The Queen's Gambit

The Visit

The phone call from Sonia, the nurse in charge of her father’s care, came just three days after Isadora’s disastrous meeting with Max. The call had been short but filled with tension. “Your father knows, Isadora.” Sonia had said in a grave tone. “He’s asking for you, and I think it would be best if you came to Stamford.”

At first, Isadora froze. The idea of seeing her father filled her with unease—not because of his age or fragile health but because of the delicate nature of his mind. Cein had lived with Dissociative Identity Disorder for as long as she could remember, and his alters, Asher and Sean, were just as real a part of her life as he was. Asher, a sweet and innocent child, could be a comfort during hard times, but Sean was the one Isadora feared. Sean was unpredictable, angry, and fiercely protective of Cein and anyone he cared about. If Sean knew about Max, there was no telling what he might do.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea..” Isadora muttered to Vivienne and Lysandra as they sat in her apartment later that day. She’d explained the call, pacing nervously while Lysandra lounged on the couch and Vivienne sat at the dining table with her laptop.

“And what, you’re just going to avoid him forever?” Lysandra said, throwing a piece of popcorn into her mouth. “You know you can’t do that, Isa. He’s your dad.”

Isadora stopped pacing. “It’s not that simple, Lysandra. If Sean finds out about Max breaking things off, he could… I don’t know, go after him or something. He’s done worse before.”

“That was years ago,” Lyssandra pointed out, sitting up straight. “And besides, you can’t just assume the worst. Maybe Cein needs to hear this from you directly. You can’t let him find out bits and pieces from someone else.”

Vivienne chimed in gently, “Lysandra’s right. If you don’t go, this could spiral into something even worse. Sonia’s already called you—what if your dad’s condition worsens because he’s stuck in his head over this?”

Isadora hesitated, her arms crossed over her chest. The thought of confronting her father’s alters—especially Sean—made her chest tighten. But Lysandra was right. The longer she delayed, the worse things could get.

“Fine.” she finally said, exhaling deeply. “I’ll go. But I swear, if Sean does anything, you’re both going to hear about it.”

Lysandra grinned. “That’s the spirit.”

The drive to Stamford was tense. Isadora gripped the steering wheel tightly, her mind racing with thoughts of what could go wrong. By the time she arrived at the nursing home, her nerves were frayed. She checked in at the front desk, where Ville greeted her with a sympathetic smile.

“Thank you for coming,” Sonia said, leading her down the quiet hallway to Cein’s room. “He’s been asking about you nonstop since he found out. I think it’s best if you approach this carefully. Sean has been… present.”

Isadora’s stomach dropped. “For how long?”

Sonia hesitated. “On and off since yesterday. Cein and Asher have been quiet, but Sean’s been in a mood. Just be calm and try not to escalate anything.”

“Easier said than done.” Isadora muttered as Sonia opened the door.

Inside, Cein was sitting by the window, staring out at the garden. His hands were folded neatly in his lap, and he appeared calm—too calm. Isadora recognized the tell-tale stiffness in his posture. It wasn’t Cein.

“Sean!” she said softly, stepping into the room.

He turned to her slowly, his eyes sharp and filled with a simmering anger. “So, you finally decided to show up.” he said, his voice low and cold. “Took you long enough.”

“Sean, I—”

“Don’t!” he snapped, standing abruptly. “Don’t give me excuses, Isadora. Do you have any idea what Cein’s been through since he found out? You think you can just avoid him and everything will magically be fine?”

Isadora held her ground, though her heart was pounding. “I came here to explain everything, Sean. I didn’t want to upset him—or you.”

He laughed bitterly. “Upset him? Upset me? You think this is about us being upset? No, Isa. This is about that worthless excuse of a man, Max, thinking he could humiliate you and get away with it.”

Her hands clenched into fists. “I’m handling it, Sean. You don’t need to—”

“Don’t tell me what I need to do!” he shouted, his voice echoing in the small room. “You’re my daughter. Cein’s daughter. We protect what’s ours, and that scumbag needs to pay for what he’s done.”

“Sean, stop!” Isadora shouted back, her voice trembling. “This isn’t your fight. Max is out of my life, and that’s where he’s going to stay. I don’t need you—or anyone else—fighting my battles for me.”

For a moment, Sean stared at her, his chest rising and falling as he breathed heavily. Then his expression softened, just slightly. “You’re stronger than you look..” he muttered.

Isadora took a step closer, her voice steady. “I am strong, Sean. Strong enough to handle this. I appreciate that you want to protect me, but I need you to trust me. Trust that I can do this on my own.”

He was silent for a long moment before finally nodding. “Fine. But if he ever comes near you again—”

“He won’t!” she interrupted firmly.

Sean’s shoulders relaxed slightly, and for the first time since she’d entered the room, she saw a flicker of the man Cein used to be. He sank back into the chair by the window, rubbing a hand over his face.

“I’ll let Cein know you’re here.” he said quietly. “He’s been waiting for you.”

A moment later, Sean’s posture changed. His tense frame softened, and when he looked up, his expression was one of confusion and warmth.

“Isa?” Cein said, his voice trembling. “Is that you?”

Tears welled in her eyes as she rushed forward, wrapping her arms around him. “It’s me, Dad. I’m here.”

The rest of the visit was filled with quiet conversation. Cein asked about the breakup, his voice thick with concern, and Isadora reassured him that it was not affecting her negatively and she could handle herself.

One part of the conversation was seemingly done with. Now, she just had to figure out how to break the news of her pregnancy to him. Good grief!