CHAPTER 16

           She was completely mute staring at Marie totally perplexed. She can't go to this party… she couldn't go to any party. First of all, she was there to take care of the girls, and besides, she didn't have any kind of dress to attend this party that seemed to be very important. No, she had to come up with some excuse not to accompany Marie. She couldn't go, she had to stay home, with Frannie and Diana.

“I can't come with you. Please let me stay here with the girls,” she said in a pleading tone.

“And why not, dear girl? It will be a fun evening and I believe you will love it. Erica's daughter is almost your age,” Marie continued her speech helping Diana with the grapefruit. “Maybe you two will become friends...”

          What could she say to Marie? That she can’t go with her to this party because she had nothing to wear? Bedsides the very thought of Shawn being next to his girlfriend was extremely disturbing. No, it was absolutely necessary to find a valid reason to stay at the villa with the girls.

“Marie, I never went to this kind of party, I wouldn't know what to do or what to say in the first place. I wouldn't know how to behave around all those guests. I would feel like a fish out of water. Besides, I don't...”

"Oh, dear God, I am so inconsiderate!" she said, cutting Isabelle's speech. "Sweetie, I didn't put two and two together..."

"I really don't..." Isabelle replied, looking away from her because she didn’t want Marie to see how embarrassed she was.

              Marie looked at the girls and then at Isabelle and a smile brighter than the morning sun appeared on her lips. She knew exactly what they would do that afternoon.

“Girls, if you have finished eating your breakfast, go immediately to brush your teeth and choose your clothes to go out. I will do the same. Isabelle, do you mind helping the girls get ready to go to San Francisco? See you in front of the entrance in half an hour, ok?”

“Granny, what are we going to do in San Francisco? Are we going to visit uncle Shawn in his office?” Diana asked, getting up from the table first.

“No, my darling, we all will go shopping. You both, me and our dear Isabelle,” Marie replied leaving Isabelle totally surprised. “With your help, my lovelies, Isabelle and I will choose the right outfits for this wonderful party.”

“Marie, no... Please, I can't... I don't ...”

           Marie smiled at her and stopped her from talking. She understood very well what a totally embarrassed Isabelle was trying to say to her.

“Don’t worry, dear, today we will take the first step toward a new you: a new wardrobe. It is not that I don’t like your way of dressing, so practical especially when you’re playing with the girls, but you need something else too. You're a beautiful young woman, let's show it to everybody,” she said caressing her worried face. “Sweetie, it's my way to thank you for what you are doing for my granddaughters and for me too. Frannie and Diana are very happy when you are here and I feel calmer having you here.”

“The girls are wonderful and it is a pleasure to be with them.”

“The other day, Frannie and Diana told me the same thing about you. Therefore, I don't want to hear another word from you, young lady! You will humor me and we won’t talk about it anymore!” Marie added and entered the house.

"Yes, ma'am!" Isabelle whispered, not very enthusiastic.

              Isabelle turned to the girls but realized they had already inside the house. She could hear their yelling and screaming. Reluctantly, she went to their room. Marie's proposal to help her buying an outfit for the party was so nice, but she was feeling so embarrassed about accepting it. She wanted to stay at the villa since the way she was dressed was not suitable for the big city, but was paid to take care of Frannie and Diana and had no other choice than to listen to the mistress of the house.