Once Upon a Royal Christmas

by Robin Bielman

  “Morning,” they answered together.

  “We’d better hurry,” Bea said, grabbing David’s hand the second he put his bags down. “We don’t want to be late for your dental appointment. Theo, you’ll keep Rowan company while she finishes her breakfast, won’t you? There are plenty of apple-cider donuts left. You can tell me how you like them later.” She hustled her husband out of the kitchen. “Rowan, sweetie, I’m proud of you.”

  “Goodbye,” David shouted from out of eyesight.

  Theo put his packages down and took a seat beside her at the kitchen table. He looked especially drool worthy in his maroon zip-neck pullover and beanie. “What just happened?”

  “I believe this is your grandmother’s attempt to get us alone.”

  “There’s no dentist appointment?”

  “Maybe?” Ro said with a slight shrug. “But she’s a master at chess, so you know…”

  He picked up a donut. “I did not know that.” Took a bite. He made eating really fun to watch. “So on top of being sweet, kind, a great cook, and a good listener, she’s got a shrewd side.”

  “Yes.”

  “And she likes the idea of the two of us being together.”

  Rowan wasn’t sure if he meant together, together, or together to hang out since they were the same age and she was writing an article on him. She went with the latter to keep things from getting awkward. “She’s one of my biggest supporters, but this time has a vested interest in my article for the Courier, so yes, she wants me to get to know you.”

  “I’ve enjoyed getting to know you in return.” He picked up her coffee mug and took a sip.

  Which left her with having to take a bite of her third donut since she needed a minute to think of what to say to that. She normally spewed comebacks without thought, but Theo short-circuited her brain or something.

  And made her want to take a sip from the exact same spot his lips had been on. This is not like never wanting to wash your hand after you shook Mark Wahlburg’s when he was in town filming a movie. That was ten years ago. She’d matured.

  “Looks like you got a lot accomplished this morning.” She nodded toward the shopping bags. “Does this mean you’re excited about your first white Christmas?”

  “I’m looking forward to spending it with Bea and David, yes.” In past years, Bea and David had joined Rowan’s family on Christmas Day since it was just the two of them.

  “Here at the house?” she inquired, hoping this year would be different. Then feeling bad about it. She shouldn’t hold tradition against Theo just because she found it harder and harder to be around him and not feel things.

  “I’m assuming so.” He popped the last bite of his donut into his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. “Do you know something I don’t?”

  “Nope.” She didn’t.

  “How does your family spend the day?”

  She cut the donut on her plate and gave half of it to Theo. “We start with—” She paused at the sound of his cell phone, interested to know who was calling him.

  He pulled the phone out of his pocket, took a quick glance at the screen, and brought it to his ear. “Hello?… Hi, Elisabeth… Sure, hold on just a minute…” He moved the phone away from his mouth and stood. “I’m going to take this in the other room. Sit tight for a few?”

  “Actually,” she said, jumping to her feet, “I was on my way out before you got here, so you stay put and talk to Elisabeth. We can talk more later.” She speed walked out of the kitchen without a look back. Right before she got to the front door, she overheard Theo speaking but couldn’t decipher his exact words.

  Once outside, she took a large gulp of fresh mountain air before jogging home. Back inside the comfort and safety of her four walls, she wiped the stupid moisture at the corner of her eyes.

  From the cold. Not from anything else.

  *

  Theo didn’t like how Rowan had taken off so abruptly. He should have just spoken to Elisabeth in the kitchen, but it was too late now.

  Staring at the half a donut Rowan had kindly put on a napkin in front of him, he sat back down, suddenly unsure of everything. “Elisabeth, how are you?”

  “I’m in love,” she blurted out.

  “With?” he asked calmly. She couldn’t mean him.

  “His name is James, and we’ve been seeing each other for a couple of months. He’s everything I want Theo, and he loves me, too. When I told him about us, he begged me not to go through with it. I’m sorry if this upsets you, but what are we going to do? I like you, but I don’t want to marry you.”

