The Prince and I

by R. S. Lively

  She opens it and starts reading through the documents, but stops at one, then goes back to the other. She holds them both up to the light and sets them down. “She did a really great job, but she forged your father’s signature on this copy.”

  “What?” The word is barely a hush leaving my lips.

  “This is the copy you had. This is the copy I had when I asked for it from the court. She played you.” She held the two copies up, side by side. “It also says that when Jesse turns eighteen, he has a trust fund. And you should be in charge of it right now. Wow, Rosie. You were entitled to a lot of money.”

  “I was?”

  “Your dad’s entire fortune and the company. She must have paid a lawyer off to overlook this. No decent attorney would have allowed this.”

  “You mean, this can ruin her life?” I ask with too much excitement. I’m nearly exploding out of my skin. I shouldn’t want to ruin anyone’s life, but she ruined mine, and I want her to get everything she deserves.

  “Are you kidding? She will go away for a very long time.” She yawns and closes the folder, pushing it away as she settles into the pillow. “I’m getting sleepy.”

  “I’m pregnant.” My hand flies to my mouth to cover it up. Wow. I did not expect it to come flying out like that. It just spewed out. There’s no taking it back. Luca is staring at me with humor, she is staring at me with tears falling down her cheeks, and the king, well he is just sitting there, staring at me like he didn’t believe me.

  “Really? I’m going to be a grandmother? I’m alive, and I get to see my grandchild? Thank you, God!” she shouts to the heavens. “Come here, sleep can wait. Tell me everything. How did you find out? How far along are you? Are you sick yet?”

  “Mother, you need to rest. We will be here when you wake up, and we can talk about it then. You look like you’re about to pass out.”

  “I’ll tell you everything. Don’t worry,” I reassure her, “I’ll probably be throwing up within the next five minutes. The little bean likes to torture me.”

  “Oh, the wonderful journey of pregnancy. I’m so glad I only did it once,” she mutters as she fights to stay awake. Her eyes flutter and not a minute later, she is sound asleep, leaving us in an awkward silence.

  The king is staring us down, and I feel like I’m about to get beheaded. I gulp, taking a step back, but Luca stares him down too.

  I’m stuck in a royal battle. I just don’t want to be a casualty.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Luca

  We couldn’t leave as soon as we thought. We have been in the bed-and-breakfast for about a month. Mother had to stay in the hospital longer than originally planned. She had to do some physical therapy, getting from the bed and to a chair. She had to be able to do that before we left and it took a while, but she is healthy now. And I couldn’t be happier.

  Another reason why we haven’t left is because we have taken Rosie’s stepmother to court. It didn’t take long to prove what she did. There had been an original copy already filed, but she made another one, forging Rosie’s father’s name on it, and filing it again, saying it was an amended copy. And that’s the copy that Rosie got.

  Everything is being switched over into her name, including the millions of dollars, the company, and the real estate. It’s a good win.

  I also paid for Rosie and her brother’s belonging to get shipped to Belgium. So right now, the plane has Michael, the nurse, Jesse, Mother, Father, Rosie, and me.

  Currently, I am holding Rosie’s hair back as she relieves her stomach. It makes me feel horrible and a little guilty. There’s a part of me that wonders if she regrets getting pregnant. It will kill me if she feels that way, but she seems to be really struggling, and losing a lot of weight. Michael says the vomiting won’t stop, not when it is this bad, so he suggests bedrest and hooking her up to an IV.

  My stubborn little sweet fox told him no.

  Tough shit. She is getting that IV. I don’t care if I have to shove the needle in her arm myself. She is getting it. Rosie keeps wanting to try solid foods on her own. She has this idea that it will go away, but it won’t. I just don’t want it to be too late before she realizes it. What if something happens to her? What if she loses the baby because of this?

  “How much further?” she cries.

  “Two hours.”

  “You said that two hours ago.”

  “I said four hours two hours ago.”

  “Can’t this plane go faster?” she asks.

