In The Darkest Hour

Part One - Chapter Twenty-Six: Happy Birthday Milan

“He’s getting so big,” Antonella mused fussing over Milan while she talked with Shakira, it seemed unreal that it had been a year since the little boy had been born and things had changed so much since then.

Gerard nodded his head, he smiled watching Milan with his aunt and took a deep breath; he wasn’t going to be drinking today and was determined to stay sober for his son’s birthday.

William and Nidia had talked to Gerard about maybe taking the little boy back to Columbia if he didn’t get his act together; it was something that he wasn’t going to allow to happen.

“He looks so much like his mama,” Shakira replied cuddling her nephew, she wished that there was something that she could do to help; she hated that everyone was suffering but it was getting easier now that the real killer had been revealed.

Sharon was being sued by the family and they all hoped that they would be able to see her do time for what she had done; they would finally have justice for Isabel nearly a year after her death.

Gerard watched Shakira, he knew that she had been shocked when the truth came out that her sister’s murderer had nearly got away with it by framing an innocent woman; she too had wanted to offer help after hearing what Isla had tried to do.

Isla was still in hospital as far as Gerard knew and he still hadn’t been able to see her even if his mother had spoken to her; he hated that her parents had gone on lock down after Montserrat’s visit.

“It’s a shame he’ll never get to meet her,” Tonino muttered smiling at his nephew, he had no idea what was going to happen and he would make sure that Milan got to know all about the wonderful woman that had given him life.

Antonella nodded her head, she was sure that Isabel would have loved to have been with them now and she wasn’t because someone had messed up; there was no bringing her back after what happened.

***

“How are you Gerard?” Shakira asked stepping into the back garden and looking at the man that her sister had loved, she might not have been fond of the footballer but she had hated seeing him suffer.

Gerard sipped on his coffee and looked at Shakira, he was trying to hold himself together and he hated how all of this had worked out; he wanted to make things better and not just for himself.

“I’m doing better,” Gerard replied being honest, he had pulled himself out of his funk and he was starting to rebuild his life even if he was still waiting to speak with Isla.

Montserrat had made it clear to him that the brunette didn’t blame him for what had happened but that didn’t relieve his guilt; Gerard wanted to fix the damage that he had caused in any way that he could.

“That’s good,” Shakira murmured sitting down next to him, she had been watching the papers closely since Isabel had died and she had been worried about him.

Isabel wouldn’t want Gerard throwing away his life and for him to move on, Shakira had heard that he had been dating someone called Kathleen but it was clear that his heart didn’t lie with that woman but another.

“She’d want you to be happy,” Shakira whispered looking at Gerard, it was cold outside and she had only come out so that she could talk to him privately; she didn’t agree with her parents that Milan would be better off with them when he had a father who loved him.

Gerard nodded his head, he wanted to move forward but there was only one woman that he wanted to do that with and that was the problem.

Isla deserved so much better after the mess that Gerard had caused, he had ruined her life and he blamed himself for her attempting to take her life.

“I’ve made a mess of things,” Gerard muttered with a shake of his head, he had no idea if Isla would even want him after what he had done; he couldn’t see himself with anyone else and he wished he could take back what he had done.

Shakira nodded her head, she had to agree with him there and it would take a lot of work for him to fix the damage that he had caused but at least he was willing to try.

“I hope it works out for you,” Shakira said smiling, if her family had their way then Gerard would spend the rest of his life single and grieving for her sister.

Shakira didn’t want Gerard to spend his life alone, she wanted to see him move on and get married one day; it was one thing that Isabel would have wanted for Gerard after she had passed away.

“Gracias,” Gerard mumbled getting to his feet to head back inside, he offered a hand to Shakira to help her up before the headed back into the house; they both felt better having talked in private without interruptions.

The two were silent as they headed back to the main area of the house, Gerard frowned hearing talk about Isla; he knew everyone was going to be talking about it for a while yet.

“It’s a shame the perra didn’t die,” a voice said making Gerard stop walking, his heart pounded in the chest as everything seemed to go quiet; he gritted his teeth wondering who was talking.

Shakira swallowed knowing who it was, she wished that they would shut up and she hoped that they wouldn’t say anything else; the last thing that she wanted was more trouble.

“I only wish she’d do it sooner… idiot even thought I’d feel guilty,” the voice continued making Gerard storm into the room, he wanted to know who thought they could talk like that about Isla.

Montserrat stared at her son terrified, she knew that this wasn’t going to end well and she hoped that he wasn’t going to do anything stupid.

“You’re R?” Gerard snarled stalking over to the person, he couldn’t believe that he hadn’t seen it and he wanted to make them suffer for what they had done to Isla; they didn’t deserve to get away with this.

Lionel wrapped his arms around Antonella and held her close while she stared shocked; no one knew what to say but it wasn’t going to be pretty.

“Of course… the puta got what was coming for her,” Tonino replied shrugging his shoulders, he watched Gerard not sure why he was defending the woman that had led to Isabel’s death.

Isla might have been cleared of any wrong doing but if she wasn’t guilty of something then she wouldn’t have acted like she was; she deserved everything that had happened to her.

“Isla nearly ended her life because of you,” Gerard spat stepping closer to Tonino, he wanted to strangle the man that had pushed Isla to nearly take her life; if she had succeed then it would have devastated Gerard.

Tonino scoffed, he was a little disappointed that the brunette hadn’t succeed and he wanted nothing more than to have some revenge for what had happened to his baby sister.

“Tonino… she is innocent,” Shakira whispered staring at her brother horrified at what he had done, she had heard about the emails that Isla had been getting and she had never thought that it was someone related to her that was sending them.

Gerard gritted his teeth while Joan rushed forward to calm his son, he didn’t want him doing something that he might later come to regret.

“Like hell she was,” Tonino spat disgusted that his family were willing to forgive and forget, he opened his mouth to continue only for Gerard to punch him knocking him to the floor.