Chapter Seventeen

Isabel stood just inside the doorway hearing the last of his words. An overwhelming warmth filled her with his declaration of what he just told his ex about her. He wanted long term and not just that, he admitted to being in love with her. She felt like everything was finally falling into place in her world.

As soon as she heard the car door shut and Kristan had drove off she finally stepped outside to face him. When she had came back she was shocked to see two cars in the driveway and happily surprised that Evan was home early today. She knew he had an appointment with the lawyer, but she wasn’t expecting him to come home right after. But who was the other car belonging too?

She didn’t think it would have been Kristan and to see them both coming back down from upstairs had her a little more upset than she pretended it to be. Obviously, the two of them were arguing. So, she was sure nothing had happened between the two of them. But it still raised suspicions.

Until he flat out told Kristan that he was in love with her.

“You’re in love with me?” It was the first thing she says, making him turn around quickly.

A red tint painted his cheeks as he suddenly looked a bit nervous. Clearing his throat and rubbing the back of his neck, he states,

“You heard that huh?”

Walking up to him slowly, she reaches for his hand as tears welled in her eyes. “Is it true?”

His shoulders softly deflate as he pulls her closer and whispers, “Of course it’s true. I didn’t want to say it in case you thought it might be too early, but I love you Isabel. I don’t think I’ve ever loved anyone as much as I love you.”

Her whole body feeling light with overwhelming giddiness she whispers back, “I love you too.”

A huge smile spreads across his face as he slams his lips against hers. And even though he was in a mess trying to keep his daughter and keep her mother at bay he felt like his entire world was finally becoming right as it should be.

“Marry me.” He gently whispers to her and all she could do was nod with a huge smile on her face.

After taking her hand in his they head back inside where he tells the two of them what had transpired with Kristan. Hearing that she had broke into his home the thousandth time they all agreed to change all the locks and the passcode to the gate. He never did it before since he never had the time to do it as well as give all the delivery companies and mailman the updated code.

But Isabel was more than willing to take over that for him and he couldn’t quite get over the fact that he now had someone in his corner to help him deal with things he had found difficult to deal with before. And they both agreed not to press charges nor report that she was snooping around his place looking for valuable objects to pawn off.

“If I win this case, I’m going for full custody. The child support checks will stop, and she’ll have no right to demand anything from me again. Honestly, I should have done it a long time ago, but I guess I just felt sorry for her.” He admitted that night as they were all sitting at the island in the kitchen, talking it over.

“Sounds to me that’s how she got you. She played the part perfectly because you let her. She was using you young man. I’m just glad you finally are maturing enough to see through it and no longer allowing her to get away with it.” Isabel’s mother gently chastise as she takes a sip of her hot tea that he prepared for her.

“She’s not going to like that one bit.” Isabel stated with a deep frown.

“No, but she doesn’t like anything, including herself. She doesn’t care about Shasta. I think she only pretended too because it gave her an excuse to spend time with Jared. She used her own daughter to get what she wanted only in the end to get slapped across the face with reality that he was never going to love or want her back.”

The next morning Evan called his lawyer telling him the news of going for full custody. Afterwards he called Jared and Mila and told them he was getting married. Everything was going smoothly in the next couple of days that it started to worry Isabel.

“She’s awfully quiet lately. Too quiet. Do you think she’s planning something?” She asks Evan after tucking in Shasta for the night.

“It’s possible. She’s usually throwing a tantrum by now. But then again she’s throwing me off because according to Mila not even Kristan’s mother has heard from her.”

They didn’t let that defer their wedding plans that they both decided wanted to be small and simple. Not wanting to wait, they married in his backyard where their closest family and friends attended. Shasta jumped up and down with pure joy as she ran to Isabel and hugged her with all the love she had within her.

“You’re my mom now!” She beams with excitement making Isabel’s heart fill with so much love and joy that she still couldn’t believe she was blessed with obtaining such a wonderful and beautiful family.

“I promise you I will do everything I can to be the best mommy to you.”

With a giggle the little girl gives her another hug making their special day even more perfect. And as the days go by everything seemed to go without a hitch. Still wondering why Kristan still hasn’t lashed out. They were even expecting some kind of drama at the wedding, but she never made an appearance.

But while they waited for the shoe to drop from Kristan they all became completely shocked when Evan receives a large envelope addressed from Kristan herself.

