Bedmates

by Nichole Chase

  “I’m holding on to hope that he will find someone that can help him in ways I can’t.” My voice broke on that last word. “It’s killing me, but he won’t let me help. He won’t talk to me at all. And I do mean at all. I haven’t seen him in weeks.”

  I’d seen a picture of him with his sisters in the paper. He’d even been smiling, which was a vast improvement to the grimace he had been wearing, but it wasn’t the same as seeing him in person. It had only highlighted how little I knew about what was happening with him.

  She stopped me in the hallway. “What you need tonight is friends and a good home-cooked meal. We can give that to you and maybe the rest will fall in place.”

  Samantha’s warm eyes filled with compassion.

  “Thank you.” I didn’t think, just leaned forward and hugged the woman in front of me. It felt natural, like I’d known her my whole life. I was suddenly glad I’d come alone, because I wouldn’t have been this open with anyone else to witness my perilous hold on my emotions.

  When we entered the kitchen I tried to not laugh at the sight of a prince wearing a ruffled apron while his princess daughter pointed at her mother with a flour-covered hand.

  “Where hell been?” The little girl put her hands on her hips and said something else I didn’t understand.

  “I see you’ve been teaching our daughter more English.” Alex looked over his shoulder at Samantha who turned scarlet.

  “You told her to say that!” Samantha put her hands on her hips, which made it clear where the little girl had learned that pose.

  He chuckled but refused to own up to it. Instead he started ordering us about the kitchen and we fell into a comfortable conversation. It felt normal, routine.

  It was fantastic. And exactly what I’d needed.

  By the time dinner was ready, no one wanted to deal with a table and place settings. So we sat at the kitchen island and devoured the pan of vegetarian lasagna.

  Martha ate far more than I would have thought possible before eventually throwing her fork on the counter and saying something in Lilarian.

  “It’s not nice to speak a different language around people who can’t understand it.” Alex pointed his fork at his daughter.

  “No mo’ zana.” She leaned back and rubbed her belly. “No room!”

  “And what about dessert? Is there no room for raspberry sherbet?” Samantha asked.

  The little girl felt along her stomach as if she might find a little pocket of space. She lifted her hand, her finger and thumb spread apart. “This much room left.”

  “Then you can have that much sherbet.” Samantha reached across the island and touched Martha’s nose.

  “No boop!”

  Alex and Samantha both laughed but I wasn’t sure if I’d heard correctly.

  “What was that?”

  “She doesn’t want her mother to boop her nose.”

  “No nice.” Martha shook her head.

  “I see.” I smiled at the little girl. “No boop.”

  The evening was so peaceful, I didn’t realize how much time had passed until Martha fell asleep in Alex’s lap. I looked down at my phone and frowned.

  “Oh my gosh. It’s after ten. I should let you get to sleep.” I stood up and fought a yawn. I was more than ready to get some sleep myself.

  “Come see us in Lilaria?” Samantha stood up from her spot on the fancy sofa.

  “I’d love to.” I hugged and tried to convey how much it meant by squeezing a little tighter. “Thank you so much for dinner.”

  “Any time.” Samantha smiled up at me. “You’ve got my number. We’ll be in touch.”

  “Would you mind putting Martha in bed? I’ll be right up to tuck her in.” Alex shifted the sleeping toddler to his wife’s arms. “I’ll see our guest out.”

  “Good night, little friend.” I kissed my finger and touched it to her forehead.

  Samantha smiled and disappeared down a corridor while I put my shoes back on.

  “Maddie, I hope you don’t mind, but I took the liberty of getting some information for you.” Alex tucked his hands into his trouser pockets and shrugged sheepishly.

  “What sort of information?” I got the last shoe on and looked over at the prince.

  “When my father died, there was a doctor who I talked with for several years. I trust him with my life.”

  I felt my eyebrow raise, not sure where he was going with this information.

