Papa-papa, see, see my castle" Isabella said, calling out to her father where he sat on the beach. He turned towards her with a big smile, and got up to come and admire her sand castle.
"What a beautiful castle,cariño. Who lives there" he asked her.
"Me, and You and mami" little Isabella said, jumping up in excitement.
Chuckling as he carried her, he said "Yes, we would all live there together… you, your mum and I, as one big family".
Then as they played around the castle, the tide slowly started rising until it stood taller than any of the coconut trees that surrounded the beach.
Her father carried her swiftly in haste and he started to run, towards higher ground in a bid to escape the water. Just as they reached a higher ground, he slipped and fell with her in his hands.
Without any concern for himself, he dropped her onto the higher pavement as the water swept down, dragging him away.
"Paaaaaapaaaaa" she shouted as she woke up, drenched in sweat and breathing heavily. It took a few seconds before she recognized she was on the convertible couch bed in her mother's sitting room.
She got up to get a glass of water before she settled down again on the couch, wondering about the dream. It was a strange one particularly because she hadn't dreamt about her father since she was you g and he wasn't killed by the ocean.
He had been the best dad, always smiling, always listening to her, and he had been kind to everyone yet he had been murdered in cold blood by the friends of the man she was in love with. The last thought left a bad taste in her mouth.
It had been a week since she left Malibu and moved back to her mothers house. Since Aunt Luciana was staying in her old room, Isabella had made the couch her new bed. Lucky for her, it could be converted to a couch bed otherwise it would have been an uncomfortable experience.
As Isabella settled back onto the couch, the remnants of her dream lingered in her mind like an unwelcome guest. The vivid images of her father, his warm smile and gentle laughter, haunted her thoughts as she tried to make sense of the unsettling dream.
With a heavy sigh, Isabella reached for her phone, the digital display confirming that it was still the dead of night. Dawn was still hours away, and the darkness outside seemed to mirror the turmoil within her own heart.
Feeling restless, Isabella shifted on the couch, trying to find a comfortable position. Since her return to her mother's house, sleep had become an elusive luxury, each night plagued by memories and regrets that refused to let her rest. She had cried more than she slept but even now, she seemed to have run out of tears.
With a sense of resignation, Isabella closed her eyes, willing herself to find solace in sleep. But as the darkness closed in around her, she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something she was missing.
Isabella awoke in the morning to the lively atmosphere in her mother's sitting room, where preparations were underway for the long-awaited homecoming of Camila and her newborn baby. Still groggy, she inquired about the commotion, learning that Camila was finally being discharged from the hospital after a challenging recovery.
Eager to see the new addition to the family, Isabella quickly freshened up and joined in the cooking frenzy alongside her mother and other relatives. Together, they prepared a feast fit for the celebration, showcasing a variety of traditional Mexican dishes.
By the time they were done three hours later, the house filled with joyous energy as neighbors and friends arrived to share in the momentous occasion. When Javier and Camila returned with the baby; Marisol Luciana, the sweet bundle of joy, captured the hearts of everyone with her bright eyes and tiny hands.
As guests indulged in the delicious spread of food, There was Mexican tortilla pies, meatball skewers with rice salad, beef and bean burrito, chorizo frittata, smoky tortilla crisps with chunky guacamole, beef tacos, chicken tacos and Mexican salad. Some of their neighbors also brought food that Isabella couldn't even begin to list them all.
Isabella couldn't help but tease Camila about the size of their growing family. "You have a full basketball team already, with one bench player. That should be enough, right?".
Camila's laughter echoed through the room, a sign of her improving health and spirits. "Well after what happened this time, I will be sure to put a pillow between me and Javier whenever we go to bed" She teased.
It was around 5pm when the last of the guests had left. Earlier on, Javier, Camila and their older kids had gone home with the baby while some of the relatives and neighbors still lingered around. Isabella had enjoyed herself more than she thought she would. It felt really good to spend time with old friends and relatives and her mood had improved greatly than in previous days.
Her mother must have also noticed this and Maria Fernandes seized the opportunity to confront her daughter about the events that led to her abrupt departure from her job. Isabella had been dreading this moment, but she knew she couldn't keep hiding the truth from her mother any longer.
