“Let me go make a few calls,” he said and left her there in the driveway with Willa, feeling anxious. She wanted to trust him to do the right thing… but she wasn’t sure she could.
“What do you want to draw, Mommy?” Willa asked and handed her a piece of blue chalk.
“A miracle,” Piper said and sighed.
* * *
“Aldon, you know nothing about the town of Thistledown,” his father argued. “Can’t you see what opportunists they are? You’ve been there for less than a week, and they’re asking for money.”
“Father, their main bridge is about to collapse. The route not only affects people going to and from their jobs but also trade for the whole area. At least send someone from the Department of Transportation—”
“I will not,” his father said. “Your thoughts are being swayed by that gardener, Aldon. Get your head out of her ass, and start acting like a prince.”
Why couldn’t the king see that he was acting like a prince? Wasn’t it the royal family’s obligation to see to the safety and well-being of the nation’s citizens? But instead, Sovalon had a ruler who put his own agenda first, above that of his people. Aldon knew his father was choosing to ignore his requests out of spite. Why did he have to be so stubborn?
“I know you’ve gotten quite comfortable out there in the country, but it seems as though your nation needs you in your role of ambassador,” his father said. Aldon bristled at the words.
“What are you talking about? I came out here for a break. I’m taking time off.”
“There’s never really a vacation for a royal. You know that as well as I do.”
Aldon shook his head. He did know. In fact, there was no life of your own, apparently.
“You’ll leave in a few days to go to Hungary as part of the royal delegation. Pack your bags and be ready. And Aldon… this isn’t a request. It’s a command.”
With that directive, his father hung up the phone, leaving Aldon swimming in the dread of what he knew had to be done. There was no way around it. He’d never enjoyed the role of ambassador, but he understood the importance of it. If he didn’t go, who would? Nobody else was as prepared for the job as him.
That evening at dinner, he broke the news to Piper.
“You realize your father is trying to send you away so you’ll no longer be in a position to fight for the people of Thistledown—or for our relationship,” she said, indignant. “You’re being sent away from me.”
He processed her words for a moment. She was probably right, but what could he do about it? It was his responsibility to do what was needed as an ambassador.
“Piper, I can’t just shirk my responsibilities. It’s my job.”
“How convenient for your father,” she said bitterly, then continued. “Do you even know what the media is saying?”
“About what?” he asked, afraid to hear her response.
“Just last night I read a story online that said you’re expected reunite with your ex. The public still believes that’s a possibility—and I’ll bet I know who gave them that idea. Are you okay with that?”
The pain on Piper’s face slayed him, the look of disapproval and hurt in her eyes was a knife to his heart. But couldn’t she see that this was out of his hands?
“For our family, it’s all about optics, Piper,” he said. “My father sees the world as he wants it to be—and as king, he doesn’t have any trouble getting the press in line with his vision. And as far as going to Hungary, I have no choice. I don’t enjoy being an ambassador. It’s definitely not my dream, but I have to go where I’m needed.”
Piper shook her head and laid her napkin on the table beside her. Her face was as red as her hair, and Aldon hated that her anger was because of him.
“You do have a choice,” she said, spitting the words at him. “The people here need you. Willa and I need you.”
His heart twisted at the sound of tears in her voice.
“How can you abandon your people when we are the ones who need you most?”
He placed his hand over Piper’s and tried to reason with her. “Please, Piper, I’m not abandoning anyone, not you and not Thistledown, but these things take time. Repairing the bridge and solving the town’s problems can’t happen overnight. Thistledown Valley isn’t the only place in need, and the royal family has to prioritize.”
Aldon noticed Piper bristle at his last sentence. She stood from the table and motioned for Willa to do the same.
“I’m taking Willa to my mother’s house and going to the town meeting,” she said coldly. “I hope I’ll see you there.”
Feeling like his hands were tied, Aldon watched Piper walk out of the dining room and away from him.
11
Piper scanned the town hall for Aldon. There was no sign of him.
How could he do this to her? To the town?
She heard someone calling her name from behind her and turned to find Sally Gerard waving to her. The woman was one of Willa’s preschool teachers, and she made her way through the crowd toward Piper.
“Hi, Sally,” she said and patted the woman on the back. “How are you? How’s Joe?” Sally’s husband had Alzheimer’s, and she took care of him when she wasn’t with her class.
“Oh, we’re hanging in there,” Sally said. “Heard the good news about that handsome prince of yours.”
Piper felt the blush crawl up her neck. “Well, I certainly wouldn’t consider him my prince, that’s for sure.”
Especially not at the moment when he was missing in action.
“Shauna Allen says that the two of you were mighty cozy over at Nadia’s the other night.” Sally shot Piper a knowing smile. “People are saying he’s going to help us. Fix the water problems, help with the bridge.”
Piper’s eyes traced across the room again, searching for Aldon’s face. Where was he?
Suddenly, there was a tap on her shoulder. She turned and there was Mayor Brown, standing with a number of his cronies.
“Miss Mackenzie, we were hoping Prince Aldon would accompany you tonight,” the mayor said.
