Chapter 103: Returning to England

The following day, Selen walked into Diana’s bedroom, where the kids were finishing up, after hours of studying. With her hands smoothing down the front of her trousers, trying to get rid of the jitters that came with the fear of their reaction.

David and Daniel were on the carpet, aggressively doing some mathematical problems on the rug. Diana sat quietly on the edge of her bed, carefully organizing a fresh stack of drawing books into a neat pile. The sight of them immediately washed away the residual tension from the previous night.

"David, Daniel, push the cars to the side for a minute", Selen said, her voice dropping into its familiar, calm parental tone. "Diana, look up from the books for a second. I need to tell you all something" she said.

The boys stopped immediately, looking up with identical expressions of curiosity. Diana placed her colored pencils down, her eyes locking onto her mother.

"We are going on a trip", Selen announced, walking over to sit on the edge of Diana’s bed. "A long one. In a week, we are moving to England to stay for a few months" she announced.

David’s jaw dropped slightly. "England? Like, across the ocean?" he asked in a low tone. "Yes. We are going to live in a very big house in the countryside, in a place called Kent", Selen explained, looking at each of them.

"It has a massive, private garden. You boys can run around as much as you want, and Diana, you will have your own sunlit space to paint and draw". She said slowly.

David frowned, his face twisting as the reality of her words began to sink in. "But what about school? What about our friends?" he asked her.

"Yeah! We just started our soccer league with them. Are we going to see our friends again? I don’t want to leave them", Daniel chimed in, his excitement evaporating.

Diana looked down at her hands, her voice small. "Will we have to stay there forever?" she asked. Selen reached out, gently rubbing Diana’s back while keeping her eyes on all of them.

"No, it is not forever. It is just for a couple of months. I know it is hard to leave your friends right now, but you will absolutely see them again. When we come back in the spring, they will be right here waiting for you. And while we are in Kent, you are going to go to a wonderful new school where you can make new friends" she said.

"But I don’t know how to play soccer in English", Daniel mumbled, though his doubts were slowly evaporating.

"Soccer is the same in every country, Daniel", Selen smiled faintly, trying to put some warmth into the conversation. "You just kick the ball into the net. You will handle it perfectly". She said with assurance.

Diana looked up again, her brow furrowed in thought. "Is Daddy coming with us?" she asked her mother. The boys instantly perked up at the mention of Clancy. "Yeah, is daddy going to be on the plane too?" David asked.

Selen felt a brief, uncomfortable tightening in her chest. The kids had no idea that Clancy was originally based in England, or that his life there was part of the complicated web that was her past, that she had spent years navigating.

She did not want to explain his schedule, nor did she want to invite his presence into their new sanctuary after the spectacular fight that had just occurred last night.

"No, Clancy is not coming on the plane with us next week", Selen replied smoothly, keeping her answer short and entirely neutral.

"He has his own work to manage. But since we will be in the UK, he may visit you guys at the estate at some point" she said, hoping that the last part would make them feel better.

"Oh", David said, seemingly satisfied with the answer before turning his attention back to his toy car. "Can I bring my monster truck in my backpack?" he asked his mother.

"Only if it fits", Selen said, standing up and walking toward the closet. "I want each of you to pick your absolute favorite toys to pack into your carry-ons this weekend. The rest we will put into the big suitcases" she announced.

Daniel scrambled toward his toy box, his earlier reluctance entirely forgotten in favor of sorting through his collection. David followed him, arguing over who got to bring the larger racing track components.

Selen watched them for a moment, then looked back at Diana. She reached down, checking the temperature of Diana’s forehead with the back of her hand out of pure reflex. Her skin was cool. Her breathing was steady.

"Are you okay with this, sweetie?" Selen asked softly. Diana nodded slowly. "If there is a garden, can we plant flowers?" she asked.

"We can plant whatever you want", Selen promised, kissing her cheek. "Now, go help your brothers decide which toys are actually going to fit in those bags".

As Diana slid off the bed to join her brothers to fight about toys, Selen leaned against the wall, taking a slow, deep breath. The decision was made. The kids had accepted it. Now, she just had to come to terms with it all.

****Later that evening in Selen’s home **

"I am leaving," Selen announced. "I am going to England, the kids and I are relocating to Kent for the next six months." she said.

The whiplash of the statement caught Newton off guard. Newton frowned, his neutral expression immediately dissolving into confusion and suspicion.

He looked at Selen, his mind instantly racing to the worst conclusion. "England? Is this your way of saying you choose him?" he asked her.

Selen looked at Newton, her expression entirely devoid of warmth. "I am not choosing him, Newton. I am not choosing between the two of you. I am choosing my kids.

Diana needs the clean air, and the ministry is covering every single medical expense and providing a safe estate for David and Daniel to run around. This is about their future." she said.

She stepped closer to him, looking at both of them with absolute finality. "Neither of your egos factored into this decision. I am doing what is best for my family." she said, now closer to him than before.

"Plus, what is there to choose when I already made my choice?" she said to Newton and leaned in to kiss his lips.