Now that all of my work is done, I knew I'd have to talk. John came to hug me."It's so nice to see you, how's the ranch doing?" John said. "It's good, Danny stayed with me after mom and dad died so he's the manager. We're doing awesome in sales this year thanks to the breeding and that's due to the boys." I said smiling, he doesn't know Lee and Jaime help me. "Well I'm glad to hear that. I'm glad that Danny and the wranglers are being helpful." he said. Lee and Jaime shared a knowing glance which Kayce just so happened to catch. I quickly asked John how the ranch was, he filled me in on the cattle and operations, inviting me to come check it out. "I would but between my ranch and the courtroom, I don't have a lot of time. I'll try." I said.
"Well Isabell, we sure do miss you and the sunshine you brought with ya, We sure could use that right about now," as he looked at Kayce. Beth chimed in, "Well Daddy, some person lost the right to her sunshine a few years back not caring that we'd all lose it." She turned to Kayce who looks like he'd been kicked my a horse right now. "You seeing anyone Bell.. Isabell?" John asked, correcting himself. I smiled and thought about Luke, "I am." John smiled, "Good, I hope he's good to ya. I'm glad you're not just alone in that house." John said as Kayce's eyes watered. "Thanks John, weird subject to discuss right now but thanks." I said.
"You can't even say hello son? I find it crazy you loved her your whole life and can't be bothered to even say hello?"John said to Kayce. "I wanted to talk to her alone." Kayce said,his voice was deeper than it used to be."Bella you okay with that?"John said. I stared at John, "I'm not Bella anymore, it's Isabell. And it looks like we gotta get back."I said quickly, standing to get me out of the room faster. Kayce blurted out, "It'd just be a minute. Please." fuck. You don't owe him anything, just say no. I looked at Lee, then Jaime. "We don't have a minute,maybe after court." He looked down at the floor and nodded his head. I left the room and went into the bathroom. I feel blindsided. I'm so mad. Keep your cool. You don't ever have to see him again. I walked outta the bathroom into the courtroom and put my game face on.
"AG, I haven't seen you on that side of the courthouse in months, are you lost?" Judge Tanner joked. "Yes your honor,I've been here so long I thought I lived here." I joked back. "Judge why do you call her AG?" Sarah asked. He laughed,"Because she'll be attorney general here soon I bet, then the state of Montana will be lethal." We all laughed, "Not happening your honor," I said.
Just like I thought, I saved the ranch. Once we were done. I let them know I'd call them at some point in the next 48 hours to discuss it. They all got up to leave, except Kayce who I knew was waiting to talk. I really hope he'll leave, I have other cases before my day ends.
3 hours later, the day is finally over. Except it's not, because Kayce's still sitting in the back of the courthouse waiting for me. I let my co-counsel know I'm leaving, and Kayce stood up. "Are you done?" he asked."Yeah, do you want to talk outside, the conference room..?" I replied. He looked at me, "Since we took over your lunch, how about I buy you lunch? The deli's pretty close. Or we could get coffee, or dinner?" He looked hopeful. I was about to say no to all three
when my stomach growled. Traitor. "The deli it is," Kayce smiled and grabbed my hand. I pulled my hand from his immediately and started walking to the deli.
"It's been a long time, Bella. How have you been?" Kayce asked.
Bella-"Please call me Isabell or Isabella, I don't go by Bella. But I'm doing well, you?"
Kayce-"Right, I'm sorry, old habits. I'm uh..I'm doin'..shit, I don't know how I'm doin'. I'm kinda shocked to see ya. None of us have heard from ya besides Ryan, and he won't tell me anything about you."
Bella-"Ryan's the best, there's a reason why he didn't say anything Kayce. He was asked not to. If you wanted to know about me, you could have called."
Kayce- "You didn't want anything to do with me, I didn't want to infiltrate your life and upset you. Plus, I had just gotten back from overseas at first and I wasn't in the right mind. "
Bella-"I said you could have called, not that I would have answered. What was overseas?"
He looked at me puzzled. We reached the deli and he opened the door for me, placing a hand on my back which sent warning signals throught my body. I quickly moved from his touch, and spoke to the hostess who sat us in the far corner of the restaurant. The waitress came over to take our order. Kayce told the waitress,"I'll take a sweet tea, she'll have a Coke. I'd like the
BLT on white with pasta salad, she'll take the turkey club tomatoes or Swiss. thank you." I stared at him, he looked smug."Actually ma'am I'll take a water and a chicken ceasar salad with grilled chicken, no croutons please, thank you." I said sweetly. She nodded and walked away.
Kayce-"You've always loved the clubs here."
Bella-"I did, but now I care about what I put in my body, so I eat better."
Kayce- "Well it's working for ya, you look great."
Bella wasn't happy, she didn't want to be there. Instead of responding she answered a text from Luke and another from Lee asking how the talk went. Kayce just stared at her. The food came over and then he became talkative.
Kayce-"Have you not talked to anyone about me?"
Bella-"No, why would I have? You have your own life, I have mine. l assumed you wouldn't have talked to anyone about me either."
Kayce- "I thought you'd like to know how l was or at least been curious. l ask about you all the time. But I went into the Navy, and did 3 tours. Two in Afghanistan, one in Pakistan. It was
Hard coming back to reality. But I'm fully back now, back to the ranch. Dad and I fell out all those years ago so that's why I joined. The last 18 months we started talking again, I made
Livestock commissioner a few months back..uh what else? Oh, I have a son. His name is Tate, he's the best. Uh.., I'm divorced. Tate's mom and I divorced 18 months ago. Yeah that's been my life since you left it. What's happened in your life? Oh I'm sorry about your parents, I was late to the funeral but I was there."
Bella picked at her food. She didn't want to catch up. What, because he's divorced he thinks we can fall back into where he left me? Get the fuck outta here.
Bella-"Sounds like you've had a good life. I gotta go though Kayce. I had plans..."
Kayce- "You had plans, it sounds like you no longer do. Don't run off, tell me about your life."
Bella-"My life is great, took over my parents ranch, I made partner at work, I love my job."
Kayce-"Congrats, you're what 2 years outta school? That doesn't normally happen for years."
Bella-"No not normally, but I got offered partner 6 months after graduation. I won over $250 million dollars worth of cases. They knew my worth real quick."
Kayce-"Wow, that's amazing. I'm happy for ya, proud of ya too. You said you were seeing someone right? Engaged it looks like from your finger."
Bella stood up, threw a $100 bill on the table and left. Kayce sat for a second stunned, he was being nice. He ran out the door quickly catching up to her."I'm sorry, what happened? I thought we were having a nice time."Kayce said. Bella turned to look at him, she was pissed. "You lost all rights to know about my love life."she said angrily. He grabbed her arm to stop her. "Hey I'm sorry, I know I fucked up before but I still love you. I wanted to see.."Kayce continued. "Yeah wanted to see if I still loved you? I don't, I kept that promise. Or what, because you're single and incapable of being alone you thought we could rekindle our teenage flame? Be fucking for real. Go back to your wife. I wasn't here holding out for you, I was living my life. I'm happy. I didn't ever ask about you, because I don't care how you are. I didn't even want to talk to you. I have to go." Kayce stood there shocked and slightly hurt from her words.
He still held her arm, and just then Luke rounded the corner to see Bella upset and him holding onto her arm.
