Womanizer (Spoilt) (23 page)

Chapter Twenty Six

Womanizer

Isolation, loneliness and boredom were driving Isabelle to distraction. At least they’d moved her out of intensive care where she’d found it quite depressing. Carol had gone home two days earlier and time had become endless since her departure. Isabelle enjoyed the hours they’d spent together the past days as Carol relayed stories of Jesse’s childhood and past events. She’d been thrilled when some of the things her mother recounted sent flashes of images into her mind.

After Carol’s discharge, Isabelle began having dreams about the past
, and when she woke, she discovered she could recall these memories while awake. She saw glimpses of when her friendship with Adrian had changed and they’d conceived Jesse, of being pregnant and of the night Adrian had been killed.

Bit by bit Isabelle got hints of events gone by. In time she hoped to regain all of Jesse’s four years. Then there was the niggling feeling that was Mitchell Montgomery. She still had no recollection of him whatsoever and the familiar feelings she’d felt for Jesse, she didn’t feel around him. There was something there
, though, just out of her grasp. Even though she couldn’t recall their time together, there was still something familiar about him.

Then there was the house he’d bought and her lack of recognition regarding this. She still hadn’t decided whether it would be the best option to live there with him yet. Isabelle had been c
ontemplating it more and more. Perhaps it would be OK to stay at the house while she was trying to piece together her recent life. Cautious by nature, the idea didn’t quite sit well with her, but at the same time it could be a way to trigger lost memories. Jesse and Carol both seemed pleased with the notion so what did she have to lose? Not her memory, she knew that much. She smiled at the irony and decided she might gain more by being around people that loved her.

Did Mitch love her? She didn’t know one way or the other. They were in the process of moving in together when she’d
become the target of a stalker - which still sounded bizarre to her - therefore they must have been serious about each other.

One thing was certain, he was gorgeous and he seemed to be a genuine guy. When she was finally discharged, she would have him tell her all the details of their relationship and see if anything returned. He certainly had the qualities and appeal that she found attractive. There was also this fuzzy something in her mind about him that she couldn’t put her finger on. Isabelle dreamt of him too but wasn’t sure whether they were actual memories or because he was on her mind at present.

When Carol came in to visit that afternoon Isabelle had decided to tell her she wanted to stay at the house, at least while they were both recovering anyway. Jesse seemed happy and comfortable with Mitch, so perhaps she could trust has judgment.

Each time Mitch brought Jesse in to see her
, more of the instinctual feelings returned. After each visit she’d been able to recall more about her son.

Isabelle was lost in her thoughts and unsure memories when Carol came in. Relieved to have a visitor to break up the boredom and confusion, Isabelle smiled.

“How are you feeling?” Carol asked. “Do you remember anything else?”

“I’m feeling much better. The headaches aren’t quite as intense as before and my side is now a dull ache. I’m just so bored! I’ve remembered some things about Adrian and his accident. I’ve also had flashes of when I was pregnant with Jesse and when he was a baby, but that is about it. I’ve decided to stay at Mitchell’s house. Perhaps this will help trigger more memories.”

“That’s great, honey. Maybe you’ll get all your memories back over time. You were so happy before all this happened and I would like to see you happy again.”

“It’s so frustrating and confusing not being able to remember. I keep having dreams and I don’t know if they are memories or just dreams.”

“Tell me about them.
I might be able to tell you.”

“The dreams are about Mitchell and you don’t appear to be in them.”

“Oh, I see.” She offered Isabelle a knowing smile. “Let’s hope the dreams help you to remember.”

Isabelle shrugged. They hadn’t offered her much so far. Just glimpses of passionate moments that could be simply dreams and nothing more.

“There have been a number of people who wanted to visit. People you know through modeling and until today I didn’t think you were up to it. There is a young girl here by the name of Adele. She said she’s been the make-up artist on a lot of your shoots and you were well acquainted. Would you like to see her?”

“It can’t hurt.”

“OK. I’ll let her know.”

Carol hobbled off to find Adele and about five minutes later a striking petite girl with spiky red hair rushed up to her bed before sitting beside her.

“I’m soooo glad you’re OK!” She began before Isabelle could speak. “When I heard what Anton had done, I couldn’t believe it. To think of all the times I worked on his shoots. It’s so weird. You probably don’t remember me but that’s OK. I wanted to see that you were alright.”

“Well, it’s nice to meet you.” Isabelle smiled. Her energy was contagious.

“So I suppose you don’t remember that hunky boyfriend of yours, then?”

“Mitchell? No, I don’t.”

“That’s probably good and bad.”

“Why?”

“Well that way you don’t remember his reputation and your reluctance to get involved with him at the start.”

“No, I don’t remember anything about him, good or bad. What reputation did he have?”

“No-one’s told you?”

Isabelle shook her head.

“Oh, crap, maybe I shouldn’t have told you that. I tend to run off at the mouth sometimes.”

“Please, I want to know.”

“Well, OK, he’s a bit of a player. He has slept with most of the models, and a few stylists as well, and from all accounts most want a repeat performance, if you know what I mean.”

“Yes, I’m pretty sure I do.” Feelings pierced her heart and she wondered why this all felt so familiar.

“Anyway, he’s supposed to have given all that up after he met you. You can probably trust him.”

“Probably?”
A lump wedged itself in her throat and Isabelle wondered exactly why she was having this reaction.

