ELEVEN

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"I don't know if we are exchanging gifts, but I got him this watch," I said while showing the black box to Kelsey. "He's been raving about it."

"He still hasn't been talking?"

"Nope."

"Asshole. I have to go Athena, but I'll be in New York
later on tonight. Are you sure it's okay if I spend Christmas with you all?"

"I promise it's fine."

"Alright. Love you, flower."

"Love you too," I said before hanging up the phone.

I grabbed the flute glass and the bottle of sparkling wine. I filled the glass to the top before smiling. Just what I needed for this long stressful day.

Valeria and I interviewed people all day for the social media team and now I had to make the final decisions of who made the cut.

Tobias walked in and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.

"Hey, if you don't mind, can Kelsey stay with us for Christmas. I promise we won't be loud or anything."

"Doesn't matter to me. I'm spending Christmas at Laurens place."

"Are you okay? You've been acting weird."

"I've been acting normal."

"You haven't. You don't even eat meals at the table anymore. You don't even speak to me." I crossed my arms. "Did I do something?"

"Perhaps you forgot, Athena. This engagement isn't real. I don't have to eat with you every day nor do I have to talk to you." He said before walking out.

I guess Tobias the asshole is back. Did this guy have multiple personalities? We agreed to be cool and cordial. What was up with him?

"Hello, I know you told me to go home, but I have easy recipe sheets for breakfast that you can cook. No more burned grits" Kaleb said while walking in. "They're Athena proof."

"Hey, and you must know that Tobias is going to Laurens' for Christmas."

"Yes. He didn't tell you?"

"He just did."

Kaleb shook his head. "I also pre-prepped the food for dinner, so most of the things, you just need to put it in the oven."

"I will make Kelsey do that."

"I figured." He smiled. "If you need anything, besides cooking, just know that you can call me."

"Really? Thank you, Kaleb. You know, I barely have friends but I consider you one. Thank you for being there for me."

"No problem. Merry Christmas, Athena."

"Merry Christmas."

~~~

I was at my fathers' house getting a couple of my items.

"Daddy, remember that pottery wheel I had? Do you still have it?"

"Yes. It's in the basement in the storage area."

"I've never been in the basement. Can you send someone down there for me?" I questioned. He sighed while putting down his phone.

"I gave staff off this week for Christmas."

"You're finally being human."

"It's safe down there Athena. I promise no monster will get you." He mumbled.

I sighed before walking across the manor and down the basement stairs. I flicked the lights on and walked to the storage area. I pushed open the door.

It was neat. Buckets lined the walls with labels. I slowly scanned them looking for my name. I stopped at one named "Kaelyn". My mother. What belonged in there?

I stood on my tiptoes to grab the box from the shelf. I opened the lid and squinted my eyes. Greek mythology? That made sense given me and my estranged siblings' names.

The black journal caught my eye. I cautiously picked it up and opened the book to the first page.

October 20th, 2004

I feel like I'm drowning. Drowning in love. The bad kind, not the good kind. I'm overwhelmed with love. Bad not good. I want to be free but love drags me down. Like a bird who loves the air but her home is on the ground. I feel trapped like my wings are clipped. Every day, it gets harder to wake up. I have no motivation. I'm overwhelmed with love, but I love nothing.

Loved nothing? I flipped the page to the next entry.

October 21st, 2004
I understand now. Money can't buy happiness. I use to curse the rich for them not being happy. But having everything is the same as having nothing. I wanted more but I couldn't have it. Why was I so miserable when I was living the dream?

My mom never acted miserably. Then again, I was a child, I couldn't decipher if she was happy or not. I turned to the next entry.

October 25th, 2004
My dearest Athena. Though I loved but resented.

That was all she wrote for that entry. Was Eros right? Did my mother truly not like me. I searched through the bucket some more. I found pictures of my younger self. My mother was holding me, she seemed happy and smiling. It didn't look forced.

Another was with Eros and Anteros. They sat on her lap. Her smile seemed wider. You can tell it was pure happiness.

"Athena!" I hear my dad call out.

I quickly stuffed the journal in my bag. I placed the pictures back in the bucket before putting it back in their place.

"Just checking to see if you got the wheel."

"It's too high for me to reach." I said while pointing at the box.

I wasn't short. I was five foot eight, but my dad stood way taller than me. He reached up and grabbed the box.

"Thank you."

His phone buzzed and he sighed.

"I'm the only one with no break. I'll be in my office." He said before walking off.

I placed the pottery box on the floor before scanning the room. Another box with my mothers' name was on it. I quickly grabbed it. It was more black journals. I began stuffing them in my bag before placing the bucket back on the shelf.

I was eager to get back to the penthouse. Maybe these journals were an answer to why my mother left.

