ISSABELLE

Issabelle woke up in the morning with a deep sigh. She remembered that tonight she and Ryan were supposed to attend a dinner party, given by Steven's mother. Issabelle didn't want to go, but she knew that Cathy would never forgive her for that.

Ryan came unannounced, while she was dressing up to go to work. He gave her an appreciative glance, and then gently kissed her. She told him that she didn't feel like going for dinner at Annie's place. She still was thinking about all that Cathy had told her yesterday, about dressing up appropriately. Ryan told her that "Cathy's embarrassed and confused. The visible signs of a parent's sexuality can be embarrassing to their teenager or an adult offspring. Because she has not grown up seeing her parent's shared physical love for one another."

Issabelle asked him that, Cathy didn't seem embarrassed the other day when she saw them together in bed. Ryan replied that probably it must have been because, she was so happy seeing her parents together, that she didn't think about anything else. Ryan told Issabelle to stop worrying, Cathy would get used to it gradually. He then told Issabelle that, he has been offered the Senior Chair post at the University. She questioned him whether he was going to accept that? "Cathy would never talk to me if I did not accept it" Ryan replied. Issabelle spontaneously burst out with "You might as well stay here if you are taking up the job."

Ryan asked her "Is that an invitation Issabelle?" Issabelle tensed, thinking how it would be if they were living together, how it would feel to share that intimacy with him again. To wake up in the morning curled up into him, knowing that he would never ever go, and would be a permanent part of her life. Ryan repeated his question, "Do you want me to stay back Issabelle?"

Issabelle was unable to answer him, as he was standing far too close to her, waiting for her response. She was tongue-tied, but in the end, she just whispered that "Your future plans do not have anything to do with me. You might as well consult Cathy about it. She is the one you are doing all this for, you are pretending our relationship for her, making this sacrifice for her." She then turned her back towards Ryan, and said very casually "It really does not matter to me, what decision you make."

Ryan arrived in the evening sharp at eight to pick her up. Issabelle realized that he was looking very attractive in his dinner jacket. Issabelle was wearing a softly tailored, wool crepe trouser suit. She realized she was blushing when she saw that Ryan was looking at her with clear approval in his eyes.

Ryan complimented her that "You always were a stunningly pretty girl Issabelle, but now as a woman...."

Issabelle interrupted what he had to say, by telling that "As a woman, I do not need false flattery or false compliments."

Ryan told her that he agreed with her, and said that he would not deceive himself by thinking that he was the only man to compliment her so. He continued that "You have serenely grown into womanhood. It suits you quite well Issabelle." Ryan then continued that, "It is aptly said that true beauty is skin deep, but yours shines out Issabelle and illuminates everyone around you too."

Issabelle just managed to say that "We are going to be late Ryan." Though they were of course not very late when they arrived at Steven's mom's place. Cathy and Steven had arrived ahead of them. Annie asked Cathy to introduce her parents to the other guests present. While they were being introduced Issabelle noted from the corner of her eyes, that she was being watched by a solitary male guest, whom she recognized from their earlier introductions as Annie's divorced cousin. While Issabelle was going back to Ryan's side, she found him in deep conversation with Steven's father. Issabelle just stood aside, when Annie's cousin caught up with her. He then started flirting with Issabelle. He was a good looking guy, probably a year younger than her Issabelle thought. He probably loved flirting, Issabelle thought. He then asked Issabelle, "Annie told me that you and Cathy's father have recently reconciled, and are getting remarried again. Is that true? Or else I can persuade you that there might be better options."

Issabelle assured him that "It is not true." He replied that then there was hope for him. While they were having some light-hearted conversation, Issabelle suddenly burst out laughing loudly on his joke. She then realized that people close to them had stopped talking, whilst eavesdropping on their conversation. She found Annie's best friend, as well as Cathy looking at her disapprovingly. Catherine ignored her all through the meal. After the meals, when Issabelle went upstairs to collect the wrap that she had worn over the suit, Cathy followed her and closed the bedroom door behind her.

Cathy demanded from her mother, what she thought she was doing? "How could you do this Mom, openly flirting in front of Steven's family, as well as in front of Dad. Mom, I thought I knew you well, but now I think I don't know you at all. I now understand why Dad had a reason to suspect, that I wasn't his child," she added.

Issabelle simply stood speechless. That Cathy was upset because she felt that her mother had embarrassed her in front of Steven and her in-laws she could understand. But to accuse her of being unfaithful to Ryan, just because of some harmless flirtation, was not acceptable to Issabelle.

Both of them did not hear when Ryan had entered the room until he said roughly "Cathy that is enough. I know that you are upset, but that is no excuse for you to talk to your mother like that. It is highly unforgivable what you said to her."

Cathy replied angrily, "Didn't you see Dad, the way she behaved, the way she was flirting with Annie's cousin, she angrily repeated how could you do this Mom, in front of Steven and his parents." She had tears in her eyes, and Issabelle automatically moved towards her to comfort her. But Cathy went away from her towards Ryan. She then asked Ryan "Dad, didn't you feel the same way that I did? You'll are supposed to be reconciled, and yet Mom was flirting with another man, and particularly in front of Steven and my in-laws."

"I am not embarrassed at all" Ryan replied. He then moved towards Issabelle, and took both her hands in his, and kissed her fingers very gently. "The worst mistake that I have ever made Cathy, was to not trust your mother, to not trust her love, and our love. That mistake has brought all of us unbearable pain. It cost you a father, and it cost me the woman I loved, and the daughter I would have loved. It has hurt your Mother unbearably, unforgivably and has caused misery and destruction that I can never forgive myself for." With sincerity in his voice, he said, "Nothing can ever change my love for you Issabelle, and nothing ever will."

Cathy then apologized and said "Mom I am very sorry. Dad is quite right. I just overreacted. It is probably because I wanted you to make a good impression on Steven and his family."

Ryan intervened that "Your mother doesn't need to worry about the impression she makes on others, and neither do you. Steven loves you as you are Cathy."

Cathy told Issabelle "Mom I love you and Steven so much. I want both of you to love and appreciate each other, the way I do. It hurt me so much to see that you and Steven not getting along with each other. When he got in touch with Dad, it was not to get even with you. He did that because he wanted to see me happy."

Cathy and Issabelle hugged one another, and then she was about to leave. Ryan told her that they would also leave. Cathy then kissed goodbye to both her parents and left.

Ryan then turned towards Issabelle and told her, that he meant everything he had said then. They took leave of their host and went towards his car, that was parked in the driveway.