Isabella

Chapter 9

The late afternoon sun cast a soft glow over their home as they got ready for the evening. In the bedroom, she stood before the mirror, adjusting the delicate straps of her pale lavender dress, the flowing fabric skimming just above her knees. She checked her reflection one last time, her fingers smoothing over the soft folds of the material, appreciating how it highlighted her newly regained vibrancy.

Adrian, meanwhile, was standing at the closet, fumbling with the buttons on his dark grey shirt. She smiled at his reflection in the mirror. "You might want to button those up properly," she teased. "Unless you want to give our neighbors a free show."

He looked down at the misaligned buttons with a frown, then up at her, grinning sheepishly. "Maybe I was distracted."

She walked over, laughing softly as she undid his buttons and fixed them herself. "You clean up nice," she murmured, smoothing the collar of his shirt and placing a light kiss on his cheek. He was wearing dark slacks, and his shirt hugged the muscles of his arms and chest perfectly. She couldn't help but admire how effortlessly handsome he looked when dressed up.

"I’ll take that as a compliment," he responded, his eyes flickering with amusement. He leaned in close, brushing his lips across her forehead. "But you, my love, look absolutely stunning."

She blushed, rolling her eyes. "You always say that."

"And I always mean it." His hand settled on her waist, pulling her closer for a brief moment before he let go. "Now, let’s get those flowers ready, or I’ll never hear the end of it.”

She handed him the bouquet they had pieced together, the colors of the blossoms vibrant and full of life, a reminder of the little garden she had tended with Tyler. Adrian grabbed the bouquet reluctantly, his fingers brushing against hers as he did.

As they moved toward the door, she grabbed her light shawl and handed Adrian the keys. "Lock up for me?"

He nodded, taking his time as they made sure everything was set before stepping out into the evening. The cool breeze greeted them as they made their way down the path toward their neighbors’ house. The neighborhood was quiet, the soft chirp of crickets echoing in the distance as they walked together.

Adrian, carrying the bouquet, sighed. “You know I’m not exactly thrilled about this.”

She nudged him playfully. “Oh, come on, it’s just dinner. Besides, you owe Tyler an apology.”

Adrian grunted. “I know, but that kid… he should be hanging out with girls his age, not… you know, making moon eyes at his neighbor’s wife.”

She laughed, lightly swatting his arm. “He’s a sweet kid. He wasn’t flirting, just being polite.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, nice guys always finish last. I remember being his age. He was definitely flirting.”

Her cheeks flushed at his possessive tone, but she was determined not to let him get away with it. “You’re such a bully sometimes, Adrian.”

“Maybe,” he smirked, “but I’m your bully.”

She shook her head, smiling despite herself. "Well, let's get this over with. You're apologizing, remember?"

Adrian rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll say sorry, but I’m still not thrilled about it.”

By the time they arrived at Tyler’s house, she was feeling more relaxed. Adrian, on the other hand, seemed to be preparing himself for the apology. They approached the front door, and before they could knock, it swung open to reveal Tyler standing there, looking slightly confused.

"Uh, hi! What are you guys doing here?" he asked, glancing from her to Adrian, clearly taken aback.

Adrian shifted, looking down at the bouquet awkwardly. She cleared her throat and jabbed him lightly in the ribs, pushing him forward.

Adrian held out the flowers. “These are for you. Sorry for… earlier. I misunderstood things. And, uh, I really appreciate the flowers you and her grew in the garden.” His voice was a bit stiff, but his tone was sincere enough. “Thanks for keeping her company while I was away.”

Tyler’s face lit up in surprise and then joy. His smile stretched wide as he took the flowers. “You don’t have to thank me! And I didn’t think you’d actually come… I thought maybe you were busy or something.”

Adrian shrugged. “Well, we’re here, aren’t we? Besides, you invited us, right?”

Tyler nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, of course! Come in, come in. I didn’t tell my mom yet—you’re really saving me some explaining.”

As they followed Tyler inside, the warmth of the house immediately enveloped them. Adrian’s gaze wandered around the cozy space, taking in the charming details—the family photos on the walls, the soft glow of lamps in the corners, and the smell of something savory cooking in the kitchen. His brow furrowed slightly, as though he were deep in thought.

He glanced over at her with a curious look, and she raised her eyebrows in response. “What?” she asked, suppressing a laugh. “This is my first time seeing it too, if you don’t remember.”

Adrian chuckled, shaking his head. “I know. It’s just… different. I guess I didn’t expect it to feel this homey.”

She smiled, her eyes scanning the living room. “It’s cozy, isn’t it? You’d think we’d have been here before, considering how often I spent time with Tyler’s mom while you were away.”

He gave her a wry smile. “I’m just glad they didn’t take you in completely while I was gone.”

