by Holly Rayner
I smile to myself as I listen to him converse with his daughter, who likely doesn’t understand a word of what he’s saying. Then again, maybe she does. I’ve been surprised at the wisdom I sometimes glimpse in my children’s faces.
She can at least pick up on his soothing, positive tone.
He continues. “You’re going to meet your two uncles. Maybe one day you’ll have cousins, too. I’ll show you the forest where I played when I was little. I think you’re going to like that.”
The thought of little Carolina running around with her cousins in the forest sparks an idea in my mind. I turn and look past Nikki, to where Andy is seated. I lean forward so that I can see him more clearly. He’s holding a wiggling cloth-wrapped bundle of his own: my son, Daniel.
“Andy, what’s the name of that chapter book series you’re reading these days?”
“Tree House Adventures!” Andy says, smiling brightly. “Auntie Phoebe, they’re the best! I packed all of them so that I’ll have them in my new room. Mom says I can have a bookshelf all to myself.”
I nod. “You sure can,” I say, thinking of the house that Luca has purchased for Nikki and Andy, right next to our own new residence. Both are within walking distance of the Royal Palace of Westegaard.
“And want to know what’s even better?” I ask Andy.
“What?” he responds.
“Uncle Luca knows where there’s a secret tree house on the palace grounds that you can play in!”
“Really?” Andy says gleefully. He looks down at Daniel. “Will Danny be able to play with me?”
I nod. “He sure will, when he’s older.”
Andy looks down at Daniel’s smiling face. “Hear that?” Andy says. “You’re going to be able to play with me! Only until it gets dark. That’s when I always have to go inside anyway.”
Now Andy turns to his mother. “Right, Mom?” he says. “I will still have the same bedtime, even though we’ll be in a different time zone?”
Andy’s been obsessed with time zones ever since I introduced the concept to him a month ago when Luca and I finalized our plans to move to Westegaard.
Nikki smiles happily. “That’s right, buddy. Eight o’clock is still your bedtime.”
Andy looks thoughtful for a moment, and then he says, “Mom, will I be able to get up the ladder to the tree house?”
Nikki reaches for his cheek. Andy has some jam smeared on it from his lunchtime sandwich. She clears it off as she says, “Yes, honey. I think you will. Do you think you will?”
Andy considers this and then nods. “Dr. Weller said that I would keep getting stronger. I can already walk, and if I keep working at it my legs will work even better.”
I see Nikki’s face flush with emotion. Tears well up in my eyes as she answers her son.
“That’s exactly right,” she says. “You’re going to keep getting stronger.”
She turns away from him then and quickly reaches for a tissue from her purse. I know that she doesn’t want Andy to see her crying.
I hold back my tears, too, as I say, “Andy, check out the view! I think that’s Westegaard down there.”
Luca leaves his spot at the window and joins us by standing in the aisle near my seat again. He crouches down a bit so that he can see out of Andy’s window. “That’s it!” he says. “We made it!”
Half an hour later, we are being chauffeured to the palace. Once the SUV doors open and I step out into the sunlight, I immediately spot our welcome party.
Two tall, handsome men who look almost exactly like Luca stand in wait for us. One is dressed in a suit, the other wears some sort of military uniform. I immediately grasp that the suited one is King Willem, while the man in the uniform is Luca’s younger brother, Prince Gregor. Another man accompanies them, but I don’t recognize him.
I’m sure I’ll find out who he is soon enough.
The chauffeur helps us unpack and assemble the portable strollers that we brought along on the jet. Nikki and I both push the double strollers. Andy holds Nikki’s hand, and Luca leads the way toward his brothers.
“Luca!” Willem says, opening his arms wide. The two hug tightly, Willem clapping Luca on the back. “I’m glad you’re home, brother.”
Next Luca greets Gregor. The two exchange a similar hug.
Next, Luca hugs the man I don’t recognize.
“Erik!” Luca says happily, as the two embrace. “It’s so good to see you! Thanks for taking care of everything in my absence.”
“Wait until you see the new center,” Erik says proudly. “You’re going to love it.”
Ah! So that must be Erik, Luca’s head assistant. He’s actually very handsome. Though his features are very distinct from the royal brothers, he has the same stature. His hair is blond and slightly lighter than Luca’s.
“Another handsome man,” Nikki murmurs under her breath. I turn to her and see that she’s eyeing Erik.
I laugh and nudge my sister. “There you go!” I whisper. “And you said it would be hard to meet a guy in a foreign country.”
We giggle as Erik and Luca approach us, Willem and Gregor in tow.
Luca makes the introductions. As he introduces me to Willem, I hold out my hand, thinking Willem might shake it. He bypasses my outstretched arm, however, and wraps me in a warm embrace.
“Welcome to the royal family, Phoebe,” he says. “Or should I say, Princess Phoebe?”
I return his warm hug. “It is so good to be here,” I say. “It feels like a brand-new beginning. Would you like to meet your nieces and nephews?”
For the next few minutes, we all coo over Carolina, Beth, Olivia, and Daniel.
