I ignore it.
Just then, the door opens and the doctor steps through. He bows to me and my brother. “I’d like to follow up with you in three days, Your Highness. We can keep an eye on that shoulder and make sure we get you out of the sling as soon as possible. Excuse me.”
With another bow, he walks down the hallway. The door to his examination room opens again, and Cara appears in the doorway.
My stomach bottoms out, and I’m falling through space. How is it possible to get that feeling every time I see her? Like the rug is pulled out from under me anytime she comes into view.
But the ground comes rushing back up toward me when Beckett opens his mouth to speak.
“Cara,” he says, taking a step toward her. His voice is low, and his movements predatory.
It takes all my self-control to stop myself from launching at him. I’d tackle him to the ground and pin him there to stop him touching Cara, injured shoulder or not.
But I hold back.
What’s going on with me?
Beckett doesn’t want to hurt Cara, and I have no right to feel this protective over her. As real as the past three weeks have felt, we’re not together. Not really. Soon, she’ll be gone.
Her eyes flick to me, full of pain and fear.
I gulp. “Is everything okay? What did the doctor say?”
“Everything’s fine. Just need to drink water.” Her voice is tight, and I can tell she’s not telling me everything.
Beckett glances between Cara and me, his brows drawing together. “Why are you here, Cara?”
“I threw up when I got off the plane.”
“The plane?” he repeats.
Cara glances at me, questioning.
I clear my throat. “Cara was with me on the tour of the Kingdom.” Beckett’s head whips toward me, and I clear my throat. “As a guest,” I add.
“A guest.” Beckett’s eyes darken. It seems the only thing he’s capable of doing is repeating everything we say.
“Yes, Beckett, a guest. Do you have a problem with that?” My nerves are frayed. I’m worried about Cara. I’m worried about becoming King. I’m worried about everything that will happen once Cara leaves the palace gates, and if I’ll ever see her again once she does.
I don’t have the energy to deal with my little brother and the mammoth-sized chip on his shoulder.
“I’ll take you home,” I say to Cara, extending my hand toward her. She keeps one arm wrapped around her stomach, side-stepping around Beckett. When her other hand slips into mine, I swear I see Beckett vibrating with anger.
Why would he care?
I shake my head, jerking my chin at my brother. “Check in with Dante. He has some updated security protocols for us to go through. You should go and see Father, as well.”
“Yes, Your Highness,” he says, giving me a low, insolent bow.
I ignore him. Instead, I put my arm around Cara’s shoulders and lead her out of the doctor’s pavilion. Once we step out into the sunshine, Cara takes a deep breath. It rattles on the way in, and when she exhales, her shoulders drop.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask, frowning. My arm stays slung across her shoulders as I hold her close. The royal vehicle is waiting for us, with a new driver standing next to the open door.
“I’m fine. Just need to go home and get some sleep.”
I nod. A lump forms in my throat, and I’m not quite sure how to respond.
Her home should be here. She should be coming to my bed to rest. Cara’s place is beside me—why doesn’t she see that?
When we reach the car, Cara puts her hand on the open door. She turns to me, giving me a pinched smile. “You don’t need to come with me. I’m sure you have a lot of work to do at the castle, what with the coronation to plan and all. I’m sure Dante will want to talk to you, too. Hopefully he has some good news for you.”
My heart sinks as my stomach twists. It feels like a weight is crushing my chest, making it hard for me to take a full breath. This is goodbye. I know it is, and I knew it was coming. As soon as the sea plane landed back at the main island pier, I knew that Cara would be slipping away like sand through my fingers.
I just didn’t expect it to hurt so much.
I clear my throat. “When will you leave on your trip?”
“I don’t know. As soon as I feel better, I guess.”
“I’m sure you’ll want to be going soon.”
Cara sucks in a breath and shrugs. “I don’t know what I want anymore.” Her eyes flick up to mine and her lips drop open, but then she glances at the driver, who’s waiting a few feet away from us. Instead of saying anything, she takes a step toward me and lays a soft kiss on my cheek.
