Issy Petersen shivered; The narrow alley behind the building where she had parked became a vortex of wind pushing over her. She rounded the corner and found sanctuary from the unseasonal chill.

June was looking well and alive back home in upstate New York, about four hours true north from where she currently stood. Stepping inside the foyer of her daughter Sally's new apartment complex the chill abated Issy took off her heavy jacket.

She didn't particularly like the city anymore she felt as though her lungs were on the brink of collapse from being denied fresh mountain air.

It was quite strange really, she was well versed in all things NYC having lived in the city during her only daughters' childhood right up until her life spiralled off kilter and out of her own control.

She knew the best streets to use when traffic was strangling tight.
Enjoyed friendships with many chefs and owners of restaurants she was a frequent visitor/ sometime helper at. And could tell you the history of Central parks many sculptures and statues, Cleopatra's Needle being her favourite.

On the other hand, Sally was well and truly a New Yorker, the city was ingrained in her. She much preferred the hustle and bustle that she grew up  in compared with the quiet solitude her mother had disappeared to.

Situated overlooking Peck Lake a few minutes north of Gloversville, Issy's own slice of heaven on earth was a sanctuary of peace and beauty that always made her feel alive, revitalised. The limited road access to outsiders equalled seclusion and peace. Nearby waterfalls, secluded beaches, private swimming spots all hers for the taking.

Standing outside the apartment, hand hovering to knock, Issy contemplated Sally's worried telephone call from five hours prior, mentally recalling the conversation of teary worries floating down the line.

Not really sure if she could help Issy still travelled hours to give Sally and Sally's fiancé, Julian, support. Julian was a wonderful boy; barely twenty one but so very conscientious and an wonderful father to Ivy, Issy's first granddaughter.

"Mum!" Sally opened the door and hugged her mum tight. Sally looked tired. Taking care of her baby daughter and the added stressful troubles occuring with her father in law to be was wearing her down no end. Her clothes were wrinkled, a good nights sleep was required. Maybe it was a good idea to come.

"Thanks for coming mum, it's so good to see you"

"Oh darling I'm just sorry it's been so long since I've been down... I get so caught up in my writing and forget myself. Forgive me" Sally's hugs did just that.

Issy crept over to the bassinette that was placed beside the lounge suite "Hello my gorgeous little munchkin. You've gotten so big!" Placing a light butterfly kiss on the little ones' forehead Issy then laid a hand softly over her little tummy, feeling the warmth and sweetness of the sleeping infant.

"She has grown, hasn't she. I can't believe how fast time flies when all I want to do is sit and cuddle her" Sally led her mum into the kitchen "Come on, I'll fix you a cuppa, do you want some toast or bikkies with it? How was the trip?"

"No thank-you sweetheart" Issy sank into the kitchen chair and rubbed her eyes. "There were a few moose on the road about three clicks out of Gloversville, slammed on the brakes and missed thankfully. Very lucky it wasn't in the sixty mile zone. I would have had moose seat covers" Issy laughed but Sally didn't miss the slight shudder from her mum's thoughts of being in another auto accident.

"You bloody went hiking too, didn't you?! You worry me out there all by yourself. You could get eaten by a bear! Or fall and break a leg mum" Sally grimaced as she refilled the sugar bowl "I hope you're still taking the phone with you"

"Such a pessimist you are" Issy grinned up at her daughter "Yes mummy..." Issy smirked, her words laced with sarcasm "I took the brick phone, and no, I didn't have to hit any poor bears with it!"

"Mum, it's not that heavy"

Julian had insisted, for Sally's sake, Issy have a mobile telephone; her technological wonder of a telephone, or 'brick' as Issy had nicknamed it, was massive, heavy; and she often didn't take it hiking but never would she tell Sally this.

"Hello mudder" Julian crept up behind Issy and gave her a kiss on the cheek, a gently squeeze on the shoulder then proceeded to sit down beside her "Sorry 'bout the call, I didn't realise it was as late as it was"

"Not a problem Julian, how are you? You look pale huny" Issy smiled at her son in law to be, grabbing his chin to run a motherly eye over his face. Issy grinned at him, how lovely it would be to call him son for real in the very near future.

"Is that a standard mum question? I swear my mum says that every time I see her too!" Julian sat Sally down and he proceeded to finish making the three mugs of steaming hot drinks they were having. "Mum says to say hi by the way, she rang earlier"

"Hi Cynthia .... I got a letter a month back from her.... Will she be able to visit at all? Or will she wait til the fall?"

"The fall most likely, they're in the process of getting that new restaurant running so it's all go, go, go but no go to the U.S of A."

"Oh well you'll just have to put up with moi" Issy grinned as Julian nodded offhandedly, as his head wandered a little, lost in thought. Frowning at his worry lines she took his fingers and queried his upset "What's been going on love, not like you to make Sally call SOS, you're usually so sure of yourself"

"He called earlier actually. Well I think he did Sally. There was no talking just breathing" Julian took Sally's hand as she ran a thumb over his knuckles.

