of me, they’re all there - Alex, Dad, Tilly, Ethan, Frankie and Wyatt, all looking at us both with varying degrees of hatred, or guilt. Gary is sitting next to Tilly on the sofa, while Ethan and his sharp looking girlfriend are sitting completely separate to one another in the dining room, each looking as pissed off as the other. All our parents are sitting or standing with fake smiles plastered onto their faces, clearly feeling the awkwardness of the room just as much as we are.

The only person who looks completely natural is Theo, who is holding nothing back as he eyes each one of my family with contempt. The moment his narrowed eyes land on Ethan, however, it’s obvious that I’ve told him everything. My brother instantly looks at me with threat in his eyes, silently telling me I will be paying for opening my mouth to let out his dirty littlesecret.

“Isobel, Theo,” my father, the liar, beams at us, all teeth and smiles, “we were beginning to think you’d forgotten where we live!”

The room enters into fake, nervous laughter while Theo and I take out seats closest to the door, the nearest exit out of this hell hole.

“Oh, no, Father dearest, how could I forget the place you forgot about me for all those years?” I batter my eyelids innocently. My eyes automatically flip to Frankie who at least has the decency to look guilty. “So, when is this thing starting, because, no offence, but I’d rather be poking forks in my eyes than be in the same room with any of you. Gary excluded.”

“Oh, Isobel, do stop being dramatic,” Alex laughs with a healthy undertone of condescension in her voice.

“Oh, Mum, she’s just worried about being late for work; where is it you work now, Isobel? A brothel? Or have you just taken to hanging out on street corners for business now?” Tilly laughs at her own joke while everyone else looks away in embarrassment, all but Theo who is now glaring at my sister.

“Oh, Tilly, dearest, it’s simply not funny whenyoutry and make a joke out of me,” I pout, “that’s just called being a bitch, which you excel at by the way.”

“Isobel!” My father turns an ugly shade of puce while trying to keep his cool in front of Theo and his parents. “Your grandmother has just died, don’t start being…youat a time like this!”

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