  A huge flood of relief rushed over him. Quickly followed by despair. He didn’t want to marry Elisabeth either, but they had a duty to uphold. Their engagement wasn’t about them so much as it was about the monarchy.

  “It’s ridiculous of our parents to think in this day and age that something like this is a good idea,” she continued. “Please tell me you agree.”

  “I do agree. And I’m glad you’ve called to tell me how you feel. This isn’t something I want, either, but I’m not sure we have a choice.”

  Elisabeth sighed through the phone. “You’re too loyal.”

  “Is there such a thing?” He loved his father. Loved his country. He’d let his dad down once before and swore never to do it again. Doing the right thing took precedence over self-fulfillment.

  This time.

  Theo’s decision years ago to get his pilot’s license rather than dedicate himself to royal duties filled his thoughts. His father had been disappointed to the point that they didn’t speak for months. The rift had deeply hurt Theo’s mom, but finally his father had come around.

  “At the sacrifice of our own happiness, yes,” Elisabeth said.

  Theo rubbed the back of his neck. “Listen, I can’t do anything from here, so how about we meet when I get back?”

  “When is that?” she asked, restlessness in her tone.

  “The second.”

  “That’s a little more than two weeks away. Can you cut your visit short and fly back sooner?”

  “No.” His time in Marietta had far exceeded his expectations and connecting with his grandparents was a gift he didn’t want to end before necessary. They were amazing people and there were more stories to share, more holiday traditions and events to take part in. He also wanted more time with Rowan.

  “There’s something else I need to tell you then. There’s a chance…”

  “Yes?”

  She expelled a deep breath. “That I might be pregnant. We haven’t really been—”

  “I don’t need any details,” he cut off, but he still sounded supportive. “When will you know?”

  “Next week. I’m sorry.”

  This would change everything. And Theo wouldn’t be held to blame. “No apology necessary. How do you feel about it, though? What does James say?”

  “We’d both be thrilled.”

  “Then I will be, too.” Either way, however, they couldn’t marry. Not when she clearly wanted a life with another man. Theo refused to take that away from her. His father would have to understand. “Call me when you find out and we’ll go from there.”

  “I will. Thanks, Theo.”

  “We’ll figure this out. Don’t worry, okay?”

  “Okay. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  They hung up, and Theo immediately called his brother. Otis answered after the first ring.

  “Hello, little brother. I was wondering when I’d hear from you. How is small-town USA?”

  The tightness in Theo’s chest loosened at the sound of his brother’s voice. “It’s great. You’re missing out.”

  “On snow? I don’t think so.”

  “Say hi to Theo for me!” Miranda, Otis’s wife, yelled in the background.

  “Did you hear that?” Otis asked, knowing Theo had. They teased Miranda all the time about her loud—and lovely—voice. It was one of the first things that had attracted Otis to the princess.

  “I did. Say hello back.”
/>   Otis relayed Theo’s message, then said, “So tell me why you don’t sound like things are great.”

  His brother always picked up on his moods with ease. “I just got off the phone with Elisabeth.” He went on to tell Otis about their conversation.

  “This is good news.”

  “Yes and no.” Yes because he didn’t want to marry Elisabeth. No because he knew his father wouldn’t like it. Elisabeth’s family might let her off the hook, but the king wanted Theo married and finding another princess to fit the role wouldn’t be difficult.

  “It’s time you stood up to Dad,” Otis said, not for the first time. While close to their father, he also butted heads with him far more than Theo did. Which made it especially hard for Theo to think about doing the same now.

  Theo also couldn’t help think about the words his mom had whispered to him when she’d first been hospitalized. If the bleeding is serious and I don’t make it, take care of your father for me. Certainly his mom hadn’t meant for him to be miserable in the process.

  “Maybe,” Theo agreed. A certain woman with her hair piled on top of her head and perceptive blue eyes who shared donuts flashed through his mind. She unsettled every single part of him. He felt himself feeling something more for her. Something he craved to explore.

