Selena Rose, Daughter of the Moon

Chapter 5

Later that night as Selena tries to sleep, she can't help but remember how it was before Gabriel left for basic training. She remembers putting up her waist length dark hair for the date. She wore a little black dress that clung to her curves and minimal make-up, just some eye shadow and lip gloss. It never mattered much what she looked like just so long as she was with him. This was their last date till he finished basic training. He wanted to make it a fancy dinner thing, so that was what they would do because she wanted to spend time with him.

The intercom buzzed, a maid letting her know that he had arrived. She grabbed a pair of heels and her purse as she waltzed out the door and down the stairs to him. He was waiting for her in the entry, smoking hot with his crew cut white-blond hair and a body that didn't yet fill out a suit. He didn't have so much in the way of traditional looks but he had plenty of personality, and she had felt lucky to have him.

Now, laying in her bed alone, thinking about him just made her sad for what could have been and what was destroyed and at the same time lucky that she dodged that bullet. He seemed to still be in high school. Worse yet, he had lied and worked to destroy her relationship with her father? What did he have to gain from that? Why not just break up with her? Selena groaned and rolled over in her bed, whatever the reason is it would wait until tomorrow when she spoke with Linnette.

***

The next day, Selena watches the kids play while her mind runs unchecked down paths it hasn't looked at in a long time. She thinks of the time she spent with him in the past, glimpses of what was a possible future then mingle with shades of what could be now and replays of yesterday's meeting with him. Questions float through her mind. Is he the same guy? Should I still keep him at arm's length if he isn't? I can't keep Kya away from him. Now that he knows about her that would be wrong. She pulls a little munchkin away from the fence she was climbing and absently sets her to running back toward the other two munchkins. What if he was different now? Should I give him a chance? If he is different, is he different in a good way? If so, maybe she should chase him! Her mind strays into the dangerous territory of how nice it would be to feel a man pressed against her, with a snort she shakes that thought out of her head just as she hears a car coming down the drive.

"Come on kidlets, let's get a treat!"

All three kids run to the door, stopping just before colliding with it. Selena opens the door and steps in after the children that have run through on their way to the table and their seats. Selena tells the kids to sit there as she goes to answer the door. Brighid, faithful guardian that she is, is sitting in front of the door, waiting patiently to greet the visitor. Linnette has come to get the two kids, telling Selena that she volunteered to pick up Dwayne's little and drop him by as she comes in the house.

Selena hugs her, "Oh do I need to talk to you. HE is here. Well, not here here. He is in town and he stopped us yesterday as we were leaving the park!"

"I... I actually knew he was in town, I didn't know he was going to seek you out..." Linnette shrugs, her blond hair flowing over her shoulder as it raises.

Selena stops, "Oh. Well, I guess you guys would keep talking to him, it just didn't occur to me. I didn't think about it..." she shakes her head, "We definitely need to talk. How long have you got before you need to scram?"

"As long as you need. I'm in no rush today and I want some things made, so lots of time. Let me just text Dwayne and Hayden that I will be later."

"Great!" Selena says, hugging her again, this time in gratitude, "I just need to fix the kids a snack and we can send them outside with Brighid to mind them."

Brighid wags her whip of a tail and wanders out to the fenced area to wait for the kids via her door.

A little while later the kids have eaten and are outside, while Selena and Linnette sit at the table facing the sliding glass door watching the kids and talking in quiet voices.

Linnette covers Selena's hand with her own, "How are you doing? Seeing him after all this time?"

Selena gives Linnette's hand a little squeeze, "Honestly? I'm so shaken up I don't know what to think about it all. He seems just like he was before, only less healthy. But I don't know how great that is, he did just come in there spouting crazy nonsense about me cheating and lying about my Dad. I mean, who does that? Why would he lie about my Dad, my only family in the whole world? Knowing how important family is to me, he did that."

"Yeah, he did. It was the shittiest thing I have ever seen him do. And, he never even asked about you in all these years."

"Right? It was like I quit existing in his world entirely. He never asked his parents either, they have a great relationship with Kya. They know their grandchild and he didn't even know she existed." Selena frowns, "I will let him try to get to know Kya. I owe her that. If it doesn't work, we will go from there. I know for sure that I am not at all interested in another relationship with him."

"That unappealing to you?"

Selena shudders, "Yes. His face looks like, you know how mayo looks in the jar after you have already been using it? Really white, lumpy all over and just kind of gross if you think about it too much? That is how his face looks to me. And he has this sullen child vibe to him that really worries me. I will let him try to be part of Kya's life, so long as he is good to her; but my heart is not part of the deal. I will have zero problems with it if I have to cut him off from her. She is my main concern. If he can't act like an adult, she doesn't need that in her life."

Linnette nods in agreement, "Good. He really showed a major character defect back then, maybe he has changed or ..."

"That is what I am afraid of. It doesn't ease my concern at all that his parents didn't tell him anything. If anything, that intensifies my concern. I should ask them about it. I just assumed all this time that they were telling him things and he was uninterested."

"Good point. Why wouldn't they tell him?"

***

At a house in town...

A couple stands talking over a dark mirror set into a table circled with intricate carvings of angels and demons.

"We should have told him."

"No, I stand by my decision. I wish he hadn't seen her now. You know why."

"I do."

"I am pleased that she seems to be seeing right through him. Even with the bindings upon her."

"The binding began to unravel when she got pregnant, but if Gabriel could gain control of her daughter, he might be able to keep her docile and in the dark."

"The child fears him, he will never gain her trust enough to ensnare her. Selena's father will never allow it. He is highly involved in her life, even now."

"That may be his undoing. And our freedom from this hell."