In The Darkest Hour

Part One - Chapter Five: The Surprise Offer

Isla chewed on her lip as she walked into the café where she had been asked to meet someone about a job that was going; she didn’t know who she would be meeting but she was desperate for a job.

It had been another month since Isla had lost her nursing job and she didn’t know what she would do if this unemployment continued, her savings were running low and she doubted that Joanna wanted her hanging around much longer without paying the bills.

Isla quickly ordered herself a vanilla spice hot chocolate before she moved to sit down in the corner, she set her slouch buckle cross body bag down and wondered who would offer her a job; she was so nervous and she was sure they would turn her down quickly.

Bouncing her knee, Isla gave herself a quick check over to make sure she looked okay for her interview; she had dressed in a jersey blouse and black ponte slim fit trousers paired with black pointed patent stilettos.

“Isla Cortez?” asked a voice making the brunette’s head snap up and she stared at the nervous looking woman that stood before her; she hadn’t been expecting it to be her.

Montserrat looked at Isla, she had taken a risk contacting the former nurse but she needed her help; Gerard wasn’t doing any better and Milan was in desperate need of a nanny.

“I’m sorry I’m late… I have to pick up Milan from his father’s,” Montserrat explained moving to sit down, she offered Isla a small smile feeling bad for the brunette; she didn’t deserve what had happened to her and she wanted to make things right.

Isla blinked wondering what was going on, she peeked at Milan knowing that she doubted the family were over what had happened; she had been blamed for Isabel’s death.

The waitress brought over Isla’s drink and smiled before she walked away leaving the two women in silence so that they could get down to business; it was clear that there was something that needed to be said.

“I know you didn’t kill Isabel,” Montserrat murmured watching Isla, she was disgusted with the cover up and she was just glad that Isla’s name hadn’t been released to the press.

The media could be cruel and she doubted that they would leave Isla alone if they knew why she had been dismissed; they wouldn’t rest until the brunette was in a grave as well.

“I have a job offer for you,” Montserrat continued watching Isla, she had done a lot of research into the woman sat before her and she was sure that she could help.

Gerard needed to pull him out of the dark hole that his life had become and Isla was the answer to that problem; she could easily look after Milan while she helped Gerard recover.

“You’re offering me a job,” Isla repeated to be sure that she had heard Montserrat right, she wasn’t sure why the woman wanted to help her when she was on the board that had fired her.

Montserrat nodded her head, she settled Milan on her knee while she looked at Isla; she was sure that the woman before her was right for the job and she had done a lot of reading to make sure she had the right person.

“I need your help Isla… Gerard isn’t coping and I can’t help him,” Montserrat pleaded softly, she had no idea when her son would ever get over what had happened but he needed someone to help him and Isla was that person.

Isla closed her eyes, she knew what Gerard was going through since she had been through the same thing when she had lost Louis and she didn’t want to think how bad Gerard was suffering.

“I’ve read into your past and you know what he is going through,” Montserrat continued trying to find some way that Isla would agree to taking a job helping her son.

Isla swallowed knowing that Montserrat knew about her past, she wasn’t going to talk about what she had been through; even after two years it was still hard and Isla hadn’t completely been able to move on.

“Don’t bring Louis into this,” Isla whispered shaking her head, she was sure that he was watching over her still and she wished that he was here now; it hurt to think that he wasn’t with her any more.

Montserrat looked down at her grandson, she could see that what had happened had been hard on Isla and that was why she had chosen her to help.

“I’m sorry… I just need help,” Montserrat apologised, she had no idea what to do anymore and she knew that Barcelona were running out of patience; they had already given Gerard four months off and he had until pre-season to get his butt back to training or they’d sell him to another club.

Isla sighed, she stared at Montserrat and wondered what she was getting herself into; she had no other options right now and she had to find a decent job.

“What does your son think about this?” Isla asked not wanting to agree just yet, she doubted that Gerard would be welcoming if he believed the hospitals lies and thought that she had killed Isabel.

Montserrat smiled realising that Isla was warming to the idea, she wanted things to go back to normal and it was time for Gerard to rebuild his life before he did something stupid.

“He doesn’t know about why you were fired from the hospital, he’ll just think that you are a nanny,” Montserrat explained wanting to reassure Isla, she had made sure that her eldest son didn’t sink further into a hole that he couldn’t get out of.

***

“Gerard get up… I have someone that I would like you to meet,” Montserrat announced walking into the living room, she balanced Milan on her hip as she signalled for Isla to follow after her.

Gerard didn’t look up from his place on the couch, he wasn’t interested in whoever his mother had brought home; he wanted to grieve in peace and he wished everyone would leave him alone.

Isla shifted nervously, she looked around wondering what she had gotten into when she had agreed to help Gerard; she peeked at the footballer who was just lying on the couch in silence.

Montserrat had shown her the bedroom that she would call her own while she worked for Gerard, it was a nice little room on the ground floor that gave her, her own bathroom and lounge.

“Gerard this is Isla… she’s the nanny that I hired to look after Milan,” Montserrat continued, she didn’t expect her son to answer and she doubted he would even more to greet Isla; she wished that he hadn’t become like this.

Gerard grunted in response, he didn’t look up from his position and he wished that his mother would just give in; he wanted nothing to do with Milan and he wanted to be alone.

“Hola Gerard,” Isla greeted stepping towards the footballer, she could see what Montserrat was talking about and she wasn’t sure what she could do for Gerard.

It wasn’t as if she had been a therapist and Isla only had her own experiences to go on, she had shut down for a while and slowly rebuilt her life; losing Louis was the reason that she had become a nurse at a hospital.

Gerard blinked surprised when he felt someone touch him, his blue eyes moved to look at the woman that was going to be living downstairs from him; he swallowed wondering why she looked so familiar to him.

“Hola,” Gerard replied without thinking, his throat was sore and he doubted he had said much in the past two weeks; he stared at Isla, his mind trying to figure out how he knew her.

Isla took a deep breath, she had no idea how her new job was going to play out but she had to do her best for Milan and Gerard’s sake.