He was right, but she didn’t care. “You didn’t make me and Andrei move away from everything I’ve ever known and loved.”
“No. I didn’t. Maybe I should have. I’d planned to wait until about now, actually. Give you a few years then move after your next birthday. Instead, you’re going next week. End of discussion.”
“Why should you have sent us there?”
His face hardened even as his shoulders seemed to slump. “Nothing. But it might have been good for you and Andrei to begin your lives outside the home where you grew up, where your whole family still lives.”
She stood and glared at him. “And maybe we wouldn’t have been in the car that night.”
“You would have. You’ll be back for any number of functions, and you would have attended that one.”
“Andrei might not have,” she protested.
“Maybe. Maybe not.” She didn’t think he believed that. “Regardless, you’re moving next week. The press release will be sent in half an hour.”
“Fine.” She turned on her heel and started for the door. “But don’t think I’m going to like it.”
“You don’t have to like it. You just have to do it.”
And she would. She would loathe every minute of it, but she’d do it.
In her outer office, she noticed the door to Jordan’s office open. He sat in his chair, tie flipped over his shoulder and feet propped up on the desk. Did he have any idea how old that desk was? She had half a mind to tell him, but that would mean talking to him, and she didn’t plan to do that in the foreseeable future.
Instead, she asked Jade to join her in her office, instructing her assistant to close the door behind her. “Have you seen the press release?”
“Just a moment ago, ma’am.”
“Do you have an issue with relocating?”
“No, ma’am. I’ve already spoken with Martina. She doesn’t either. Thomas, Adam, and Nanny Gretchen will be moving as well.”
“Good. Thank you for taking care of that.”
“My pleasure.”
For the next hour, they went through her schedule, noting which events would need to be canceled or rescheduled so she could fit a number of events in during a one day trip to Cabo Juan-Eduardo rather than going back and forth more often. “I would like to find out what organizations I could be involved in once we get there.”
“Any idea what kind of organizations, ma’am?”
“Women and children. Expectant mothers. That sort of thing I suppose. Perhaps an organization for children in foster care. I would like my focus to be on the younger members of society and helping them, at least for the time being.”
“I will see what I can find out.”
“Thank you.”
Jade left the office, and Astrid turned to some communications she needed to address. Emails, letters, even a phone call or two.
She didn’t let her mind wander to where her husband might have spent the night. All she knew for sure was that he hadn’t spent it in their quarters.
At lunchtime, she went to Sofia’s playroom to eat with her daughter.
“Are you feeling all right, ma’am?” Nanny Gretchen asked her.
“Of course.” Astrid sat next to her daughter.
“The prince texted me that he was sleeping in here last night. I thought perhaps he was trying to let you sleep since you weren’t feeling well.” The way Gretchen stared Astrid right in the eyes told Astrid what she needed to know. The nanny wanted her to know that she knew things were amiss.
At least she knew where he was.
Not like the times where...
No! She wouldn’t let her thoughts go there.
She wouldn’t sully Andrei’s memory with her uncertainties.
For the next half hour, her attention focused solely on her daughter. By the time she rocked Sofia and read her a book before laying her in her crib, Astrid felt more at peace than she had been since the wave of realization washed over her the night before.
Why couldn’t she spend the afternoon with her daughter curled against her?
Right. Because she was the Crown Princess and certain things were expected of her, like an appearance at a tea one of the local battered women’s shelters held every fall to raise money.
Martina already waited in Astrid’s dressing room. More boring colors, though at least this outfit was chocolate for fall instead of some variation on tan or beige.
At the tea, Astrid sat with Lady Kathleen, the third time she’d seen the distant cousin in a week or so. Had she seen her that much in the last year.
“I heard about your move, Your Royal Highness.” Lady Kathleen broached the subject between sips of tea. “I think it’s fantastic that you’ll have the chance to be a family on your own without quite as much pressure.”
Astrid nodded as though she completely agreed, but the woman’s statement did make sense. The media wouldn’t be nearly as intense outside of the capitol city. That was a good thing.
She plastered on a smile and made small talk with the other women at the table, but the one thing they all kept coming back to...
Was Prince Jordan as wonderful as he’d seemed? The reports all said he was wonderful with the children. Was he really like that or was it all for show?
At least she didn’t have to lie. It wasn’t like she could actually say, Oh, no. He can’t stand kids, but didn’t he do a great job acting like he likes them? Even the kids didn’t notice!
Unfortunately, that thought had crossed her mind about Andrei more than once when she was in a snarky mood.
Jordan?
She didn’t even have to pretend to lie.
And she didn’t know how she felt about that.
Jordan wore a helmet this time, not because he really needed to, but because the kids were around. He was a role model, and he had to act like one.
He held up the hockey stick. “Who knows what this is?”
“A hockey stick!” All twenty voices sounded in unison.
“And this?”
“A puck!” they called.
He let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. “Good. You’ve got the basics down.”
