Independence & Consequences - M J Marlow (manga ebook reader txt) 📗

hospital has.” She glanced at the clock. “It’s been three hours, darling. We should know something soon.” She looked up as the door opened. “Here is Dora with some food.” As they finished eating, Ricardo returned to the room. He looked at Isabel a moment, and then sank down into a chair to eat his share. He didn’t say a word until he was finished eating. By then a nurse had arrived with a wheelchair. She helped Isabel into it and they went to the Recovery Room. Rafael was awake and he wanted to see his wife. Ricardo and Delphine followed and waited just outside as Isabel gripped her husband’s hand, trying not to cry. “You scared me,” Isabel said softly as she brought his hand to her cheek. “I thought you were tired of the drama, Rafael Alvarez.” “It seems the drama didn’t agree,” Rafael replied weakly. He winced as pain shot through his side. “Querida, I need to tell you something,” he continued. He saw the worry enter her eyes. “No, Isabel,” he said firmly. “I am not going to die. Not for some time,” he nodded firmly and groaned as the motion made him hurt. “It is just that I will not walk for a while. Maybe never,” he told her bluntly. “The injury to my back was quite severe.” He watched Isabel go white and slip out of the wheelchair. “Isabel!” Emilio came in and carried Isabel away. Rafael looked up at Ricardo. “What is wrong with her, Father?” “Your darling wife is pregnant, Rafael,” Ricardo told him. “Your news was a bit too much for her.” “Pregnant?” Rafael queried. “As in having a baby?” Ricardo nodded and Rafael was ecstatic. “My Isabel is giving me a baby?” “I think we can move him back to his room,” the doctor nodded once he had checked Rafael over. He nodded to Ricardo. “If he continues to regain his strength at this rate,” he told Ricardo, “your son will be home in six weeks.” He saw Rafael’s look. “You know this is a conservative estimate, Rafe. You have to let your back heal sufficiently and undergo therapy.” He nodded over at Ricardo. “I’m sure your father will look after your wife.” Rafael closed his mouth and nodded. He knew that his father would look after Isabel. He didn’t need to worry about her. He needed to concentrate on getting better so he could be with her. He fell asleep with a smile. His Isabel was giving him a child! Ricardo looked down at his son – his son! – and smiled. He had spent so many years believing his one child lost to him, and now he had gained two. Soon, he would become a grandfather. The nightmare was over, he told himself. The Alvarez family was going to have the happiness it had been denied for eighteen years. He followed the orderlies up as they transferred Rafael back to his room. Isabel lit up as she saw her husband being returned to her. Ricardo held his hand out to Delphine. “I think we can leave them alone for awhile,” he smiled as his wife took his hand. “Isabel?” She looked over. “We will come back later to take you home.” Isabel bit her lip to keep from crying in protest. They wanted her to leave Rafael alone and injured. She would not do it. She had to stay here with him. She went to his side, gripping his hand and laying her head down on the bed. She heard them leaving and felt relieved. As much as she cared for the pair, right now she needed to be alone with her husband. She looked at his dear face battered and bruised from the accident and tears flowed down her cheeks. She had almost been a widow because of a drunk driver. Isabel dozed off and did not see the nurse slip in and give Rafael an injection. She woke up to the sounds of his gasping for air. She hit the call button and stepped away as the duty nurse came in. She hit the Code Red button. “Get her out,” the doctor said as he saw Isabel watching, terrified. “She shouldn’t be here watching this.” Emilio came in and took her outside. He held her as the doctors and nurses struggled to save Rafael. Guillermo called Ricardo at once. Ricardo and Delphine, only downstairs in the cafeteria, arrived just as the alarm ended. The doctor stepped out, shaking his head. Rafael had not survived. Isabel found herself in Ricardo’s arms as she began to sob. He turned her over to Delphine and went inside with the doctor. Delphine took Isabel away, followed by Emilio. “Someone murdered your son,” the doctor told Ricardo bluntly. “I don’t think it would be wise to tell your daughter-in-law this, however.” “Find out how, Doctor,” Ricardo said coldly. “I’ll find out who.” He looked over at his lost son. “I’ll have my representative come handle any paperwork. I think it best that I be with his widow.” * Isabel felt completely disconnected from herself. It seemed as if all the life had been drained out of her with Rafael’s death. After that, she had to be prodded to eat, to move, to care for herself. Once the funeral was over, she did not even care when her parents insisted on taking her with them to San Matteo. Isabel barely registered the beauty of the island. She kept to her rooms or, when she could be coerced outside, she sat on the veranda and stared out at the island from the top of the hill where the hacienda sat. She didn’t start to come back to herself until someone she had thought never to see again came to see her. “Hello, Isabel,” Alejandra said softly as she came out onto the veranda. She