  “It’s going as fast it is can, my sweet.” I sigh, running my hands down her back. “When can we talk about you getting medical help?”

  “We don’t have to talk about it. I’ll do it. I’m done with this. Hook me up, pump me up with fluids.”

  “I’ll pump you full of fluids, alright.” I make sure my tongue suggests something else.

  She turns her head and glares at me. “Really? Right now? As I’m puking and crying?”

  “I’m just trying to make you smile.” And I am. I just want her happy again.

  “I’m sorry I’m so grouchy.”

  “You have every reason to be.” I grab a rag again and wet it, setting it on the back of her neck.

  “Feels good,” she slurs. “Sleepy.”

  I rip the rag off her neck and wipe her mouth just in time to catch her as she passes out. “Fuck. Michael!” Picking her up, I run back to the cabin and lay her down on the floor.

  “I don’t have fluids here. I can’t help her.” He checks her pulse and his brows furrow. “I think she is actually sleeping…”

  “No, she passed out in front of me. No one can fall asleep that quick.”

  “When her body has done what it has? Don’t question it.”

  A little snore falls from her lips, and she turns on her side, snuggling up against my leg. “Oh, thank god,” I say with relief and lean my head back on the seat.

  “She might stay asleep for a while. I actually recommend maybe giving her some sleep medicine. The body heals the most when it is asleep. If we can get her to do that and hook her up to fluids for about a day, maybe two, she will feel as right as rain.”

  “As rain? I don’t think you mean that. Rain doesn’t feel good.”

  Michael pinches the bridge of his nose a lot around me. I know he hates having to explain things to me. “Rain is right for the earth. So when someone says, ‘as right as rain,’ it is a good thing. We can’t survive without rain.”

  “Oh.” The understanding dawns on me. “I’ve never heard of that before. Interesting.”

  “Now, if you don’t mind. I’m going to nap for the rest of the flight. I feel like I got shaken upside down.”

  I open my mouth to ask him what that means, but he silences me with his hand. “Nope. I’ll tell you when I wake up.”

  “You know, you better be glad I like you. The way you treat me can be considered very disrespectful in the castle.”

  “Well it is a good thing we are friends then, because I ain’t changing for nobody. Not even you, Mr. Fancy Pants.” He folds his hands in his lap and tilts his head back. “Now, goodnight.”

  “Goodnight, Monsieur Michael,” I say, smirking at his audacity. I like his ‘don’t take shit’ attitude. It’s respectable. He’s a good choice to be in the castle. He will make a great addition to the household. I can see him and Marcel bumping heads for sure.

  My heart wrenching, I pick Rosie up by the arms and cradle her in my lap. Smoothing the hair out of her face, I rub my thumb along her jaw, marveling at her outward beauty. I’ve never seen anyone quite like her. She sig,hs and a little grin graces her lips as she sleeps, snuggling into my chest like I’m the best blanket she has ever had.

  The entire plane ride is quiet for the next few hours—it’s just me that’s awake, looking out the window, watching the hills of my homeland finally come into view as we descend through the clouds. Lush green fields go on for hundreds of miles, trees are in abundance, and the familiar brightly colored flowers blanketing the pas
ture next to the runway come into view.

  I let out a breath that holds everything that has happened in the past month. It’s been a long journey. So many things have happened, and I’m just thankful to be home. The wheels skid on the pavement, jostling the plane. It wakes everyone up, except my Rosie. She is out like a light bulb. I think that’s what the Americans say.

  Once we land, Michael stands and stretches. He arches his back and squeals, accidentally slapping Jesse in the face. “Oh, I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t worry about it,” Jesse grumbles, patting his stomach.

  “I was just trying to slap some gay into you,” Michael says as he stands to get his bag out of the overhead bin.

  Jesse stops scratching and stares at Michael with an expression I have never seen before. It’s hilarious. “Well, it didn’t work. I’m still straight.”

  “For now.” Michael shoots me a wink. Ah, so he likes to rile Jesse up. By all means, continue.

  “For now? Dude, it isn’t a random thing. It isn’t like, I’m straight on the odd months of the year.”

