“Meet you up there,” Theo called to Hawk through the open passenger window. “I’m going to walk.” And get his shit together before he saw Bea and David. God, he missed Rowan.
Snow covered the ground in a white blanket that glittered with the setting sun.
Trees loomed taller than the giants of his childhood imagination.
He paused to take it all in, breathe the scents of pine, wood, and chimney smoke. The stillness and beauty awed him every time.
Hawk waited for him at the front door of his grandparents’ house with the gifts they’d purchased today. Theo rang the doorbell and opened the unlocked door. “Hello?” he called out.
His grandmother greeted them with hugs and kisses to each cheek. “I’m so happy to see you both. Come in, come in.”
“We’ve got a few things for under the Christmas tree,” Theo said.
“You didn’t need to do that. Rowan was already here and dropped off the special gift she said you had for us.”
“Rowan was here?” Theo gave himself a mental slap. His grandmother had said that quite plainly.
Bea put her hand on his cheek. “She left about an hour ago. I asked her to stay for dinner, but she had other plans.”
“With her family?” he asked. Why, he didn’t know. He needed to drop it. Move on.
“She didn’t say. Let’s get your coats off.” She sweetly helped them like they were young boys. “Now go ahead and put those gifts under the tree and come sit down. Dinner is ready and your grandfather is starving.”
Hawk followed Bea while Theo placed the presents beside a couple of others. Rowan had wrapped his painting in colorful holiday paper and included a large red bow. Once again, she’d taken care of someone other than herself. He’d like to tell her thank you, but his gut told him it was too late for that. Sure enough, his eye caught on another large package in the corner of the room, this one wrapped in thick brown packing paper.
He stepped closer. He knew what it was. Rowan had written his name on a small envelope attached to the upper left hand corner. He carefully pulled the card off and slid out the note. Merry Christmas, Theo.
Three words. That was all she’d given him. He had a damn encyclopedia of words to say to her. When she cut the strings, she severed them with a sharp knife, leaving no doubt she wanted to be left alone.
Fine. He could do that.
Chapter Fourteen
The next day, Theo and Hawk arrived at Miracle Lake to find a huge throng of people. “So much for a small gathering,” Hawk said, putting his hand on Theo’s shoulder. “It looks like the whole town is here.”
“Yeah.” Theo took a minute to look out the passenger window before exiting the car, a little too choked up to move just yet. He scanned the crowd, foolishly looking for one face in particular, but he didn’t find her.
Hawk opened his door, always knowing when he needed to be a step ahead. “It’s a nice send off.”
“Yes it is.” And if he didn’t get out of the car and get the ceremony going, he and Hawk would be late for their flight home. Theo pulled himself together and met his friend at the side bumper.
On the walk to the site by the frozen pond where the bench had been placed, Theo shook hands with the townspeople. He thanked them for coming out on this sunny, but cold winter day. He posed for pictures and selfies. Being in the public eye was a big part of his life and he enjoyed it on days like today. Other times, not so much.
Once again, he scanned the crowd for Rowan. He caught sight of his grandparents, Eliza and her husband Marshall, Rowan’s parents, and many others he’d met over the past weeks. But no sign of the gorgeous woman he couldn’t get out of his head.
Which was for the best. Seeing her would only make leaving more difficult.
“Your Highness,” Emmaline said, coming to walk beside him and Hawk.
He smiled. “Hi. This is a great turn out. I didn’t expect quite so many people.”
“I put a small notice in the paper yesterday. I hope you don’t mind. But it’s not every day our town is honored with a gift from a royal family.”
When Theo’s mom had requested he visit Marietta, she’d also asked him to give a gift to the town. A bench at Miracle Lake, she’d said, to let them know though she’d never returned home, she’d always kept her hometown close to her heart.
“I’m honored, too. Truly.”
“We love you, Prince Theodore!” girls shouted from his left.
He turned and smiled, waved to the group of people since he had no idea who had called out. For a second, he thought he saw a familiar mane of dark hair, but when the woman’s face came into clear view, he didn’t recognize her.
Theo and Hawk arrived at the iron bench facing the lake. His grandmother, eyes damp with tears, wrapped her arms around him. “It’s beautiful,” she said.
His grandfather hugged him next. No words were spoken, but then they didn’t need to be. Theo could see how choked up David was, that this bench meant more to him than anyone realized.
“I hope you’ll come sit here and think of her,” Theo said for David’s ears only.
The older man cleared his throat and nodded.
Brief speeches were given before Theo spoke a few words about his mom, his grandparents, and the town he’d come to love. “Thank you for making me feel like I belonged here. And thank you for giving my mother a wonderful childhood she always remembered with great fondness and love,” he said in closing.
Applause rang out, and then Theo cut the red ribbon stretching from one arm of the wrought iron bench to the other. In the center of the backrest, the silver plaque read:
In loving memory of Her Majesty, The Queen of Montanique
Ashlyn Owens Chenery was here.
Theo grinned. His mom had a wonderful sense of humor and had requested any official sign be fun, not stuffy. He looked briefly up to the blue sky. She’d like this.