Then, Erik offers to take Luca on a tour of the newest youth outreach center.
“Why don’t we all go?” Luca says, looking to me and then to Nikki and Andy. “The drive over there will give you a perfect overview of the city.”
“I’d love to see one of your centers,” I say, looping my arm through Luca’s.
“Sounds like fun!” Nikki says, without taking her eyes off of Erik.
Erik seems to pick up on her attention. “I’m happy to drive,” he says. “I’ll take the scenic route.”
I nudge Nikki again. “Why don’t you go with Erik, and Luca and I will follow behind with the babies?”
“Perfect!” Luca says, picking up on my plan. “We’ll see you there!”
After making plans to meet Willem and Gregor back at the palace that evening for dinner, we all split up. Luca and I return to the chauffeur’s car, while Nikki and Andy trot off happily after Erik, who looks more than pleased about the situation himself.
“Brilliant,” I say to Luca.
He wraps his arm around me. “I guess this is a city for finding love,” he says, as he leans over me and delivers a kiss to the top of my head.
“It certainly worked for us,” I agree, wrapping my arm around his waist.
Chapter 26
Phoebe
Two Weeks Later
“And Carolina tends to be the fussiest,” I remind the royal nanny, who is looking down at the four bassinets with me. “She just takes a little bit of extra work, but she always settles down eventually. This is her pacifier, if she needs it.”
“Got it,” the older woman says with a smile. “You told me this last time.”
“I know,” I say. “I’m sorry. You know all of this. What am I thinking?” I reach up and place my hand on my head. “I think I’m losing my mind.”
The nanny laughs. “It’s the wedding day jitters. Every bride gets them. Now you’d better get going. It’s already ten after ten.”
I know she’s right I hustle out of the room, and down the palace hallway. I almost forget which room I’m supposed to get dressed in, but thankfully I see a door swing open just before I turn a corner. Nikki pops her head out.
“Phoebe!” she says. “You’re late! Get in here.”
I hurry over to her and slip inside the room.
My makeup and hair have already b
een done. All that remains is for me to get into my dress. Though the many wedding coordinators, beauticians, and other staff members have offered to help me dress, I respectfully refused. I love all the help I’ve been getting these days, but right now, I only want to be with my sister.
We close the door to the room, and Nikki chats about the wedding schedule while I undress.
“…And after that, we’re going to meet the photographer on the balcony for some shots of you with your bridal bouquet. The lighting should be just right then. Oh! I’m so excited for Erik to walk me down the aisle. He’s the one escorting me, you know. The whole wedding party has to line up at a quarter to one, because…”
I listen to her chatter, but it barely registers. It’s impossible to think about a photo shoot. All I want to think about is how it’s going to feel to finally kiss Luca, as his wife.
I remain in my dreamlike state as Nikki helps me into my white gown. It has a flowing, full skirt that trails behind me as I walk, and a beautiful brocade bodice with dozens of buttons going up the back.
Nikki works on fastening the buttons while I watch the two of us in the full-length mirror.
“Did you ever think we’d be here, Nikki—in a royal palace like this?” I ask.
Nikki glances up and meets my eye in the mirror. “Nope,” she says. “Not even in my wildest dreams. I didn’t know that Andy would walk, either, but yesterday he walked right up to me and gave me a hug. Honestly, I feel like we’re all in heaven.”
I smile as she fastens the last button and then pats my back.
“There you go,” she says. “I’m going to give you a few minutes alone, Princess Phoebe. I’ll see you up on the second story at the east balcony in fifteen minutes?”
I kiss her cheek. “Yes,” I say. “I’ll be there—if I can find it.”
Nikki laughs at my little joke. Both of us have been getting lost constantly the past two weeks.
When she leaves, the room is suddenly quiet. I turn back and forth in front of the mirror, examining my reflection.
The sound of the door to the room opening surprises me. I focus my eyes on the reflection of the door as it swings open. Luca, in his tuxedo, steps inside.
He closes the door behind him. I whirl around and pretend to chide him, yet I can’t keep from smiling as I speak.
“Luca! You shouldn’t be here!” I say, crossing the room toward him.
He has a mischievous glint to his eye as looks me up and down. “Sure, I shouldn’t be here,” he says. “But have we ever let ‘should’ get in our way?”
“I guess most people would say we should get married before having children,” I say.
“And I should have known you for at least a year before proposing,” Luca says.
“And I suppose I should never have spent the night with you—all those months ago when I visited Westegaard.”
He shakes his head. “Definitely not,” he says playfully. “In fact, you probably shouldn’t have been in Westegaard to begin with.”
We both laugh, and I step into Luca’s open arms.
“We’ve always bucked convention,” he says as he holds me. “And we’ve always come out of it stronger than before.”
He lets me go, and I step back.
His eyes take in my hair, my face, and my long, flowing gown. “You look stunning,” he says.
He reaches for my hand and pulls me in.
As he leans in to give me a kiss, I turn away.
“Oh no, you don’t!” I say before his lips can touch mine. “That’s one convention I’d like to uphold. You can kiss me after we exchange our vows.”
