Chapter 33

Isabella took Kelsey's arm and led her over to where Spencer was waiting as well. "Spencer, this is Kelsey Kenny," Isabella said. "Kels, this is Spencer."

"Hi, Spencer," Kelsey said with a friendly smile.

"So you're the one Isabella parties with every month on these vacations," Spencer said in a less than friendly tone.

"I wouldn't call them parties." Kelsey narrowed her eyes. "Have you seen our posts on the website? The Virgin Islands are magical."

Spencer scoffed. "Yeah, it's kind of hard to take a vacation with the expenses of the boys and all."

"I know what you mean," Kelsey said. "I have two daughters in college. They graduate next month along with some of the expenses." Kelsey could feel Isabella smirking next to her.

"Oh. You do know, then," he said.

"Great game, Wyatt," Isabella said as he walked up to them.

"There he is," Spencer said. "The man with the winning hit."

Kelsey held up her hand for a high five. "Your defense saved it for your team."

"Thanks," Wyatt said, slapping her hand.

"Good job, son," Spencer said, putting his arm around him.

Kelsey noticed Spencer made sure to catch her eye as he squeezed Wyatt's shoulder possessively.

"I liked how you stayed calm even when the other team caught up," Marti said, winking at him.

"Thanks, Gran," he replied. "And thanks for coming, Kelsey. I'm glad you finally got to see me play."

"I am, too," Kelsey replied.

"She'll be back to watch me when my season starts," Gus said. "Right, Kelsey?"

"That's right. I'll be here." She smiled at the boy's exuberance.

"Okay, team. I see ice cream for the win," Isabella said, holding up her arms.

"Yay!" the boys exclaimed.

"It was nice to meet you, Spencer," Kelsey said with a nod.

"You, too," he replied. "Bye, Isabella."

"Bye," Isabella said, turning to walk towards their car. She put her arm around Wyatt and Gus ran up and grabbed Kelsey's hand.

"Talk to you tomorrow," Marti said, veering away from them.

It wasn't lost on Kelsey that they looked like a happy little family going for ice cream. She could feel Spencer's gaze on her back and she knew it wasn't friendly. Here we go.

Isabella drove them to the ice cream shop and once they'd all gotten their preferred flavor they found a table in the corner of the outdoor patio.

"Congrats on your win, Wyatt," Kelsey said, taking a lick of her ice cream cone.

"Thanks," he replied. "Do you have to go back tomorrow?"

"Yeah, you don't have any kids at home," Gus said.

Isabella chuckled. "No, but Kelsey does have things to check on at her house."

"Actually, there was something I wanted to ask you boys," Kelsey said. She waited until they both looked up at her. "Would you want to come to Denver for Dana and Emma's graduation?"

"Can we, Mom?" Wyatt asked excitedly.

"I don't know," Isabella said. "Can you sit still long enough to watch a bunch of people walk across a stage?"

"Yes!" they both yelled.

Kelsey laughed. "We can take you to the mountain where Dana works during the winter."

"I'm sure we'll find plenty to do," Isabella said.

Kelsey looked over at Isabella and grinned. She couldn't wait for Dana and Emma to meet the boys. At first she had been surprised by their interest in Wyatt and Gus when they'd happened to be home during one of Kelsey and Isabella's phone calls. But they seemed to genuinely like them and were looking forward to the family vacation at the resort.

"Okay, finish up," Isabella said. "You still have homework, baths, then bed when we get home."

It didn't take long to finish their ice cream and the boys immediately went to their rooms when they got home.

"Would you look at that," Isabella said.

"What?"

"They actually did what they were supposed to," Isabella replied. "I think they are on their best behavior because they want you to stay."

Kelsey chuckled. "I doubt that."

"I don't," Isabella said, slipping her arm around Kelsey's waist. "I want you to stay, too."

Kelsey groaned. "You know I want to, but…"

"I know," Isabella said softly. "We'll figure it out."

Kelsey nodded.

"Tomorrow night I'm going to tell the boys we're more than friends," Isabella said.

Kelsey raised her eyebrows and waited.

"I didn't like introducing you as my friend at the baseball game," Isabella said, making air quotes with her fingers. "We're more than that and I'm not hiding it."

"This has to be your call, Bella," Kelsey said.

"I know. This will surprise you," she said in a sarcastic tone, "but there are no gay people in our friend group."

Kelsey chuckled.

"However, the boys have a few kids in their classes that have same-sex parents. They already love you, so I think they'll be happy about it."

"And Spencer?"

"Yeah, I didn't get good vibes from him tonight, but that's not unusual," Isabella replied. "I'm sure he noticed how much Wyatt and Gus like you and that probably didn't sit well with him."

Kelsey sighed.

"I'll tell him because it's the nice thing to do. Plus, I'm sure the boys will say something about it the next time they're with him," Isabella said.

"Should I stay?" Kelsey asked. "If it doesn't go well I want to be here for you and if it does go well..." Kelsey shrugged and grinned. "I want to be here for you."

Isabella chuckled.

"Does it feel real?" Kelsey asked.

Isabella tilted her head and grabbed Kelsey's hand. "Since the day we met, it's felt magical."

"Yeah." Kelsey nodded. "It doesn"t matter if it's island time or real time, it's always magical. I don't see that ever changing."

"Me neither," Isabella replied.

Kelsey looked down the hall then quickly kissed Isabella on the lips. "I love you," she whispered.