They all laughed, as did their parents in the bleachers.
For the next two hours, he spent time doing what he’d done best for so many years. He helped some of the kids with their slap shots, others with their goal tending, and still others with their footwork.
By the time he left, he knew he’d be a little sore the next day. He hadn’t been slacking with his workouts, but these were a different set of muscles.
The announcement had been made right before the clinic that he was the new royal patron of the San Majorian Mini Majorians Hockey League. Maybe before Astrid became queen, they’d have that Olympic hockey team. He wouldn’t play, but maybe he could help coach. Some of these kids showed raw talent.
Back at the palace, he didn’t know where else to go, so he went to the suite he wasn’t supposed to be in, took a shower, dressed in his dressing room - after refusing to let Adam help him - and reemerged to find Astrid walking in.
“I’ll be out of your hair in just a minute,” he told her, wishing he could run his fingers through the coppery strands.
“Thank you.”
He sat on a chair and leaned over to tie his shoe. “I take it you’ve heard about our big plans.”
“My father exiling us to San Minoria? Yes, he called me into his office first thing this morning.”
“I’ve never been there. Is the palace close to the beach?” Maybe he could get back out in the water.
“Nothing in San Majoria is far from the beach.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes. It has a stretch of private beach.”
“Good.” It also meant she’d have her quarters overlooking the water, just like she loved. “Do you know when we actually leave?”
“Tomorrow after church. My father moved up the timeline about an hour ago. Apparently, there’s some thing going o
n he wants us to attend so we may as well be there in time for it.”
She still hadn’t looked directly at him since she realized he was in the room. He finished tying his other shoe.
“I will see you in the morning then. I presume we’re going to church together?” He hoped so. She’d at least have to sit by him.
“We’ll see how I’m feeling in the morning.” She started for the bedroom, then stopped. “The suite next door has been freshened up for you.”
Ah. Her way of telling him he didn’t have to sleep in the nursery. “Okay.” He thought he managed to keep the disappointment out of his voice.
She disappeared into the bedroom and shut the door behind her. Jordan went back to his office and did some more research on organizations on San Minoria.
As soon as he saw it, he knew.
#StillKickin
The “about” page on the website told the story. A young man, an active soccer player and killed in a tragic boating accident, had told his parents he wanted to be an organ donor. They honored his wishes and now raised money and awareness for organ donation. Each year, a bursary was awarded to a student attending college in a health field, and they did registration drives, encouraging others to make their wishes known. They also sponsored a youth soccer team.
Jordan couldn’t help but want to be involved. He forwarded the information to Thomas and told him to make it happen. He didn’t want to step on any toes, but it was something near and dear to his metaphorical heart. He wanted to meet with the family of the young man who inspired the organization and thank them for their selfless act.
He continued researching. Another youth organization or two would be good. Maybe an adult men’s fitness adventure group. He stumbled across one that helped members achieve both weight and life goals, including things Jordan loved - like SCUBA diving or ziplining, that they might have been too heavy, or at least too out of shape, to do before. The website mentioned they were looking into starting a marathon training program.
When combined with what he’d just seen on the #StillKickin site, it was a perfect match. Their annual marathon, half marathon, 5K, and 1K fun run was in the spring. That was great timing for the other group to work toward whichever goal the individual wanted to. He sent that information to Thomas as well, with instructions to look into joining the two ventures. He wanted to do the marathon. It would be a challenge, but doable. And if he could get others to do it with him, all while raising awareness for organ donation, even better.
When dinner time came, he ate in his office. He probably could have joined some of his in-laws for a meal, but he didn’t want to deal with the awkward looks and stilted questions.
Instead, he worked on formulating his thoughts about how he might be able to help some different groups. He called Dare and talked to him for a while, though he managed to keep his best friend from knowing about the trials he was currently going through. Eventually, it was late enough he could go to his temporary quarters without worrying about running into anyone.
Once there, he pulled out his tablet and decided to read a book. Nothing too deep or heavy, just a nice legal thriller without much romance. Surely that existed. It took a few minutes of digging, but he found one that looked good and started reading. He’d made it about halfway through before the call of nature sent him to the bathroom.
What he saw on the counter made him think. Someone - either Adam or Astrid - had made sure his medications had been moved to this room. He’d never had much of a discussion about it with Adam, and none of his clothes appeared to have been moved, so that left his wife as the likely culprit.
Maybe she cared more than she wanted to let on.
But it made him wonder. Did she care because of him - Jordan? Or because she didn’t want Andrei’s heart to get ruined somehow?
And did she know, or even suspect, whatever it was her father knew about his former son-in-law? Was Andrei deserving of the pedestal Astrid kept him on? After the king’s statements the night before, Jordan was inclined to think not, but what did Astrid think? Would the king ever tell either one of them his suspicions?
