For Better And For Worse
Chapter 32

While Stella was impatiently awaiting the arrival of Master Célestin, she heard the doorbell ring before the meeting time. She hurried to open the door and was surprised to see Isabelle’s mother.

Stella: oh, nice to meet you, please come in.

Florence: thank you.

Stella opens the gate and brings her car in. She then leads her inside and gives her a place on the couch. She then brings him a drink.

Florence: by the way, are you getting ready to go out?

Stella: uh… no, actually yes, but that’s not important.

Florence: let me tell you that you are lovely. This dress looks great on you and based on my experience, you have a date.

Stella: thank you but don’t worry, it can wait. Excuse me !

She gets up to go inside to change and then writes a message to Célestin.

Stella: hi, I’m sorry master but I’m going to have to cancel our meeting, regardless of my will. Isabelle’s mother is there and Isabelle is not there so I can’t leave her alone.

Célestin: ok, I understand. Another time then ?

Stella: yes, another time. Once again, I’m sorry.

Célestin: no, don’t be. A+.

She returns to the living room to Madame Florence.

Stella: so, how are you, ma’am?

Florence: I’m very bad, my heart is burning inside me. I won’t be okay until I see my daughter.

Stella: oh, I see.

Florence: by the way, who are you?

Stella tells him about her life and her meeting with the Krist Isabelle couple.

Florence: my daughter has always been blessed with a great quality of compassion.

Stella: It’s true.

Florence: where is she?

Stella: she is still working, she is a midwife

Florence: it has always been her passion. Do you think she would be happy to see me?

Stella: uh… I…

Florence: I suppose she told you everything about me?

Stella: yes, she told me everything.

Florence: So, do you think she would be able to forgive me?

Stella: Well, if there’s one thing I admire greatly about Isabelle, it’s her big heart and her great compassion. If she could forgive her father, why wouldn’t she do the same for you?

Florence: Well, I hope so.

They continue to talk while waiting for Isabelle to arrive.

Home of Commander Léon.

Around 7 p.m., Commander Boris visits former Commander Léon. He knocks on the door.

Leon: who is it?

Boris: It’s me, Commander Boris of the anti-drug squad.

He’s opening the door.

Léon: what the hell are you doing in my house, Commander?

Boris: I just want to chat with you.

Léon: of what exactly?

Boris: can we talk about it inside please?

Leon: come in.

He enters and Léon gives him a place. He brings two bottles of beer which they share.

Léon: So, what brings you here?

Boris: I need your help in a matter.

Leon: what kind of business?

Boris: a case that might interest you. A perfect opportunity for revenge.

Leon: Commander, if I had wanted revenge, I would have done it a long time ago.

Boris: I know but I really need your help. You spent 10 years pursuing Gauthier and today I’m giving you the opportunity to put an end to his affairs.

Léon: Gauthier you say, you still haven’t arrested this guy, how come?

Boris: Well, we now know that he has a dual identity so we have to replace out his true identity. This is where we need you.

Leon: You want me to infiltrate his organization.

Boris: Exactly.

Léon: you have a lot of money for that, why me?

Boris: because we assume that Gauthier has all the information on anyone who works for the government so it would be impossible to infiltrate him.

Léon: I also worked for the government, I remind you.

Boris: that’s it, you worked for the government, not anymore. In addition, you have good reasons to blame the government so you have at least 90% credibility.

Léon: when it’s not 100%, it’s dangerous.

Boris: there is always a big risk in this profession. I am giving you the opportunity to take revenge on the person who made you lose your job and your family, take it.

Léon: I’ve been out of service for a long time, my dear, don’t count on me.

Boris: I have no one to turn to, Commander, that’s why I’m turning to you.

Leon: Well, sorry about you Commander, but it’s no.

Boris: very good, thank you for having me. I’m sorry for everything that happened to you, honestly, you don’t deserve it.

Léon: thank you, I hope that this time, you will succeed in stopping this bastard.

Boris: I hope so.

Commander Boris leaves.

Krist’s home.

It is already 8 p.m. but Isabelle has still not returned but her mother is also determined to see her today. So, she is still waiting for him. It’s at 8:30 p.m. that Isabelle comes home. Stella comes to open the door for him.

Isabelle: good evening Stella.

Stella: hi, looks like it’s been a tough day?

Isabelle: yes, a busy day. Whose car is this?

Stella: It belongs to someone you know. I tell you who it is where I let you discover?

Isabelle: well, I love surprises.

Stella: I’m with you in this case.

Isabelle enters followed by Stella. As soon as his mother saw him, she got up. Isabelle was filled with surprise when she saw her.

