Chapter Thirty-Six
Isabella
The scent of jasmine and freesia tickle my nose. There are flowers all along the window of this room.
It’s beautiful just like the rest of the house.
I met Tristan’s brother earlier. The boss, Massimo.
That was a few hours ago.
I’ve been in the room mostly, just wondering what I’m supposed to do now. it seems like I’m just meant to be a sitting duck.
I haven’t eaten since we arrived so the queasy feeling in my stomach shouldn’t surprise me. Nor the headache that snuck up on me. Both are what you get when you don’t eat enough.
It’s just that there’s too much going on and I’m on edge. I’m on edge just being here, knowing Tristan is in the same house. We haven’t spoken since last night.
It’s night again. Another day has passed by and I’m one step closer to the end. What’s filling my soul with angst is I don’t know what the end looks like. I won’t know what the and will look like until I get there.
There’s a knock at my door. It makes me jump at the sound because it cuts through the silence.
“Come in,” I call out. I’m grateful to see Candace come in but I bite the inside of my lip when I see the tray of cookies and cupcakes she’s carrying in one hand and the giant tub of ice cream in the other.
“Don’t even try to tell me you don’t want to eat. You didn’t come down to dinner. I’m not having you faint on me again.”
I giggle and I have that appreciation again for her friendship.
“Candace you’re like the sugar fairy.” I smile.
“That’s fine. I’m happy to be that. Come let’s eat. These muffins are still hot from the oven.”
That’s why they smell extra nice.
“Thank you. I will eat.”
She makes her way to join me on the bed and sets the tray down.
“I was thinking we could watch some films, just until we’re tired or fall asleep.”
I smile at that. “That would be cool.”
“Nothing takes your mind off like a little sugar and a great film. What do you feel like watching?”
“You pick. I think the average person would consider my choice of films boring.”
“I’ll have to raise you one on that since I’ve seen Gone with the Wind a hundred and one times and I could watch it again a few more times.”
I gasp. “What, you like films like that? That’s exactly me.”
“No way.”
“Yes, so you should know that I beat you because I’ve seen it two hundred times.”
She starts laughing. “This is gonna be good. I’ve never met anyone who was into classic films. I like anything though.”
“My mom got me into watching classic films. She loved all of them.”
“For me it was just something I got into. The older the movie the better. Look at as talking about films.” She beams. “See, good distraction, if only for tonight. Do you feel better for laughing?”