She laughed softly, nudging him with her elbow. "You're impossible."

Tyler, oblivious to their quiet exchange, led them further inside. Adrian’s grip on her waist remained firm but relaxed, as though he were finally settling into the evening. They could hear Tyler chatting happily in the other room, and she caught Adrian’s amused grin before he leaned in closer to her ear, whispering, “Let’s hope the food’s as good as the welcome.”

Once they were seated in the living room, Isabella relaxed into the soft cushions, feeling the comfortable warmth of the space settle around them. Tyler excused himself, eagerly heading to the kitchen to help his mom set the table, leaving Isabella and Adrian alone for a moment. Adrian leaned back, his arm resting comfortably behind her on the couch, his expression a mix of amusement and calm.

“Nice place,” he said quietly, his eyes wandering over the room.

Isabella smiled, watching him appreciate the peacefulness around them. "Told you it wasn’t going to be so bad," she teased, nudging his side gently.

He chuckled. "I’m still reserving judgment," he replied, a teasing glint in his eyes.

Moments later, Tyler’s parents joined them, his father settling in across from them with a warm smile. “We’re so glad you both could make it,” he said, clasping his hands together. “It’s been a while since we’ve all been able to catch up.”

Tyler’s mother nodded in agreement, her gaze shifting to Isabella. “And we appreciate you taking care of Tyler. He talks about you all the time. Especially the garden.”

Isabella blushed slightly and waved off the praise. “Tyler’s the one who put in all the hard work. I just kept him company.”

Tyler’s father chuckled. “He’s been like a kid with that garden. He’s always running in with some new thing he’s planted, asking us to take a look. I think you’ve inspired him.”

Adrian, who had been listening quietly, cracked a rare smile. “That sounds like my wife.” His voice softened as he glanced at Isabella, clearly affected by the warm atmosphere.

As dinner began, the atmosphere around the table was warm and familiar. Tyler’s mother, Karen, served the dishes with a proud smile, placing the final bowl of roasted vegetables in front of Adrian and Isabella.

“So, Isabella,” Tyler’s father, Greg, started with a chuckle. “Tyler tells us you’ve got quite the green thumb. He’s been raving about the garden ever since it started blooming.”

Isabella grinned, taking a bite of her meal. “Well, I can’t take all the credit. Tyler’s the one who really got into it this year.”

Tyler, sitting across from them, flushed slightly at the praise, but laughed. “Yeah, right. You’re the one who convinced me to keep trying. I was ready to give up after the first week.”

Adrian smirked, leaning back in his chair. “She does have a way of convincing people to keep going, doesn’t she?”

Tyler, still red-faced, quickly changed the subject, eager to avoid more teasing. “So, Adrian, what do you think of the garden? Mom’s been asking if I’ll grow anything for the kitchen.”

Adrian nodded thoughtfully. “It’s nice. You’ve done good work. I didn’t think much of it at first, but Isabella convinced me otherwise. It’s peaceful, especially after everything else.”

Isabella smiled softly at his words, a quiet warmth filling her. The evening continued with laughter and gentle teasing, Tyler occasionally chiming in with stories about his gardening mishaps.

As dessert was served, Karen leaned toward Isabella, her voice a soft whisper. “We’re really glad you two came. Tyler really looks up to you. You’ve been like family to him.”

Isabella squeezed Karen’s hand in return. “He’s been a great help. And you all have been like family to me too, especially when Adrian was away.”

Adrian, catching the tail end of the conversation, smiled and took Isabella’s hand under the table, giving it a gentle squeeze. Tyler’s eyes lit up as the conversation shifted to future garden plans, and even Adrian seemed more at ease, allowing himself to relax in the cozy atmosphere.

Later, as the meal wound down, Greg leaned back in his chair, patting his stomach. “That was a fine meal. You both will have to come by more often.”

Adrian glanced at Isabella, and she nodded with a smile. “We’d love to,” she said. “Right, Adrian?”

He met her gaze, his expression softening. “Yeah. We’d love to.”

As they prepared to leave, Tyler walked them to the door, still beaming from the evening. "Thanks for coming. I really appreciate it," he said, his voice shy but full of gratitude.

Adrian placed a hand on his shoulder. "It was good. Keep up the garden work, alright? And… thanks for taking care of Isabella while I was away."

Tyler nodded enthusiastically, his earlier embarrassment long forgotten. "Of course! Anytime."

With final goodbyes exchanged, Adrian and Isabella made their way home, the cool evening air wrapping around them. Isabella rested her head on Adrian’s shoulder, smiling softly as they walked.

“I told you it wouldn’t be so bad,” she murmured, her voice full of contentment.

Adrian chuckled, pressing a kiss to her temple. “You were right. As usual.”