Under the Vineyard Sky

Chapter 18

Isabella leaned against the door, her mind racing after David’s unexpected visit. She felt drained, her body heavy with the weight of everything that had transpired between them. It was over, but somehow, it still felt like there were pieces she needed to sweep up and bury away.

She glanced over at Ethan, standing just a few feet away. His presence had been a steadying force, though he hadn’t said much after David’s departure. The tension in the air was still thick, but there was something different now. Ethan wasn’t just there to protect her—he was there, period. And for the first time in a long while, Isabella realized how much she needed that.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, her voice almost a whisper. She wasn’t sure exactly what she was thanking him for—stepping in when David had gotten too close, or just being present at all—but it felt important to acknowledge it.

Ethan gave a small nod, his gaze soft but serious. “I’ll always have your back, Izzy.”

She swallowed hard, the lump in her throat catching her off guard. “I didn’t expect him to show up here. After everything… I thought he’d just let me go.”

“He’s not good for you,” Ethan said, his tone firm. “You deserve better than someone who can’t even keep his promises.”

Isabella nodded, the words settling into her chest like a quiet understanding. She had spent so much of her life trying to make things work with David—believing the apologies, hoping for change—but now, standing here with Ethan, she finally felt the freedom to let it all go.

“I’m sorry you had to see that,” Isabella continued, her words still shaky but more certain. “I just… I don’t know why he can’t accept it. I thought leaving New York would be enough to make him understand that we were done.”

Ethan didn’t respond right away. Instead, he stepped closer, his presence warm and calming, and for a moment, Isabella forgot about everything else. She was here, and for once, the past felt distant enough to not haunt her.

“David’s not the person you need to be worrying about anymore,” Ethan said softly. “You’ve got a life ahead of you here, in Sonoma. Don’t let him pull you back into something you don’t want.”

She met his gaze, something unspoken between them, but she was too overwhelmed to decipher it. “I’m trying not to. I just… it’s hard, you know?”

Ethan’s expression softened further, and he nodded, taking a step back to give her space. “Yeah, I get it. But it’s okay to not have all the answers right now. I think you’re doing exactly what you need to.”

Isabella managed a small smile, the first in what felt like days. “Thanks.”

Ethan’s lips quirked up in a smile of his own. “Anytime.”

Just then, her phone buzzed on the table. Isabella glanced at it, and the sight of the name on the screen made her stomach twist—David, again. She considered ignoring it, but a part of her felt the need to confront this once and for all.

“I’m just going to get this,” she said, more to herself than to Ethan, but he nodded in understanding.

She swiped the screen to answer, and her heart beat faster as David’s voice came through.

“Isabella, please listen to me. I need to see you again. I can’t just let this go.”

Her fingers tightened on the phone, but she didn’t speak right away. It felt like the wrong time, the wrong place. Ethan was still in the room, and she knew she didn’t want to get caught up in a back-and-forth with David again.

“I’m not doing this with you again, David,” Isabella said finally, her voice steady. “You had your chance, and you blew it. I’m done.”

David’s voice was pleading now. “Please, just meet with me. I can explain everything. I know I hurt you, but—”

“No,” Isabella interrupted, cutting him off. “There’s nothing to explain. It’s over. I’m not going to keep dragging this out with you. Goodbye, David.”

She ended the call before he could say another word, the finality of it all settling over her like a weight lifting from her shoulders. It was done. No more guilt. No more unresolved tension.

Isabella exhaled a shaky breath, placing the phone back on the table, her hands still trembling. Ethan was quiet, watching her closely, but she could see the approval in his eyes.

“You okay?” he asked, taking another step forward, his voice gentle.

She nodded, still catching her breath. “Yeah. I think I finally am.”

For the first time in what felt like a lifetime, Isabella felt like she was standing on her own, solid ground beneath her. The past, the mistakes, the heartbreak—it was all starting to slip away.

Ethan’s gaze softened, and a subtle warmth spread through her chest. They hadn’t spoken much about what was happening between them, but she could feel something shifting. A quiet understanding, a new beginning.

“I’m proud of you,” he said quietly, his voice filled with sincerity.

Isabella met his gaze, unsure of what to say, but for once, words didn’t feel necessary. She simply smiled, and in that smile, she felt a quiet sense of peace.

Maybe it was time to stop running. Maybe it was time to let herself be present in this moment, in this place.

The past couldn’t hold her anymore. Not with Ethan standing here, not with the chance for something real beginning to bloom.