Private Finished Allô and Welcome

When Chester finally clued in to who she actually was, Celeste smiled at him warmly. "It was a Midsommar Charity ball and it was fresh lavender that time," she said as she removed her cotton gloves and placed them in her pockets.

"Your parents were invited to one of the Del Bosque's midsummer parties. My father likes to celebrate or keep up the old ways that are sacred to druids or have a magical significance of some sort," she explained as she stared wistfully for a moment at the plants around them.

Looking at Chester again, Celeste shook her head and waved away his apology. "No need to apologise. I totally understand how controlling our families can be," she said as she gestured for him to walk with her for a bit, adding that he could call her whatever he felt most comfortable with.

"Funnily enough ... It was also my mother, Celine, who was the controlling one. She always wanted me to marry rich, become like her ... a bored socialite," Celeste reminisced as they strolled among the budding greenery.

Here Celeste nodded at Chester's astute observation. "Yes... I did finally rebel and break away. Unfortunately, I did what many girls do. I ran off and got married the first chance I had," Celeste confessed as she looked at Chester before continuing.

"It was a complete disaster as you can guess... My first husband found out I was a witch and divorced me almost on the spot..." she said with a sigh remembering what a disaster that had been.

"After that, my mother kinda stopped speaking to me because I had chosen to tie myself down to a man who was beneath me," she explained, her tone somewhat bitter.

"Luckily, my father was more understanding, and he opened his arms wide to me and helped me find a teaching job in France," she explained as they walked under a trellis.

"And no. My family doesn't order me around. I came here to check up on you because I wanted to., not because I was ordered to..." she confessed as she tucked a lock of stray hair behind her ear, the fire opal in her engagement ring catching the light as she did so.

"In fact, I have little to do with the family business actually. All that now falls on my niece, Zoraida. She's the one who has that to contend with all the stress of maintaining the family reputation," she explained as she looked at Chester with compassion, understanding his plight.

Sitting down on a wooden bench. "Why do you say they have written you off? Now you can marry who you want if you want to... and do whatever you want without having to be worried about family," Celeste reasoned.