For Better And For Worse
Chapter 31

Krist’s home.

This morning, Stella gets up early to wash the dishes and cook. After she finishes preparing, she goes to Isabelle’s room who is still sleeping to her surprise. She leaves it to go out but she wakes up.

Isabelle: Stella!

Stella: oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.

Isabelle: no, you didn’t wake me up.

Stella: I have the impression that you slept today?

Isabelle: yes, thank God I was able to sleep enough.

Stella: that makes me happy. In fact, I’ve already made food.

Isabelle: okay, I’m coming.

She gets up to brush her teeth and clean her face before joining Stella in the dining room to have breakfast. She doesn’t feel comfortable.

Stella: Isabelle, is everything okay?

Isabelle: yes, I’m just stressed about going back to work.

Stella: why, it’s not your first day of work.

Isabelle: I know but with everything that’s happening to me, I’m afraid of not being up to it.

Stella: of course yes, I have confidence in you Isabelle and I know that you will always be up to the task.

Isabelle: thank you Stella.

Stella: You’re welcome. I would like to ask you something.

Isabelle: go ahead!

Stella: could you leave me your motorcycle and take Krist’s to go to work?

Isabelle: of course, no problem.

Stella: thank you very much Isabelle.

Isabelle: It’s normal.

After breakfast, they get dressed.

Stella: wow!

Isabelle: what?

Stella: you look absolutely beautiful this morning.

Isabelle: thank you, that’s nice. You too are truly sublime.

Stella: Thank you. Let me take a picture of you.

Isabelle: go ahead!

She takes a few photos and they take selfies before Isabelle heads to the hospital. Stella takes charge of the university.

Anti-drug squad.

Once at work this morning, Inspector Kevin and Lieutenant John will meet Commander Boris in his office.

John: Hello Commander.

Boris: hello, how are you?

K & J: good commander.

Kevin: We have some news regarding the drug bust at the fountain bar.

Boris: I’m listening to you.

John: We haven’t spotted Mr. Gauthier yet, but we were able to replace this.

He places the bag of drugs he had bought on the table. The commander takes it and smells it.

Boris: It’s definitely cocaine.

John: yes Commander.

Kevin: I think Krist was right.

Boris: yes, I’m going to speak to Commander Léon this evening. As for you two, replace out for me the image and identity of this dealer.

John: We’ll take care of it.

Boris: get ready!

Prison.

Claire arrives at work this morning. She goes to the infirmary with food and fruit for Krist.

Claire: hello Krist.

Krist: hello Claire.

Claire: how are you feeling this morning?

Krist: I’m getting better and better.

Claire: I’m delighted. Stand on your butt and wash your face. I brought you something to eat.

Krist: that’s very nice of you Claire but I’m very embarrassed that you take such good care of me. I have nothing to offer you in return.

Claire: don’t worry, I don’t need anything in return. Come on, you need to eat.

She still wants to put the food in his mouth.

Krist: no, I can manage.

He tries to eat on his own but can’t.

Claire: Don’t act tough and let me take care of you.

This is how she takes care of giving him food.

To the hospital.

Isabelle arrives at the hospital under the gaze of her colleagues, they stare at her so much that it hurts.

Isabelle: I’m sure they say to themselves that I’m the wife of a drug addict and that they also consider me as such, a drug addict. No, no, no, you shouldn’t get bad ideas about what people think. Maybe, but their look says a lot about what they’re thinking. Maybe but you don’t know.

She is completely upset inside that she clashes with Doctor Charles.

Charles: oh, Isabelle!

Isabelle: I’m sorry doctor, I… I…

Doctor Charles: wow, how beautiful do you look this morning?

She doesn’t say anything and just looks down and smiles!

Charles: sorry, I didn’t mean to tell you that, it just came out.

Isabelle: it’s okay doctor, I’m sorry for hurting you.

Charles: No, don’t be. I know you are upset about what is happening to your husband right now. And if you don’t feel ready to return to work, you can go home and rest for a while.

Isabelle: no doctor, it hurts even more sitting at home doing nothing. Besides, I promised my husband I wouldn’t get depressed so I’m going to stay.

Charles: in that case, I’m very happy to see you back with us, welcome.

Isabelle: thank you doctor.

Charles kept looking at her. Isabelle walks towards the midwives office and the doctor’s eyes were on her until she entered.

Charles: wow, I replace her very different today, she is really more lovely than usual.

Charles returns to his office and sits down in his seat. He still thinks about Isabelle’s smile.

Charles: that smile is magnificent! I have to see it again.

He is still thinking about it when a nurse comes to tell him of a fairly serious accident. He goes out to take care of it.

At this moment, while Isabelle was wearing her white coat, Christelle arrives. While they are still talking, Alice arrives followed by Rachel and Carole. They chat while wearing their work clothes. Then they begin their work by examining the pregnant women present.

On the doctor’s side. After taking care of the injured, he returns to his office and suddenly he thinks of Isabelle again.

Charles: but what is happening to me? Oh shit! Back from me temptation, I don’t want you.

It is at this moment that he regains the normality of his mind and remains focused on working.

Isabelle, for her part, found enough patients to take care of her during the day. At one point, she receives a call from Doctor Roger. He begged her to go to his hospital to take care of a case which is only a pretext to see her but categorically refuses, saying that she is very busy. Roger had no other choice and gave up. On the other side, Stella comes home from classes in the afternoon. She takes a shower then makes herself some food. She then receives a call from Master Célestin.

Stella: master, glad to know that you still think of me.

Célestin: I know I should have at least let you know but I didn’t. I am sorry.

Stella: what excuse do you have this time?

Célestin: my only excuse is that I thought about you so much that I thought you were really close to me.

Stella (with a smile): flattering!

Célestin: It’s the truth. Agree to see me this evening and you will know that I was speaking the truth.

Stella: Okay. What time do you want me to be available?

Célestin: at 5 p.m., I’ll pick you up at 5 p.m.

Stella: ok, I’ll wait for you then.

Célestin: thank you.

He hangs up and Stella was filled with joy and above all inner peace. When 4 p.m. arrives, she takes another shower and dresses in an evening dress that makes her irresistible, she puts on perfume and gets ready to wait for her appointment. There are only 20 minutes left for Master Célestin to be there. While she is getting impatient, she hears the doorbell ring.

Stella: wow, already!

She takes her purse and rushes to open it but who does she see? A woman.

Stella: good evening ma’am.

Her: good evening, young lady. Is this really the home of Isabelle, Krist’s wife?

Stella: yes, you are in the right place. Who are you ?

Her: my name is Florence, I am her mother.

Great surprise invaded Stella’s face.