Isabel looks to him with curiosity as he begins to open it afraid of what he might just find. Frowning he reads a handwritten letter.

“What does it say?” She asks, looking over his shoulder to see the contents.

“Evan, I’m leaving the country with my boyfriend Raul. We both thought it best that I leave with no strings attached from home, so I went ahead and drew up some custody papers to sign off all rights for our daughter. You are her sole responsibility now. I think it’s best that I start over with my life. Now that you have a wife I’m sure she is more than willing to be a mother to Shasta. Raul loves me for who I am and wants to marry me. I said yes and I’ll be living in his home country from now on. Goodbye Evan and hope you have a good life. Kristan.”

Shock runs through him soon followed by anger for everything she had put him and their daughter through. But more than anything relief floods like a tidal wave as he stares at the documents with Kristan’s signature giving him all rights to Shasta.

“You should call your lawyer.” Isabel quickly states, tears welling in her eyes at what all of this meant. “If they’re legit then it’s best we don’t tell Shasta, not until she’s older.” She puts in with him slowly nodding in agreement.

As soon as his lawyer looked over the papers he put them in his file and confirmed that they were indeed real, finally allowing Evan to breathe fully as the weight of all the stress and negativity to finally lift off his shoulders. Never again would he have to worry about Kristan trying to take his daughter away from him and causing so many traumatic hardships on them. They could finally feel free to live normally.

They discovered the entire story from Kristan’s mother who told them that Kristan had met some filthy rich Spainard that was already married. According to Kristan he was planning to get a divorce and marry her when the time came. But he didn’t want her to keep fighting for Shasta and take on the responsibility of another man’s child. So, Kristan dropped the case immediately along with her daughter.

When Evan heard that part he couldn’t help getting angry that she would have so little love and care for their child. But maybe it was for the best.

As the weeks followed, Shasta didn’t talk about her mother much and was happy that Isabel was staying with them for good. She still visited her grandparents on her mother’s side but as far as everyone knew not a single word was ever heard from Kristan again. Only her social media showed she was living the life she always dreamed, along with scandals with her new beau Raul. But she never reached out to any of them again.

It was Shasta’s eleventh birthday as Isabel carefully placed the wrapped birthday gift with balloons and a small cake in celebration on the table. Looking at the dining room she beamed with happiness that it came out better than she had hoped. The party wasn’t until this weekend, but she wanted to make this day extra special.

“Don’t be so nervous Mija, she’s going to be overjoyed.” Her mother gently states as she takes her hands in hers and rubs them.

With the treatments at the hospital her mother’s condition was stable and she was so thankful for that.

“I know, but I still can’t help it. It’s a lot to take in.”

Before her mother could reply the front door opens catching both of their attention and her nerves to skyrocket. “We’re home!”

Shasta comes bouncing in with her father right behind her, coming back from her soccer practice. As soon as she saw the decorations she comes to a stop and beams.

“Happy birthday!” They all call out, surprising her.

“Whoa! No way! You guys!” She comes rushing forward hugging her then her mother.

“We have something for you.” Isabel quickly says as she takes the box and hands it over to her, slightly looking to Evan who was beaming with pride himself.

She had told him last night and he was so thrilled he almost didn’t wait to inform their daughter. But she begged him to give this news as a birthday gift and was so glad he agreed. Ripping the wrapping off with excitement she opens the box and frowns at what was inside. Taking the white shirt out she reads what it says.

“I’m going to be a big sister.” She gasps overdramatically and stares at her with wide eyes then to her dad and back and forth. “Shut. Up! You’re not lying right?! You’re really having a baby?!” She nearly screams aloud.

“It’s really happening munchkin.” Evan tells her, wrapping his arm around his wife’s shoulders still beaming with happiness.

Instant tears gushes out as she goes and gives them a hug, happy tears overflowing. Isabel’s own tears finally spilled over as she couldn’t stop smiling. “You kept begging for a sibling, so we decided maybe it was time to give you one.”

“Best. Birthday. Ever!” She sobs with her voice muffled as she buried her face in between them.

Evan chuckles as he looks to the love of his life and wipes a stray tear away. “Best gift ever.” He whispers as he leans in and kisses her with all the love he had in the world for her, and he knew he really found the jackpot of true happiness.

The End.