by Leddy Harper
After a few seconds of deliberation, my father turned to the lead elder and nodded, to which the lead elder then faced his peers. He gave them their allotted time to object, and when that time was up, he announced, “With all in favor, this hearing will be recessed until the twenty-second of this month.”
That gave them exactly two weeks to find a distant male relative willing to take the throne.
“You have got to be kidding me,” I practically screamed as soon as I returned to my holding cell—otherwise known as the waiting room. Fisting my hands at my sides, I paced back and forth, then side to side.
Meanwhile, Libby didn’t budge from where she stood in the middle of the room.
“Can you believe this?” I questioned her with wide, likely crazed, eyes.
“In a way, yes. But mostly, no.”
“What do you mean, in a way, yes? In what way?”
“Well, the part about my dad refusing the crown was rather shocking, but your parents’ proposal that it be handed down to you? What about that is surprising? Wouldn’t you rather your child pick up where you left off over some ninth cousin thrice removed?”
I stilled and faced her, unsure if I should laugh or cry. “I can’t be positive, Libby, but I don’t think ninth cousins are a thing…and if they are, I am fairly positive that they are so distant they can’t even be considered relatives anymore.”
“Exactly. Which means it is either you or a complete dismemberment of our long-standing system of government. Is that what you want? Would you rather have some random lad come in and start changing everything our family has ever stood for?”
I would have bet my life that there were more competent civilians who could run Ilunabarra better than we could. “Being born into this family doesn’t make me more qualified to run a country than anyone else. What’s so wrong with moving into the twenty-first century with most of the other countries? You can’t possibly believe that I would be better than elected officials chosen by our own people.”
Libby rolled her eyes and dismissed me with a flick of her wrist. “I’m not suggesting that Ilunabarra would suffer under a more democratic system. All I’m saying is that you could be given an amazing opportunity to make a real difference here. Why are you so opposed to that?”
The list to answer her question was endless. Instead of giving her an infinite number of reasons, I held her shoulders, looked her square in the eyes, and said, “If you want it so badly, why don’t you volunteer?”
“Okay, now I know you’re delusional.” She knocked my arms away and moved to one of the chairs in front of the wall of windows that overlooked the beach. “I, for one, couldn’t be happier that my father refused the crown. That means I don’t have to worry about anyone trying to pass it down to me.”
As I stood in front of the window, next to Libby, and watched the waves crash against the shore, I became even more determined to stay off the throne. I wanted normal. Being the head of an entire country was as far from normal as one could get.
“My life is over.” I fell dramatically into the seat across from her, not a care in the world that my posture was less than desirable. “This is the last thing I want, Libby. The crown was never supposed to be mine. I never wanted it. Yet here I am, being forced to accept it…against my will, might I add.”
“It’ll be okay, Mo. You still have me.”
I smiled at her, even though I didn’t really feel it. “What does that mean?”
“You are entitled to pick your Privy Council, as well as your advisors. Have me at your side, and all you’ll have to do is look pretty.” Her teasing tone eased some of the aggression that ran rampant inside.
“That can be plan B. In the meantime, let’s find a way to get me out of it entirely.”
“Sure thing, Queen Mo. Anything for Your Royal Heinie.”
Maybe Libby was onto something. If I had to accept the crown, then I’d make sure she was by my side. After all, who better to have next to me than the only person in the world I trusted to have my back.
Chapter 4
Ryan
I sat on the couch with my head in my hands, my fingers threaded through my hair. It needed to be cut, but honestly, I hadn’t been too bothered with it. I hadn’t been bothered to do much of anything lately.
A harsh huff filled the room—and it didn’t come from me. I didn’t need to lift my head in order to know who it had come from, especially when she immediately started in on me. “Ryan, you have to stop this. I didn’t say anything yesterday since we were all a bit jetlagged, but I’m putting my foot down now. I refuse to let you spend your entire vacation being sad and moody.”
Dropping my hands, I glared at my sister-in-law. “That’s just it, Mandy…I’m not sad. Moody, I can’t deny, but not sad. I’m pissed.” And I had every right to be.
About six weeks ago, my wife had come back after a ten-month hiatus. That first week was spent constantly arguing, fighting over right and wrong. Carly claimed that she didn’t have any other choice but to leave, and I refused to accept that there wasn’t an alternative. In the end, we’d worked it all out, and then we spent the next three weeks being a happy family all over again.
“I’m not saying you can’t be mad, Ryan. Trust me, I’m pissed at my sister, too. What Carly did was all kinds of wrong—and shady—but if you let all of that ruin this trip, then she wins. Don’t let her win. She doesn’t deserve that.”
“This was supposed to be our second honeymoon.”
Mandy sat on the armchair adjacent to the couch and leaned forward to get closer, making sure she had my full attention. “Are you upset because she’s not here with you? Is that what this is about?”
I couldn’t hold back the sardonic laugh that came bellowing out. “You’re joking, right?”