frowned as Isabel sat there numbly. She went to her knees beside the girl, angry. “Do you think Rafael would want you this way?” she demanded as she cupped her sister’s chin in her hand. She forced Isabel’s eyes to her. “You are dishonoring his memory, the life you had with each other, by retreating into yourself like this!” “Ana!” her husband, Esteban hissed. “She is wounded. Let her heal!” He pulled Alejandra to her feet and pushed her away. Then he crouched down and took Isabel’s hand in his own. “Please come back to us, pequena. You have family and friends who need you.” He kissed Isabel on the forehead and heard her whimper. He looked into her eyes and saw that she was crying. “That’s better, Isabel,” he said softly as he took her in his arms and held her as she cried. “Let the tears melt the ice from your heart.” “Why are you here?” Isabel asked softly. She looked up at Alejandra and some of the spark returned to her. She was actually angry. “Are you happy now, Alejandra? He’s dead because you made him marry me!” She shoved Esteban away and ran back inside. Esteban turned to watch his wife. Instead of anger, she was stunned. Then she began to cry. He pulled her into his arms and held her as she continued to cry. Alejandra had done a lot of damage to her brother, but she doubted that her role in arranging her brother’s marriage to the girl who had just fled was part of that. From all accounts, Isabel and Rafael had loved each other. Isabel was expecting their child, and had to be brought back to life for its sake. “She will forgive you, Ana,” he said as he rested his chin on the top of her head. “Give her time.” “I wouldn’t forgive me,” Alejandra sobbed. “If her hatred is the price I must pay for what I did to them, then I will let her hold it to her.” “You must not wish that on her, Ana,” Esteban frowned at her. “She would be destroyed by it.” He took her by the hand. “Come walk with me, querida.” Isabel found her mother coming into her room, a worried expression on her face. She waited to hear the reason for the visit. Instead, Liza went to Isabel’s closet and pulled out a sundress and pair of sandals. She brought a swimsuit along as well. Then she made Isabel get dressed. Without a word, she led her daughter out of the house and down to the beach. There was a lounge waiting there with a table. On it was one of Isabel’s favorite books and a pitcher of lemonade and a glass. “You are well enough now to be out of the house,” Liza told her sternly. “I know how hard it is to lose someone you loved, Isabel,” her mother continued. “Living is the best way to honor their memory. You,” she said as she stroked Isabel’s hair, “have not been living.” “So you’re kicking me out of the house?” Isabel looked up at her mother. She picked up the book. “I suppose I am to remain here and finish the book?” “I will send Dora down with your lunch,” Liza told her. “You will sun, you will read, you will swim if you wish,” she smiled down at her child, “but you are not to come back to the house until dinner time.” “Yes, Mother,” Isabel nodded. Liza kissed her on the cheek and left Isabel alone. Isabel knew Liza well enough by now to know she was not going to be able to argue. She sat back and closed her eyes, letting the sun caress her cheek. When she felt a sudden chill hit her, she opened her eyes and saw a man standing over her. It was David. She threw herself into his arms and he held her as she cried. When the storm was over, she looked at him closely. He had gotten even thinner and his face was hollow-cheeked. Dark circles were under his eyes. “You’ve been sick!” Isabel cried and made him sit down. “I had to come, Isabel,” David told her as he cupped her cheek in his hand. “I couldn’t stay away when Tabitha told me what happened.” He got to his feet and led her down to the water. “Come swim with me.” They entered the water and Isabel allowed herself to enjoy the sensation of the warm water on her skin, the warm sun on her head. David did not let up on her until she actually felt a smile cross her face. He led her back onto the beach and picked up her towel. Then he led her along the waterline, holding on to her hand. Isabel did not protest. David was her friend. He wouldn’t hurt her. She was actually feeling much better with him just being there. They were astonished when Dora came to call them to the house. “I’ll see you at dinner,” David smiled and kissed her gently on the lips. Isabel smiled up at him, some of the grief easing from her heart. She went to her room and showered. When she came out, she froze at seeing Alejandra waiting for her. Isabel didn’t say a word. She continued to get dressed for dinner, wondering why her sister-in-law was there. What new torment was she planning for Isabel? But Alejandra didn’t say a word, in fact, she looked quite determined not to say a word. Isabel found herself wondering if the girl could have changed in the months they had been apart. She was willing to believe that such a miracle could have occurred. A sudden thought crossed her mind and she nearly laughed it off. “You called David, didn’t you?” she asked Alejandra bluntly. “Why?” “Because you needed someone here who could help you find your way out of the fog,” Alejandra told her. “I have hurt you, Isabel. A lot,” she acknowledged sadly. “I wished to do something to make you smile