Stained Red

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Stained Red Chapter Twenty-Seven

Natalie took several deep breaths as she sat in her car outside of the hotel where Isaac was staying and where he had asked her to come and meet with him at. It had been a day since his conversation with Zac and while Zac had told her that their conversation had went well she couldn't help but feel nervous for her own conversation with Isaac. Who was to say it would go as well?

Getting out of her car Natalie shut the door then headed inside. Going to the elevators she pressed the button and the minute the doors opened she stepped on and pressed the button beside the three. Isaac had said he was on the third floor in room 267. As the doors shut Natalie closed her eyes feeling the dread set in more. She was scared that she and Isaac would go back to how they were before their first split and fighting all the time. There for awhile after all the secrets were out they had gotten along and she wanted to stay on that page. She needed too because they did still have kids together.

When the doors opened Natalie came out of her thoughts and stepped out into the hallway. Going down the hall she stopped in front of Isaac's room and raised her hand knocking softly before looking down as she waited for him to answer. There was no turning back now no matter what she did.

Isaac who had been watching tv as he awaited Natalie stood from the bed he had been sitting on. Going to the door he opened it and smiled as he watched Natalie look up at him, "Come in," he said moving aside so she could. Once she was in he shut the door behind her and quickly followed her into the room.

"You wanted to see me," Natalie spoke as she went to the only bed in the room and sat down on it. "I am guessing to talk about Zac and I?" she asked as she raised her eyebrow to question him.

"That would be one of the reasons," Isaac confirmed as he sat down beside her. "The other is to talk about custody of our children but I guess first we will start with Zac."

Natalie smiled slightly when Isaac sat down beside her, "I..I never meant to hook up with him before officially telling you that I was okay with ending things. That I realized I was in love with him."

Isaac took a deep breath hearing his soon to be ex-wife say she was in love with Zac. It hurt but he realized it hurt because he was losing what he had grown comfortable with not because he was in love with her. He did love her though. He loved her as his friend and the mother of his children and that was something that would never change.

"But you didn't just realize it did you?" Isaac asked softly keeping his voice calm. "You've always known you were in love with him."

Nodding her head Natalie blushed, "I guess I have been," she admitted as she shrugged. "I just I never wanted to ruin things. His life if the baby was his and then our marriage or his relationship with Kate. Then eventually I never wanted to ruin either family his or ours. Too much depended on that."

"It did but now both of your marriages are ending. I already told Zac this but I'm okay with you two being together," Isaac confirmed knowing he was okay. All he wanted was Natalie's happiness. "I want you happy."

Natalie laughed bitterly at Isaac's last words, "You deserve that too," she told him before she reached for his hand. It was when she did that she noticed his wedding band had been taken off. He was officially letting her go it seemed. "I made you miss so many years without happiness and you deserve to find that too. You deserve someone who will love you like I never could."

Squeezing Natalie's hand Isaac nodded, "And I will find that when I am ready," he said knowing that he wanted to go slow in moving on. He hadn't dated a woman in so long. Not since he was a teenager. He wasn't sure how good he'd be, especially since sometimes he still was not confident in his looks after years of being referred to as the ugly Hanson.

"I hope you do Ike," Natalie said as she squeezed his hand back. She at least could say she was honest and sincere in her hopes for his future. She may not have been in love with him but she did love him as a friend and he was the father of her children.

Isaac just smiled as he let go of Natalie's hand, "Enough with being sappy. I may start crying on you," he joked before shaking his head. "Onto custody of the children. I had a talk with Taylor and I know he is being a pain about the Theodore situation."

"He is," Natalie sighed feeling aggravated every time she thought of Taylor and how he was being just because she hadn't chosen him in the end. "He doesn't even want this baby on the way," she said as she put a hand on her belly. "A baby I don't expect you to claim especially since we are divorcing."

"That's kind of good because I don't think I could claim it," Isaac told her knowing honesty would do them both good. "I just am not sure I could love it as much as the others. It's not mine and while I still love Theo regardless I did think he was my own for years. This baby though I know isn't mine."

Natalie nodded her head knowing in a way she sort of understood, "I get it," she told him. "I really do."

"I am glad you do," Isaac said knowing he was glad they weren't arguing about this baby anymore. "I'm also going to go back to Alabama. I would like to take the kids when I go. I know school starts next month and I'd have them back by then."

"Alabama," Natalie muttered surprised that was were Isaac had went. "Are you going to move there for good? I mean now that we are over?"

Isaac couldn't help but laugh at Natalie's surprise, "I doubt I will move there for good. I mean the band is still here even if we are on a hiatus right now. I do want to eventually come back to that once things settle down for good. I just think I need more time away. Taylor needs to heal and you and Zac need time to figure out your relationship. I need time to figure out this single fatherhood life."

"You can take them," Natalie spoke as she sighed not sure if she was okay at the thought of them being that far away but they would be with their dad. They'd be okay in the end. "Just know Theo, he is angry at you for leaving. You are going to have to talk to him and explain things somehow even if that means telling him about Taylor anyway."

Isaac just sighed as well. He half expected Theodore to be angry, it was like the boy who seemed to be getting moodier as time went on. "I will Nata. I always do," he said knowing he always found ways to get Theodore to where he was no longer angry.

"That's because you are an amazing father," Natalie told him as she leaned over and kissed his cheek. "You are the best father I could have picked for my children," she said before standing from the bed. "I should get going though. Zoe offered to watch the kids and by now Henry is probably driving her crazy. He is starting to act just like the big brother he adores so much."

"God help us all," Isaac teased at the thought of Henry turning into Theodore. "One grumpy Theo is enough for all of us."

Natalie laughed as she walked to the door, "Ain't it," she agreed before opening the door and leaving the room. All in all their conversation had went well and she was glad that things seemed to be falling into place.

Watching as Natalie left Isaac just smiled before reaching for his phone. Turning it on he saw he had a text message and he clicked to open it a bigger smile appearing on his lips as he saw a picture of Kate holding Junia who from the looks of things had gotten into Kate's make-up as the make up was all over the child. Underneath the picture was a message from Kate telling him that he was missing all the fun in Alabama.

Replying back he told Kate that he'd be back soon and that when he did come back he'd have his kids. Then they'd both really have fun. It was after he sent the message that he realized that Kate wasn't so bad. He had never really taken the time to know her before but maybe they could get to know each other now since they both had their divorce in common and the fact that their spouses were getting together. The last fact though Isaac doubted Kate knew yet.

Putting his phone down Isaac laid back on the bed for once feeling hopeful that things would turn out okay for everyone. He just hoped at some point during all of this that Taylor would come to find peace and his own happiness. He also hoped the wreck was a wake up call for him to get clean again.