  There was nothing holding him back now. Elisabeth had freed him from any loyalty tying him to her.

  “No maybe’s this time. If you don’t, I will on your behalf.”

  “Not happening,” Theo said firmly. “I’ll handle this my way.” His grieving father didn’t need or deserve disobedience from his sons. Not when he believed he was doing the right thing.

  “Fine. But you know where I stand. Now tell me about our grandparents.”

  Theo talked nonstop about the past couple of weeks. Without realizing it, he’d also included Rowan in much of his recollection.

  “Sounds like you really like this reporter.”

  “I… She’s different.” In the best possible way. She didn’t only stimulate his body. She fired up his mind.

  The question was—what was he going to do about it?

  Chapter Eight

  “Do you live in a castle? Ride a horse? Have a really big swimming pool with a slide? Can I see your crown?”

  “Annabelle, slow down, sweetie. How about we give Prince Theodore a chance to answer one question at a time,” Sean, the girl’s father, said.

  Theo smiled at the adorable six-year-old. She and her father had been in a terrible car accident, sideswiped by a sport utility vehicle. The impact had crushed Annabelle’s side of the two-door sports car, leaving her with a broken leg, broken wrist, concussion, and internal bleeding. Thankfully, she was going to be fine. Sean had gotten away with nothing more than a sore neck and a pulled back muscle. Theo could see the anguish on the man’s face—he’d give anything to change places with his daughter.

  “No. No. Yes. I don’t have it with me,” Theo said.

  She gave a little shrug. “Will you come talk at my school? Fridays are show and tell and no one has brought a prince before. Michaela brought a paylia…” She glanced at her dad.

  “Paleontologist,” Sean said.

  “Yes, that, and everyone thought he was the best thing ever. Most of the time, we share things like toys and books and that gets kind of boring.”

  Theo chuckled. Annabelle was sweet and precocious. She’d probably get along fabulously with Rowan. That was a weird thought. “I’m honored that you think I rank up there with dinosaurs.”

  “Can you?” she pressed, her big brown eyes pleading. A line of stitches followed her hairline from her forehead to her ear. Today was Thursday. Did she mean tomorrow? If so, he’d be happy to, but he wasn’t sure when she was being released.

  “Any Friday that I’m here is yours.”

  Sean cleared his throat. “Unfortunately, we don’t live here. We were just traveling through.” There was more to the story of this father and daughter, but it wasn’t Theo’s place to ask.

  He’d spent the last hour in the children’s wing of the hospital to visit and give gifts from Santa. His shopping trip with David had proven quite the success, as all the kids loved the various toys Theo had purchased.

  “Princes can go anywhere, though, right? Daddy will give you our phone number, and you could come see us when we get home.”

  The hope in Annabelle’s voice tugged firmly on Theo’s heart. He wished he could tell her yes. “I’m not sure my schedule would allow me to come see you, but I could send you something to share. Something from my country that no one else has.”

  Her little body shrank into the bed. “Okay, I guess.”

  She was killing him. “Have you ever had a pen pal? Someone you mail notes back and forth with?” he asked. She shook her head. “I haven’t either. What do you say you be mine?”

  “Really?”

  “Really.”

  “That would be the bomb,” she said excitedly, sitting taller and tossing a huge grin to her dad. “That’s what Daddy and me say when something super great happens.”

  Theo took Annabelle’s hand and kissed the back of it. “It’s been a pleasure meeting you, Annabelle, and I look forward to your letters.”

  She giggled.

  “What do you say, Belle?” Sean prompted.

  “Thank you for the stuffed horsey.” She brought the plush toy closer to her side. “I love him.”

  “You’re welcome. Santa has given him strict instructions to help make you feel better.”

  “I do!”

  With that, Theo took his leave, walking into the hallway with Sean. “Thank you, Your Highness. I haven’t seen her this happy in a long time.” The men shook hands.

