Finding Selene

Chapter Seven: 13 Years Prior To Present Day

“Mary, did you hear what Mrs. Mitchel said?” The social worker squeezed Selene’s shoulder, making her flinch.

“Thank you, Mrs. Strump. I’ll take over for my daughter from here.” Mrs. Mitchel replied sharply pointedly glancing at the social worker’s hand on Selene’s shoulder. Selene’s head jerked up and around at the word “daughter”. She hadn’t heard someone refer to her like that in so long that she thought she had missed someone come outside but it was still just the four of them. Mrs. Mitchel’s voice softened as she addressed Selene, “I’m sure this is a lot to take in and you’ll need to adjust, dear. Everyone is excited to meet you but if you’d rather get some rest first and settle into your room then you can do that.”

“Yes, ma’am. If it’s okay, I’m tired.” Selene wasn’t sure if that was the right answer, but she didn’t want to be around anymore people right then. She didn’t see why it was important to meet everyone anyways. It wouldn’t be long before she was moved again.

Mrs. Mitchel’s smile didn’t falter at all as she looked at the little boy and nudged him forward softly, “Go on and show Mary up to her room. Then let her get settled in, peacefully. Don’t be bothering her,” Mrs. Mitchel chuckled softly.

The little boy smiled brightly and laced his fingers through Selene’s free hand. She tensed, squeezing Apollo tighter as she stared at him. After a moment he gently tugged her towards the house, and she tentatively smiled back before allowing him to lead her into the house as Mrs. Mitchel looked proudly after the two. She knew, in that moment, without a doubt she had made the right decision in adopting Selene.

Selene didn’t have much of an opportunity to look around as Mason led her by her hand into the house and up two flights of stairs. She did realize, however, that the house was even bigger than she realized from the outside. The floors were beautiful dark hardwood, and the stairs had a light pastel traction mat laid on each step, all assorted colors. She was led to a room with white walls, plain blinds, and a simple bed with all white bedding. Selene didn’t want to admit it, but she was a bit disappointed with how bland the room was compared to the rest of what she had seen. Disappointed and also confused, as there was only one bed. She wondered who she was sharing a room with if there was only one bed.

The little boy let go of her hand in the middle of the room a started talking, grinning ear to ear, “Mama was going to paint your room green but wasn’t sure if you would like it ALLLLLLL green, so she left it white for you to decide. Whenever you’re ready of course. Mama said we aren’t to bother you, rush you, or overwhelm you. ‘Mason’ she said to me….cause I’m Mason, ‘we’re all very excited and love that you already love your new sister and we want to make sure she feels welcome but Mary has been through a lot so don’t be talking a mile a minute-“ Mason stopped talking with a deep breath, “Oh. Sorry, I guess I was talking a mile a minute.” Mason rubbed his hand through his hair and chuckled, “Well, this is your room. Mama and Daddy already got you some clothes, but she said we’ll go shopping again once you get settled in.” Mason pointed at the closet across from the bed and Selene noticed a door next to it.

“Uhm, Mason, what is that door?” Selene asked quietly.

“Oh! That’s your bathroom. Mama made sure you had your own room with your own privacy because mama said girls tend to like bathrooms too much to share. Not that it means much here, we all have our own bathroom. Bethany has the biggest one, oh that our oldest sister by the way…” Mason started talking a mile a minute again, but Selene was too shocked to pay much attention as she got lost in her thoughts. She hadn’t remembered a time that she had her own room, much less her own bathroom.

“Mason! Come help with dinner!” Mrs. Mitchel called from downstairs.

Mason chuckled, “Mama doesn’t actually want me to help with dinner- she loves to cook- she just wants me to leave you alone. Can I come get you when dinner is ready?”

Selene nodded her head with a small smile and Mason grinned even harder in return. As he started to close her door behind him Selene called out to him, “Mason?”

“Yes, Mary?”

“Thank you for talking.” Selene genuinely appreciated Mason making her feel welcome and being so warm and wanted to make sure he knew that. She knew even if being here was temporary- she would never forget him. Mason smiled at her again as tears glistened in his eyes and he softly closed her door, leaving her with only Apollo and her thoughts. Selene laid down in her bed and for the first time in a long time was able to relax the slightest bit and really drift off to sleep.

