" Where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle may not grow. - Frances Hodgson Burnett"

"Wow... That is quite a story you two. You are so young yet you have been through so much apart and together." Mrs. Beufont said as she folded her hand to lean over the heavy desk in her small office. "I can only hope and pray that you have learnt something, hopefully onwards things we will be better."

"I cannot promise anything Mrs B. Right now my priority is this baby. Everything else is just secondary."Katrina said as she cast a furtive glance at Ryan who all this time and through her narration had chosen to remain silent. She gathered that he had already opened up to Mrs. B before and it made her wonder what was now going through his mind and the plans that he was formulating for his future and that of his baby.

"Of course Katrina. But don't forget we are called to live for peace. I believe that ev

"

If you are among the roses, your friends will look for you among the thorns. - Swedish Proverb

"Hey come look at this..." Ryan said as he followed Katrina and the old man into the living room. They were in the hallway and all around them lay portraits and pictures of people who he assumed were Katrina's maternal relatives.

"What?" Katrina asked as she doubled back to him.

"This... She looks familiar doesn't she? I could swear I have seen her face somewhere..."

"The portrait in my dad's office. She is supposed to be my mother, he never talked about it but grandma let it slip one day..."

"Who are those people with her?"

That is my sister Charlotte and her husband Henry. Would you believe it that that picture was taken some months before you were born...they had been so happy until the accident occurred."

"What accident?" Katrina turned around to address the man who had now introd

"

Gather the rose of love whilst yet is time. - Edmund Spenser

A car pulled to a sudden halt as a man jumped out to stop a woman from entering a cab. His movements were frantic as he shouted waving his hands if only to catch the woman's attention. Eyes turned, lips whispered but there were not that many people around at that hour, otherwise his actions would have caused such a stir and a scene, something that he had not taken time to consider when he stepped out of the car.

"What now Ryan?" the woman said as she cast an irritated look at the man who was still approaching as any hope that she had had of slinking away quietly crashed with every step that he took closer to her.

"Let me take you to wherever you are going..." he said as he came to a stop beside the cab and her.

"And where is that?"

"I have no idea but wherever it is, I will take you..." he said his gaze slowly following

" Where you tend a rose, my lad, a thistle may not grow. - Frances Hodgson Burnett"

"Wow... That is quite a story you two. You are so young yet you have been through so much apart and together." Mrs. Beufont said as she folded her hand to lean over the heavy desk in her small office. "I can only hope and pray that you have learnt something, hopefully onwards things we will be better."

"I cannot promise anything Mrs B. Right now my priority is this baby. Everything else is just secondary."Katrina said as she cast a furtive glance at Ryan who all this time and through her narration had chosen to remain silent. She gathered that he had already opened up to Mrs. B before and it made her wonder what was now going through his mind and the plans that he was formulating for his future and that of his baby.

"Of course Katrina. But don't forget we are called to live for peace. I believe that even the little one longs for that. Right Ryan?"

He nodded.

"I must say that I am ashamed Mrs Beufon

Chapter 11