“Well the rumors have stopped.
I don’t know if that means he has been faithful …”

Guilt tugged at Adele and she knew it was wrong to take advantage of Isabelle’s amnesia. Although she liked Isabelle, when she’d taken up with Mitch, Adele’s jealousy
had become extreme. Adele had spent one fantastic night with Mitch a few months before he met Isabelle and she wanted an opportunity to relive the experience. The opportunity seemed to have passed her by until Isabelle’s accident took her memory. If she planted the seed of doubt, perhaps she could be there to pick up the pieces with Mitch.

“Have you ever
...?

“No,” Adele lied. “I never got the chance
, unfortunately. You’re my friend, so even when he offered I refused because of that.”

“Are you saying that while I was supposedly involved with Mitch, he propositioned you?”

“Gosh, me and my big mouth!” She said with mock sincerity. “I’m sure it didn’t mean anything ...”

“If he tried it with you …
My father was a womanizing creep who ended up leaving my mother for another woman and I have since found out had a second family. I have a brother I have met but of course I don’t remember. I can’t believe I ever took up with a man like that. Men like that don’t change, and by the sound of it, Mitch hasn’t. My instincts about men like him have always been correct. Thank you for telling me about this. He may have used my memory loss to con me again.”

“That’s what friends are for,” Adele said, smiling inside and out, for her plan had worked. “I had better go so you can rest. I’m sorry about what happened to you and being the person to tell you the truth about Mitch.”

“Thanks, Adele, for being a good friend.”

Astonishment confounded Isabelle over her own past actions once Adele left. Why on earth had she taken up with a man who was just like her lousy father? He must have been pretty convincing if she trusted him. What a fool he must have been making of her. Well
, she wasn’t going to be fooled again. As soon as she found somewhere else to live and got herself a job, she would take her family away from the creep. What she would do was another puzzling idea. There would be no way she would model again. This world seemed unreal to her.

When Carol re-entered her daughter’s room, her expression concerned her. She appeared more out of sorts after her visit with Adele.

“Are you OK, Isabelle? I thought you would enjoy a visit from a friend. I know you probably don’t remember her but I thought it might lift your spirits a bit.”

“It did and she is obviously a good friend because she shared with me some information that you seemed to have left out about Mitchell.”

“What about him?” Dread over what was to come caused Carol to make a silent curse over the situation once again.

“That he is a womaniz
er. You of all people, Mum, should know that men like that are to be avoided.”

“When you first met him, this was true
, but he’s dedicated to you, Isabelle. The change in him eased my concerns. I never imagined he would be disloyal to you. He loves you and he’s not like your father.”

“Mum, you were
fooled by my father. Who says Mitch hasn’t fooled you as well?”

“I just don’t think so, Isabelle. You forget we are staying with him at the moment and he’s torn up because you don’t remember him.”

“If he is supposed to care about me so much, why hasn’t he come to see me to try and help me remember him?”

“He’s being thoughtful and pushing his feelings aside to give you the space that you need. He has also been preparing the house for your arrival. Speaking of which, no-one buys a house for somebody they don’t love.”

“Dad loved you once too but that didn’t mean he wasn’t spreading it around.”

“Dammit, Isabelle, you are so stubborn! Your instincts have never let you down before and they didn’t let you down with Mitch either. He’s a good man.”

“Then why would Adele tell me that he propositioned her while with me?”

“Is that what she told you? I thought she only told you about his past, which in my opinion, a friend wouldn’t do.”

“Yes, she told me about his past and also how he can’t keep it in his pants.”

“Isabelle!” Carol shook her head. She’d forgotten how steadfast her daughter could be on this subject and the hatred she felt towards her father and men like him. Gone was the
daughter who had cast her judgment aside and fallen in love.

“What?” Isabelle asked to which Carol raised her eyebrows. “I’m sorry. I’m just telling it how it is. What reason would Adele have to lie to me?”

“Maybe she’s jealous and wants him for herself. Jealousy makes people do things they normally wouldn’t do.”

“She told me she hadn’t been with him and turned him down because we’re friends.”

“Well, I don’t believe a friend would tell you anything like that while you’re in this condition. I’m sorry but I tend to believe a man who gave you the world rather than a spiteful jealous girl.”

“Well
, I’m not you. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

Isabelle rolled away from Carol, who stood with an exasperated sigh and left her daughter to stew.

Chapter Twenty Seven

Home

Two voices singing Old McDonald’s Farm, one deep and one high, wafted from the balcony and greeted Carol as she entered the house. Mitch had offered to drive her to the hospital along with Jesse so he could see Isabelle as well, but Carol had told him she wanted to speak with Isabelle alone. That way she could find out how her progress was going and didn’t want to upset Jesse if her memories were still vague. In truth she hoped to convince her daughter to stay at the house, but instead the progress they’d made had been reversed from one v
isit from Adele.
Damn that girl!
Pushing this aside, she listened to them singing together and her heart felt light.

The sound of Jesse with a man who appeared to adore him helped ease her apprehension. Carol could finally be free of worry as far as Jesse’s need for a father was concerned, as he’d found a wonderful one in Mitch. She followed the sound of their voices through the house and joined them outside.

“Hey, you two.”

“Hi, Nan.
Is Mummy OK?”

“She’s much better today, Jesse. She’ll be able to come home tomorrow.”

The happy smiles from both of Isabelle’s men left Carol feeling a little disheartened but she forced a smile to her lips. The long difficult road they would be heading down, if Isabelle even stayed at the house, renewed her anxiety. Isabelle seemed quite determined to believe the worst of Mitch and Carol was just as resolute about finding out the truth. The only positive thing about the boys’ hopefulness was that Isabelle was remembering more and more about Jesse. At least he wouldn’t be hurt as much as Mitch was going to be.