  “How awesome would that be? I think everyone has a little gay in them, or on them, I guess it depends on how you look at it.” He taps his finger against his chin, staring at the roof “as if deep in thought.

  “You are going to drive me crazy,” Jesse mutters, slinging his bag over his shoulder.

  “Crazy in love,” he quotes Beyoncé.

  No shame in me knowing that. Even princes like the beehive.

  Jesse practically runs off the plane, trying to get as far as he can from Michael. It’s a good thing the castle is a big place, but even still, I don’t see Michael giving him the space. Chuckling, I press Rosie against my chest and stroll down the steps. My father does the same thing, holding my mother, even though she can walk now. He and I have spoken to each other, but it is clear we don’t see things the same way. It will take work to get our relationship up and running again, not that we were ever running in the first place, but maybe we can find a way to work together again.

  We pile everything up in the car, and the drive home is quick considering the runway is on our estate. Marcel is outside of the door, waving at us with pure happiness on his face. He has questions written all over his face with he sees Michael, but it shifts to elation when he sees my mother and my father. He runs down the steps with glee until he is standing in front of the king with tears in his eyes. I’ve never seen Marcel cry before, but why wouldn’t he? He has taken care of the family for a long time. It makes sense for him to be emotional to see Mother, especially when he said his goodbyes after we left to go to America.

  “Luca, put me down,” she says to my father.

  I can tell he isn’t happy about it, the scowl and disapproval written all over his face. I won’t be surprised if my mother never walks again because he will be carrying her around everywhere.

  “Marcel.” She sways on her feet a bit. That’s the only thing that’s been off since the surgery. It takes her a minute or so to gain ground before walking, but if that’s the only thing we have to worry about, I’d say we got very lucky.

  “Queen Caroline. It’s so good to see you.” His smile reaches his teary eyes. His face is bright red like a cherry, and he holds her hands to his chest, close to his heart. “So glad you are home.”

  “Me too, Marcel. Me too.” She loops her arms through his, and they begin walking toward the castle steps.

  My father grunts, hating that she is with Marcel and not him. “She’ll be okay,” I say to him. “We’re home now.”

  The word home makes the line between his brows disappear. He looks around himself, like he is just realizing we are home. He stares at the morning glories Mother planted last year and a few oak trees that have sprouted too from when she buried them a few years back. She has always had a green thumb.

  His shoulders sag, mumbling something under his breath. “Right. We’re home now.”

  I place my hand on his shoulder to try to show support. I don’t know how else to show him that I care. “You’ve had a long month. Why don’t you go up and sleep? Make a fire and curl up in bed with Mother.”

  “That’s a good idea. Real good.” He takes his first step to go into the castle, but stop short, turning around to look at Rosie, still asleep in my arms. “You’ve done good, Luca. You’ve done real good.”

  My breath catches. That’s the first time he has ever acknowledged anything positive I’ve done. A lump forms in my throat, and I look away from him, so he doesn’t see the weakness in my eyes. “Thanks, Father.”

  The leaves rustle under his shoes as he makes his way to the steps of the castle. I know he will want to have a party after my mother has had more time to heal.

  “Holy shit. You weren’t kidding when you said you lived in a castle.” Jesse tilts his head all the way back and blocks the sun with his eyes to see the highest point of the towers, but they surpass the clouds, disappearing into the sky.

  “Eh, I’ve seen bigger,” Michael says with a shrug, skipping his way up the steps.

  “Bull, like you have ever seen a castle, Michael.”

  I shake my head from their antics and haul my way up the steps. We are home. And nothing can take that feeling away from me.

  Chapter Thirty-Six

  Rosie

  It’s been two months since we’ve been back home, and everything has been perfect. The lawyers settled the issue between me and my stepmother, and now she is the one penniless. I haven’t heard from my boss since that night in the castle when the lights went off, but I think he got scared and knew he couldn’t beat the royal family. My belly is starting to show, and Luca’s mother is doing so much better.