Selene was awoken some time later by a soft knock on the door and Mason peeking his head into tell her dinner was ready. She sat up gingerly, slightly sore from sleeping in a tight ball. Her hair had rebelled against her clips and was now a frizzy mane around her face. Selene gave Mason a thumbs up and he opened the door wider and walked in. Selene was trying to get her hair under control to no avail and without her brush she never would. Mason giggled as he realized what was going on and ran out her door just as she was going to ask him if he knew where her bag was. She huffed and went into her bathroom. She hadn’t looked at it before but going in now she thought someone must have been using it before and left all their stuff. Selene put her jade wolf clips on the side of the sink and turned on the water, cupping her hand under it to smooth back her hair. She was trying to hurry as her stomach growled, she didn’t want to miss dinner. She learned very quickly in foster care that dinner was always first come first serve.

Selene was still in the bathroom finger combing her hair when she heard Mason call from her bedroom door, “Mary? I hope you don’t mind, I brought you some help.”

Selene cautiously poked her head out of the bathroom and saw two girls with Mason. One of the girls looked just like him but with brown curly hair instead of Masons’ dark blonde wavy hair. The other girl looked older and was beautiful. Her eyes immediately captured Selene’s attention with their almond shape and a brown that reminded her of deer. Both girls held a brush and a spray bottle. The last time someone had touched her hair they tried to cut it and Selene hadn’t let anyone touch it since.

Selene sighed in defeat, “I could use the help but please… don’t cut my hair.”

The two girls looked at each other shocked as the older one responded, “Mary, I know you don’t know us yet, but we are your family. We will never do anything to hurt you, we just want to help put your hair up. Nobody is going to cut your hair unless you want it cut, and even then, we wouldn’t do it- we would go to the salon.”

Still not completely sure Selene hesitated before nodding and standing back in front of the mirror. She watched through the mirror as the two girls stood behind her and talked about the best way to keep her hair out of her face. Selene was still worried about missing dinner and started fidgeting with her fingers, not wanting to say something and risking offending them. Her stomach growled again, and the two girls looked at her through the mirror.

“Mary, I’m sorry, we didn’t realize you were so hungry! We’ll do this quickly tonight and go down to eat. Then if it’s okay with you, we will do something better with it before Mom and Dad take us shopping.” The older girl grinned before continuing, “Its probably a good thing we’re hurrying anyways. Dad gets cranky when he has to wait for Mom’s spaghetti. It really is delicious. Okay, Riley, half space buns.” The older girl looked at the younger one as she said the last part and they grinned at each other.

“Great idea, Bethany!” Riley squealed.

The two girls started spraying and brushing Selene’s hair, making quick work of pulling the top part of her hair into two high pig tails and then twisting them around into two small but thick buns on the top of her head. Riley squealed in excitement and Bethany smiled brightly into the mirror. Selene grinned at the two girls back through the mirror, loving her hair. Bethany picked up one of Selene’s hair clips and clipped it to the front of one of her buns and repeated the action on the other side. Selene teared up and Bethany wrapped her arms around her shoulders as Riley leaned her head against her. Selene tensed but could see that the girls meant well so she didn’t move.

“I hope you know you’re beautiful, Mary. And you’re loved so much already. I know it’s scary at first, but I was adopted too, and it gets easier. I promise it does. You just have to let the love in. Mom and Dad, Me and Riley, Mason and Marcus… we don’t will love you and protect you the best we can. I don’t know much but I know your parents died a couple years ago and you’ve been in the system for a while. I know that it can be hard but don’t let it close you off.” Bethany lightly squeezed Selene in a hug and stepped away with a deep breath, “Come on girls, lets go eat before Mary’s stomach decides we are the ones for dinner.” Bethany laughed and took Riley’s outstretched hand before holding her hand out to Selene. Selene tentatively took it which earned her beaming smiles from both Riley and Bethany. The three girls made their way downstairs with hope and spaghetti on their minds.