Mari just wanted to be at home where she could curl up in her bed and cry. As silly as it sounded, she wanted to be home where she could get her hands in flour and butter and feel her mom around her, comforting her. She considered her options on how to get home. Flying would be too expensive. Her bank account might stretch to purchase a bus ticket. She stopped a policeman to ask directions to the bus station and was quickly on her way down interstate forty heading home, her heart in shambles.
Chapter Eleven
Ki slowly woke, his hand already reaching for Mari to pull her close, a smile on his face from memories of their night, only to find himself alone in bed. He would never get enough of her, already he was hard and needed her again. But he would not take her again today. She must have time to heal. He didn’t hear the shower, so she must be taking a bath to work the soreness from her body.
Ki threw back the covers and walked naked to join her in the bathroom. After all, their shower last night had been amazing, and now he couldn’t wait to join her in the bathtub. That had possibilities as well.
A shiver ran over him when he found the bathroom dark and empty. Ki pulled on a robe from behind the bathroom door and then checked the other rooms, finding them empty as well. Her dress from last night was gone along with her bag. His suite had been wiped clean of anything Mari.
Ki stood in the bedroom door, dazed, and stared at the bed. “How could she leave me?” She was alone and frightened. He must find her. Panic and fear sent him to confront his guards.
“I can’t believe it! Gone! She just left?” His voice rose in anger, “And you let her go!” Pacing around the room he shook his head in disbelief, “You saw she was upset and crying. How could you just let her walk away?” Growling, he raked his hand through his hair. Ki had never felt so helpless. He had to find her. There was no way he would let her leave him. What they had last night had been real. He knew she had feelings for him. He would not let her throw them away.
With fierce command in his voice that even his father would have been proud of, “Find her! She has no idea how to navigate around a big city on her own. She could be in danger. Check the airlines and cab company. I want her back in my room within the hour. Go!”
Ki picked up his phone to call her, impatiently pacing while waiting for her to pick up. He heard a ring. He looked on the table behind the sofa and discovered her cellphone. Now he really started to panic. It felt like he had lost his last connection with her. Where could she have gone? Why did she leave?
After three hours of searching, Ki couldn’t believe she had vanished without a trace. It hurt his heart to watch the video from the hotel surveillance of her getting into the elevator crying and upset. She looked so lost. The doorman told her to have a good day and said she seemed distraught and unsure where she was going, but then she took off down South Main Street.
Ki had the city searching their street cameras for footage of her movements, but it was like she disappeared into thin air. “Get Ethan, have the helicopter readied, she will go home.”
“Yes, Highness.”
***
Three Months Later
Ki didn’t know where or how his life had gotten so off track. For three months he had searched for Mari. The guards he posted at her apartment and diner had nothing to report. No one had seen her or talked to her. Sara and Sam might know where she went, but they were not giving any information up. Without working, how would she be able to pay her bills? Even Ella refused to tell him where she was. After pressing her for information, he was able to find out that she was safe but would not be contacting him. Then all the gifts he had given them were returned without a return address. The postage must have cost her a fortune. Now he couldn’t even call Ella to check up on Mari. The SUV had also been returned to the dealership with a note to contact him concerning re-sale. It was like she wiped him out of her life.
Obligations back in Tanistan required Ki to return home. But, he would never stop looking for Mari. Going back over the night they spent together a million times in his mind, he couldn’t determine where he went wrong. All was fine until she found out about his royal bloodline. That would frighten and intimidate anyone. He should have told her he loved her. He should have made her understand that there was no one else for him but her. She was it for him.
Ki finally told his mom and dad everything, or mostly everything. Ki was thankful that he did because his mom shed a little light on what may be going through Mari’s incredibly beautiful, stubborn head.
Ki’s mom had been a struggling college student in the states before she met his dad. His dad liked to say he swept her off her feet. His mom told a completely different story. But after talking with her, Ki had a better understanding of the enormous burden Mari must have felt when she realized what being with him would entail. She was just scared, and now she was alone.
Keeping his identity from her had been a huge mistake. She should have had time to come to terms with it over the weeks they had spent getting to know each other, instead of the abrupt way she found out. He had moved entirely too fast. By keeping his identity from her, he had denied her the time to adjust to the possibility of a life with him. And, she would be his bride.
Despite having an entire country’s resources at hand, they couldn’t find his one tiny warrior. Whether it took three months or three years, he would not give up his search for her. He couldn’t because he couldn’t envision his life without her.
His annoying phone rang. Just as he went to press the button to ignore the call, he noticed the area code from the states. His heart raced with hope. “Hello,” he listened afraid to get his hopes up. He heard nothing but breathing. “Hello?” He decided it must be a wrong number and started to hang up.
“Ki? Is that you?” Ki’s heart skipped as he closed his eyes and said a silent prayer.
He couldn’t believe it. With a shaky breath he said, “Ella?”
“Yes, it’s me,” he heard her take a deep breath before continuing. “I’m going behind my sister’s back calling you. I just want to ask you one question. That’s all Ki. You only get one question to answer.”
“Anything Ella, just please tell me she’s okay.” He needed to hear those words.