  Hawk stood at the nurse’s station, being charming as ever by the look on the woman’s face sitting at the desk. He enjoyed visits like this as much as Theo did and took up the slack with the staff when Theo lost track of time with the patients.

  “It was my pleasure. Thank you for letting me visit with her. She’s a great kid, and I hope she’s out of here soon.” He started toward the nurse’s station. “Let me write down my mailing address for you.”

  “I’ll be right back, Belle,” Sean said over his shoulder.

  They exchanged information, Theo said goodbye to the staff, and he and Hawk walked toward the elevators. Sean came along to grab something to eat from the cafeteria. As they turned a corner, color lit up the hall, and Theo took a closer look at the mural he’d passed by earlier.

  “It’s something, isn’t it?” Sean said, nodding to the wall. “Annabelle claims she wants to be an artist now.”

  “We’ve visited a lot of hospitals and never seen anything like this,” Hawk said, stopping to admire the whimsical painting. “I bet it cheers the shit out of the kids.”

  “It’s definitely cheered up Annabelle. I wish I’d thought to have the artist visit with her before she finished.”

  “If she’s local, she’ll probably come back,” Theo said. The people of Marietta were the nicest he’d ever met.

  “You’re right. Rowan seemed like the type of woman who definitely would.”

  “Rowan?” Theo and Hawk said at the same time.

  “You know her?” Sean asked.

  Theo and Hawk exchanged glances. Hawk raised his eyebrows and a crooked smile pulled at his mouth. “Yes,” Theo said, turning to really look at the mural. He took in every single detail, committing them to memory.

  He had no idea how long he stood there, but it was long enough for Hawk and Sean to return with food in their hands.

  “Yep,” Hawk said, slapping Theo on the back. “My man is in deep.”

  “A friend of mine manages artists,” Sean said. “I’ll mention Rowan to him.”

  “You should ask Rowan about that first,” Theo said, knowing instinctively she wouldn’t want to be caught off guard. She’d said painting was personal. A hobby. Did she love writing as much as she clearly loved painting?

  Her heart, her innate
cheerfulness, was stamped across the wall for everyone to see. He’d bet she didn’t realize that. And what a gift it was to others.

  “All right. If I get the chance, I will. It was nice meeting you, and thanks again,” Sean said on his way back to his daughter.

  “Your girl is seriously talented,” Hawk said once Sean was out of sight.

  “She’s not my girl.” It was stupid to start something with her when he couldn’t come close to finishing it. Despite the nagging feeling that Rowan might be the woman to steal his heart, he had to remember his place and where he belonged. And that was beside his father in Montanique.

  Hawk took a bite of his apple and walked alongside Theo away from the mural. “You can keep telling yourself that or you can do something about it with the time we’ve got left here.”

  He hadn’t seen or talked to Rowan since yesterday morning when he’d blown it with the phone call from Elisabeth. The ball was in two days. They had nothing planned until then, but a gesture to let her know he was thinking about her couldn’t hurt.

  “There’s a larger town north of here, right?”

  “Bozeman?” Hawk asked as they entered the elevator.

  “That’s it. Let’s head there. I need to do some more shopping.”

  For his girl. Damn Hawk and his insinuation. Not that Rowan was the type to be anyone’s without deciding it for herself first. His friend was right, though. With the time they had left, he wanted to be with Rowan in every way possible.

  He’d always done the right thing, put others before himself—he and Rowan had that in common—but it was their turn this time.

  *

  At the sound of the doorbell, Rowan couldn’t answer it fast enough. Cassidy had called from the airport to say she and Nick were here and she’d be over to spend the night soon. Ro needed a girls’ night with her BFF like flakes needed snow.

  And wine needed grapes.

  And Tootsie Roll Pops needed tootsie rolls.

  “You’re—” She stalled on the “here” as she opened the front door to find a deliveryman holding two large dress boxes. “Not Cassidy,” she finished.

  “Rowan Palotay?”