On the ride back to Mitte, Isabella had wanted nothing more than silence to collect her thoughts.
But she knew silence could make Luca suspicious or stir unnecessary tension.
So instead, she mirrored Luca's sunny mood, making light comments and laughing easily.
Luca himself seemed relaxed while driving, his mind recalling every moment he had with Martin. And Isabella did very well to play along, though her mind was elsewhere.
The get-together had ended gracefully. Luca and Isabella had offered goodbyes, waving warmly to everyone.
Always loving, Isabella gave everyone a final hug before leaving, while Luca asked for one last look at the baby.
Luca's request was granted before the two finally departed by late six, escorted by Simon and Ester to the car.
And there, the evening could only be called a successful venture.
For all the planning and effort she had put into it, Isabella knew she ought to applaud herself. Things had even gone more swimmingly than she predicted.