“One question Ki… Do you love my sister?”
Without missing a beat, he instantly replied, “I love your sister with all my heart.”
A long pregnant pause caused Ki to become worried that she might have hung up. He finally heard her say, “Be at the 42 Bayview in Ralston tomorrow morning at eight.”
He could tell she wanted to say more, but he was afraid of what he might hear. He had to know, “Ella, is Mari alright? Please tell me!”
“Just be there Ki.” He stared at his phone. A smile finally crossed his face. Tomorrow he would get some answers, and he would not take no as one of them.
Leaving his office, he called over his shoulder, “Chandra, have the plane readied. I want to leave within the hour.”
He laughed as he made his way hurriedly down the hallway. He needed to see his parents before he left.
Entering his parents’ private rooms, Ki took a minute to soak in the normal family scene in front of him. His father sat in his favorite chair reading the newspaper. His mom was curled up on the window seat with a cup of tea in one hand and an ereader in front of her giving the appearance of any normal family instead of royalty. This was what he wanted with Mari. That is what he would have with Mari.
Not knowing what tomorrow would bring, Ki refused to doubt that he would be bringing Mari back to join his family. Pushing away from the door, Ki joined his parents in their sitting room, “Mother, Father, good afternoon.”
“Ki, dear! What a happy surprise.” Brushing a kiss across his mom’s cheek, Ki joined her on the window seat. “You have found her.”
Ki was amazed once again by his mom’s intuitive instincts concerning her children. It never ceased to amaze him how his mom could always dial in to her children’s emotional needs.
> “I don’t know,” raking his fingers through his hair. “Ella called and gave me an address to be at tomorrow morning. I don’t know if Mari will be there, but I am not leaving until someone tells me where she is.”
“This is good news, honey.” She put her tea down and took Ki’s hand, “What are your plans if she is there?”
He met his mom’s concerned eyes, “I don’t know. I want to grab her up, fly back home with her and not give her the option to refuse me.” Hearing his mom’s sigh, he continued, “But I know she would shut me down fast. She can be very… feisty.”
Looking into his mom’s wise eyes, Ki knew that she understood his frustration, “I love her mom, I really do. I know that if she would just give me time I can make her see that she could love me, too.”
“Honey, have you thought that perhaps she already loves you and that what she did, leaving you, was her way of showing that love?”
Ki shook his head, refusing to believe what his mom was saying, “Mom, that makes no sense. If she loved me, why didn’t she stay?”
Rubbing his hand like she used to do when he was small calmed him, “Truly loving someone is wanting their happiness above all things. Wanting the best for those that you love sometimes comes at a cost of your own happiness. You said that Mari comes from a small town and has worked to support her sister since she was quite young. Perhaps seeing the differences in your lives, Mari thinks that the best thing for you…is not her.”
Ki stood and began pacing between his mom and dad, “That is absurd! Mari is what’s best for me.” Would Mari really think that to leave him would be in his best interest? Ki stopped his pacing. Yes, Mari would do that exact thing. She had always put the happiness of those she loved before herself.
“Yes Ki, you are correct. Mari is best for you, but are you best for her?” Ki was stunned. He had only thought of what he could give Mari. Never had he thought about what she would lose by marrying him.
Ki’s dad stepped in front of him putting a stop to his pacing, “Son, tread carefully. You are asking her to give up all she has ever known and leave her sister to move to a new country and a new lifestyle. While Mari has had the tenacity and courage to raise her sister on her own, she has been sheltered in her one area of the world. You need to think about what you are asking her to do and what is best for both of you.”
But what Ki was going to ask of her…would gaining his love make up for all the things she would have to give up? Ki would make it his life’s mission to never let her regret choosing him.
“Loving Mari the way I do… Mom, Dad, I just know that we belong together. I can’t imagine my life without her. These past few months without her…” Closing his eyes, he could see her by his side. He could see her round with his child growing inside. He could see them loving and laughing, surrounded by family while growing old together. Without her, he just saw only darkness.
“We love you and will be awaiting your return. We love Mari already and have not even met her. Go with our blessings and bring our future daughter-in-law home.”
Hugging his mom and dad, Ki hurried to his rooms to prepare for the trip of his life, planning his strategy as he went. Defeat was not an option. Mari would be his. This he knew.
Chapter Twelve
Mari rested her head on the stall door as she pulled some toilet paper from the roll and wiped her mouth. She had no idea why they called it morning sickness. Morning sickness would lend one to think the sickness would only occur in the morning. It had been her experience for the past twelve weeks to be sick at any time of the day or night, more often at the most inconvenient times possible. And, this was one of those times.
Mari’s doctor said it was very uncommon for a woman to experience morning sickness from the moment of conception and for it to continue past the first trimester. Mari begged to differ. There was nothing common about throwing up at any time. It seemed as if she had been sick since the morning after she walked away from Ki.
After leaving Ki, Mari knew she couldn’t go home. That would be the first place he would look. She purchased a bus ticket heading south with no particular destination in mind. It really hadn’t mattered to her where she ended up because, no matter where she went, Ki wouldn’t be there.
