19 A memorable vacation

Tom heard about Isabella coming. He also learned that she had a foreigner for a fiancé. This time, he had a good excuse to try Isabella in the court of wolves. He would create a story telling people that she and Benjamin were married. He would create a noise, and make that noise grow louder even as it was a big lie. She would be killed; he was certain he would own everything that she had. By this time, Tom already knew that Isabella was made administratrix of the properties of John and Nenita however under the guardianship of nanny Teresa until she reached the required legal age. She was now of legal age. Tom knew that this was the right time to act. He would eliminate Isabella. But he was thinking of what to do with Nanny Teresa who had been over-protective of and was close to Isabella.

xxxxxx

Aunt Teresa made sure that Isabella and Benjamin would have a good vacation. She made everything comfortable for them.

They fetched them from the port. Lucas and the rest—Apollo, Andrew, James, Julia and Andrea would be present during dinner time.

The table was full come dinner time. They had all kinds of salad—fruits and vegetables—paella of Valencia the main dish which was becoming popular that time—a blend of grains, chicken, shrimp, lima bean, olive oil and chicken broth—sweetened young coconut for dessert, jams, and jellies and other confections as orange pudding, macaroons, almond cake.

Aunt Teresa was fantastic with her dinner preparations—ditto for Gabriel and Michael who had always loved how she cooked.

"How long have you been staying with Aunt Teresa?" she asked Gabriel.

"Over a year now," said Gabriel.

"How do you find her?"

Michael interrupted, "She is like a mother to us."

"Oh, really? I heard you are using the fencing gears and swords?"

"Yes, she allows us."

"Why don't we try it some time," she suggested to the excitement of Gabriel and Michael.

Isabella introduced Benjamin to the guests—that he held the same title being a professor of humanities in the same university where she taught.

Then, Andrea told them of what happened during the concert.

"We are optimistic that things will change. I still believe in the wisdom of the elders who sit as magistrates. We won the case after all." Julia said.

"Then, they waylaid her upon her exit from the chamber. It was good that we were around the venue. After that incident, Lucas and Andrew had their movements monitored so they came to know of the plot during her concert. It was a sniper fire but our intelligence was doubly smart."

Then, they retold Benjamin of what happened to Isabella's family before she left for abroad.

Isabella was unsure whether it was ambivalence or indifference she saw with Benjamin who was only nodding his head.

Apollo, Lucas, James and Andrew could only shake their heads in disbelief.

"Oh!" Julia sighed.

"Why?" Benjamin asked.

"Oh, nothing," Julia smiled back at him.

Isabella concluded the evening with tokens from her trips. There was a miniature telescope and kaleidoscope for Apollo, a signature microphone for Julia, a time tablet for Lucas, a mini prototype model of the first ship for James, and a sun dial for Andrew.

"And you wouldn't refuse me with the long overdue honor of meeting your children whose age I am sure are not far from my age."

"Oh, no—it's been a long time since that party." She was pleased, Julia said. Lucas and Apollo nodded.

xxxxxx

The next days meant shopping for things they needed for that short break and seeing Apollo, Lucas, James, Andrew, and Julia and meeting their children. She thought it a privilege, knowing how she'd been related although not by blood with these wolves. She was very happy to have indeed finally met them. Benjamin's lack of interest with Isabella's friends made her rethink about her fiancé. She was young still, at twenty-five.

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