“No, I’m not. I’m trying to understand what you’re feeling so I can help you out of this funk.” She put her hand on my bare knee, just below the hem of my sleep shorts, and looked me in the eye, her compassionate nature on full display. “I had to sit back and watch you and Amara suffer after Carly left the first time. I’m not going to do that again. It’s time to stand up, dust yourself off, and rejoin the land of the living.”
“You know that saying, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me? That’s how I’m feeling, Mandy. Ever since she walked out last year, I’ve been busting my ass to make sure Amara and I would be okay. And now, I’m right back in the same boat.”
When Carly had originally left us, she’d cleaned out our savings account. Since then, every dollar I’d managed to save was kept in a small safe in the back of my closet. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to give me a little peace of mind. I never wanted to go through that again—worrying that I didn’t have any cushion to fall back on in case something happened.
“I maxed out my credit card to come on this trip. It was supposed to be a family vacation, something to bring us closer and make us stronger after the year we all had. Now, we not only don’t get that, but I also have no way of paying this off. I feel like a damn fool, Mandy. I allowed her back into my life—as well as Amara’s—for her to just take off all over again, leaving us with nothing.” I fisted my hands, wishing I had something to hit so I could release some of this anger that continued to fester inside.
After sorting things out with Carly, I wanted to get away with her and Amara—just the three of us. Carly had explained what she’d been going through and what had led up to her disappearance, and quite honestly, it broke my heart. I’d had no idea how deep her depression had run, and I wanted to make it right. To show her that I could be supportive, I’d booked this trip; I wholeheartedly believed that it was something we needed to mend our family.
I’d chosen to take Carly and Amara to Ilunabarra. Ever since I’d mentioned it at the coffee shop that night, I’d felt a strong pull to go back. So when the idea to take them on vacation came up, this was the only place I could think of. I even splurged on a room at the chateau I’d stayed at as a kid.<
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“You’re looking at this all wrong,” she argued. “Stop focusing on what Carly did and what she took from you, and start paying attention to what she left you with.”
“She left me with nothing. I have just enough money in the bank to pay my bills for this month, and that’s it. If I hadn’t booked this as an all-inclusive trip, then we wouldn’t be able to eat while we’re here. Hell, we wouldn’t have been able to come at all! I’m left with a maxed-out credit card and an empty safe.” Just thinking about how I had gone to the back of my closet a week or so after Carly had split town again, only to find an empty safe, amped up the rage that burned behind my sternum.
I had no idea how she even knew it was there, let alone how she got into it. Staring at the grey fabric that lined the bottom made me see Carly for what she was—a selfish, manipulative con-artist. I never would’ve believed that to be true of her…until I discovered that she’d taken off with all my money…again.
There was no way in hell I’d fall for her tears anymore.
This final betrayal had broken the spell that she’d had me under for the last six years.
“That’s not what I mean, Ryan.” My sister-in-law’s voice managed to pull me from the fury-ridden thoughts that had become a constant in my mind over the last couple of weeks. “She left you with Amara. Her leaving prior to this trip has left you with this unforgettable experience that you now get to share with a beautiful and bright seven-year-old, who happens to love you unconditionally. Focus on those things, not what she took from you.”
Mandy was right. I’d decided to close the door on my relationship with Carly, yet I’d never be able to fully do that if I couldn’t let go of the bitterness that I felt toward her. I had no way of knowing how long Amara would be in my life, so I had to cherish every moment.
With a long and full exhale, I pulled myself from the couch, which would be my bed for the week. In order to take Amara outside the country without Carly, I had to bring Mandy along. I loved Mandy, she was an amazing sister-in-law, and ever since Carly took off the first time, she’d been completely supportive, helping me any way she could. But that didn’t mean I wanted to share a room with her. We weren’t that close. Not to mention, her husband had become one of my closest friends since all this happened, so the thought of things being anything less than completely above board didn’t sit well with me.
“I’m going to get dressed and then head downstairs to find something to eat,” I said as I folded the sheets I’d slept on last night. “Are you and Amara going to join me?”
“She’s still sleeping, so I’ll stay with her. I don’t want to wake her just yet. But if you can, see if you can bring something up when you come back—a muffin or whatever. You know how cranky she can be when she first wakes up.”
“I’ll see what they have.” And then I made my way to the bathroom to change. Mandy had told me I could use the bedroom, but to be honest, it made me uncomfortable to get undressed in the same space she did—even if it wasn’t at the same time. There were clear-cut boundaries set in my mind, and I couldn’t cross them.
As I stepped out of the elevator, a woman holding an outsized arrangement of flowers nearly knocked me over. Glancing around the large, open foyer, I was surprised to see such a flurry of activity. It was barely mid-morning.
“Excuse me…” I stopped at the desk next to the front doors, wondering if the woman behind it would be able to tell me what was going on. “Is there a wedding or something taking place here today?”
“No, sir. The royal family is hosting a gala here tonight. All the guests are invited; did you not receive the info in your welcome packet?”
