ISOLATED

c h a p t e r 3 0

Chapter 30

Genesis puts on her jeans with a t-shirt over it. Gael hasn't seen her this casual in a while and when she ties her hair up in a high ponytail, he barely recognizes her. But she looks comfortable.

After the argument from the night before, Ginny didn't say much to him. Not that Gael said much to her though, he knew that she needed some time. "How do you feel?" he asks, keeping his eyes on her. "Better," Genesis answers. Her outfit is basic and she knows that altogether it was probably around a hundred dollars, it's nothing compared to what's in her closet at home.

Gael walks to her and he places his hand on her chin, making her look up at him. She's embarrassed about the argument from the night before, she knows that she was projecting her anger that was aimed at her father now on him. Which as unreasonable, but he was the one to drag her to that dinner without any preparation.

"Let's just go," she mumbles and she takes his hand to leave. "No, wait a second," he says and he places his hands on her hips, spinning her to make her face him. "In 8 hours from now, we'll be on our plane back home," he says, looking directly at her. A small smile curls around Ginny's lips and she looks at him.

He takes her hand and walks outside with her. Gael would've taken a taxi, but he knows that she'll probably need a bit of air before meeting with her parents again. "Did you google the place?" Gael asks, showing her some interest in the place that they're going. "No," she answers honestly. Gael wraps his arm around her shoulders and he pulls her to him. "You're still hung up on yesterday?" He asks.

Genesis glares up at him. "So that's a yes," he answers, not afraid to push her buttons. Ginny's eyes soften when realization kicks in and she leans into him. "I don't blame you though," she says, "Even though it might've seemed that way yesterday."

"I know," Gael says and he holds her close, "But remember this, where we're going right now, is only possible because you married me, because of everything you did for your mom. It wasn't for nothing, you'll see exactly what it was for." Genesis nods and she pushes her lips together. She's been wanting to see this place, but at the same time, she also loved imagining it. Her biggest fear was her mother ending up in some sort of hospital institution that's all white and formal, which was always so unlike her mom.

Finding out the reality wasn't something that she wanted. Especially since she hasn't even gotten something as simple as a picture.

"Do you want to know how much I pay for this?" Gael asks, looking down at her. "I thought Johnathan was paying for it," Genesis mumbles and she looks up at him, furrowing her eyebrows together. "Sure he is," Gael says and he scoffs, shaking his head. "It's what he told us," Genesis says, "Does my dad know?"

Gael shakes his head. "I'd also rather not shout it from the rooftops," he assures her and he stops walking, immediately pulling Genesis's attention, "Please don't tell him." Ginny nods and she looks at him. "Thank you," she says, placing her hands on his cheeks. Gael smirks and he takes her hand, spinning her to face the giant building behind her and she looks up.

This is it.

She wouldn't have noticed it if he didn't make her look at the building. "It looks almost like a house," she says, turning around to look back at him. "I know, it's a home, not a hospital," he answers. A care home?

"It was designed especially for people below 65 who face complex diseases," Gael explains, "I didn't want your mom to end up in some kind of elderly home." Genesis inhales and she holds the breath in for a few seconds.

"What?" Gael looks down at her, leaning down so he can softly kiss the bare skin of her neck. "I thought you hated me," she says, "In the beginning. And the whole arrangement. I didn't expect you to go above and beyond to take care of her like this." Gael chuckles and he squeezes her hips.