The Forgotten Valentine - Chapter 2

Elena

“I’m stealing you away for lunch. And before you even try to protest, Jess cleared your schedule last week to accommodate me.” The voice of Isaac came as he burst through my office door.

I look at my watch; 3 pm already.

“Wait, you had Jess clear my schedule?” I ask, blinking in surprise when he nods.

“It seems to be the only way to get some bloody free time out of you!” He says, shaking his head. “I can’t believe I have to schedule myself into my own sister’s life.”

I sigh as he says this, especially when a sad look crosses his eyes.

Getting up from my office chair, I walk around my desk and take his hands in mine. “All you had to do was call me, you tart. I always have time for you,” I say, offering him an apologetic smile.

He shakes his head again, bopping his red curls. “I’ve been trying for the last month, love,” he says, slipping his arm in mine. “But now that I have you for the afternoon, you’re not to answer that damned cell of yours unless it's the day mother or Sebbie.”

I am about to mention that I have a few things to finish off, but he silences me with a finger to my lips. “No.” That is all he says before grabbing my handbag, coat and cell phone.

I nearly doubled over from laughter at the sight of us and what Isaac had to do to get some free time out of me. If this doesn’t attest to my busy schedule running my life, I don’t know what does.

“The usual?” I ask.

He nods happily as he opens the car door for me. “Always the usual,” he replies with a smile, and instead of getting into his car, I walk around and wrap my arms around his waist.

“Thank you, Isaac,” I say, unsure of why I was thanking him but knowing it has something to do with me needing a breather from everything.

He gives me a squeeze, and then we both hop into his car and set off to our usual lunch haunt.

I have to admit that I am still reeling from the fact that my own brother had to schedule himself into my days. How pathetic is that? My little family always used to come first, above everything else. Now, look at me turning into a person I used to despise.

“So, how have things been with you and Matthew? Is Jane coping well in her little daycare?” I ask, remembering our last conversation about how they battled to get Jane to go to daycare. The little girl hated being separated from her dads.

Isaac shrugs. “As well as can be expected. I’ve been on leave for the last week before I fall back into my routine. And Jane’s settled at least; she’s stopped throwing her wobblies and has made a few little friends as well.” He says with a content smile on his face.

I wonder if I used to look like that.

After the server brings out our wine and starters, Isaac levels me with a gaze. “And you? How are things with your CEO and kids?” He asks.

I pick up my glass, taking a big gulp before looking at him again. “Sebastian’s okay; he’s been out of town and country on most days, so I barely see him. The kids are… doing well too.” I answer him, feeling horrified that I have no idea how my children are actually doing.

Isaac seems to pick up on this and raises his eyebrow. “Is everything okay, love? You don’t seem like your usual perky self.”

I put down my wineglass and sighed. “No. No, I don't think things are okay at all,” I admit, looking down at my hands on the table.

Isaac reaches over and places a hand over mine. “Well, I’m here, so talk to me. What’s worrying you?”

Tears slip down my cheeks before I even get a word out, and Isaac gets up and walks over to me, getting on his haunches and wrapping me in an embrace.

“I don’t know where we went wrong, Isaac.” I admit as he rubs my back. “We used to be the perfect couple with plenty of romance and intimacy. Now the only level of intimacy we have is when Sebastian crawls into bed next to me and slips his arms around my waist.”

“I miss him! I miss him so much that my heart aches every time I think about him or see his picture on my desk and phone screen!” Gosh, I hate blubbering like this, but at this moment I did not care - I’m sad, damn it!

He then pulls away and hands me a tissue. “Well, what’s caused this? Why is there a sudden rift between you two? Don’t you love him anymore?”

I look at him, horrified. “No, that’s not it at all! We’re just… we’ve just become too busy with our careers that we’ve slipped out of intimacy and into a rut.” I say, wiping my nose with the tissue.

Isaac lets out a sigh and places his hands on my knees. “Then why don’t you get your man back if you still love him? Show him how much you’ve missed him in bed, turn up unannounced at his work or do what I did; schedule yourself into his time.” As soon as Isaac says this a bitterness sets into my heart.

Scheduling a time in my husband's busy diary to see him for an hour.

He sees my expression and tilts my chin up to look into my eyes. “Elena, make time for one another before it’s too late and you regret it.”

I nod. “I know, and I’m sure Sebastian feels the same way, but what am I to do? Right now Sebastian isn’t even in London!”

Isaac sighs. “Well, first things first - what do you have scheduled for tomorrow?” he asks, looking at me quizzically.

I frown at this question. “Tomorrow? Well, work obviously then at about 7 pm, I have an important dinner scheduled with the CEO of one of the biggest literary houses in the UK. Why?” I ask, cocking my head to the side.

Isaac blinks and goes quiet for a few seconds - then he gasps. “Elena, do you know what tomorrow is?”

Why do I suddenly feel like the only one left out of a joke? First Jess and now him.

“It’s Thursday, innit? What about it?” I ask.

He pinches the bridge of his nose and breathes out a long sigh. “For as long as I’ve known you, you and Sebastian have always celebrated it together. Come what bloody may. Now you’re telling me you’ve forgotten about Valentine’s Day?!”

Excuse me; TOMORROW IS VALENTINE’S DAY?!