~~~

"Flower. Check this out." Kelsey said while handing me the journal. "Mrs. Landon and your mother were best friends."

"What?" I questioned while grabbing the journal.

"Read it."

Beverly. My beloved. Despite my miserable days, she was the light. She'd call. Everyday. We'd spend hours on the phone. She'd give me tips on Anteros, Eros, and the girl. Sometimes I'd take Eros to the park to play with her son. It was nice to have a friend in the world. Someone to combat the lonely-ness of planet earth.

"That explains why Tobias and Eros are close now, but why did she refer to me as the girl?" I questioned.

"Flip the page."

The girl. I've had her for a week and I can't manage a name for her. When I looked into her beautiful eyes, all I saw was him. My Love, my Vince. I thought of Aphrodite or Athena. One of those for my beautiful Greek goddess.

"Wait," I said. "My beautiful Greek goddess. That sounds familiar."

I stood up and hurried to my dresser. I pulled out one of the notecards and plopped back on the bed with Kelsey.

"Kels. Same writing."

"No way."

"Look. The way she writes my greek goddess. She capitalizes the g in greek and goddess."

"You can't possibly think it's your mother who's been sending you the flowers and notes."

"I don't know. It could be."

"Do you think Eros could be getting the messages to? Maybe you should ask him."

"No way."

"Well, maybe Anteros."

"I could try reaching out to him. I believe they're still in contact with her. The way Eros was speaking the night of the mixer, he just seemed protective."

"How will you contact him?"

"I'll message him on Instagram, after Christmas."

"Why not now?"

"I don't want to ruin Christmas for them."

"Maybe Anteros is different."

"Maybe. I don't want to cause trouble." I sighed. "Now I just feel sad. I didn't realize how miserable my mother was, but what was making her so sad? She hasn't said anything about my father and me so far."

"We have more journals to read. But we can do that later. It's Christmas Eve! Let's go out on the town and go shopping." Kelsey stood from her bed.

"But I've already gotten your gifts."

"Shopping is therapy. It'll cheer you up."

~

Christmas Day rolled around. I was excited given that Kelsey and I were hanging out again. Early this morning we opened the gifts that we got each other.

"So when are you giving Tobias his gift?" Kelsey questioned while taking a sip of her hot chocolate. I shrugged.

"I might keep it. Or give it to my father."

"Hey, there's another gift under the tree."

I stood up and walked towards the tree. It was a large box. I read the tag.

From: Tobias
To: Athena Love Solana

"It's from Tobias. I don't remember seeing this." I ripped the wrapping paper off.

"What is it, flower?" Kelsey questioned while standing up.

"Wow, he got me a new easel and paint." I smiled. "And a new brush kit."

"That's so sweet. What happened to your old one?"

"It broke and I just haven't had time to buy a new one."

"Maybe he isn't an asshole."

"Maybe."

There was a knock on the door and I stood from my spot to walk towards the door. I looked through the peephole before answering. A man stood with a bouquet of red roses. Something different. I swung the door open and smiled.

"Thank you," I said while grabbing them. I closed it back.

"Are those from your mother?"

"I don't think so, these are red. She usually sends me white." I pulled the notecard from the bouquet and opened it.

My dearest Athena, don't look too deep for clues, you might find an answer you weren't looking for. Merry Christmas, my Greek Goddess.


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