"Maybe he fell asleep....... Mum, John's been a bit ... How do I say...." Sally grimaced and stopped mid sentence not really wanting to be the one to talk ill of the man, no doubt.

"Manically depressed and drunk 99% of the time" Julian huffed out. "Smashed a bottle of Johnny Walker over the entire mixing console last week, it's only just been replaced today"

"Well that's a waste .... Of Johnny Walker, I mean!" Issy smiled in jest and watched a little grin turn up on Julian's face. Yes! She had achieved a little light relief to his current woes.

"That's what dad said too! Nothing 'bout the console, just huffing and puffing over the near full litre of scotch" Julian stood up from the table fidgeting then leaned back against the kitchen counter folding his arms tiredly. Listening absentmindedly to Sally and her mum chatting, trying hard not to look so out of sorts and overly worried of his father's current plight.

The three retired to the lounge room to continue chatting. Lighter subjects like Ivy's progress and the current goings on at the Lake House. Finally Issy could not stay awake one more second, her eyes burned as Sally led her mum to the spare bedroom.

"Night mum, love you" Hugging her mum Sally went to check on Ivy and fall into her own bed.

Turning down the sheets, Issy reflected on Julian's worries.

What on earth could a woman of no import do for a man of worldwide importance.

Sure Issy had had experience with men and their bad habits but John was a different creature altogether and she was of no consequence to him.

Before, with her husband, he would apologise after a bad session or the aftermath of his violent streak or, when she was little, her own father would buy her treats to try and make her forget his angry ways.

Julian's father was the John Lennon....

And John Lennon was a man unto himself, likely thinking he was above the law of kin and family, and lov-

"Mum.." Julian knocked lightly on the doorframe then sat on the end of the bed as Issy put the pillows back in place, she joined him on the bed, hugging him and resting her head on his shoulder. "I'm so grateful for the way you accept me for me mum, you put me in my place like my own mother would and boss me around" Issy leaned back and opened her eyes wide to his accusations. He continued on with a cheeky grin "You do boss me about but I like it" Julian nudged her softly "I like that you treat me normal"

"You are normal Julian it's just the media that turns you into something different" Issy pinched his cheek. "And whenever you need me to boss you around ... just holler" She grinned as Julian kissed her cheek with embarrassment "Embarrassed? That's not you"

"I'm embarrassed at bringing you all the way down here to maybe met my dad for the very first time when he isn't at his finest. After your visit to Paul and meeting him and Linda. I just... I just think you're going to be sorely disappointed, I'm afraid" Julian stood up and toyed with the curtain covering the window.

Issy raised herself from her position and moved beside him, opening the curtain, taking in the view of twinkling lights for miles and miles around "So many lights, so many people, so much love, hate, babies, divorces, worries and dreams...."

She continued on "Julian, my trip to see Paul was awesome. He and Linda are wonderful people and you are a lucky fellow to have him as uncle but my looking at him and comparing him to your father is not happening, Julian. Your dad is complex and the last few years have been hell on him. He's lost his way, that's all"

Julian had surprised Issy with a post-Christmas trip to see Paul and Linda. It was a wonderful and exciting experience and she was a fangirl of all of 10 minutes before Linda's down to earth style and Paul's crazy sense of Goonish humour made her forget the hysteria she envisaged. After two weeks of mucking in around the house, babysitting, feeding chickens and other assorted animals she felt at home plus, when Linda and Iss found their common ground of horseback riding and photography there was no stopping them. Many an afternoon was lost out on the moors and windswept hills around the farm.

"I need to go into the studio tomorrow and lay down a couple of tracks, would you like to come? I can give you a tour and afterwards I can shout you dinner" Julian pat her in the head. Julian stood higher than Issy by an inch or two so his looking down and patting her on the head was something of a joke between the two of them "I want you to sing for me too mum"

"Ahh ... no" Issy groaned, this was his third attempt at coercing her.

"Oh come on. Look, I'll make you a deal" Julian rubbed his hands together and looked about for unknown persons "You sing one song with me... I promise I'll send all the fellas away too, so no ones there to listen or watch... and I'll fix that boat hut when we're up at the lake next time"

Julian grinned naughtily, he was the one that wanted the boat hut fixed not Iss. Issy quite liked the way the rain dripped down through the holes in the roof onto her when she hunkered down fishing while a storm pounded.

"Will me doing this have you never utter a word of this again?!"

"Yes mumma it will. You have to do it properly though"

"Hmmm, me singing has never ever been 'properly' Julian" Issy smacked his bum good-naturedly as he scurried out the door.

"Goodnight mum!"

"Goodnight darling"