  “The thing is, I know your friend has been having a difficult time.” Alex rocked back on his heels a bit and glanced at me with gentle eyes. “And I know how hard it is to find someone you can trust to talk to. Especially, when you worry that someone might use that information to their advantage. Someone that might have means to getting your privileged conversations.”

  I closed my eyes. The last person you should have to worry about hurting you was your own mother.

  “I didn’t know you’d talked with someone. It must’ve been helpful.”

  “What I’m trying to highlight here is that no one knew. Dr. Beaudreau doesn’t work for your government, he isn’t a citizen that might experience pressure from influential people, and I happen to know he’s in town right now.”

  “You think he would work with Jake?” I bit my lip. “From what I’ve heard Jake is refusing to talk to anyone, but maybe if it’s someone from another country . . .”

  “That was exactly my thought.” He handed me a card and I looked it over. “This is his information.”

  “So I should just call him? Or try to give the information to Jake?”

  “Maddie, I hope this doesn’t offend you, but I’ve talked with the doctor and we had a slightly different idea.”

  When he was finished explaining, I felt hope flare in my chest. I looked up at Alex and fought the tears in my eyes.

  “Thank you.” I launched myself at him and he returned my hug.

  “It was no problem.”

  “I guess we’re even now.” I sniffed and chuckled.

  “Well, I do repay my debts.” Alex led me to the front of the embassy. “We’ll be in touch.” He kissed my cheek before nodding at the guards to open the door.

  Tony fell in step behind me and as I climbed in the car, I felt as if a weight had been lifted from my shoulders.

  Chapter 25

  Jake

  There was a light tapping at my front door that immediately set Puz to barking.

  Worried that it was Maddie, I peeked through the curtains to see a familiar blond head. Air left my lungs in a rush and I thought about pretending I wasn’t home, but my conscience wouldn’t let me.

  “Kyla?” I opened the door and looked down at the petite woman. Her usual chipper face wasn’t as peppy and there were circles under her eyes, but her smile was genuine when she saw me.

  “Jake!” She reached out and immediately wrapped her arms around me. “I was worried you wouldn’t answer the door.”

  “How’d you know I was home?” My truck was currently having the tires changed.

  She looked up at me and her cheeks turned pink. “Well, I’ve been waiting. I saw you get dropped off, waited a little bit and then came over.” She pointed at her car and that’s when I realized she was alone. No family or children with her.

  “Where are the kids? They’re not in the car are they?” I frowned.

  “God, no. They’re with my mom.” Kyla glared up at me. “I’m not going to leave my kids in the car, Jake.”

  “Sorry. Of course not.” I scratched at the scruff on my chin.

  “Are you going to invite me in?” She waited patiently, obviously expecting me to do just that.

  I hadn’t let anyone in the house except for my sisters. Not since I’d told Maddie to leave. But this was Kyla and I owed her.

  “Uh, sure.” I stepped out of the way while Puz jumped up and down like a possessed demon. “Calm down, Puz.”

  “Oh my God. He’s missing a leg!” Kyla swept Puz up into her arms while he peppered her with kisses. “I m
ean, I knew that from Maddie, but still! He’s so cute.”

  “Do you want something to drink? To sit down?” I was out of practice talking to people, even with someone friendly like Kyla.

  “I can’t stay long. I just came to tell you something.” She set her keys down on my little table.

  “What’s that?” I looked down at her and frowned.

  Instead of answering me she reared back and punched me in the gut. It was so unexpected I fell back against the wall and clutched my abs. I looked at the tiny woman with shock.

  “Ow.”

  “Now, do you feel better?” She shook her hand.

  “What?” I stared at her in disbelief.

  “Do you feel better? You felt guilty about what happened and now I’ve punched you. We’re even and you can stop hiding in your house.” She inspected her hand before looking back at me. “I didn’t really hurt you did I?”

  “Uh, yeah.” I pushed off the wall and forced my hand away from my stomach. “Who the hell taught you to punch like that?”

  “Cyrus.” Instead of looking sad, she smiled up at me. “How’d I do? Did I really hurt you?”