The crowd dispersed, some leaving, others taking a closer look at the bench and having a seat. Theo spent the last few minutes saying goodbye. Rowan’s parents told him what a pleasure it was to meet him and not to be a stranger. Eliza told him and Hawk the B&B was theirs any time they wanted it and not to be a stranger. Emmaline thanked him for being interviewed and promised to forward him Rowan’s story. She, too, told him not to be a stranger.
Turning to his grandparents, his heart thudded inside his chest. “I’ll be back,” he told them, but the three of them knew he might…not. Theo hated to think he wouldn’t be, but his reality meant he didn’t always get to do what he wanted.
His grandmother’s tears killed him. “I love you very much,” she told him.
“I love you, too,” he said.
“We’ll see each other again,” David said, his voice cracking. “And we’ll keep in touch.”
That Theo could do. Would do.
“We need to go,” Hawk said.
One more round of hugs followed, including Hawk this time, and everyone dispersed. “Give me a minute,” Theo said when they got to the car.
“We really need to hit the road, Your Highness.” Hawk meant serious business when he formally addressed Theo.
“Understood.” He quickly walked through the snow toward the frozen lake. He needed to have his feet in the powder one more time. Look out at the scenery and inhale the scents. Remember the sleigh ride and everything else he and Rowan had done.
He turned to go back to the car, but something in the smooth snow caught the corner of his eye. Writing. He stepped closer to the indentations where someone had written Live the life you want to live with a stick, he guessed.
Theo almost fell to his knees as the memory of what his mom whispered to him came flooding back. She’d said those exact words to him shortly before she died. This is impossible. He looked around to find someone holding a stick, but he was completely alone.
“Your minute’s up!” Hawk shouted out of sight.
Was Theo just supposed to leave after seeing this? His father’s words echo
ed in his head. I miss you, son, and need you home.
Damn it. He trudged back to the car; his muscles bunched tight, his throat dry, his thoughts disjointed.
“You okay?” Hawk asked, looking him in the face when he took the passenger seat.
“Yeah.”
They drove in silence toward the airport some thirty-five miles away in Bozeman. Theo wasn’t sure how much time had passed, it could have been five minutes or it could have been three hours. Didn’t matter. “Turn the car around!”
“Jesus,” Hawk said, fumbling with the steering wheel for a moment. “You scared the shit out of me. What are you talking about?”
“Turn the car around. I love her.”
Hawk grinned, slowed the car, and made a U-turn right there in the middle of the highway.
“My father married the woman of his dreams,” Theo said. “Granted, his father had passed and he had no one but himself to answer to, but if my mother were here, she’d want me to follow my heart. She’d want me to live the life I want to live, and she’d make my dad see that.
“How can he fault me for following the same course he did? I can’t believe I didn’t think of that before. I should have told him I loved her; that I’m twenty-eight years old and I can, and will, make my own decisions. I’ll always do my best for my country and for him, but I’m allowed to put myself first. I don’t want my heart spared. I want it in Rowan’s hands.”
“You have a plan?” Hawk asked. “To win back the girl?”
Theo put his elbow on the passenger door windowsill, his head in his hand. An idea came to him that he hoped proved how serious he was about her. They had a lot to figure out, but there was no one else he wanted to share his future with.
“I have the perfect plan.”
*
Rowan stood behind the crowd and watched Theo. She wore her white ski jacket, mirrored sunglasses, and had her hair bundled up underneath her white knit cap. As far as disguises went, so far, so good. It didn’t hurt that all eyes were on the prince. They were always on the prince.
Hers included.
She couldn’t help herself even though it hurt so badly to look at him.
No way would she miss this important event, though. It meant a lot to Bea and David. To the town. And to Theo, by the gracious and responsive look on his handsome face.
He posed for pictures, shook hands, and chatted with everyone who wanted a word with him.
Rowan had taken a look at the bench earlier, before the majority of people arrived. She’d chuckled when she read the plaque and looked forward to settling her bottom on the seat with a cup of hot chocolate in her hand sometime soon. When it didn’t kill her to think about Theo.
“Thank you for making me feel like I belonged here. And thank you for giving my mother a wonderful childhood she always remembered with great fondness and love,” Theo said.
Ro wiped the tear at the corner of her eye. She needed to leave before she did something crazy like run to him and what? They couldn’t be together no matter how she looked at it.
As the crowd scattered and Theo said his goodbyes, Rowan took a little walk around the frozen lake on her way to her car. Thoughts of Theo weren’t the only thing filling her head. Painting and the next step to making her true dream a reality were, too. She picked up a lone stick lying in the snow. The long, smooth branch reminded her of an old-fashioned writing instrument.
Live the life you want to live, she wrote in the snow.
She wanted to paint murals and anything and everything else she could to make a difference. Children’s hospitals topped her list. She could stay with her brother and Cass in Los Angeles. Had friends in Seattle and Wyoming. And she hoped to have more opportunities right here in Marietta.
Whatever life brought her, she planned to embrace it, not hide from it. If she respected her talents, other people would, too.
When she got home, she changed into a long-sleeved T-shirt and yoga pants. This afternoon, she’d promised herself a relaxing day in front of the television since tomorrow started three days of Christmas celebrating with her family. She had a couple of gifts left to wrap, but she’d do them later.
