Letting Go 🤎

Eight

Isabelle woke up in the morning to Eddie knocking on her bedroom door. She and Nick both jolted up as she groaned. She grabbed Nick's shirt, throwing it on quickly before peeking just her head out the door. "Eddie! I overslept." She saw he had already changed his clothes from the night before. "Go to the kitchen, I'll be there in two minutes to make you breakfast." She closed the door, looking back at Nick, "You were supposed to be gone!" She groaned, "no entanglements Nicky!"

"I'm sorry!" He started to get dressed quickly as she did the same. "My phone died before my alarm went off." He grabbed her hand before she could leave the room, pulling her to him as he kissed her, feeling her sink into him as he smiled. He felt her instantly relax before he pulled away, "don't be mad."

She shook her head, chuckling, "I am mad." She heard him laugh as he followed her out of the bedroom, putting on his shoes as she went into the kitchen. She found Eddie already in the kitchen eating waffles from the toaster. "I love a self efficient kid."

Nick looked up as the front door opened and he came face to face with Isabelle's brother who smiled as he heard her groan behind him. "I'm Nick. I'm not actually here."

Stephen laughed, shaking his hand, "right. Stephen. Nice to meet you. I'm here for my son."

Isabelle nodded as Eddie came into the living room, "he's right here. I'm sorry Stephen."

He shook his head as Nick helped Eddie put on his coat, "don't be. I'm not worried about any guy you'd have around Eddie. I trust you. Can you go see Beth though, before you go to work?"

"Yeah. Of course I can. Love you." She kissed his cheek as Eddie grabbed his hand.

"I love you too. Come on, have to get you to school."

She looked at Nick put on his coat after they left. "Oh, Nicky."

He shrugged, "I'm sorry Isabelle. I'll see you in a few hours?"

She nodded as she watched him grab the handle of the door, "wait, do you want to come with me?" She saw him shrug, about to answer, "will you come with me?"

Nick smiled, nodding, "anywhere."

She sighed, "give me two minutes and we'll go."

✨

Isabelle let herself into Stephen and Beth's house with Nick to find Beth in bed still this time, propped up and watching tv. She saw her smile when she entered with Nick and muffins, "hey sweetie. I brought my friend Nick today, I hope that's okay."

Beth grinned as she tried to sit up more as Isabelle helped her. "Yeah. Of course. Hi Nick, I'm Beth."

He smiled at the frail woman in front of him as he got a small peek into the pain he always found in Isabelle's eyes. "It's nice to meet you Beth. Your son is a great kid."

"Thank you!" She turned to Isabelle, "can you make me a smoothie?"

Isabelle sighed, looking from Nick, back to her, "yeah." She put her finger up at her, "nothing embarrassing!" She heard Beth laugh as she left her alone with Nick.

Beth patted the bed next to her, "before she comes back."

Nick hesitated but sat on the bed next to her as she placed her hand on his arm.

"Took a lot for her to bring you here. I tell you, I haven't met any man of hers since I got sick. You must be special."

Nick blushed, shaking his head as he placed his hand on hers, "we're just getting to know each other really."

She nodded, "yeah. She's a hard nut to crack. She's had a lot of loss and she's about to have more. It makes her scared to let anyone in, the fear of losing them too. Just promise me you'll be patient and you won't give up Nick."

He nodded, "I promise."

"She takes care of everyone else, all the time and never takes care of herself. Make sure you take care of her for me Nick."

"I will. I promise." He stood up, turning away from her, wiping a stray tear as he heard Isabelle coming down the hall. He turned back to them as he leaned against the wall, smiling at Isabelle as she handed Beth a smoothie.

"No embarrassing stories?"

Beth laughed, it turning into a small cough before settling down, "no no. I didn't tell him about the time you peed your pants at Disneyland on Space Mountain."

"Elizabeth!" She groaned, looking at Nick who was laughing, "I was like 8 okay?"

Nick put his hands up, "I'm not here to judge."

Beth pointed at Nick, "your boyfriend is hot."

Nick blushed, looking at the ground as Isabelle groaned again.

"He isn't my boyfriend. Just because you're dying doesn't mean you're allowed to say whatever you think."

Beth shrugged, "well, it kind of does actually."

Isabelle laughed as she sat on the bed next to Beth, "Stephen said you had a bad night, are you okay?"

She sighed, "I can't keep down any solid foods at all now. Smoothies have been mostly okay as long as there's no acid." She grabbed Isabelle's hand, "it won't be much longer Izzie. Just remember what you promised me.."

Isabelle nodded as she looked down at the bed, "yeah, of course Beth, always." She rested her head against Beth's as she tried not to cry before Beth finally pushed her away.

"Alright, get out of here. I know you have to open your club."

Isabelle kissed her on the cheek. "Love you."

Beth smiled, "love you too. Go on, get your boyfriend out of here. It was nice to meet you Nick."

"It was nice to meet you too Beth." He smiled at her, squeezing her hand before following Isabelle out to the living room in time to hear her start to sob. He didn't say anything as he wrapped his arms around her, letting her cry until she was ready to go.

Isabelle finally pulled away so Nick could put on his coat before helping her with hers. Once they were on the porch, she grabbed his hand, "I'm sorry. It's just so hard going alone anymore."

Nick shook his head as he cradled her cheeks in his hands. He made her look up at him his thumbs gently stroking her cheeks, "you don't have to do it alone. And you have nothing to be sorry for."

She nodded as he kissed her forehead. "I kinda want to walk home alone. I'll see you in a few hours?"

"Yeah. Of course." He saw her give him a half smile before walking away from him.