Over the eight hour bus trip, Mari met Angie Cornwell. Angie owned a diner in a town near Ralston where Ella’s college was located. They discovered they had many things in common. Both enjoyed baking, and they had both lost a loved one to cancer. Angie’s daughter passed away years ago from lymphoma.
Angie reminded Mari so much of her mother that Mari ended up confiding in her. After blubbering and crying all over her, Angie dried Mari’s tears, offered her a place to stay and even provided her a job working at her diner. She offered the comforting words that Mari needed to hear. When Mari had begun to feel sick on the bus, Angie had been the one to hold her hair as she threw up.
The first call Mari made from her new room over Angie’s garage was to Ella. Ella didn’t understand why Mari felt she needed to leave their home, but she supported her decision. She offered to pack up their house so Mari didn’t have to go back. It worked out nicely because Sara, who Mari worked with at Obie’s, wanted to rent the house. Mari had no idea how helpful the rent money would be. Plus, it was nice being closer to Ella. She didn’t feel so alone.
Not going back to Pikeville had been a hard decision to make but Mari knew she would not have been able to resist Ki, had he come after her. He would never understand why she left the way she did. She knew she took the coward’s way out, leaving while he slept. How could she explain to the man she loved that no matter how he dressed her up, she still wouldn’t belong in his world?
He needed someone by his side that his people would approve of and who would be an asset to his reign. Ki needed a sophisticated, glamorous and worldly woman, and she was certainly not it. Mari couldn’t bear the thought of Ki with another woman.
Mari thought she had the flu because she just couldn’t shake the nausea that had taken hold of her on the bus ride. After weeks of losing most of what she ate, and 10 pounds, Angie put her in her car and took her to the clinic. That was when Mari’s life took yet another detour. Finding out she was having Ki’s baby was surreal. From the moment the doctor told her she was pregnant Mari knew without a doubt that she would love their baby enough for both of them.
Deciding whether or not to tell Ki about the baby was a stressful dilemma that Mari couldn’t seem to decide upon. Mari knew that he had the right to know he was going to be a father. But if she didn’t tell him, then his life could continue without feeling obligated or responsible for a child that he had no idea existed. A child by a one night stand would certainly put a crimp in his future marriage plans. In her heart, Mari knew that she would one day tell Ki. He deserved to know.
She heard the bathroom door bang open, “Mari, are you OK? You’ve been in here a while now, can I do anything for you?”
“I’m sorry, Angie. I’ll be right there. I promise.” She wiped her mouth again and hoped for calm. Mari slowly moved to the sink to wash her mouth out.
“Honey, when are you gonna tell the daddy? You don’t need to be pushing yourself like this. You look like you can hardly put one foot in front of the other.”
Mari met Angie’s gaze in the mirror over the sink, “I’m okay, Angie, really.” Angie handed her a towel and tried again, “He needs to know honey.”
“I know. I just don’t know how yet.” They walked out of the bathroom door, and Mari headed to pick up her orders. Mari was glad her job kept her so busy her mind didn’t have time to think about Ki or what she was going to do.
Walking home that night, Mari was so tired that only thoughts of getting off her feet and putting on her sweat pants to give her expanding tummy a break from her too tight work pants keep her trudging on. Later that night, lying in her bed, she couldn’t stop the memories of Ki invading her sleep.
Mari rubbed her tummy, comforting not only herself but also the life th
at she was carrying. Tears rolled down her face. She already loved her baby. Without knowing it, Ki gave her a precious gift, a piece of himself. Once the baby was born, she would tell him. Maybe he would even be married by then with a child of his own on the way. But, telling him was the right thing to do.
It’d been three months. He had probably already moved on. Mari had been using Angie’s computer to Google his name. Seeing his picture with so many beautiful women was hard, but the pictures of just Ki made her smile and feel sad at the same time. He was so handsome dressed in formal attire, his military uniform, or even just a polo and khakis. Would their child have his dark good looks? Finally, sleep took her away with dreams of dancing in Ki’s arms.
Four in the morning rolled around, and Mari found herself once again on her knees in front of the toilet. At six she woke back up with a crick in her neck from where she fell asleep curled up on the bathroom floor. She would take rest anywhere she could get it these days. Showering and dressing quickly, she rushed out the door and walked the four blocks to work. What she wouldn’t give for her bicycle back home.
The breakfast rush was especially busy. For two hours, Mari rushed to get orders in, food delivered, and the bottomless coffee cups refilled. Luckily, she had only been sick once so far today, and it was almost eight! That could be a new record for her.
She balanced a plate and coffee pot on her tray, “Here you go Jim, two eggs over easy with grits and ham.” She set the plate down and then refilled his cup. “You need anything else right now?”
“No sugar, this looks just fine for now.” Jim smiled and dug into his food. Mari looked around to see who else needed refills.
Mari heard the bell over the door and turned to greet the newcomers. Her smile froze on her face. She was taken back three months to another diner and those same three men. Mari was confused, how could he be there? “Mari?”
Sweet Surrender: Mari & Ki (A Royal Vow Novel Book 1) Page 7