  “Yeah. Cyrus would be proud.” I couldn’t help the smile that tugged at my mouth. “Really proud.”

  “Good.” She picked up her keys before looking back at me. “I didn’t do it for me, you know. Cyrus wasn’t your fault, Jake.”

  I didn’t agree with her, but it seemed rude to explain that when she’d taken the time to drive over and punch me.

  Her eyes finally took on some of the sorrow I’d expected. “Cyrus was Cyrus’s fault. It’s not my fault, it’s not your fault. And God, I miss him so much there are times I don’t think I’ll ever survive but then I look at my kids and my mom and dad. I talk to his parents. And you know what?”

  “What?”

  “I realize that there are a lot of other people in my life to help fill the void he left.” She looked away from me. “I’m not perfect and times I cry. I cry a lot. Sometimes I’m so angry at Cyrus I want to beat things. I want to scream at him for leaving me, leaving the kids. Then I cry again. But I keep going, Jake.”

  I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t know how to respond to something so honest.

  Her eyes lifted to mine. “I keep going. And you have to keep going too. Do you understand me? You have to keep going and letting the other people that love you help fill that void you have inside. Cyrus hid that hole in him and it ate him up. You can’t let that happen.”

  I looked down at this incredibly strong woman and couldn’t find words to respond so I hugged her. Tears formed in my eyes and I took a deep breath.

  Finally she pulled back and gripped my arms. “Do what you have to do to get better, okay? If you feel guilty and think you owe me somehow, then you can repay me by getting better. I want you to stop hiding in this house. I want you to call Maddie and tell her you love her, because I know you do. I’ve seen it all over your face when you’re together.”

  “Okay.” I wiped my nose with my arm. “I’m sorry, Kyla. I should have been able to help. If I hadn’t missed those mercs while flying none of this would have happened.”

  “Don’t make me punch you again.” She laughed even as tears ran down her face. “This wasn’t your fault, Jake. Blame the general that gave you the orders, blame the people that shot down your ’copter. Because none of this was your fault. So do what you have to to deal with all of this, to accept that it wasn’t your fault.”

  I ducked my head, not wanting her to see me cry.

  “And call your woman, Jake. She’s hurting but doesn’t want to make things tougher on you.” Kyla mimed punching me again and I dodged out of the way. She really had landed a solid hit. “I’ve lost someone I loved, but she doesn’t have to.”

  “I’ll try.” It was the best I could manage.

  “And you need to come over next Friday. I’m having a barbeque and if you don’t show up, I’m calling backup. Got it?” She pulled away from me and headed for the door. “I’ve got to go. This is the longest I’ve been away from the kids since . . . Well, it’s never easy to leave a newborn.”

  “Thank you.” I followed her to the door.

  “For punching you? Anytime.” She looked back at me with wide eyes. “Did I really do it right?”

  “Yeah. You did it right.”

  She smiled and opened the door but stopped short.

  “Hello, is Jake home?”

  I peered past Kyla and frowned at the thin man wearing a tweed jacket and bow tie. I didn’t recognize him and it was odd for the security detail to let a stranger past them without calling first.

  “Yeah, I was just going.” Kyla shrugged her shoulders. “Friday. My house. Or I send reinforcements that punch harder than I do.”

  “I hear you, Rocky.”

  “She seems like a lively young woman.” The older man watched as Kyla crossed the street. “Is she your girlfriend?”

  “What?” I looked at the man. “Who are you?”

  “Beaudreau.” The man handed me a card. “I’m a good friend of his royal highness, Prince Alex.”

  “Alex?” I looked down at his card. He had a PhD, but there was no other information to tell me why he was on my doorstep.

  “May I come in?” The man nodded toward my house. Not really sure why I stepped back and let him walk inside.

  “Why would the Prince of Lilaria send me a doctor?” I held the card up.

  “He thought you might need someone to confide in. I’m a psychologist, Mr. Simmon.” The little man looked around the entryway and I felt as though he was bookmarking everything for catalogue.