“Thank you for a wonderful three weeks, Theo. You’ve given me so much, and I’m not sure I can ever repay you.”
“You don’t need to repay me. Having you with me made the whole tour better.”
Why is it so hard to speak? It’s like a hand is wrapped around my chest, squeezing the air out of my lungs. I can hardly breathe, let alone make words.
“Let me know what Dante says. I’ll be in Argyle for a little while longer, and I won’t leave until you tell me you don’t need me anymore.”
Yep, this is definitely goodbye. My chest feels hollow as I struggle to keep my composure. Cara gives me one last sad smile and ducks her head into the car. I close the door behind her and nod to the driver.
Then, I step back and watch Cara Shoal drive away from me. The car rolls down the long driveway and through the tall palace gates, and my heart sinks down, down, down.
I knew our relationship was temporary. I knew I had no right to be with her, or to stand in the way of her plans and dreams. I knew that this was going to come to an end.
I didn’t know it would hurt this much to watch her leave.
18
Cara
When I get back to my parents’ house after being away for just three weeks, I feel like a completely different person. Before I left, I was convinced that I’d be gone by now. I’d be in Los Angeles or New York or Farcliff. Either that, or stay and be miserable in the life that’s been built for me.
Now, I’m not so sure.
I’m carrying Prince Theo’s baby. That changes everything.
Leaving seems silly. Staying seems crazy.
How am I supposed to tell Theo? This whole relationship was meant to be temporary. It was a way for me to stay protected from family pressure while he sorted his problems out. A way for me to leave Argyle on a good note. It was a final goodbye to the islands of my youth.
But leaving with a newborn baby on the way? Exploring a new country with an infant in tow?
Insanity.
The royal chauffeur opens the car door for me, and I stare up at my parents’ sprawling home. It’s the only place I’ve ever lived. The only home I’ve ever had. I’ve memorized every crack and crevice in these walls.
After spending three weeks with Theo, I’m realizing that there’s a lot to Argyle that I haven’t seen. I want to visit the rest of the world, of course, but my need for adventure was quenched with our tour through the islands.
Maybe Theo himself helped cure my itchy feet.
Thanking the driver, I make my way up the steps toward my childhood home. I push the front door open, listening for noise in the house. It’s quiet, except for the distant sounds of the cooks in the kitchen. I slip through the open door, closing it silently behind me.
I need some time to myself to untangle my chaotic thoughts.
Being with Theo feels good…but is that enough? Is it enough to feel good with someone for a couple of weeks to then commit to a lifetime with them?
Is committing to him even an option?
Theo and I have never discussed actually being together. We’ve always operated under the assumption that this would end.
It did end. Approximately fifteen minutes ago.
But with the baby…
Wouldn’t that make him reconsider? Wouldn’t
that make our relationship a lot more real?
Do I want to commit to him and to staying in Argyle?
Committing to being Theo’s wife isn’t just like anyone else. I’d be giving my life to the Kingdom. I’d be pushing my own dreams aside, once and for all.
My hand drifts to my abdomen, and I think of the life growing inside me. It terrifies me and excites me all at once. There’s a sense of wonder that grows with every hour that passes, filling me up like a helium balloon.
Am I fit to be a mother? Would Theo want to be a father?
Could it really work between us?
A thin stream of hope starts snaking its way through my heart. It’s a tiny sliver of brightness, but it’s there. It’s enough to make me hesitate. Enough to make me think that maybe being with Theo is what I really want.
Stay. Have a family. Love a man with all my heart. Serve my Kingdom and find my purpose.
What was my plan, anyway? Run off to the States, maybe to Farcliff, maybe to Paris or London or Madrid. I was ready to leave this life behind and chase my dream of making it as a musician.