He laughs. “Very well, my love.”
I pick up my dress. “Now I really should be going to find an east wing balcony, where I have an appointment with the photographer—if I can just figure out how to get there.”
“I’ll show you,” Luca says, opening the door for me.
Several hundred pictures later, I stand before a red-carpet aisle runner in the palace grounds. Willem is at my side.
“Ready?” he asks, offering his elbow to me.
I look down the aisle, to the altar where Luca is standing, waiting for me. Andy, Gregor, and Erik stand to one side of him, and Nikki is at the other.
I take a deep breath and then thread my arm through Willem’s.
“Ready,” I say.
Music ushers us down the aisle together.
So many times, since meeting Luca, I’ve had the sensation that I was dreaming. I just didn’t know life could be this good. Now, as I walk down the aisle, I’m filled with a new awareness: this is not a dream. This is reality. My reality. My life is beautiful, and it’s only going to keep on getting better.
Luca watches me approach. I see tears glistening in his eyes as I find my place across from him.
As the ceremony progresses, I am aware that the hundreds of guests in attendance are waiting to hear our vows, yet I do not feel nervous. Instead I feel calm and centered. When it is my turn to speak, I focus on Luca and pretend that he’s the only person I’m speaking to. I hold both of his hands in mine, face him, and look into his eyes.
“Luca,” I say. “When I met you, I thought I was running from my life. I thought I came to your city to hide. Little did I know that I had run right to a man who would change the course of my life forever.”
I fight to keep the quiver of emotion from muddling my words as I continue. “We’ve been through so much already, and through it all you have been by my side, acting as my guiding light. I love you with all my heart and soul. Seeing you with our children fills me with a peace I’ve never known before, and I know that my love for you will continue to grow, each and every day.”
Luca is openly crying now. He gathers himself and then strokes his thumbs over the back of my hands as he says. “I knew you were my angel when I first saw you,” he says. “You’ve brought me more joy than I ever thought was possible. Though our path hasn’t been a smooth one, we’ve overcome all obstacles together—side by side. I know we can make it through anything together.”
He pauses. I follow his gaze to the front row, where the four little bassinets are lined up.
When we meet each other’s eyes again, he continues. “I love you, Phoebe. I’m honored that you’re going to be my wife. I’m going to be the best man I can be for you—the best husband—and the best father for our children. This I promise you.”
Tears stream down my cheeks as Luca places a wedding band on my left finger, and I place one on his.
When the pastor instructs Luca to kiss the bride, I let Luca sweep me off of my feet.
With his lips on mine and the crowd cheering around us, I feel like the happiest woman in the world.
The End
The Prince Next Door
Holly Rayner
Copyright 2019, 2020 by Holly Rayner
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part by any means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the explicit written permission of the author.
All characters depicted in this fictional work are consenting adults, of at least eighteen years of age. Any resemblance to persons living or deceased, particular businesses, events, or exact locations are entirely coincidental.
Chapter 1
Julia
“It’s in the silence that you come to know yourself.”
I’m not sure where I heard that. Maybe it came from one of the dozens of cards I’ve received over the last few weeks. Maybe it was in someone’s eulogy a week ago. Maybe in a dream. A nightmare.
One thing I know for sure: if that saying is true, then knowing yourself is freaking painful.
Setting my two plastic bags of groceries down, I unlock the door to my apartment… and pause.
This one-bedroom Brooklyn abode has been my home for three years. It’s the best place I’ve e
ver lived, with a big, sunny patio and the subway station only two blocks away.
It’s also the last place in the world that I want to be right now.
Sucking in a breath, I steel myself and push the door open. It creaks, sounding more like the entrance to a haunted house than the digs of a single, thirty-year-old graphic designer.
Picking up my groceries, I hip-bump the door closed behind me and hustle past the table loaded with dying flowers and notes of condolences. I appreciate them; they’re just not what I want to look at right now.
Or maybe ever again.
Dropping my purse on the floor, I open the first bag. Ice cream. Broccoli. Milk. Into the freezer and fridge they go.
Reaching into the second bag, I pull out a small container without stopping to think much about it. It’s not until I’ve got the fridge open again and I’m looking for a spot to put the creamer that I realize what I’ve done.
It’s caramel creamer, which I don’t even like. I drink my coffee black. The creamer is for Mom.
Was. It was for Mom.
It starts as a silent scream that bursts from my belly and makes its way to my chest. By the time the grief reaches my mouth it’s turned into a whimper.
Putting the creamer on the counter, I collapse in one of the chairs at the breakfast table. My shoulders shake, dry sobs racking my chest. The only reason there aren’t any tears running down my face is because I ran dry on those days ago.
It’s been two weeks, and it’s not like her death came as a shock. She’d been sick for about a year, and it was a little over two months ago that it became clear cancer was the one winning the battle, and fast.
Some moments I find myself getting used to this new normal. Inevitably, I hate myself for it.
Does getting used to this new life mean forgetting about the old one? The one where my mom was my whole world?