“Oh, I’m sure he’ll be here.” The words seemed to fly from her mouth without her permission. What was she saying? She had no idea if he’d show up.
“Good,” the mayor replied. “We’re anxious to hear what he has planned.”
Nothing. He has nothing planned other than a trip to Hungary set up by his father.
“You know, I’ll run outside and give him a call,” she said and forced a smile. “It’s so noisy in here.”
She excused herself and pushed through the double doors into the dusky evening. Taking deep breaths of fresh air, she texted Aldon.
Where are you?
No response.
People are asking for you.
Again, nothing.
After a few minutes, she tossed her hands in the air and decided to head back inside. She’d obviously been duped by Prince Charming and his flimsy promises. She should have known this would happen. Prince or peasant, the men in her life could never be trusted to go the distance. Aldon had made it clear that his loyalties would always lie with his family, the monarchy. But still, she’d hoped he’d at least show up tonight. She turned her attention to the speaker, John Deakers, who was the head of the industrial planning board in Thistledown Valley.
“Now, I know there are a number of us who would like to hear from one person specifically,” Deakers said and gazed into the crowd. “Prince Aldon. Would you please come up here?”
Piper’s face burned as Deakers squinted his eyes in search of Aldon, who was nowhere to be found. After a few seconds, she felt people’s looks drifting toward her. Everyone wanted an answer, it seemed, but she didn’t have one. At least, not one that this crowd would want to hear.
Feeling overcome by the pressure of everyone’s stare, Piper made her way to the podium and took the microphone from Deakers.
“Prince Aldon is stuck on a diplomatic call and isn’t able to make the meeting,” she
said. Now she was lying for him. Hushed responses passed through the crowd. Piper heard a few “I told you so’s.” Then the people turned their attention back to her.
She pulled the microphone to her and began to speak. “Prince Aldon may not be here to help tonight, but we will get through this. Thistledown Valley has always been and is still a strong community.” She straightened her back and looked out at her neighbors. “We will figure out a solution.”
Piper handed the microphone back to John Deakers and left the stage. Even as the audience of friends and neighbors applauded her, a strong sense of disappointment flooded her heart. Aldon had left her out to dry. Just like every other man she’d put her faith in in the past.
So much for Prince Charming.
* * *
Aldon had called every single contact he could think of—all the people who had the power to do something about Thistledown Valley’s crumbling infrastructure, including their broken bridge. He’d hit wall after wall, and now it was after seven. He was late for the town hall meeting. He grabbed his messenger bag and started to head for the front door when he nearly ran into his valet.
“Oh,” he said. “Sorry, Chandler. I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“Sir,” Chandler said, “the king is here.”
“Excuse me?” Aldon’s head swam. Had he heard Chandler correctly?
“Your father, the king, sir,” Chandler repeated. “He’s waiting for you in the salon.”
With that, his valet walked off, leaving Aldon in a state of shock. His father had come here for what? To lecture him? To collect him? To bring him news?
Whatever it was, it couldn’t be good.
Reluctantly, Aldon made his way from the library where he’d been making calls, to the salon. His father was seated on the sofa, arms crossed over his chest.
“Hello, son.”
“Father,” Aldon said. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to ensure that your bags are packed so you can get the hell out of here,” King Hansen said, an air of annoyance in his voice. “You’re due at home this evening where you and Carrie are to be briefed on tomorrow’s flight. She’s had your household staff prepare a bag for you with all of the appropriate essentials.”
“Tomorrow? Carrie?” His ex-fiancée was going with him to Hungary? “You never said—”
“Your arguments will do you no good. You know your duty.” The king held a hand up, effectively shushing Aldon. At once, Aldon was reduced to the little boy he used to be, vying for his father’s approval.
“You have the evening to gather your things,” King Hansen said. “I’m going back to the city center to finish up some last-minute plans for your trip. Chandler knows to bring you back to the palace by eleven.”
With no energy left to argue, Aldon climbed the stairs to his bedroom to request that Chandler begin packing his bags. Not that the request was needed—he arrived in his room to discover that Chandler had already begun, no doubt at the king’s command. With nothing to occupy himself, Aldon tried to talk himself out of the funk he felt by being logical. Being a Prince of Sovalon meant sacrifice. He had an obligation to perform the tasks that were asked of him by his father. He couldn’t disregard his duty as global ambassador for love, even if that was what he felt for Piper.
Piper and Willa were certainly better off without him. He could never be what they needed him to be.
He sat down on the king-size mattress, feeling like he was drowning in dread. He would break the news to Piper when she got home.
12
Piper slammed the car door shut behind her and started the ignition with a harsh jerk of her wrist. She’d never been so mad in her whole life, driving away from the town hall that overflowed with Aldon’s absence, and his indifference to her needs and the needs of her community.
“Call Mom,” she told the Bluetooth system in her car and waited.
“Piper?” Her mother answered. “How did it go?”
“Not great,” Piper admitted and told her mother how Aldon hadn’t shown up.
“Well, maybe something came up. Perhaps you should give him the benefit of the doubt.”