  Life is so good.

  “I’m going to take a walk.” I kiss Luca’s cheek as he gets ready for a city hall meeting downtown.

  “Stay on the trails, okay?” He stares me down in the mirror, tying a perfect Windsor knot.

  “You know I will, I always do.” There is this place in one of the fields that I like to go to. It’s right in the middle of a field of wildflowers, and there’s a crystal-blue creek that runs right down the middle. Rocks and tree stumps act as seats, naturally put there by the earth. It’s the perfect place to relax.

  “Take a snack with you and two bottles of water. Just because the fluids that Michael is giving you are working, for now, doesn’t mean you need to overdo it. Okay?”

  I roll my eyes, slipping on my tennis shoes. “I know. I know.” It’s the same song and dance every time I go for my walk.

  He twirls me in his arms and holds me close to his body, swaying us to the sound of our own music, created by our own breaths. “Well, maybe one day you’ll listen.”

  I pull away from him and run to the door. “Now, where is the fun in that?” I blow him a kiss, and he catches it, making my heart soar. I feel so giddy when he does that. Luckily, I don’t have to go through the entire castle to get outside, because I’d probably get lost if I did. There’s a door that leads to the gardens right outside our bedroom. I sling my backpack on my shoulder and head out.

  The day is beautiful. The birds are chirping, the sun is bright, and the breeze is the perfect temperature. When I walk out, I see Jesse hanging out with Michael. The two have become good friends, nothing more. My brother is still crushing on Alice for some reason. He always has, since he was younger. I think it’s the typical ‘my sister’s best friend crush’, and I hope he grows out of it because I don’t think she is any good for him. Or for anyone right now.

  I haven’t heard from her since the day I hung up on her. I don’t know how she is or what she is doing, but all I know is that I have to start living for me. I can’t worry about someone or help someone when they won’t confide in me, and I’ve been at her side a long time, while she has never been at mine.

  I rub my hand against my belly, hoping the heat from my palm will keep the baby settled. It seems to really love heating pads and hot showers, anywhere where we can find warmth. I follow m
y usual path that leads to the old abandoned barn that he took my virginity in.

  Oh, what an amazing memory. Every time I pass it, my heart leaps. Maybe he and I can relive that memory soon. A twig snaps behind me and I stop, looking around to see who is there, but all I see is a blue bird on the ground, hopping its way closer to me. I blame it on him or her—I’m not real sure of the sex.

  I continue walking, enjoying the day and the floral scent carried in the breeze. This is my life now, and it is hard to wrap my head around. I have everything I have dreamed of having, including my father’s love. It wasn’t ever about the money; it was the notion. I only ever wanted him to see me for me, not my mother, and when he didn’t leave me a scrap in the will, it was the principle that made it hurt more than the act of not receiving anything.

  I take a sip of water and hear another twig snap. I slow my strides and twist the cap back on the bottle and listen. But I don’t hear anything again. The hairs on the back of my neck stand up, and my stomach flips, warning me to get away. I spin around, twisting my head left and right to see if anyone is there.

  “Rosie.” The familiar sinister whisper wraps around me like a whip, hissing a vile promise to cause pain. “Ring around the Rosie…”

  I cover my cries with my hand, muffling my mouth and running to the barn as I hear the song that was painted on my wall a few months ago. I run inside, trying to be as quiet as I can, but the doors to the barn are so loud as they creak. Not like it matters—I know he can see me enter.

  The barn is stifling. The air is muggy and hot, particles of old hay floating and making my nose tingle with a sneeze. I run around the bale of hay that I hid behind all those months ago and search for the hatch I found on that night. “Come on, come on,” I whisper, panicking when I don’t feel it.

  My finger dips into the small latch and I lift and hide away in the nook under the barn. It’s all dirt and mud, cobwebs and spiders. I feel a hysterical reaction coming along when something crawls across my hand. It takes all I have not to cry. Heavy footsteps bound on the old wooden beams above me, causing dirt and dust to fall on me, stinging my eyes.