When love lasts

Chapter Two

“Oh my God, Selene, does she know?ʼ

Rose stoop up and paced which caused Selene's head to spin especially when she had very mixed feelings—some that scared her. Guilt turned in her like a spool of barbed wire as she thought of the many times she had wished she could walk up to her daughter and announce to her that they were going home or more, say something like 'Sweetheart, mummy is a Princess which met a Prince, so they got together and they made you' She shook her head inwardly and tried again, 'Sweetheart mummy and daddy met at a royal Ball then they fell in love but things drove them apart and mummy had you alone'

But Selene shook her head, telling Calliope will bring about so many questions she can't provide the which will open so many injuries.

She couldn't do that to her daughter and herself. She placed her palm on her forehead and massaged it. She just couldn't.

“Noʼ She said shakily, “How do you start off by telling a five year old that?ʼ

“Selene, you're denying Calliope of her parentageʼ

Trust Rose to twist your conscience around until you have no option but to give in to the guilt it brings with it.

“I know that,ʼ her response was a plea, “But I can't open those memoriesʼ

“But you want to heal Seleneʼ It was more of a statement than a question but Selene held her tears and nodded, “Then tell her, take her to Greece and tell herʼ

“Noʼ Selene shook her head, “I can't do that to themʼ

“Your family?ʼ

“Yes! They're better off without meʼ

“Why would you say thatʼ

“Because if they aren't, they would have found me!ʼ She shouted and Rose quaked because Selene seldom shouts.

“Six months, after I ran away from the Palace to London,ʼ She said calmly now, She was transported back to the day she came out of the bathroom in her cheap hotel room as she’d stood wet and trembling, pregnant and alone, needing her mother's hugs and her father's reassurance, “I was still Selene Agnieszka, I didn't know why I couldn't bring myself to change it then, until it dawned on me that I never wanted to be lost in their eyes. Six months after I left,ʼ Selene cringed at the memory, She could still remember when she stood in front of the television and listened as the newscaster of the popular broadcast in Britain announced that they would be filming live from the Royal wedding happening in Aigio which caught her attention, “My elder sister Cora got married and in one of the speech, my dad—the King said that they had forgotten about the Princess Selene incident and looked forward to a new beginning in the kingdom.”

Tears clogged in her throat when she finished talking that Rose looked up at her with pain.

“Princess Selene incident?ʼ Rose mused and clicked, “What if there was another incident linking to your disappearance other than your affair with the Prince of Temeni?ʼ

“There isn't ʼ She answered coolly, “After that Speech I knew I had to make out something for myself and my unborn baby, so I sold some of my jewelries. I always knew I had a thing for jewelries when I would sit in my late grandma's room with her designing some of the family heirlooms. It urged me into opening my own successful jewelry company and earned me enough money to change my name to Selene Blackwood, and the name Agnieszka was buriedʼ

Rose nodded and said mockingly that Selene glared at her, “That sounds poetic…. Which is true except you're forgetting one partʼ

“What?ʼ

“I also contributed to the successful jewelry company thingʼ She said and Selene laughed.

“Why didn't you sell the jewel of Aigio—I mean technically it belongs to you but why didn't you sell it since you sold the rest?ʼ

“Honestly, I couldn't bring myself to sell itʼ

“That's because you will run back home if you had the chance toʼ

“You know I'm starting to regret telling you thisʼ Selene said playfully and Rose laughed taunting her back, “Because I'm your best friend and you wanted me to be your conscienceʼ

“Good one, Roseʼ she said and Rose laughed again.

“But seriously, Seleneʼ Rose said with a serious look, “I want you to think about this, about telling Calli and most importantly, going homeʼ

“I will,ʼ She smiled

“Good,ʼ She sniffed and laughed, “Now can we talk about what you're wearing for the Gala this evening because I've had enough emotional outburst for one evening?”

The Gala? Selene almost forgot that one.

—“I've got something red picked up for you.ʼ Rose was saying, “It will be arriving in not less than thirty minutes. I want you to wear it.”

“Yes,ma” Selene feigned meekness

“Meekness doesn't suit you. And Jeremy will be here in the next three hours or more to pick you upʼ Rose said

“Yes, off course Jeremyʼ Selene said in a bored tone trying to conclude on her suspicion.

“What? Nothing's wrong with himʼ

“Yeah, did I say something was wrong?ʼ

“Noʼ Rose frowned at her, “But you were implying itʼ

“I am?ʼ Selene feigned innocence, “You know Rose, I think you should cover up for me and be Jeremy's dateʼ

Rose almost choked on her saliva, “Me? But I-I-I—I mean yo-ooou—Damn it Seleneʼ She exclaimed when she noticed the smug look on her best friend's face.

“So…. You're not going?ʼ She asked still teasing her

“No,ʼ She said, “I'm babysitting Calli this evening which reminds me of the unfinished work I have in my houseʼ She said and pecked Selene hurriedly, “I'll see you in the evening Selene and tell Calli that Aunty Rose said she'll have fun with her than mommyʼ

Selene laughed before she complied, “you're really good at spoiling her with fun things Roseʼ

“it's what i do best” she said, “and I love her too and you.”

“And i love you more Roseʼ she said.

“yeah I know you do, now go get dressed for the gala sweetieʼ

“Yeah I willʼ Selene said and shouted after her, “You sure you don't want to go for the Gala? Jeremy won't mind!ʼ

“You're a royal pain in the assʼ Rose replied and ran out.

“Coward!ʼ She shouted at her retreating back and laughed at the empty house.