She made herself some hot apple cider and turned on the Christmas tree lights. Once settled onto the couch, she hit the movie jackpot with The Holiday. Jude Law looked especially handsome in this movie, so he’d definitely keep her attention.
Sometime later, though, she was startled awake by a firm knock on the front door. She yawned, stretched, and by the new movie on the television screen, had been asleep for a while. Jude had totally failed, but she had gotten some much-needed rest after a few restless nights of sleep.
She padded to the door and opened it, thinking it was probably Cass stopping by, but instead, the sexiest man alive greeted her. “Theo?”
“Hi, Rowan.”
“Is everything okay? What are you doing here? Is it Bea or David?” Panic scratched the back of her throat. “Did something happen?” Surely it had to be something serious to have Theo standing on her porch. Wasn’t he supposed to be on an airplane by now?
“Something did happen, but it’s not Bea or David. They’re fine.”
“Oh, thank, God.” She frowned. “So why are you here?” She hadn’t meant to sound rude, but her defenses were up.
“Could I come in to answer that question?” He, on the other hand, sounded sincere and warmhearted so of course she was going to let him in.
“Um…okay.” She stepped back to allow him entry.
He seemed to fill the entire room when she closed the door. And he smelled good. And looked a little lost, like maybe he’d been feeling her absence these past few days as much as she’d felt his. But he also appeared nervous, which she’d never observed before.
He hung up his coat, motioned to the couch. At her nod, they took a seat. “I’m here because I have a Christmas gift for you.”
For the first time, she noticed the small wrapped box in his hands. He handed it to her.
She accepted it, then immediately wanted to toss it back to him like this was a game of Hot Potato. Why had he gotten her a gift? What did this mean? “Shouldn’t you be like thirty thousand miles up in the air right now?”
“Will you open it?” he asked in lieu of answering her.
“It’s rude to answer a question with a question, you know.”
He chuckled at that, insinuating she was one to talk. “Ro.” His hand covered hers, and waves of tingles shot up her arm. “Please open your gift and that will hopefully answer your question.”
Ro. When he said her name that way, it sounded like melted chocolate wrapped in silk.
Suddenly, she was terrified to unwrap the box. “I don’t… I’m not sure I…” Damn it. Her voice was quivering and she didn’t know the right thing to do here.
Since when do you lack guts?
“All right,” she said. She tore the wrapping paper off and lifted the lid off the box. She stared at the contents, speechless, her heart in her throat, before slowly lifting the Christmas tree ornament out of the tissue paper. “Theo.”
The round glass bulb twinkled with tiny silver stars inside it. Written on the outside in shimmering silver and inside a tracing of a heart with an arrow through it was Theo + Rowan.
“I thought it could be our first ornament,” he said, taking her free hand.
Holy silent night, was he implying what she thought he was implying?
“I love you, Rowan, and I know it’s fast and we have a ton of things to work out, but you’re it for me. I want a future with you and only you.”
He loved her. This incredibly handsome, giving, intelligent prince loved her.
“But your family.”
“Is here, too,” he said, making her heart pound harder.
“I’m not a princess.”
“Not yet. But you will be. When you’re ready.” He flashed his sexy, melt-her-bones smile.
“Your dad hates me.”
He rubbed his thumb across the back
of her hand. “My father is going to love you the second he meets you.”
“I live here and you live in Montanique.”
“One of the things we have to figure out. I’m hoping we can spend time in both places, but bottom line, my home is wherever you are. If that means relinquishing my title, then that’s what I’ll do.”
Oh my God. Her heart was exploding with love for this man.
“I’m going to be an artist. And paint. As a career.”
Theo’s entire face lit up with joy. “That’s fantastic. I’m happy to hear it. We could definitely use some murals around the palace.” He scooted closer. “If you’re not too busy with your other clients, that is.”
“I think my passport’s expired. Wait, I’m not even sure I have a passport.”
He took the ornament out of her hand and carefully placed it back inside the box, then put the box on the coffee table. “I know how to get you one,” he said quietly. Scooted even closer. “Any more obstacles you want to throw at me? Because I can handle all of them.” He brushed her hair off her shoulder. “I love you. I love you so much.”
She stared into his eyes. She was pretty sure she’d fallen in love with him the morning they’d first met. Damn blue eyes. “I love you, too, so much it’s crazy.”
“I like crazy,” he said, before capturing her mouth with a kiss that made her toes curl. His lips were warm and skilled, and when he slid his tongue inside to tangle with hers, she was toast. She wrapped her arms around his neck and crawled into his lap.
“Say it again,” she murmured.
“I love you.”
“I love you back.”
He took her face in his hands. “So is that a yes?”
“Sorry, what was the question?” She ran her fingers though his soft hair. She would never ever stop doing that.
Theo reached over and pulled the ornament out of the box. “Can we hang our first ornament on the tree?”
Our first ornament. They were an “our” now. And had hundreds of firsts in front of them.
“Absolutely.”
Epilogue
Part One
Once Upon a Royal Christmas Page 16