Isabelle: mom!

Stella: surprise!

Florence: good evening my daughter.

Stella returns to the kitchen and leaves them. Emotion invades Isabelle, she unconsciously drops her handbag. She cried with joy and fell into the arms of her mother who also held her very tightly with a heart full of emotions.

Isabelle: mom, why did you abandon me?

Florence: I’m so sorry my daughter, it wasn’t my intention to abandon you. This situation hurt me as much as you did, but I know that’s no excuse. However, please know that I am so sorry my princess, forgive me, please forgive me.

Isabelle: if you only knew how much I needed you in certain situations in my life, mom!

Florence: I know, I know my darling. I regret with all my heart all these years spent away from you. I know I gave you reason to believe that I abandoned you, but I never, ever abandoned you. I have always kept you in my heart and in my prayers and thank God today I replace you again. I know I don’t deserve to be called mother but I want you to know that I am deeply sorry.

Isabelle: mom, dad told me what happened, it’s not your fault. The most important thing now is that I found you so the past is in the past. I forgive you mom but don’t let this past haunt us.

Florence: never again my daughter, never again, I promise you.

After a moment of hugging, they finally separate.

Florence: I am so sorry for everything that is happening to you right now my daughter, especially to your husband. I should have been there from the start to help you but your father stopped me, forgive me.

Isabelle: it doesn’t matter mom, I wasn’t alone, Stella was there with me. It is not for nothing that God brought him into our lives.

Florence: thank you very much my daughter. For a long time I lived with this guilt of having abandoned you. I am so relieved and very happy to see you today.

Isabelle: I too feel really relaxed seeing you, Mom.

Florence: I want you to know that Krist is a good man, I have always liked him, I liked him from the first time you introduced him to us. I have never been against your relationship and I think what is happening to him right now is unfair.

Isabelle: you’re right mom, it’s really unfair for a person to be convicted for a crime they didn’t commit.

Florence: tell me how he is?

Isabelle: that’s another problem.

Florence: how’s that?

Isabelle: we are being prevented from seeing him.

Florence: what, and why?

Isabelle: I don’t know, we were just told that he is not allowed to have visitors.

Florence: Gosh, why would they have stopped him from receiving visitors?

Isabelle: I don’t know, mom. But tomorrow we’re going to come back and see again.

Florence: ok, I will come and accompany you.

Isabelle: okay mom, we’ll leave in the afternoon.

Florence: OK. I am so proud of you my daughter, proud of what you have become.

Isabelle: thank you mom. I have news to tell you.

Florence: I’m listening to you, my daughter.

Isabelle: I am expecting a child.

Florence: what! You are pregnant ?

Isabelle: yes mom.

Florence: oh my God, what good news! Finally God thought of you, I am going to have a little son, what joy! Thank you very much my daughter, in my arms please.

She takes her in her arms, with a smile on her lips and joy in her heart.

Florence: congratulations, my daughter.

Isabelle: thank you mom.

Florence: I can’t believe Bruno didn’t tell me.

Isabelle: he certainly wanted you to discover the surprise yourself.

Florence: definitely. I’m so happy for you.

Stella arrives.

Stella: Sorry to interrupt, but I’ve made something that’s just waiting to be enjoyed.

Isabelle: we’re coming, Stella.

So they will eat while chatting.

Prison.

It’s 9 p.m., Claire decides to go home.

Claire: Krist, I’m going to have to leave you, we’ll see you again tomorrow morning.

Krist: thank you, may God take you home.

Claire: Thank you.

She gives him a k**s on the cheek and leaves. Krist watches her leave.

Krist: God, if you could stifle this feeling that’s growing inside her!

At the prison gates, Claire gets into a car which takes her there.

Krist’s home

After a good time spent together, Florence decides to return. Isabelle accompanies him to his car while Stella goes to open the gate. After he leaves, they go back inside.

Stella: ah, didn’t you tell me your mother was also great?

Isabelle: it’s true, when your mother abandoned you, you almost no longer remember her good qualities.

Stella: you’re right but now she’s back. God really does wonders.

Isabelle: why do you say that?

Stella: the moment he saw that you were alone, he brought your parents back, just like he brought Krist’s parents back.

Isabelle: you may be right but if he is truly wonderful, let him get my husband out of this prison. Why does he have him locked up when he knows he is innocent?

Stella: I can’t tell you but I know he knows why. I’m sure he’s also watching over him to accomplish his plan.

Isabelle: If you say so.

Stella: don’t be sad, at least for tonight. Come on, tell me more about your mother.

Isabelle: okay.

So she begins to tell him about her beautiful memories with her mother.