Nathaniel's Obsession

Chapter Eight.

Nathaniel's Obsession

Isobel picked at her food as they all ate breakfast. It had been a few days since she told her brothers about her supposed relationship with Angelo. They were not even speaking to her. None of them had said a word to her and they both ate as if there was nothing wrong in the world. They were both giving her the silent treatment, something they had not done to her since she was very young. Anger bubbled in her all of a sudden.

"I think it's better we get a chef because I'm not going to be cooking anymore," Isobel said to the both of them. She was not going to let them treat her anyway they liked. It was her body and they had no right to decide who she wanted to sleep with.

"Yeah, when we do that you could go live with grandma. Where we can actually keep an eye on you," Rafael said. That was the first time he had ever threatened her seriously about going to grandma's.

Isobel stared at him in shock, before she dropped her fork loudly onto her plate. She pushed it away from her, making to leave the table.

"Sit down, Isobel," Nathaniel said calmly. He didn't have the patience to try and settle things with Rafael and Isobel. "I have been thinking of it, I don't want you cooking all our meals anymore,"

Nathaniel put a straight look on his face as he spoke to her. He was no longer angry at her. He could never stay mad at her for long, but he could not deny what she did was stupid and irresponsible. He watched how her eyes watered and he knew she was going to burst into tears and he knew Rafael played a very big part in her tears.

Nathaniel dropped his fork and got to his feet. He walked around the table and took her in his arms. That was when she burst into full-blown tears.

"I'm sorry," Isobel sobbed from his chest. She had been so disturbed that her brothers were not speaking to her and most of all, Rafael said she was a disappointment.

"Hey, it's fine. Shh," Nathaniel said trying to calm her down. He kissed her hair and spoke into her. "Stop crying. Everything will be fine. We'll take care of you," Nathaniel said trying to comfort her.

After a moment, Isobel moved away from his chest. She tried to wipe her cheeks as she avoided his eyes. Nathaniel forced her to look at him and he didn't need to speak because his eyes were telling her that everything was all right.

"Go and wash your face. We're going to see grandma, she's been calling and no, I'm not leaving you there," Nathaniel said when he saw the worried look in her eyes.

As soon as Isobel left, Rafael spoke.
"So you're just going to let it go? After what she did," Rafael said his voice laced with anger.

"What would you have me do, Rafael? She's our fucking sister and we owe her that loyalty," Nathaniel said as he cleared his plate and placed it in the sink.

"She wasn't loyal to us," Rafael hissed at Nathaniel.

"Okay, but it's happened. She doesn't deserve this Rafael and you know it. She's young and at least she came clean," Nathaniel said. He didn't know why Rafael was hell-bent on keeping Isobel sad.

"Well you should speak for yourself," Rafael said.

"Yeah while you're at that, keep that fucking attitude to yourself because it won't be pretty if I see Isobel crying again," Nathaniel said exasperatedly before he left Rafael alone. "Get ready. We're all going to grandma's," Nathaniel said loud enough so Rafael could hear him.

********

The drive to Grandma Linda's was awfully quiet. Nathaniel drove in silence and the only thing on his mind was Rosalyn. He called her once and she never returned his call. From that and the way she told him goodbye when he dropped her off at work, he knew she was avoiding him. Rafael's outburst had really pissed him that he said the most stupid shit. He wasn't thinking sanely when he accused her of sleeping with Rafael.