Chapter 15

Kelsey thought about Isabella for the entire flight home. That kiss had surprised her, but it wasn't unwelcome. Kelsey knew she needed to be careful with her feelings. So much had happened to her and Isabella in such a short time. They had been thrust into this marketing project and quickly became friends while they were working.

Since boarding the flight in St. Thomas that morning, Kelsey had felt like a cloud was descending over them. They were leaving paradise to return to their everyday lives. She and Isabella both missed their families, but there was also a type of grief from having to leave their new friends and each other. At least that's how Kelsey felt. She wondered if Isabella was feeling the same thing when she suddenly kissed her.

She had seen a change in Isabella the closer they got to Charlotte. Kelsey had felt it, too. She sighed as the plane landed and taxied towards the gate. She couldn't imagine her life going back to the way it was before this trip. Surely, she and Isabella would keep in touch. Yes, they had business to discuss as far as the resort account was concerned, but they were friends now. And friends shared their lives even if it was through texts, calls, or emails, right?

As Kelsey pulled her bag to the airport exit and toward the train station, she realized her light jacket was stuffed inside her satchel. Once outside she stopped, pulled it out, and quickly put it on. It must have snowed earlier because everything was covered with a fresh coat of white.

Kelsey grabbed her phone and took a selfie with the snow in the background. She sent it to Isabella with a simple message: Brrrrr, I miss our paradise.

Isabella quickly responded with a sad face and a heart.

Kelsey was reminded of her conversation with Liz at Peaches, when they talked about vacation life and real life. For people like Riley and Alex who chose to stay, their vacation lives had become their real lives in a way.

She got on the train and looked out the window as the fields outside the airport whizzed by. As they traveled further into the city, buildings came into view. Kelsey thought about her everyday life and how it included the cityscape of Denver. But now her and Isabella's everyday life would also include the Virgin Islands and their vacation life. The two were coming together.

"They had to," she mumbled. Isabella was now a part of her life, wasn't it natural to be sad when leaving a friend? Was that why she felt an emptiness inside?

Kelsey leaned back and smiled. Yeah, that must be it. She was glad to get that worked out in her head. But that kiss?

Once Kelsey was finally home, she walked into her house and left her bag in the living room. She looked around and felt such a feeling of loneliness. Tomorrow night would be a different story. Dana and Emma would be here, they'd open Christmas presents, and she'd tell them all about her trip.

She turned on a couple lights and got a bottle of beer from the refrigerator. She walked over to the couch, took out her phone, and sat down. The silence didn't usually bother her, but for whatever reason it did tonight.

Kelsey pulled up Isabella's number and connected the call.

"Hey, you," Isabella said cheerily.

"Hi," Kelsey said. "I made it home."

"It looks cold there," Isabella said.

Kelsey chuckled. "It's December and I'm in Denver, remember?"

Isabella laughed. "Doesn"t it seem strange? It's cold here, too."

"Yes, it does. I had to find my jacket once I was out of the airport," Kelsey explained.

"Uh," Isabella murmured. "About the airport."

Kelsey smiled. "Thank you for that New Year's kiss. I'm sure you knew I would be alone, so that was very thoughtful of you."

Isabella giggled and Kelsey couldn't believe the feeling of happiness that washed over her at the sound.

"Yeah, that's me. Always the thoughtful one," Isabella said. "Listen, Kels. I was having the strangest feeling leaving you."

"I was, too, Bella. I get it," Kelsey said.

"You do?" Isabella paused then sighed. "Of course you do."

"Do you remember us talking about vacation life and everyday life?" Kelsey said.

"Yep."

"Well, I don't see how we can keep from living them both with these monthly trips," Kelsey explained.

"When we're not in St. Thomas, we'll be talking about the next trip," Isabella said.

"Yeah," Kelsey said. "And talking about the one we just came back from. It's like we'll be living the island life while we're home."

"That sounds like fun. I don't know about you, but it's too quiet at my house tonight," Isabella said.

"It's quiet here too." Kelsey gasped as realization struck her. "I know why! It's the water!"