Seated in her mother's room, Isabella recounted the tumultuous journey of her relationship with Mark Matthews, from that day he had rescued her in the rain, to the shocking revelation contained in the yellow folder. With each word, she felt the weight of her burden lifting, relieved to finally share her struggles with someone she trusted.
Maria Fernandes listened intently, her expression unreadable as Isabella poured her heart out. When she had finished, Isabella braced herself for her mother's response, unsure of what to expect.
After a long silence, Maria Fernandes spoke. "You love this Man, don't you?."
Mami," Isabella complained in protest. "Despite everything I just told you, is that the only thing you are concerned about?."
"It's not, but I still need you to answer". Maria Fernandes shot back
"Yes, I fell in love with him." Isabella answered reluctantly.
"Listen Mija," her mum continued. "I know how much you loved your father. You too were quite close and he would have done anything for you."
"…But your father was not a perfect man. This your Mark Matthews may have worked with those bastards but even if he never did, I fear it wouldn't have changed anything"
"Mami, I don't understand. What are you trying to say"
"Your father made some decisions and those decisions cost him his life. Mark Matthews had nothing to do with that."
"Wait, what does that even mean?" Isabella asked. Her mum didn't seem to be making much sense.
"Someday, when the time is right… Maybe I will tell you more about it. You were young when he died, there were things you couldn't have known. But nevertheless he loved you more than anything else in this world. He was a good husband and father"
Isabella couldn't help but notice as a tear drop ran down from her mother's eyes but before she could ask another question, Maria Fernandes got up and turned to leave.
"Rest now mija, I have to go watch my show… but like I said, It's pointless blaming that man for your father's death. If you miss him, go back to him." And with that she walked away, limping lightly.
Alone in her mother's room, Isabella found herself immersed in a tumult of emotions. Her mother's words echoed in her mind, stirring memories of her father's untimely death and yet, it had left her with more questions than answers.
As she reflected on her tumultuous relationship with Mark, Isabella couldn't deny the ache in her heart. Despite her anger and disappointment, a part of her longed for his presence, yearning for the warmth of his embrace and the familiarity of his touch.
"If you miss him, go back to him." Her mother said, If only it was that easy. The revelation of Mark's ties to her father's murderers had shattered her trust and left her grappling with a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. How could she reconcile her love for him with the knowledge of his dark past?
With a heavy sigh, Isabella acknowledged the truth that lay beneath her mother's words. If she truly missed Mark, then perhaps she needed to confront him, to seek the answers she so desperately sought. Yet, the prospect of facing him filled her with dread, uncertainty gnawing at her resolve.
A week had passed since she left Malibu, yet the pain of their parting lingered like a shadow over her heart. Despite her initial fury, Isabella had hoped that Mark would reach out, that he cared about her. But as each day slipped by without a word from him, her hopes dwindled, leaving her feeling abandoned and alone.
The memory of finding him passed out on the couch, lost in a haze of alcohol, only added to her despair. Had she really meant that little to him? Or was there more to his silence than met the eye?
With a heavy heart, Isabella made a decision. She would confront Mark, not out of anger or resentment, but out of a need for closure. Whatever the outcome, she knew she couldn't continue to live in limbo, caught between love and betrayal.
She would get her chance some days later. With the semester coming to an end, exams were in full flow and she had needed to put aside her hurt and all other problems aside in a bid to focus on her Exams.
It was a Friday afternoon, and as she left the campus, she branched into the supermarket to get some groceries they needed at home.
The fluorescent lights of the supermarket aisle flickered above Isabella as she stood in front of the Toiletries section, nursing a worrying suspicion.
She was three days late and even though there had been the occasional period this had happened especially when she had been going through a lot of stress, but this time, she wasn't willing to take any chances.
She paid for a test kit and headed straight to the restroom. As she sat in the sterile confines of the restroom, waiting for the stick to complete its reading, she closed her eyes, and said a silent prayer to God that her suspicions were wrong.
Her heart racing, pounding in her chest like a drumbeat of dread, she stared down at the test kit. The plastic test kit trembled in her hand, its stark white surface bearing the weight of a life-altering revelation.
Positive.