will you be mine

39

Ark squeezes my hand, hes more excited than i am. He has been counting down the days until the store opens, he says seeing me become a name in fashion is the last thing on his bucket list.

"this place looks good, you did a fantastic job Penelope im proud of you" he smiles brightly at his daughter. Since she had designed the store she had been hired to decorate many mansions, she had gotten so many job opportunities she had to turn some down.  

Penelope beams at him, like me she knows her career aspirations were a possibility due to her father and his belief in her. I would never have achieved this without him, i thank him everyday.

The store is full, my closest friends are here to share in the excitement. We drink champagne as everyone looks at the collection, it still does not feel real. My friend Kate had been invaluable during the whole process, every bit of knowledge she knows has been selflessly passed on to me. 

I hug her tightly "thank you so much" 

"this is all you, its wonderful"

"you like the clothes" i hold my breath as i await her answer.

"the red bag " Kate says as she taps the gift bag in her hand. 

"i will be telling everyone your my protégé and started out working in my store" kate adds as she hugs me once more.

My mum is crying again, i hear her telling anyone who will listen that shes my mother. Ive been told many times just how proud she is of me.  My dad had socialised for a while before growing bored and heading to my office to watch sports on the TV. 

The opening is a success, i watch as the store manager and staff prepare for the following day. They are efficient and hard workers i know the store is in great hands, i wish i could work there everyday but my time is better spent with Ark. He wont admit it but hes struggling, each day he drifts further from the man he once was. He spends longer in bed each day, his already small appetite is almost non existent. When he thinks im not looking he winces in pain, he can no longer do his favourite things. Playing the drums and afternoons of wild sex are a thing of the past, he does always find the strength to hold me. When im in his arms i forget that were on borrowed time, were just newlyweds who love each other.

"he loves you you know"

"i used to be so jelous, it drove me mad the way he looked at you. I wanted to rip his head from his body"

"who" i ask

Ark continues as though he hasnt heard me speak " I know he would make you happy, he would do everything he could to make your dreams come true"

"Noah"

Arks attention snaps back at me, "Ludo"

"no im rose" i say.

Ark laughs "yes i know im not that ill"

"Ludo is in love with you"

I laugh, i hold my sides as laughter consumes me.

"Rose, the only woman hes ever loved was his mother. He adores you, you cant say you have never noticed"

"were friends , good friends"

"Just know that if you find yourself sharing his feelings i dont want you to deny them. I want you to be happy and if Ludo makes you happy then you must go to him"

"you stop it, do you understand what your saying. Ludo is your friend, there has never been anything between us other than friendship. I dont know what you claim to witness when he looks at me but i assure you that you are wrong"

"as niave as ever my rose"