"What?"

"We're used to hearing the waves lap onto the beach," Kelsey explained. "That's why it's so quiet."

"I think you're right," Isabella said. "Okay, I'm going to FaceTime you."

"What? Why?"

"Because I want to see your house and your face. Come on, accept the call."

Kelsey connected the call and Isabella's smiling face appeared on her screen.

"Happy New Year, Kels!"

Kelsey chuckled. "Happy New Year, Bella."

"Now, show me around," Isabella said. When Kelsey frowned she added, "Do you have anything better to do?"

Kelsey giggled. "No. I'm having a beer," she replied, holding up the bottle. "Do you have any?"

"No, but I have wine."

"Pour yourself a glass and I'll show you around," Kelsey said. She waited as Isabella went into the kitchen. Kelsey could hear her opening the door to the refrigerator and getting out a glass. It reminded her of their evenings on the beach at Coral Bay.

Yep, they were living an everyday life with their vacation life right alongside it. Kelsey smiled and thought she wouldn't want to do this with anyone else but Isabella Burns. Funny, she'd had that same thought a week ago when the idea was born.

"Okay, Kels. I'm ready. Let's go."

Isabella laughed as she watched Wyatt and Gus playing each other on a video game. Their characters were racing through a magical desert and Gus had just run Wyatt off the road.

"I'm coming for you, bro," Wyatt said with fake malice.

Gus giggled and Isabella relished the sound. There were times when Gus still laughed with joyous little boy glee even though he was getting older.

Her phone dinged with a text and Isabella smiled as she viewed it.

"Who's that?"

Isabella glanced at where her mother sat at the kitchen island next to her. Marti Raines had raised Isabella to be a confident woman and not be afraid to go after what she wanted. "Nosy, Rosy."

"I am not," Marti said. "If you could see the smile on your face you'd know why I'm asking."

"What does that mean?"

Marti gave her a smirk. "It means you're smiling. The boys are the only ones that make you smile like that anymore."

Isabella furrowed her brow. "I smile, Mom."

"Come on, who is it?"

"It's probably her friend Kelsey," Wyatt said from the living room.

Isabella looked at her mom and then to where her boys were battling it out with their game controllers in the living room. "How do you know that?"

"Duh," Wyatt said. "You've been talking about all the fun stuff you did with her since we got home."

"What kind of fun stuff?" Marti asked, leaning a little closer.

Isabella chuckled. "Beach stuff, Mom. Kelsey sent me a picture of her and her girls in shirts we bought them in St. Thomas," she explained.

"Let me see," Marti said.

Isabella held her phone where Marti could see it. In the photo, Kelsey was standing between the girls. Dana was taking the selfie and had her arm outstretched while Emma stood on the other side of Kelsey, pointing at their shirts. The smile on Kelsey's face reminded Isabella of the selfies they took while on the beach. She had told Kelsey to look into the phone and to imagine smiling at her girls or someone she loved. Who are you smiling at, Kels?

"Is that Kelsey in the middle?" Marti asked.

"Yeah. Her daughters look like her," Isabella murmured.

"Where's their father?"

"Mom!" Isabella snorted.

"What? I'm just asking. Is she divorced, like you?"

"No. She had both her girls via IVF," Isabella replied.

Marti raised her brows. "How brave."

"She is," Isabella said, staring at the pictures.

"What was your favorite part of the trip?" Marti asked.

"Mmm, let's see," Isabella said. "We usually took a nightly walk along the beach."

"That sounds nice."

"Oh, and there was this bar we loved over on St. John. We became friends with the owners," Isabella said.

"Show Gran the pictures of the boat, Mom," Gus said.

Isabella scrolled through her pictures while giving her mother a brief summary of the things they did.

"Is that the bar you liked?" Marti asked, looking at a picture of the patio at Peaches.

"Yes, that was Christmas Day," Isabella said. "They weren't open, but invited us to join them for the afternoon." She pointed to Carmen and Sylvie. "That is the CEO of the resort and her wife."

"Tell me about Kelsey," Marti said. "You're going to be spending a lot of time together."

