ISSABELLE

A week had passed by since Issabelle had seen Ryan. One day early morning her daughter Catherine came over, to see her. She was very excited, and happy and gave Issabelle a tight hug. She informed Issabelle that, "Mom we have found a house for ourselves. It is very nice and spacious. It has three spacious bedrooms and has a very pretty garden in the backyard. Dad also liked the house very much." Issabelle replied tauntingly, "Oh so he has already seen the house?" Cathy replied, "Mom he is my father after all. I know, Steven had told me, that you would never understand. You would never forgive Dad." Seeing Cathy's small face, Issabelle swallowed off her anger, and told Cathy that "Well tell me about the house, did Steven also like the place?" Cathy replied, "Yes very much."

Cathy enlightened Issabelle, "Dad has been offered a very good post at the university here. Though he had no plans of settling here, he had planned to go back, after my marriage. Yesterday he had an appointment at the University, about this post, and this place that we have bought is in the same way, but somewhere before the University. So he had dropped in to see the place. Mom, and one more thing, Dad has also offered to pay for the wedding breakfast. Though he still hasn't rented a place, he will, if the job is to his satisfaction. Right now Dad is staying in a hotel. Do you know Mom, Dad, and Steven, get along very well. Mom, I am really longing for you to see the house, you can come over on weekend. Dad is coming over tomorrow to see Steven's parents, and the day after Steven's mom has organized a birthday party, for her granddaughter. Dad is also invited to the party. By the way, Dad has told me to inform you that he needs to talk to you about the wedding reception. He said that you might have your own ideas, about the venue and other details. By the way, Dad also was inquiring whether were you seeing some guy? I told him that you were not interested in any men."

Issabelle then specifically told Cathy, "I have got all the locks of the house changed, make sure Cathy that you don't share the keys with Ryan, and I mean that."

Issabelle told Cathy, "Yes my darling, Everything will be very special, just like the way that you are special." Saying this Issabelle hugged Cathy very tightly. Nothing was more important, than her daughter, not even her pride, Issabelle thought so. She resolved that when Ryan called her up, she would just remember that it was Cathy's feelings and happiness, that was of utmost importance, and not her own.

Ryan rang up Issabelle the next day. His voice was sensually disturbing, compelling. It still had the power to disturb her. Ryan told her that he wondered if they could meet, to discuss Cathy's wedding. He inquired whether Cathy had informed her, about it?

Issabelle replied, "Yes she has told me, that you have offered to pay for the reception. She also told me about other things too." Ryan asked her what did she mean by other things? What other things, Ryan again asked Issabelle? "Cathy told me that you are planning to shift back here. That you have been offered a post at the University." Ryan replied that he was sorry that he was unable to inform her when they had previously met. "Well Ryan what you do with your life, is none of my business." There was hostility in Issabelle's voice which Ryan seemed to have recognized. Very gently he told Issabelle that, "Cathy is our daughter Issabelle, let us meet and make plans. I want her to remember, her wedding day, as the best day of her life."

Issabelle curtly replied that she knew, very well that what he wanted was Cathy, and not her. She told Ryan with anguish in her voice, "Why are you so determined to push your way into Cathy's life." Ryan protested that he was not, and Issabelle was wrong. She questioned back to Ryan, "Why are you offering to pay for her wedding reception? Why have you come back? Why are you planning to settle back here? It is surely because of Cathy. I know you are planning to alienate her, from me." "What makes you so irritable, my presence in Cathy's life? Or your fear, that I would get involved in your life too?"

Ryan then wearily told Issabelle, "We both are mature adults, and parents to our daughter. We have a responsibility towards her. Cathy's feelings are of utmost importance. She wants both of us to be present at the wedding. She also wants both of us to be involved in the preparation. So thus we need to meet, and discuss the wedding, and also for a truce between us, till the marriage functions are over." Issabelle wearily agreed to that, as she had to go along with Cathy's desire, for the involvement of both of her parents, in her marriage plans.

Ryan then asked Issabelle, that if she was free, he would come to pick her up, so that they could meet somewhere out. But if she wanted to keep the meeting at her place, then he was fine even with that arrangement. They then arranged between them, that he need not pick her up. She would drive herself to, the pub with an excellent restaurant attached to it. She would meet Ryan there at 8 pm.