“God, Ike, The Hansons were in the studio trying to get the first track for their new album recorded. They were usually very understanding of one another, but Isaac had screwed up a simple five bar passage for about the sixth time, and Zac and Taylor were running out of patience. “I’m sorry, guys,” Isaac said, whipping off his headphones in frustration. “I don’t know what’s the matter with me.” Taylor and Zac exchanged a look. They knew exactly what the problem was. “Hey, Charlie, let’s take a break,” Taylor said to the man in the mixing booth. The man nodded and stepped out of the room. Taylor and Zac removed their headphones. “Why don’t you just call her?” Zac asked. Isaac gave Zac a look. “You think this is about Taryn?” he asked. “Isn’t it?” Taylor asked. “You haven’t been on since we got back from New Mexico. I don’t know what else would have you so preoccupied.” Isaac sat down and rubbed his temples. “I’m confused,” he said. “About what?” Zac said. “About whether or not you love her? About whether or not she loves you? Don’t be stupid, Ike.” “No, I’m not confused about those things,” Isaac said. “I’m confused about what to do about it.” “I believe she’s sorry,” Taylor said. “I know what she did was rotten and I’m sure not excusing it. But I do think she’d do things a lot differently if she had them to do over again.” Zac nodded. “I can’t even guess how you must feel,” he said. “But when you guys are together … when you’re all in the same place … it’s like you’re a family. There’s just that little nagging thing under the surface that you need to get rid of.” Isaac shook his head. “But that’s just it,” he said. “I didn’t create this situation. I don’t feel like it’s my responsibility to fix it.” “It’s sure not going to get any better if you don’t give her a chance to prove she’s worth trusting again,” Taylor pointed out. “Look at what she’s done so far. She could have been a real bitch about the court thing. She could have demanded blood tests, refused your visitation requests … all kinds of things. But she didn’t. She just lay down and let you have whatever you wanted. That alone tells me she’s trying to make things up to you.” “You can’t get that year back that you lost, Ike,” Zac said quietly. “But that’s all it is … a year. I know important things happened that you would have wanted to be a part of, but they’re gone now. And you and Taryn are both young. There are a lot more years ahead of you than there are behind you. Maybe you should just focus on what you can do about the future instead of being mad that you missed part of the past.” Isaac blinked at his brothers. “You guys sound like the Chinese guy from the ‘Karate Kid,’” he said. Taylor chuckled. “We’re just trying to tell you that you’re not going to be happy without Taryn. The kids are great and having them in your life will be great for you, but if you don’t have Taryn you’re never going to be whole. And if we know that, you must know it too.” Isaac sighed. “I wish I’d get some kind of sign,” he said. “I wish I could let myself get over being upset with her. I want to let her off the hook, but somehow I just can’t seem to do it.” “You never know,” Zac mused. “You may just get the sign you’re looking for sooner than you think.”
how many times are we going to have to do this bridge?” Taylor asked in exasperation.