  “I’m feeling a little slow here. I’m not really sure why you’re here.”

  “Jake, do you mind if I call you that? I’m not much for formality.” He cupped his hands behind his back. “Jake, let’s be frank. You’ve experienced some serious trauma in the last year and a half. That could mean nothing or could mean everything. The fact is, you need someone to talk to. Someone you can trust.”

  “Why should I trust you?” I frowned and looked back at the card. “I don’t know you. You could be a grocery clerk.”

  The man pulled out a phone and dialed a number. He listened for a minute before talking.

  “Yes, I’m here. Yes. Of course.” He handed me the phone. “Alex would like to speak with you.”

  I took the phone and held it up to my ear.

  “Alex?” I couldn’t keep the distrust from my tone.

  “Jake, good. I’m glad he caught you.” The Prince’s voice answered me, but I was still suspicious. “I know this is weird, but I thought you might be having trouble finding someone to confide in. I also know, that like me, you’re probably feeling stubborn and don’t like being backed into a corner, but I have the best of intentions. Beaudreau was my psychologist when I was younger. I can personally vouch for him. But he has more going for him. He’s not part of your military and he’s not a U.S. citizen. No one can pressure him to share your confidential information. And even if they did pressure him, he’d likely tell them to stuff it.”

  I barked out a laugh, looking at the proper man in a bow tie standing in my foyer. The man looked like he wouldn’t hurt a fly. Not on purpose.

  “Give him a shot,” Alex said.

  “And how do I know this isn’t some elaborate hoax? That you’re really Prince Alex?”

  “Maddie had dinner with me and Samantha last night. I count her a friend and would like to do the same with you. I hate seeing my friends hurt.” He lowered his voice. “You don’t let go of a woman like her.”

  I looked at the ceiling and then at the man standing in my parlor.

  “I’m going to check this shit out.” I threw the doctor’s card in the bowl on the little table. “But if you are who you say you are, and this guy is who you say he is, then I’ll give it a shot.”

  “Thank you.” I could picture Alex smiling which made me frown. “You won’t be disappointed.”

  “We’
ll see.”

  “Beaudreau is fucking fantastic.” Alex laughed. “I’m not worried. I hope you’re ready to be called on your bullshit. He might look like a stuffy professor, but that man doesn’t pull any punches.”

  “I think I’ve been punched enough for today.” I rubbed my chest, wondering if I’d have a bruise.

  “You’ll have to explain that to me over a beer sometime.”

  “I think we might be able to do that.” I hung up the phone and frowned.

  “Are you going to show me anywhere other than the entryway?” Beaudreau asked.

  “Fuck.” I handed the man his phone back. “I guess so. Do you want to look at my baby photos too?”

  “I doubt you have those here, but we can talk about that later.” He smirked.

  “So, Doc. Do you always make house calls?” I looked over my shoulder at the man as I led the way to the living room.

  “Occasionally. I’ve been spending a lot of time in the States recently.” He picked up a trinket Maddie had bought at a stand near the fresh market.

  “Do you want a bottle of water? Soda or beer?” I headed toward my kitchen, not really caring if he thought it was a bad idea. I rarely drank, but felt like I’d earned one today.

  “Thanks, that would be great.” He pulled his jacket off and hung it on the back of one of the kitchen table chairs.

  I pulled two bottles out of the fridge and handed him one as he rolled up his sleeves.

  “It’s going to be a long night, isn’t it?” I sat down in a chair and leaned back.

  “You never know how these things will go.” He opened his beer and lifted it up to me. “Have you decided to not double check my credentials?”

  “It was Alex on the phone. If he trusts you, then I guess I can.”

  Beaudreau had been to my house every day for over a week. It hadn’t been all bad, but he definitely punched harder than Kyla.

  “Are you going to go?” The old man sat at my kitchen table.

  “The barbeque?” I shrugged as if the whole thing didn’t make me nervous. “I think so.”

  “Take Puz with you,” he suggested. Yeah, he definitely saw through my bullshit.