Isabelle
"Isabelle." Mrs. Strahm smiled as I walked into the orphanage. "It's s good to see you, how are you?"
"I'm good." I smiled in return. "What about you?"
"Couldn't be better." Her eyes looked down to the boxes in my hands. "Oh dear, let me take some of those for you."
I happened to hear that there were some birthdays here that had passed, so I took it upon myself to bring in some cupcakes. Mrs. Strahm used to take us to the little shop in town to get a special one but now that it's closed, that's no longer an option. So I felt it was only fair to give these kids a taste of my best work, it doesn't compare to the what the bakery had in town but they're pretty close.
"You really didn't have to do this Izzy." Mrs. Strahm took a couple of the boxes from me and began to lead the way to the kitchen area. "It's really sweet of you but I don't want you to feel obligated to do this for every birthday we have."
"Nonsense." It was all my idea, it's not like she asked me to. "I'm more than happy to help put a smile on a few faces anytime. Besides, I like to make big batches and my roommate will kill me if I don't get them out of the apartment sooner rather than later."
Mrs. Strahm let out a chuckle at my words. "Okay."
We set the boxes of cupcakes on the counter and proceeded to head outside. The children were running around and playing on the playground. There's not as many here compared to when I was younger.
Of course, that's a good thing in this case.
"Let's sit." Mrs. Strahm motioned to the bench nearby. "I haven't seen you really since you decided to stay, I think it's time we catch up a little bit."
"Okay." Nodding, I followed her lead and sat next to her.
"How are things with you and Sterling?" She went right for the question that I know has been on her mind.
I exhaled a low breath. "We're alright is the best way I can put it. We're not exactly bad but we still have our work cut out for us. He's been very respectful of my boundaries this time around though."
"That's good." A pleased expression crossed her lips. "I was a little worried there for a moment when I found out you decided to stay for him."
"I didn't stay for him." I confessed.
Mrs. Strahm's brows furrowed. "What do you mean? From the sounds of it I figured that's what had happened."
"No." I shook my head. "Sterling was only part of the reason I stayed, I really do want to give us a chance. I stayed for myself, a few days before I left I got a call from the place my mother's at."
Her face grew serious. "What did they say?"
"I guess she had a breakthrough." I swallowed down some air. "She requested to see me and the doctors feel she is mentally well enough for me to actually talk to."
The call had come during the week I was preparing to leave. I chose to ignore it, hoping that I would forget it even happened. After knowing everything she did and finding out the truth behind my father's death, I was dead set on pretending as if the woman had never existed.
But the more time I had to think, the more I realized that I wanted answers. I kept blowing it off, telling myself that it didn't matter what she had to say. I had already planned to leave and I figured that once I was gone, then my urge to see her would go away.
Then Sterling stopped me from leaving. I figured it was a sign that I have too much unfinished business here to just up and leave.
"Are you going to see her?" I could hear the concern in Mrs. Strahm's voice, she's one of the only ones who knows just how serious my case was.
"I've been toying with the idea." I confessed. "There's questions I've always had as a child that I want to ask her."
"I know it's not my place." Mrs. Strahm sighed. "But I don't think you should do it Isabelle. I don't want it to bring up anything negative for you and to be honest after the abuse and neglect she put you through she doesn't deserve to see how amazing you are."
I can tell she's being protective. Mrs. Strahm's the one who watched me grow into the person I am today. She was the one who was there for the biggest moments of my life, to me Mrs. Strahm will always be like a mother.
"I'm sorry." She looked into my eyes, I could see the worry and concern plastered within her orbs. "That was probably out of line, you're an adult now. This is your choice to make."
"I know." I responded gently. "I respect your words. I haven't decided what I want to do yet, I still need to think about it."
"Okay." Mrs. Strah nodded.
We dropped the conversation there and switched topics to lighten the mood. It felt good to actually tell someone about it though. I had been keeping it to myself because I don't really want outside opinions, in the end this is my decision I'm going to have to make.
She called the children in after they had played and we served them the cupcakes. They all were so thrilled. I couldn't help the warm feeling I felt inside as I watched them all smile with enjoyment as they feasted on the treats brought to them.
After they were finished I said my goodbyes and headed back home. I wanted to take the rest of my day off to relax. From the way it sounds, tomorrow will be a busy day for even Killian and I. Now that he has an effective assistant, Mr. Tipton wants to test how he takes on more responsibility, especially since Kaydence is due to give birth within the next month or two.
"Hey!" Noami greeted me as I walked into the apartment. "You have a gift on the kitchen counter from someone."
"Okay." I raised a brow as I headed for the kitchen, spotting the bouquet of purple and pink roses.
Picking up the note attached, I proceed to read it to myself.
'The prettiest flowers for the prettiest girl I know. Hope you're having a day that's equally as amazing as you are. —Sterling'
I couldn't help the smile that crossed my lips. This man is definitely pulling out all stops to try and win me over this time.