But what if I can find myself right here in my home Kingdom? What if I can travel the world with Theo by my side?
I can sing for myself and for my baby. Isn’t that enough?
Or maybe, being with Theo would be the final nail in the coffin of my dead dreams. I’d see all these beautiful places around the world and be treated like a Queen, but I’d be sentencing myself to a gilded cage. I wouldn’t have the freedom to study music or to sing loud and freely.
With my heart in turmoil, I trudge toward the staircase that leads to my bedroom. Thankfully, the house is silent. My mother must be away with my sisters, and who knows where my father is. Probably in a body of water somewhere, swimming from dawn till dusk. That’s where he feels most comfortable.
But just as I think of him, my father appears in the library doorway. His eyes land on me, and I can tell by the shadow on his face that he has something to say. Without a word, he nods to the library door before slipping back through the opening.
I drop my bag at the foot of the stairs and slump my shoulders.
Just when I think life has thrown everything at me, here comes another wave to knock me sideways.
When I enter the library, my father has his back to me. He’s leaning on his wide, hardwood desk, with his white-haired head bowed to his chest.
“Close the door.”
I bite my lip and do as he says. I’m almost afraid to breathe.
My father is warm and friendly. He’s a hugger. He’s the one person that I can count on to brighten my darkest days.
But now?
Something’s wrong.
He reaches over his desk to grab a yellow legal envelope. Turning to face me, he extends it in my direction. With a trembling hand, I grab the envelope and read my name on the front of it.
The return address is The Juilliard School of Music in New York. I’d applied to their voice program months ago before flying up on a weekend to do an audition. I’d told my parents that I was visiting one of my cousins. I never heard back. I assumed I hadn’t gotten in.
My father nods to the envelope, and I tear open the top. My hands tremble and my vision goes blurry as I read the first word: Congratulations.
I can’t read anything else. My eyes fill with tears and my heart starts racing. I’m lightheaded. I reach for one of the plush chairs in front of my father’s desk, sinking into it as I clutch the envelope.
“You applied to music school?” my father asks, sitting on the edge of his desk. His voice is neutral, and I don’t have the guts to look at his face.
I nod.
“Without telling us?”
“I knew you wouldn’t want me to go.” My voice breaks on the last word. I blink my tears away and pull the acceptance letter out of the envelope, forcing myself to read it in its entirety.
It’s everything I dreamed of. One sheet of paper, telling me I’m good enough to sing. Good enough to learn at one of the top schools. Good enough to pursue my passion.
“How do you know we wouldn’t want you to leave, Cara?”
“You barely let my sisters leave for holidays. After Luca dumped me, Mother wouldn’t even let me leave the house. You’ve had my future planned out for me since I was a little girl. Now, when Theo came here, the only thing that’s changed was who I’m supposed to marry.”
My father sighs, and I finally force myself to meet his gaze.
The lines on his face seem to have deepened since I last saw him. He runs his hand over his eyes. His rich, dark skin has been weathered by the water and wind and rain, and for the first time in a long time, I see his age.
My father is getting older.
He lifts his eyes to mine and lets out a sigh. “I would never stop you from living your dream, Cara. If this is what you want, you should do it. You should go to music school.”
My heart thumps. Did I just hear that right? He’s supportive? He wants me to pursue my dreams?
Tristan Shoal is legendary in Argyle for being a hard-headed, determined man. The type of person who wins Olympic gold medals and breaks world records. The type of person who goes down in history books.
He’s a hugger, sure. But he’s fierce as hell.
I didn’t think he’d be the type of man to let me chase my own dreams, especially not when they didn’t align with his.
But my father walks toward me, pulls me off the chair and wraps his arms around my body. He crushes me in a hug, and I think I hear him sniffle.
“I’m proud of you, Cara. You’ll make a wonderful singer.”
My head is spinning. I stare at the crumpled letter of acceptance in my hand that didn’t quite survive my father’s embrace.
