Chapter Fifty-Five
"Is that your phone?" Aaron asked annoyed, when his brother's phone buzzed for what felt like the hundredth time that morning.
"Eh yeah, sorry, it's just game notifications," Sean quickly lied and turned the vibrate function off on his phone. In truth, he and Tatum had been texting each other non-stop this morning. She'd had to open the bar this morning and she was feeling bored, so she kept firing off random thoughts and flirtations to him. His brother shook his head almost despairingly; yes, he liked playing video games too, but he was not desperate enough to have them on his phone.
They worked in silence for a few more minutes, during which the younger brother text Tatum back to say he missed her too. He did feel a little bad as he did so; from things she'd said over the past few days, he'd gathered that she thought his family knew about them. But in truth, he hadn't dared to tell his father and brother yet. His mother knew about her in general terms, but not her identity.
"Aaron, can we talk?" Sean started nervously, not looking away from his computer screen as he tried to gather up his courage.
His brother had turned his attention to a couple of reports at his own desk. "Yeah… what?" he sounded disinterested as he didn't bother looking up either.
"You know… Tatum…?" the younger Miller was undeterred by his lack of interest, knowing he needed to try telling his family about his girlfriend at some point.
"Oh, don't mention her," Aaron huffed, taking his brother by surprise as he dramatically threw one of the reports down on his desk. "Seriously, everywhere I go, people will not stop mentionin' her," he explained the reason for his annoyance. "It's not like she's anythin' special but they keep sayin' how much she's glowin'," he pulled a face now in near-disgust. "And who knows how she got pregnant. Let's face it, she probably did sleep around before she came back to Little Grove," he continued, not seeing his brother was about to protest, as he let out all the things that he wanted to say to her face but couldn't because of Isabella. "That girl's damaged goods," his last comment silenced him, making Sean sink back into his chair as he lost his nerve. "What? What were you gonna say?" Aaron asked when he saw the look on his brother's face, even if he didn't know how to read it.
"Eh… nothin'. Never mind," he shook his head; there was no way he could tell him about his new girlfriend now. And he wasn't entirely sure when would be a good time. You're such a coward, Sean, he told himself before he tried to get back to work.
Isabella took a deep breath as she headed out onto the porch. It was a beautiful, balmy Sunday evening and she was feeling more relaxed than she had done in a long time, if ever. For the first time she felt like she had some control over her life, and it was actually a decent life to live; she had a good relationship with her sister; their bar was doing well, and they would hopefully look into expanding it soon; she hadn't heard from David since Aaron had told him to leave; and it looked like she and Austin might be on the way to regaining their former relationship. Life was definitely looking up.
"You look content," her sister's voice drew her from her reverie.
"I feel content," the brunette admitted as she turned to find her sat on the porch swing.
"I'm glad, you deserve it," Tatum told her with a big smile. The Colombian still hadn't told her sister all of what had happened in her life, but the redhead knew enough; if anyone deserved to be content now, it would be Isabella.
"Thanks," she smiled as she sat down on the top step of the porch. "You're lookin' pretty content yourself there," she said when her sister leaned back in her seat to continue looking up at the stars and moon.
"Yeah, I'd say so," Tatum nodded with a smile, rubbing her bump. What wasn't there to be content about? She'd heard on Friday that the tests had come back clear, and her baby was healthy; she had a fantastic boyfriend; and she was becoming really close with her sister again. "Who'd have thought huh?" she asked with a chuckle, thinking that even six or seven months ago neither of them could've imagined their lives like this.
"Not me," Isabella admitted with a chuckle of her own, making her sister laugh.
"I hate to say it, but I think Grayson may have done alright in the end, leavin' us the bar and the house," the redhead said after a few minutes in silence.
"Ugh you're right," the brunette groaned and they both ended up in giggles.
Over the next week or so, Isabella and Austin spent a lot of time together and they even managed a double date of sorts with Tatum and Sean, having dinner and watching a film with the four of them at the Tennant house.
Everything in their lives seemed to be working itself out; the bar's clientele was expanding and they were doing much better than their father had managed in a long time; Isabella felt like she had during that summer, as she and Austin grew closer every day; and Tatum was close to saying she loved her boyfriend as Sean started helping her around the house and preparing for the baby's arrival. The karma in their lives had finally seemed to right itself.