After the long flight and then getting through the airport, I could barely remember making it to the chateau yesterday, let alone what was inside the folder they’d handed me. “I’m not sure, to be honest. It may have been. I haven’t gone through it yet.”
“Oh, that’s quite all right.” Management chose well when putting this woman at the front door; she genuinely seemed nice and happy to be doing her job. “It’s a black-tie event to celebrate King Thomas naming his daughter as his successor. It’s quite a big deal, considering she will be the first female to actively take the throne.”
I needed to read that packet. There was no way I’d heard her right.
“Anyway,” she continued with a smile, “your invitations should be in the folder you received upon checking in. If, for whatever reason, you can’t find them, let me know and I’ll get you new ones. You won’t be permitted access without it.”
“Thank you very much.” As appreciative as I was for the information she offered, in the end, it did me no good. It wasn’t like I’d be able to attend the party even if my tickets were in the welcome packet. A tuxedo wasn’t something I regularly took with me on vacations, nor did I have the money to waste on a rental—that is, if I could even find a place to rent one.
I walked away wondering how in the hell I’d managed to book a room during such a prestigious event. It wasn’t every day I got invited to celebrate with a royal family, and part of me was a bit bummed that I wasn’t able to go. At the very least, it would’ve been a cool story to tell people back home.
Two men in black suits ran in front of me as I approached the dining room, causing me to stop in my tracks. They didn’t even bother to apologize for practically running me over. Confused, I turned my attention from them to the open balcony, wondering where they’d come from. And as I glanced past the flowing drapes, I happened to notice a woman standing against the stone balustrade, her back to me as she stared off into the distance.
I moved closer, feeling a sense of familiarity that I couldn’t quite put my finger on. But as I came to the opening, one step from being on the balcony, I realized what it was. Her strawberry-blond hair was perfectly styled, pinned neatly in places and clipped in others. The last time I saw her, she was in jeans and an oversized shirt. Now, she wore a long, flowy dress that swayed in the light breeze.
“Don’t do it,” I called out with a smile in my words. “Don’t jump…it’s not worth it.”
Moira quickly turned around, locking those crystal-clear blue eyes on mine.
I ignored her sharp gasp and alarmed expression as I moved closer. It wasn’t like I expected her to run into my arms or anything. To be honest, I was just happy she’d recognized me. We’d only spent ten or fifteen minutes together, after all. “What are you doing here?”
Finally, she smiled and shook her head, briefly dropping her gaze before returning it to my face. “I was just about to ask you the same thing.”
“After talking about this place with you that one night, I decided to come back.”
“Well, there aren’t many reasons better than that.”
I couldn’t seem to wipe the grin off my face. “What about you? Are you here for this shindig they’re having tonight? Some big royal affair.”
“Uh…” She turned slightly away from me, suddenly appearing uncomfortable. “Yeah, that’s why I’m here. Are you, um…are you going to that, too?”
“Unfortunately, no. I didn’t come prepared, and I doubt the King of Ilunabarra would appreciate it if I showed up in board shorts and flip-flops.” I breathed a sigh of relief when she giggled. It might’ve been faint and breathy, but at least she seemed to be calming down some.
“I take it you’re staying here? At the chateau, I mean.”
“Yeah. This was where I stayed when I came with my friend and his family, so I thought…why not go back to the same place and see how different it is as an adult.” That wasn’t the reason, but at least it sounded believable. “This is crazy, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“Running into each other like this? In a different country—on a different continent. What are the odds?” I felt certain that I had greater odds of getting struck by lightning four times after winning the biggest jackpot in Vegas while gambling with the money I’d won from the lotto.
Moira rolled her eyes
toward the sky, dramatizing her contemplation. “I agree, it is pretty crazy. Completely unexpected…or is it?”
At first, I was confused, unsure of what she meant by that. But then I understood. “Are you suggesting that I somehow knew you’d be here? That I planned this?”
With a slight smirk, she shrugged. “I mean, it does make more sense than your taking a random trip and winding up in the same place I am.”
“How? A month or so ago, didn’t you take a random trip and wind up in the same place I was? Why is it impossible to happen the other way around?”
“It’s not.” Her lips stretched into a wider smile, and her eyes lit up like the sky on a clear summer’s day. “But how often do you run into the same complete stranger twice in less than two months in two separate countries?”
“I’d have to say this is the first time that’s happened to me—that I know of.”
Her giggles consumed me, erasing the anger and pain left behind by Carly.
“Not to mention,” I added, “how exactly would I have found you?”
“I don’t know…the same way anybody finds anybody, I guess. The internet?”
“Yeah, I have a habit of meeting strangers on the beach and then stalking them. It’s what I do during my downtime.” Normally, this might’ve offended me, but for some reason, I found it rather humorous. “What do you think I did, search your name and then sift through every picture until I found you?”
Her eyes narrowed as she stared at me, as if trying to figure something out.
“Oh, come on, Moira. I’d have a better chance of finding a needle in a haystack.”