49 The Madam (2)

The room was softly lit, with daylight filtering through the windows. On a nearby table, a lovely bouquet of freshly picked flowers added a delicate touch to the room, their sweet floral scent lingering in the air.

Madam Isabel rested comfortably in her bed, propped up against the plush headboard. A soft, warm blanket cocooned her frail form, ensuring her utmost comfort.

Hanging lightly from the canopy above her bed was a thin curtain, like a translucent veil, that offered a teasing glimpse of her presence but kept her hidden from plain sight.

From her bedroom, she could hear the chatter from the guest area right next door. Among the voices, she could easily discern her daughter and Celia's voice. 

Then, another voice chimed in, and it wasn't a voice she recognized at all. She figured it came from the person she had been expecting and excited to meet had finally arrived.

'That must be,' she thought to herself. 'I should see her.'

With all the excitement, she tried to get out of bed to greet him. But right then, a coughing fit decided to pay her an unexpected visit. 

She struggled to catch her breath, her chest heaving with exertion. Her wrinkled hands clutched at her chest, scrunching her eyes closed, trying to fight off the discomfort.

After a few agonizing moments, the coughing fit finally decided to cut her some slack, and Madam Isabel slumped back on the headboard, exhausted. 

She took a few deep breaths and tried to calm herself down. Well, she definitely didn't want her daughter-in-law looking like a mess.

Lucky for her, Celia had rushed to come back into her room, to assist her. She drew a little space on the bed curtains before passing Madam Isabel a glass of water from the bedside table.

"Here," Celia said gently. "Madam, drink this."

Madam Isabel, still recovering from coughing, accepted the glass and brought it to her lips. She sipped the water slowly, its coolness a relief to her parched throat. As she calmed down, she could hear the voices approaching.

A few moments later, three more individuals entered the room. Madam Isabel could see one silhouette standing at the entrance of her bedroom, while two others walked towards her bed, on the side where the curtains were still drawn.

Among the silhouettes, Madam Isabel could tell it was her daughter, Aurel, from her outline. But the identity of the second visitor eluded her momentarily, obscured by the sheer veil of the curtain. 

Through the obstruction, she managed to capture only a few vague details. The lighting wasn't helping either; it played tricks with her eyes, making it challenging to make out distinct features.

Finally, her daughter, Aurel, broke the silence, sounding all worried as she asked, "Mom, are you alright?"

Madam Isabel said in a low voice, "I thought you were going to leave."

Aurel moved to the other side of the bed, where Celia was standing. She came clean, saying, "Well, I figured I'd stick around for a bit longer." She reached out, her hand reaching for Madam Isabel's. "Is that cough of yours acting up again, Mom?"

Madam Isabel hesitated for a moment before answering weakly, "No."

Aurel, however, wasn't convinced. She shook her head, disbelief and worry in her expression. "Yes, it totally is," she insisted firmly. "I just heard it."

Madam Isabel decided to change the topic. "Anyway..." 

She shifted her focus to her daughter-in-law, her eyes getting all gentle as she reached out, her hand sneaking out from the bed curtain. "Ain't you my Nico's wife, dear?"

Mikael gently accepted Madam Isabel's hand, noting how delicate it felt as his fingers intertwined with hers. "Yes, Madam Isabel," he answered.

Madam Isabel, her eyes holding a glimmer of curiosity, continued the conversation. "My lady, how's your stay so far?"

Mikael responded politely, "It's been wonderful, Madam. It's a real pleasure to meet you finally. And how are you feeling?"

"Don't worry about me," she assured, waving away the concern. "Oh, and please, draw them curtains away. I want to see you properly, my lady."

With a courteous nod, Mikael moved to draw the curtains aside, allowing the soft, diffused light from the room to illuminate Madam Isabel. 

As the curtains slowly revealed her, Madam Isabel's eyes met Mikael's. Before her stood a young lady, her hair shining like silver under the gentle light, and her eyes a faint shade of blue.

Their gazes locked, and for a moment, it felt like the room itself held its breath as they took in each other's presence.

Mikael saw Madam Isabel, and he couldn't help but notice the little lines on her face, which showed she'd seen quite a few years. Her hair, once probably a different color, now had touches of gray here and there. 

But what really got to him was her eyes; they were like this endless pool of kindness that no one needed words to understand.

"Aren't you beautiful," she said, her lips curving into a warm smile.

Mikael felt a fuzzy feeling start bubbling up inside him, and he replied with a humble, "Thank you."

Her invitation followed. "Come, give me a hug," she said, her voice filled with maternal affection.

Mikael didn't waste a second and went along with it, with no hesitation whatsoever. Madam Isabel wrapped her arms around him, and it felt like a warm, secure blanket.

As he nestled into her comforting arms, he couldn't help but feel like there was something extraordinary about a mother's hug. It's like a magical spell that can make everything feel better, like a warm blanket for the soul. 

At that very moment, it felt like he'd finally discovered that one piece of the puzzle that had been missing from his life for so long.

But just when they were deep in that hug, Madam Isabel halted, her grip getting a bit looser. Mikael picked up on her little change and pulled back slightly. He looked straight into her eyes, trying to figure out what had caused this sudden pause.

Madam Isabel, right then, appeared lost in thought, her eyes locked onto Mikael's like she was trying to see deep into his very soul.

"Mom?" Aurel's voice sliced through the silence, and Madam Isabel seemed to awaken from her reverie.

"Oh," she blinked, as if returning to the present. "I'm sorry. I, uh… I just wanted to ask. How are you and Nico? Is he being good to you?"

Yet, Mikael couldn't shake the feeling that Madam Isabel had something on her mind, something that had slipped away for just a moment there.