"I love you, too." Isabella winked.

"Hey Kelsey," Gus said, walking down the hall with a book under his arm. "Can I read to you? I have to read a few pages out loud for homework."

Kelsey looked over at Isabella and she nodded. "I'd love that, Gus."

They settled on the couch while Isabella went down the hall to check on Wyatt.

A short time later Isabella and Wyatt walked into the living room. "We have time for one episode of House Hunters," Isabella said, turning on the TV.

"You watch House Hunters, too?" Kelsey exclaimed.

"Yep," Wyatt said, plopping down on the end of the couch. "We guess which house they're going to pick at the end."

Isabella sat down on the other side of Gus. She put her arm around the back of the couch and squeezed Kelsey's shoulder. "You wanna play?"

"Heck, yeah," Kelsey said. She looked over at Wyatt and gave him a playful shove on the shoulder.

He grinned at her as the show began.

"Okay," Isabella said, pausing the TV at the end of the show. "They should choose number two, but I think they'll choose number three."

"Nope," Wyatt said. "They'll pick number one."

"I'm with Bella," Kelsey said. "They'll choose three."

Wyatt chuckled. "It's funny you call our mom Bella."

"Why?" Kelsey asked.

"She doesn't like people to call her Bella. She always corrects them," he said.

"Yeah," Gus said. "My name is Isa-bella," he said, imitating his mom.

Isabella laughed. "You know, I don't mind Kelsey calling me Bella. It sounds nice the way she says it."

"Well, Bella," Kelsey said. "Are you going to show us which house they choose?"

"Gus, what's your pick?" Isabella asked.

"I think number two," he replied.

Isabella started the show again and the couple chose number one.

"Yes!" Wyatt yelled, jumping up. "I knew it!"

"It's your night to win, Wyatt," Kelsey said.

"Okay, it's bedtime," Isabella said, getting up.

Gus got up as well and started to his room. He turned around and looked at Kelsey. "Aren't you coming?"

"Sure," Kelsey said, jumping up. She couldn't believe how quickly she'd grown to love Wyatt and Gus, but she shouldn't be surprised. They were a part of Isabella and she didn't know how it was possible, yet she loved her more every day.

She stood next to Isabella at the side of Gus's bed. "Good night, Gus," Kelsey said.

Isabella leaned down and kissed his forehead. "Sweet dreams, sweetie," Isabella said.

"Night," Gus said.

Next they walked to Wyatt's room and Kelsey stood in the doorway. "I'm glad I got to see you play today," Kelsey said.

"Me, too. I wish you didn't have to go home tomorrow," he said. "Mom's really happy when you're here."

Isabella raised her eyebrows at him. "Is that right? I thought I was happy most of the time."

He shrugged. "I guess so, but you're happier now."

"Good night, buddy," Isabella said.

"Night."

Isabella pulled his door almost closed. She put her arm around Kelsey as they walked down the hall. "Even they know how happy you make me."

"Let's go to bed and I'll show you how happy you make me," Kelsey said with one eyebrow raised.

"Oh, yeah?"

They walked into Isabella's bedroom and closed the door.

"I know you wanted to check on a couple of your clients today. I'm sorry we never got to it," Isabella said as she kicked her sandals off.

"I'm not," Kelsey said, reaching for Isabella's hand and spinning her around. "I had the best day."

Isabella smiled and put her arms around Kelsey. "I did, too."

Kelsey narrowed her gaze. "You have jumped right in," she said. "I know you had doubts."

Isabella led Kelsey over to the bed and they sat down. "There were several times when I wondered what I was doing," she said, widening her eyes. "Am I gay? What would this do to my life and especially Wyatt and Gus's?" She smiled and took a deep breath. "But every time I had those thoughts, something made me pause. In those spaces I noticed how wonderful my heart felt with you in it. My life was already different. With you everything felt right. It all made sense. This is how it's supposed to be, Kels. When we walked into the house the other day and Gus hugged you and Wyatt came rushing in from his room, I thought my heart was going to explode with love. They have never taken to anyone the way they have you and your girls. I don't know if I'm gay and it doesn't matter. You are the person I'm supposed to live my life with. I truly believe our two families were meant to be one."

"Oh, babe," Kelsey said and squeezed her hands. She leaned in, but Isabella stopped her.

"Hold up. You had to have doubts too," Isabella said, raising her brows. "Why in the world would you want to take on me and my two young sons when your girls are about to graduate?"

Kelsey chuckled. "Well, I realized," she began, "Dana and Emma may be graduating and starting their lives on their own, but they're never completely without me. The idea of getting to be part of Wyatt and Gus's lives never gave me doubts." She paused and took a breath. "I thought about the choices I made with the girls in mind. This choice would be for all of us, but especially for me, Bella. This is happily-ever-after stuff, forever stuff. How can I not choose us?"

Isabella cradled Kelsey's cheeks between her hands. "Oh, Kels."

"It's not a choice. It's our hearts demanding to be together," Kelsey said with tears in her eyes.

"Kelsey Kenny, you have my heart," Isabella said. "I promise to always take care of yours."

"Isabella Burns, my heart is yours. I promise to cherish yours always."

Isabella smiled. "Now that we have that settled, didn't you mention something about showing me how much you love me?" she said seductively.

"Oh, honey," Kelsey replied. She pressed her lips to Isabella's and they fell on the bed in a tangle of arms, legs and love.

This feels a lot like home,Kelsey thought.