It Was Always You

Chapter Six

Isabel sat in the armchair that was facing the blazing hearth Evan had started for her before he had taken his leave. Night had fallen and she was silently sipping hot tea as she stared into the crackling fire. When he said that bombshell and waited for her reply on it the only thing she could say to him was she needed time to think it through.

She didn't get hired to deal with something like this. But then again the pay was amazing and could help her mother out tremendously. Was it worth all the hardship and possible heartache it could ensue with the situation of Shasta's mother?

She didn't know the story yet as Evan was true to his word about spilling anything that related to his personal life, a life that was about to get thrown into hers should she accept the challenge. Once she agrees to get fully on board was he willing to tell her everything since she would have the right to know? Because there will be no doubt that Kristan was going to horribly interfere with her job taking care of her daughter.

Truthfully, she figured the mother had passed away. When Selena had given her the schedule of days throughout the week to watch her she realized it was an all week thing except for Sundays when Evan had his day off. Normally if the parents had split the child would go one week back and forth wouldn't they? But there were some instances that they could spend the whole season with one parent and the school year with the other. But the way they weren't talking about her at all caused her to believe that maybe she had died, and it was too painful to speak of.

But to learn that the mother was perfectly healthy and alive and was just a huge problem was something altogether different.

Sighing heavily she puts down her cup and calls her mother.

"Hey Mija! So, how did everything go?" The sound of her mother's voice calmed her down instantly making her smile.

"Better than I could have hoped. She's such a sweet little girl and I already know we are going to get along perfectly."

"And the parents? How are they? They aren't the sobby kind are they?" Her voice becomes defensive immediately.

She hasn't told her mother that he was a single father and that she would be living with just the two of them. She didn't want to worry her even more than she already has by living with complete strangers. Which made her realize she wasn't going to tell her about the possible drama with the mother. She didn't need that burden when she was already dealing with being sick.

"Of course not. The people I've met so far are very nice and more normal than I first thought them to be."

"Normal? Everyone's normal Mija, it just depends on what normality is to you." She chuckles, followed by a hacking cough.

Instant alarm goes through her. "Are you okay? Is the nurse with you right now?"

"Yes, yes. I'm fine. Thank you." She starts talking to someone in the background. "Yes the nurse is here with me, don't you worry. They have one staying here with me at night and another checking up on me during the day just as we agreed."

Her shoulders deflate in relief. "Good."

For the next twenty minutes they talked about her new living arrangements and how she wished she could move her there with her. By the end of the call she could tell her mother was extremely tired so let her go with a promise to call her first thing in the morning. And when morning did come she finally came to her final decision.

Looking at her schedule she saw that Evan leaves at six in the morning, so she quickly went into the main house and started coffee and some light breakfast for him to take. When he came down looking fresh from a shower and well dressed he falters to a stop seeing her there in his kitchen.

"What's all this?" He asks looking at the plate of food she slid his way with a fresh cup of coffee.

"I know it's just Shasta I have to take care of, but I figured I would meet with you before you headed out for the day. It's about what we talked about yesterday."

That perked him up as he took a sip of the coffee making his eyebrows raise in pleasant surprise. "This is good coffee."

She smiles as she continues. "I thought about what you told me, and it took me a moment to come to terms that this job may be a bit harder than it should be. With that being said I honestly need the money, and I can't afford to quit now when I've already left my previous job."

He slightly frowns. "I don't mean to put you in a difficult position. I just figured it would be best to be forthcoming on what's really going on around here."

She shakes her head quickly. "No, it's alright and I appreciate it. Most people would just allow the situation to present itself without any warning. Which is also why I've decided to stay."

His eyes became hopeful making his features look even more boyish reminding her how young he really looked.

"How old are you?" She suddenly blurts out.

Her cheeks instantly flame up as she skirts her eyes away feeling embarrassed. "Sorry I shouldn't have asked th-"

"I'm twenty-four." He cuts her off.

Her eyes widen in shock. "You're so young."

He shrugs a shoulder with a sheepish look on his face. "Yeah. I...got Kristan pregnant at seventeen, she was only..." He cuts off looking embarrassed now.

"You don't have to say anything." She backpaddles a bit feeling like she was overstepping her boundaries.

"No, I want to tell you. If you're going to look after the most important being in the world to me then I feel we need to trust each other on all levels."

She quickly nods in agreement. "And since we're going that far I'll tell you about my story as well."

He gives a soft smile. "It's weird, isn't it?"

She frowns in confusion of his question. "What is?"

"I just barely met you yesterday but for some reason I feel like I could tell you anything, I actually want to tell you everything."

A flutter starts in her chest as happiness overflows her bloodstream. Giving him a smile in return she too softly states, "Me too."