ROYAL SECRETS

CH 2

OCTOBER 6,2023

DIMITRI

"Demi honey why don't you and uncle Adrian go and get some ice cream."

"Really mommy? Before dinner?"

"Yes, before dinner. Mommy needs to have a quick talk with this nice gentleman."

"Ok, maybe you can make him happy, he's sad. " She started to walk away then turned around.

"I told you my mom was cute." She giggled and skipped away with her "uncle". I watched the two of them walk away until they were out of sight. I looked back over to Rose, she was just as beautiful as she was five years ago. Same tan skinned, brown eyes that I could get lost in, and her hair. Her hair had gotten longer and all I wanted to do was run my fingers through it.

"Let's go have a seat before you have a panic attack."

"I'm not going to have a panic attack."

"Sure about that, comrade?"

"Please don't call me that." I said and it came out harsher than I meant it to.

"So that's how this is going to go."

"How did you think it would go, Rose? What do you want me to say? I have a daughter I know nothing about." I started to get angrier.

"I'm sorry you had to find out this way, but what did you want me to do? You wanted a one night stand and I gave you that, no matter how much I wanted to reach out to you. No matter how many times I wanted to go and knock on your door. I didn't. I was twelve weeks along when I found out I was pregnant and by then you were gone. I went to your apartment and you weren't living there anymore. I had no way of finding you. But guess what happened when I did? You were on the front page of a magazine with your fiancé."

AUGUST 1 2018

ROSE

I was sitting in the waiting room of a drs office with Lissa. I told her I didn't need to be here and that I was fine. I have just overdone at the gym. But Lissa, being a nurse, insisted I get checked out after I passed out at the gym. I hated drs office I had been in and out of them since I was a child. I had a lot of health problems stemming from the neglect I received from my mother. My father wasn't around until I turned eighteen. But that's another story for another day.

"Rose."

"Let's get this over with so they can clear me and prove you wrong." She stuck her tongue out at me. We followed the nurse back and she got my weight. I gained five pounds, what the heck I have been hitting the gym three or more times a week. We got to the room and I sat down on the table.

"What brings you in today."

"I passed out at the gym yesterday and this worry wart said I needed to get checked out. I just overdid it, I'm fine" I directed that last part at Lissa.

"Don't listen to her, she needs a complete work up. She's been more tired lately, a bit forgetful, her appetite isn't the same and gets out of breath."

"Gee, thanks Liss."

"When was your last period?" The nurse asked.

"I have no idea. I've never had a regular period if I even get one."

"Could you be pregnant?"

"Not likely, I've been told since I was thirteen that I wouldn't be able to get pregnant on my own."

"Well how about we get a urine sample just to be safe?"

"Fine, but it's going to be a waste of your time."

"Bathroom is out the door and to your right. Cups are in the cabinet, follow the instructions, come back here and the dr will be in shortly to see you." I rolled my eyes and followed her out the door and towards the bathroom. I locked the door behind me, found a cup and a marker to write my name on it. I followed the instructions to a T then washed my hands and went back into the room.

"Don't give me that look, there is no way I'm pregnant."

"I don't know Rose, you do have a lot of the symptoms." I was ready to argue back when there was a knock on the door.

"Looks like we know what's going on with you Rose. Congratulations, you're pregnant.

PRESENT TIME

ROSE

I couldn't believe it. Walking my way was the man that broke my heart and gave me the greatest gift at the same time, Dimitri. It has been a little over five years since I have seen him. I met him at a bar while I was celebrating graduating college. I ended up going back to his place and spending the night. Only to do the "walk of shame" the next morning, but I wasn't ashamed. I had the best night of my life and it wasn't because of the sex, though that was enough to have lasted me these past five years. It was because of the conversation after that, we laid in his bed and talked. We talked about everything, well I thought it was everything. I had no idea he was harboring such a big secret.

When I found out I was pregnant it was a big shock. I had been told I would never be able to get pregnant on my own. My body had too much damage from what I went through as a child. I didn't even know if I wanted to be a mom, but when I saw her on the screen at my first ultrasound I was in love. She has been the greatest thing to ever happen to me and I didn't know what life would be without her.

"I don't know what to say. I'm sorry you had to find out about her that way. Would it help to know it wasn't my choice to marry her?"

"No. Not really, but now I know why you wanted a one night stand. So what was I just one last fling before you settled down?"

"Truth? Maybe at first, but you turned out to be so much more Roza."

"Please don't call me Roza." I said with a shaky voice.

"Understood." We sat there in silence not saying anything to each other. I have dreamt of this day for so long, when I would finally get to confront him. Now that he was here in front of me I didn't know what to say. Right now I was just hoping Adrian could keep Demi busy enough so that she didn't come back and we're still here talking. This wasn't how I wanted her to meet her father, I had always been upfront with her, as much as you can with a four year old. She knew she had a dad that lived far away. I knew what it was like growing up without a father and didn't want that for her. I was going to tell her when she was old enough who he was and let her decide for herself if she wanted a relationship with him.

"You know when she was two she used to pretend she was a princess. With a crown and all and she made us her Royal subjects." I pulled out my phone and scrolled through my pictures to find the one I was looking for. It was of Demi all dolled up in her dress, crown, and scepter, while me and Adrian bowed to her.

"She looks so much like my sisters when they were her age." He started to tear up a little.

"I've missed so much of her life. I don't want to miss any more of it."

"That's going to be hard."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You live in another country."

"You can't keep me from seeing her Rose. She is my child."

"I'm not trying to, but you have another life in another country. You have a wife and a son on the way. I'm not going to let her be hurt by you the way you hurt me."

"I never meant to hurt you and I would never intentionally hurt her."

"Really, what do you think it's going to be like for a four year old to learn her dad has a whole other family that doesn't include her?" I could see Adrian and her slowly walking back towards us.

"Look I'm not trying to keep her from you, but this isn't how I want her to meet you. I think you can agree to that."

"You're right this isn't how I want to officially meet her as her father."

"Here, take my phone." He raised his eyebrow at me.

"Don't look at me like that. Put your contact information in my phone so I have a way to reach you." He shook his head and took the phone and typed.

"Promise me you will contact me." He said as he handed me back my phone.

"Mommy mommy. Uncle Adrian let me get two scoops of ice cream.

"He did? Thanks Adrian, it's your turn to put her to bed tonight."

"Just doing my part, everything ok?" He asked, looking at Dimitri. Demi being her bubbly self decided she was going to sit in between me and Dimitri.

"What's your favorite ice cream?"

"Pistachio. Yours?"

"That's my favorite too!" She exclaimed. Now I knew where she got that from because I thought it was the most disgusting flavor. Adrian looked at the three of us sitting together and I could see the wheels turning. He started to say something and I cleared my throat hoping he would get the hint to shut up. He nodded like he understood.

"Hey Demi, why don't we start heading home."

"We can't leave mommy."

"We won't sweetie, we're going to race her and we have a head start."

"Ok." She jumped up and pulled me with her.

"Bye mister, I hope my mom made you happy."

"She did, she made this the best day of my life."

I'm really loving this story. I will be updating it on Wednesdays!