Chapter 62 Isabella

• The news of her parents' impending visit filled Isabella with apprehension. Memories of past conflicts flooded her mind, mingling with the uncertainty of what lay ahead. Each step towards the ambiguous future seemed to resurrect the challenging times of the past. Her grandfather's wise counsel resounded in his thoughts, a guiding voice that had always illuminated her path.
• The advice offered a strategic approach to the delicate situation: inviting her parents to her home for lunch on Saturday at noon. Marta, her confidante and friend, would take the children to an amusement park while Isabella and her parents engaged in conversation. Though reluctant to shield her children as if they were a secret, she recognised it as a means to shield her grandmother from potential conflicts and undue tensions.
• Approaching the weekend, Isabella found herself entangled in a whirlwind of emotions. Preparing the house for her parents' visit evoked a blend of nostalgia and anxiety. As she arranged the dining room chairs and selected the tableware, her mind wandered through memories of childhood and adolescence, where family gatherings were often bittersweet affairs.