He decided not to think too deeply on it. Instead, he took the medication, and decided to read in bed. When the book was about three-quarters done, Jordan figured out who the bad guy was. Maybe the author would surprise him, but he didn’t expect him to. The whole book had been decent if predictable.
Setting his tablet on the side table, Jordan slid under the covers and wished his wife was with him.
21
“It’s a great view.”
Astrid turned to see Jordan leaning against the door frame to the suite he was supposed to be sharing with her. “It is.” She turned back to stare out over the blues and greens of the ocean.
The waves didn’t pound against the base of the palace itself, except in the most extreme weather. The cove was too sheltered, almost like the one where they’d met. From this angle, it looked more like the palace met the sea.
“Sofia will love it.”
“Yes, she will.” Astrid hesitated, then said something she’d meant to days earlier. “Thank you for helping her be so comfortable in the water.”
His chuckle washed over her. “It was literally no trouble at all. You know I love being in the water, and she took to it quite naturally.”
The scar, and all its implications, came back to her. “When are you planning to tell people about the transplant? I saw the stories after the turtle sanctuary wondering about that scar and what happened to make you need whatever surgery it was.”
“They wondered about all the other scars, too. The PR people just said they didn’t discuss my medical history with anyone. I’m kind of surprised it hasn’t come out yet, though.”
“Me, too.”
“There’s an organization here I want to get involved with.” His soft tone surprised her. “But I won’t without your blessing.”
“What is it?”
“It’s called #StillKickin. A young man, in his early 20s, donated his organs a few years ago. He was a soccer player and had joked with his parents that organ donation meant he’d be ‘still kickin’ after he was gone. I want to get involved as their royal patron, though that still sounds kind of pretentious to me, and then work with another group that gets people moving and into shape for marathons and such in time to run the #StillKickin marathon next spring. It gives me time to get in shape too.”
“You’re going to run a marathon?” Astrid didn’t know how she felt about that. Short bursts of energy for things like surfing were one thing, but a whole marathon? Wouldn’t that put a huge strain on his heart?
She might be mad at him, plan to live the rest of their marriage as roommates, but she didn’t want anything bad to happen to him.
“As long as I train right, it’ll be fine. I’m not just going to go out and try to do the whole thing tomorrow.”
Astrid’s phone buzzed on the table next to where she was standing. She picked it up and, after reading the text, closed her eyes and let her head fall forward.
“Everything okay?”
“Just some work to take care of. I’d hoped to have a few days off before getting into the mire.”
“Is it anything I can help you with?”
Astrid shook her head, giving the ocean one more glance before turning around. “No, but thank you.”
“Anytime.”
He didn’t move from the doorway, and she had to get uncomfortably close to leave the room. As she brushed past him, he stopped her with an arm around her waist. “I’m always here if you need anything.” He kissed the side of her head. “I’m not going anywhere.”
She didn’t reply, but his words stayed with her long after she made it downstairs to her new office. It also had a fantastic view of the ocean. Unfortunately for Jordan, that meant his office did not, but only one of them could have the one with the best view.
A small inner voice protested. Her parents often worked out of the same room. Her office had plenty of room
for both of them at the conference table or for a second desk when they didn’t both need to be on the phone at the same time.
But not now. Maybe not ever.
Astrid logged into her computer and dealt with the email Jade had warned her about. The fundraiser, the one she and Andrei had attended that fateful night, had been pushed back to October this year. They’d been asking for weeks if she and Jordan would be in attendance. The email from her father told her she had no choice. She finally emailed them that her schedule was clear, and they would be there.
She dreaded the thought.
Not even being there with Jordan, but being there at all. She’d need a new dress, as different from the sea foam chiffon as possible. Maybe something sleek and form fitting rather than the flirty skirt from two years earlier. And not green. Maybe blue. Or orange or whatever she could find that was as far from green as possible.
She logged onto the website of one of her favorite designers to see what was in the new line that she could purchase or have modified. Maybe she’d call him up and see if he would have something he could get her quickly.
That was a better idea. Normally, she didn’t bother with custom pieces, except for extra special occasions, but this needed something more than a dress modified by her seamstress.
She sent Jade a message asking her to make the call while she browsed the site.
Ten minutes later, she was on the phone with him, discussing the dress she’d found and fallen almost completely in love with. Yes, he could make the modifications she wanted. The back was really a bit too low for her taste - or her father’s. And he would make it in a different color than was offered on the website. The slit up the side would also be toned down, just a bit. She didn’t need that much thigh showing when she walked.
With that taken care of, she thanked him. There were already new messages, new requests for support for one cause or another. She wanted to give all of them everything they needed, but the reality was she couldn’t. Despite the large amount of funds at her disposal, she simply couldn’t give it away to everyone. Some of the charities were questionable. Some were worthy, but outside the scope of her mission. When she could she also chose to give some to them, but those within her passions came first. For now, those passions involved women’s and children’s issues.
Crowns & Courtships Compilation Volume 1 Page 16