Odyssey... ~{}~31- Prosperity

Hana meets Sylvie that evening, for Farhad can not wait to show off his new girlfriend to his mom. The immediate rapport between the two women amazes Farhad. It seems as though they have known one another all along. She is a typical Italian Girl with a look which can be deceived for an Iranian. She has dark hair, dark brown eyes, olive color skin, and she is very reserve. She speaks English with no accent, Just like Hana's sons, since she has been in America since age ten. She has an older brother, who helps their parents in their family owned Italian restaurant, where she also helps them on her spare time. She is studying fine arts at SMU, one of the better university in Dallas. She is nothing like Karen. In fact, Hana finds out very quickly a deep feeling for this new addition to her family. She is an honest, motivated, family oriented, and beautiful girl that Hana wishes to claim her as a daughter she has never had.

A few days later, when Hana tells Farhad she intends to invite Valery and her husband for dinner Saturday night, not only Farhad does not frown, but also he thinks that will be a good idea.

"That is great, mom. Why don't you invite Mario, too?"

Hana is almost shocked. As she has made a quick connection with Sylvie, she has the impression that Farhad and Mario also get along just fine.

The Saturday comes. Sylvie offers to come early to help Hana with the work. Hana is delighted. She lets Sylvie do the cleaning while she tries to put together her master pieces in Persian cooking, as she has promised her guests. Farhad watches the two women, he loves them so much in a different way and is blissful by his choice and his mother's approval.

Mario, full of energy and joy, coming back from seeing his grandson and his daughter, is not very optimistic for his relationship with Hana. To him this confused woman, being through so much in her life, is like a breeze that changes direction any minute and is like water that one can not hold in his hand. Even though he understands her mood swing very well, he wishes that she can get over her depressed cultural and former life style, so they can be together forever. He even does not mind to marry her without a long courtship, as it is normally a custom in America. He knows and believes that Hana is the right and perfect woman for him, a woman of intellect, yet very feminine, a woman of dedication, honesty, and loyalty, yet defying; nevertheless, her strong cohering with her cultural background, somewhat scares him. When Hana calls to invite him for Saturday evening party, a gloomy hope enlightens his misty perspective of their relationship.

Valery brags to Mick, her husband, about her best friend, her different life style, and most of all her excellent cooking. She wants Mick to witness why she has chosen a foreign woman for friendship and as her mate of honor and to prove to him the immeasurable quality of Hana which he has doubted. "Look and action can sometimes be deceiving." She has argued over that remark on their honeymoon.

To Be Continued