Jayden's POV

I knew that Adrianna Vineyard would do the trick. That was the only way I could make Isabella know that I have been the one behind all those strange gifts and notes on her doorknob.

Grandma's insistence for me to give her more time before showing up in front of her, coupled with my lack of courage, I had to keep low till she is back in America.

Now that she is back, I want to finally see her but today is definitely not that day.

I didn't book the same plane with Grandma. My plane took off after theirs and this is done on purpose so that she won't bump into me somewhere.

I hope she has read the note I left behind this morning and I hope it will explain everything.

I have realized my mistake and I want to make amends if only she would give me a chance to do that.

By the time my plane landed in America, it was already getting dark because of the time difference and Jude was already waiting for me at the airport. I asked him and Fred to come back yesterday since we have found Isabella already and I know Grandma would force her back to America.

After entering the car, I instructed him to drive me to Gabriel's mansion, hoping he will be back from work already.

The car drives in through the gate just at the same time that Gabriel is coming out of his car dressed in his office suit and a briefcase hanging in his right hand.

He doesn't know that I have found Isabella. I didn't tell any of them before leaving for Paris and that is what I intend to do now.

He has been supportive and he ought to be the first to know that our search has finally come to an end.

Even though I haven't spoken to Isabella, I feel genuinely happy to have her back in America and to have found her.

"Gabriel", I call, opening the door to get out. He turns around to see me and he begins to walk closer.

"Jayden, you are back from Italy during the week? Did something happen?" He questions as he moves closer but when he notices the look on my face, he stops to study me. "Something happened."

I can't wait to see the huge look of relief on his face when I tell him that Isabella is back. With my hands in my pant pocket, I continue to smile.

"Isabella", he mentions not sounding like a question but I nod anyway and he jogs to my side. "Is it Isabella? You have found her?"

"Yes", I try to stop myself from laughing out loud. "She is back from Paris."

"Paris?" He pulls away from me with shock. "How is she? What about the baby?"

"The baby is fine," I answer. I haven't even had the time to move closer to her to touch my baby and feel it kicking.

"She was in Paris? What was she doing in Paris?" He frowns as he asks me with curiosity, watching me intently.

I shrug nonchalantly. "It turned out she wasn't in Italy all along but Paris. She called her Grandma and her Grandma demanded that I come home then we went to Paris together…"

"Oh, my God!" He exclaims. "Why didn't you tell me? I would have tagged along."

"We didn't want to upset her or make her know that we were coming. It's a long story, really. I just came to inform you."

"You just got back?" He notices my dress and I nod.

"I just thought I should let you know before heading home."

"What are you two talking about?" We hear a voice from behind. It is Sabrina.

"Babe, Isabella is back!" Gabriel announces to her as he twirls back to embrace her. Before he pulls her into a hug, she gasps.

Even after giving birth, she still looks good.

"Is that true, Jayden?" She questions, pushing her husband away to walk towards me.

I nod gingerly.

"Oh, goodness! Where is she?" She bends down to see if Isabella is in the car.

"She is with her Grandma…"

"Let's go so I can see her. Is she fine?"

I shrug indifferently. "Well, we haven't talked. I just thought I should inform you guys first before anything. I don't know if she is ready to see me now."

They both fall silent. Instead of turning back on my heels so I can go home to rest and think of what else to do to win her back, I continue to stare from Gabriel to his wife as they flash me sad and pitiful smiles.

"I'm just glad she is back. I'm glad she is safe. That is the most important thing, right?"

"Yes, it is", Gabriel agrees, flashing me a mischievous smile.

This is a cue for me to leave now. I have done what I came here for.

Before I can tell them that I am leaving, Sabrina mutters to Gabriel. "Let's visit Isabella."

"Tonight?" Gabriel and I chorus and Sabrina nods with a wide grin on her face. She has missed Isabella too. They were beginning to become so close to each other but running off put a stop to the bond of friendship springing up between them.

I'm sure Isabella must have missed her too.

"I will go with Jayden. You can join us when you are changed."

Without waiting for his reply or permission, she totters to my side excitedly. "Let's go."

Gabriel nods at me briefly and I turn back to open the car for Sabrina and go to the other side for me to climb into the car too.

The car roars to life and Gabriel continues to watch us till we are out of the gate. There is a heavy moment of silence between us.

I don't know what Sabrina is thinking about but I know what is on my mind. I am wondering if I should use this opportunity to go in and see Isabella tonight instead of my plans to come here tomorrow after work.

But I don't feel prepared. Not tonight.

I have never felt this less confident in myself.

"Isabella is back, wow!" Sabrina expresses with a giggle.

Remembering that she is a nursing mother, I ask. "What about your baby? Is she with the nanny?"

"Yes. I already put her to sleep and the nanny is sleeping over tonight."

"Ok."

Are you excited as I am?" She demands from me and I nod, without looking at her. I am excited but my happiness isn't filled till she forgives me.

Silence ensues again.

Then she asks. "Did she keep the baby?"

I suck in my breath and nod intermittently. "Yes, she did."

Sabrina heaves a deep sigh of relief, her hands on her chest. "Thank Goodness! I was so worried she would do something drastic."

I don't say anything again.

Another heavy silence falls upon us as we approach Grandma's place.

"Jayden?" Sabrina's voice jerks me out of my reverie and I open my eyes quickly to meet her intense gaze. "Do you love her?"

My heart skip a beat at the question. I haven't given that much thought because I have been avoiding that and admitting the fact that I truly want her.

I don't even know if what I feel is love. I don't know if it is intense enough to be regarded as love.

I think about her every second of the day and she fills my dreams at night. Ever since I saw her in Paris as she got out of her building that morning to the bookstore, my heartbeat was stranger and faster.

Does all of this mean that I am in love with her?

I find her more beautiful and alluring than I used to find her.

Does this mean something?

"You still haven't figured out your true feelings for her?" She interrogates further and I shake my head.

I wish I can tell her what I feel but I can't find my voice and I can't find the right words to use to express my feelings.

The car slows down and I realize we are already close to the house. Glad for the interruption since Sabrina will soon be getting down from the car, I won't have to answer her questions. I turn to her.

"Please don't tell her I brought you here. You should go down to meet her alone", I vocalize.

"What? Why?" She exclaims, disbelief crossing her expression.

"Nothing", I click my tongue hoping she would drop this already. I'm not ready yet for this. I don't want to ruin it. I want to be fully prepared physically and mentally.

"We should go together, come on…"

"No, Sabrina. Trust me, I don't want to ruin the night for you. Isabella might become too pissed to talk to you when she sees me. I am giving her the space that she needs…"

"For how long are you two going to keep up with this pretense and childishness?" She cuts me short again and I look away.

I'm not going, no matter what she says. I don't care if she calls me childish.

She sighs when she sees that my mind is made up. Without telling Jude to get the door for her, she goes out and I watch her move toward the front door.

A few minutes later, she gets to the front door and knocks, hugging her petite body to herself because of the cold.

I shouldn't have allowed her to come out without a cardigan. I should probably call Gabriel to get it for her when he is coming.

Sabrina knocks again and someone throws the door open.

"Isabella!" I hear Sabrina's excited voice before she pulls Isabella into a tight hug. Isabella has a huge smile on her face too, just like I expected.

Without waiting for them to disengage from the hug, I turn away and my eyes meet with Jude from the rear mirror.

"Drive!" I command with a tone of authority.

****

Don't worry, they are going to meet tomorrow. 😁

Keep calm till then. I can't update all the chapters all at once but we are going to finish the book in a few days.

We have 7 chapters to go!