"You may break, you may shatter the vase if you will, But the scent of the roses will hang round it still. -

Thomas Moore

Katrina took out a key and let herself inside. The heavy black door that matched the pillars and the mansion's tiled roof swung open. She took a step into the foyer and looked around. Ahead of her was a flight of stairs. To her right, the foyer opened into a front parlor and on the left was the living room. Everything was just as she had left it. The cream walls with light grey pillars, the black leather sofas including the dark velvet curtains that grazed the white tiled floor. Everything was the same as she had left it and still spotless. The cleaning lady and the housekeeper were doing a great job of keeping the house clean. It was a shame though because it would not remain the same after she was done taking it apart.

Katrina looked around one more time, her tho

"Those who don't pick roses in summer won't pick them in winter either. -

German Proverb

After several weeks of planning Katrina's business was ready for the official opening. It was just as well since all her items had auctioned off at a very fast rate and she had been able to complete all her house's remodeling in just about a week. This time, however, there would be no house warming party or any other parties for that matter. This was her home. Her sanctuary, the place where she could retreat to and remain safe from the rest of the world and all its worries. Her business on the other hand deserved all the limelight it could get. How else could she get to reach the clients that she was looking for? Therefore with Alice's help as her new partner and also her corporate lawyer and with her grandmother's backing as one of the investors, she managed to turn the shop into a gallery and org

"It is the time you have spent on your rose that makes her so important. - Antoine De Saint.

As expected the dinner proved to be quite eventful if the number of suspicious glances moving in between them and around the table was anything to go by. The air was tense with unspoken words and it tortured Mirena to know that she may have been the main cause of it. Had things between them escalated this much? What kind of life had she been living if her only son was now staring at her as if he somehow expected the worst from her? The looks of steel coming from Katrina were also had to miss. She must hate her, Mirena thought. All the pain and suffering their ambitions had brought these children. Suddenly Mirena felt very remorseful.

"Look, I am very sorry." She said, setting her forks down. "I have not been the best mother Ryan and for that I apologise." The other two stopped eating and turned

"You may break, you may shatter the vase if you will, But the scent of the roses will hang round it still. -

Thomas Moore

Katrina took out a key and let herself inside. The heavy black door that matched the pillars and the mansion's tiled roof swung open. She took a step into the foyer and looked around. Ahead of her was a flight of stairs. To her right, the foyer opened into a front parlor and on the left was the living room. Everything was just as she had left it. The cream walls with light grey pillars, the black leather sofas including the dark velvet curtains that grazed the white tiled floor. Everything was the same as she had left it and still spotless. The cleaning lady and the housekeeper were doing a great job of keeping the house clean. It was a shame though because it would not remain the same after she was done taking it apart.

Katrina looked around one more time, her thoughts heavy with memories of days that she had spent alone in this very mansion. The very spot that 

Chapter 17