Piper rolled her eyes. “Listen, Mom, can you keep Willa overnight? I have a feeling I have a hard conversation waiting for me when I get home.”
“Of course,” Piper’s mom said. “How about a sleepover, Willa?”
Piper heard Willa’s cheering in the background. At least someone was happy tonight.
“Thanks, Mom.”
“Anytime, sweetie.”
Ten minutes later, Piper pulled down the driveway to the castle. She exited the car and marched into the house, ready for a fight, but when she took in the sight waiting for her, her breath caught.
Suitcases lined the foyer. Aldon sat on the stairwell, his hands on his knees.
“You’re leaving?” she asked, and Aldon stood and came toward her.
“I have no choice.” His eyes were pained as he said the words. “My father needs me at the palace tonight so I can be briefed before flying to Hungary tomorrow.”
Piper was speechless. She stood, feeling numb, staring from Aldon to his bags and back. Nothing seemed real.
“You can come with me,” Aldon said and took her hand. “You could see Budapest while I work and—”
She ripped her hand away. “Are you serious?” She spit the words at him. “You think I can just leave Thistledown Valley on a whim and travel around the world with you? And what about Willa? Should I just tell her I’ll be back in a week or so and leave her some snacks to hold her over?”
Aldon looked at his feet. He realized it wasn’t realistic for her to come with him anyway. His father was sending Carrie with him, for God’s sake.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I wasn’t thinking.”
“You sure weren’t, Aldon,” she said. “And even if I could leave, I would never abandon my town at a time like this. If you think I would, you obviously don’t know me at all.”
“Piper, don’t say that,” he argued, but she shook her head and took a few steps back.
“And if you’re the kind of person who can just up and leave, then maybe I didn’t know you either.”
“That’s not fair,” Aldon said. “What I want more than anything is to stay and fight for Thistledown, but if I piss off my father, I won’t be in a position to help anyone.”
Piper thought about what Aldon had said. He had a point. Maybe he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. Still, he hadn’t even tried to fight. “You could have said no to your father,” she said.
“It’s not so simple,” he argued.
“It is,” Piper shot back. She was tired of his excuses. He was obviously a boy dressed as a man, unable to stand up to his daddy. “If it’s so complicated for you to take action, then I will,” she said.
“What do you mean?” he asked. “You’ll what?”
“I can’t work for someone who has such difficulty doing the right thing.” Her heart cracked as she said the words. “I quit.”
Aldon’s face paled. He looked as if someone had punched him in the gut.
“You can’t quit,” he said.
“Oh, I can, and I just did. Willa and I will pack up and be gone before you get back from your trip.”
With tears in her eyes, Piper turned on one heel and walked away from Aldon and into the servant’s quarters of Thistledown Castle. This castle had been her respite for years—the place Willa had always known as home—but she couldn’t bear to stay and spend every day reminded that Aldon hadn’t fought for her or the town.
She just couldn’t be here any longer.
And, much as it killed her, she couldn’t be with him.
* * *
Aldon’s mind reeled as he drove back to the castle in the city center of Sovalon. He’d done what was expected of him, what he’d had to do.
Hadn’t he?
Why did he feel like he’d just made the biggest mistake of his life, walking away from Thistledow
n Valley and Piper Mackenzie?
As he pulled up to the castle, he tried to push thoughts of Piper from his mind. It was no use to rehash things over and over. But no amount of logic could get her out of his thoughts. He felt like his brain was in the spin cycle and his heart was being crushed beneath a tow truck.
“Hey, Aldon, welcome home.” His brother Edward met him in the entrance hall of the castle and gave him an affectionate smack on the back. “Here are my reports on urban development for you to share in Budapest. Everything’s there that you should need.”
Aldon took the folder from his brother. “Thanks, Edward,” he said. He ran a hand through his hair and coughed.
“You don’t look so great,” Edward said.
“I’m fine,” Aldon lied as he and Edward walked toward the boardroom. He felt like he’d been through a war.
Marcus approached them on the way and handed Aldon another folder labeled “community outreach.”
“Hey, bro, what’s going on?” Marcus asked. “You look like shit.”
At that moment, Kyra and Clementine, his brothers’ wives, strolled around the corner, Kyra holding hers and Marcus’s daughter in her arms. The two women were laughing over something as they followed the guys into the boardroom. Aldon couldn’t help but imagine Piper with them, laughing along, making the duo into a trio. Seeing his brothers with their partners only increased Aldon’s longing to have a love of his own, one that fit him as well as his brothers’ loves fit them. Kyra approached Marcus, and Marcus kissed her, just as Clem and Edward put their heads together, engaged in a tête-à-tête. Seeing them all together really hammered home to Aldon what he’d just lost.
“So, Aldon,” Clem said from her seat beside Edward. “The rumor mill around here has been pretty out of control.” She turned to Edward with wide eyes.
Rumor mill? Aldon stared at his brothers and their wives.
“Is it true you were having a fling with the caretaker of your castle down in Thistledown Valley?” Marcus asked with a grin on his face.
The Billionaire Prince’s Single Mother: Sovalon Royals Book Three Page 8