Isabella smiled. "Yeah, we are." She paused for a moment, thinking, how to describe Kelsey… "She is very thoughtful. We met when she helped me with my luggage at the airport. We had no idea we were going to the same resort and ended up having dinner together that night."

"This is some undertaking, going back there every month," Marti said.

"I know. There's no one I'd want to do this with but her. Kelsey's so much fun and we've become friends. She's also really good with the website."

"You're really good at what you do, too," Marti said.

"Thanks, Mom," Isabella replied with a smile.

"Tell me something else you liked," Marti said.

"Um." Isabella furrowed her brow and thought back to all the activities they did, but one in particular came to the front of her mind. "We danced," she said softly.

"Danced?"

"Yeah, the bar played music and everyone got up and danced. It was fun."

Isabella could feel her mom studying her as she asked, "Did you dance with Kelsey?"

"I did."

Marti nodded and continued studying Isabella.

"It was no big deal, Mom. Everyone was dancing."

"I didn't say anything."

"It's the way you looked at me. I asked Kelsey to dance."

Marti smiled. "You did?"

"Yeah, a pretty song was playing and I felt like dancing. Kelsey was the lucky person." Isabella smirked.

"She certainly is." Marti smiled. "I'm proud of you for going on that trip alone. You've met someone who's now a friend and you have these big plans for the rest of the year. This is the woman I raised."

Isabella gaped at her mom and thought about the last couple of years with the divorce. There had been a lot of changes in her life that had made her less confident. But when she was in the Virgin Islands with Kelsey, she felt more like herself than she had in a long time. She was sure of the decisions she'd made and hopeful about this idea they'd come up with together.

Marti leaned in and quietly asked, "Is Kelsey gay?"

"Does it matter?"

"You were dancing in a bar with a gay woman. It might matter to her," Marti said.

Isabella scoffed. "It's not like that. We're friends." Her mom's comment made her wonder though. Kelsey hadn't done anything to make Isabella think they were anything but friends. After all, Isabella was the one who kissed Kelsey in the airport yesterday.

"Okay, guys. That's enough screen time for now." The boys groaned. "Take your gifts to your room and maybe we'll have another piece of this scrumptious pie Gran made for us."

That got a cheer.

Once they'd left the room, Marti turned to Isabella. "I wish you could hear how defensive you sound. Let me tell you something, honey. I'm not blind to the pressure you felt growing up. You have done what you thought was expected of you. You went to college, earned good grades, became successful at your profession, married a nice boy, had my beautiful grandsons, and things didn't work out. It's time you did something that you want to do. I haven't heard you talk about anyone the way you have Kelsey. Maybe you should think about a woman."

"What are you talking about?" Isabella couldn't believe her ears.

"Don't think I never looked at another woman twice," Marti scoffed.

Isabella stared at her mom with her mouth gaping open.

"I know you said Kelsey is your friend, but maybe she'd be more than that if you'd let her."

"Where is this coming from?" Isabella asked, confused.

"You've always been the perfect daughter when it comes to the major parts of your life. Be your spontaneous self and live a little, Isabella."

Isabella knew her mom was right. When it came to doing what she was supposed to do, Isabella did it. Yes, she could be impulsive and most of her friends would describe her as fun, but those were easy choices at frivolous parties or get-togethers. Thinking of Kelsey as more than a friend wasn't anything like that.

"What would Dad think?" Isabella said, the idea of doing something for herself swirling around her head.

"It doesn't matter what he thinks. He died five years ago," Marti said then smiled.

"Mom, I know that!"

"Well, it's true. It doesn't matter what anyone thinks, but you," Marti said.

"What about the boys? Have you forgotten about your grandsons? It does matter what they think."

"No it doesn't. You're not going to raise them any differently if you're by yourself, have a girlfriend, or a boyfriend," Marti said. "You're a good mother who teaches them to be open-minded, compassionate, and helpful."

"You're forgetting one thing. It makes a difference what Kelsey thinks."

"You'll have plenty of time to find that out on your next trip."