This is what I’ve always wanted. It’s the reason I would sneak out of my house and go to the beach to sing. It’s the reason my heart nearly exploded when I met Prudence Halloway.
Singing means everything to me.
But I stare down at my stomach, and I’m not sure that’s still the case.
Three weeks ago? I’d already be gone. I’d take my acceptance letter, pack my bags, and say goodbye to my family. I’d be high on life and chasing my wildest dreams. I’d work my ass off to be the best damn singer Argyle had ever seen so I could be right there beside my father in the history books.
Now?
Things have changed. There’s a baby growing inside me.
How can I go to music school when I know I’ll be a mother in under nine months’ time? How can I say goodbye to Theo and choose music over him? Over the baby? Over the Kingdom?
“What’s wrong, Cara?” My father chucks my chin. “I thought you’d be happy.”
I wipe a tear away and shake my head. “I am happy. Just shocked.”
“You look tired. You should get some sleep.”
I lift the letter up. “Does Mother know?”
My father pinches his lips, shaking his head. “Not yet. I wanted to talk to you first.”
Relief washes over me. I nod, forcing a smile. “Okay. Thanks.”
“Hey,” my father says with a soft smile. “I always knew you’d do big things. Luca never deserved you.”
I give him a short nod and slip out of the library. Rushing up the stairs, I toss my bag on the floor of my bedroom and lock the door. Flopping down on my bed, I cover my face with my hands and groan.
Just when the choice seemed simple—be with Theo, if he’d have me—life throws me another curveball. I thought I knew what I wanted. I thought I was realizing how much the Prince of Argyle meant to me. The terror of being a mother was starting to fade, and excitement was mounting. I could see a future, bright and hopeful and full of love.
Now, I’m not so sure. With this letter, my dreams are still within reach.
I lift my shirt up to stare at my stomach, wishing I had ultrasound vision to see the little nugget of life growing inside me. I already love it. This baby already has my heart, and I know I’ll do my b
est to provide for it.
I don’t want to stifle my baby’s gifts like mine were stifled. I don’t want to prescribe a life for this child based on what I want for him or her.
Wouldn’t attending Juilliard be the perfect example of pursuing something you care about? Wouldn’t that set a good example for my child?
As soon as the thought crosses my mind, pain pierces through me and my eyes prickle with tears.
Leaving Argyle means leaving Theo.
I have to choose between my dreams, and the man that I’m falling in love with. The father of my child. The future King of Argyle. The only person that has made me feel valued and important.
Either way, I lose.
The only question is—what am I willing to sacrifice?
My dreams, or my love?
19
Theo
My bedroom is lonely without Cara. I’ve gotten used to her company over the past few weeks and being alone seems strange now.
The morning is bright as I wake up in an empty room. I sigh, glancing out the window, and then drag myself out of bed. I make my way down the stairs and out to the beach that hugs the royal grounds. My shoulder feels better than it did a few days ago, and the doctor seemed hopeful that it would heal quickly.
What did he say to Cara, I wonder? There’s something she isn’t telling me.
When I get to the edge of the beach, I kick off my shoes and let my toes sink into the sand. I inhale the salty sea air and close my eyes for a moment, listening to the sounds of the ocean.
This is my happy place. I love Argyle. I feel privileged to be its future King. I’ve spent most of my life thinking that would only happen when I was much older, and I’d have my life as my own.
But Father’s condition has worsened, and I need to step up.
After my trip with Cara, I’m starting to feel ready. I can lead this Kingdom. I can help turn around the economy and mend the international relationships that my father has allowed to wither away. I can try to bring prosperity back to the people of Argyle.
Over the past three weeks, I’ve started to imagine doing it with Cara by my side. Maybe even a couple of kids running at our feet. It’s something I didn’t even know I wanted, but now I feel like I can’t live without it.
Royally Unexpected 2: An Accidental Pregnancy Collection (Surprise Baby Stories) Page 53
