by Everly James
The doors opened again. Luca stepped inside, wearing a suit that made him look like a male model. He choked back a laugh as he looked at Melody’s pajama bottoms.
“You look lovely,” he said, kissing Melody on the cheek. There was a mischievous grin on his face.
“MP Dower, pleasure,” Luca said, shaking his hand and standing up at his seat. He wouldn’t sit at the table until Melody did.
Melody took her place at the head of the table. “Please, sit.” The two men sat down. “To what do we owe the honor of your company tonight, MP Dower?”
Dower sipped his red wine, his jowls jiggling as he swallowed. “I’m not entirely sure. I got the invitation from Miss Mayhew and did not want to pass up the opportunity to dine in the castle.”
“It is indeed an honor and a privilege to dine here,” Luca said. “The chef makes the best gnocchi I’ve had outside of Italy. I was afraid I might not be invited back again considering how poorly my last interaction with Melody went. I’m sorry, Miss Bryant.”
“I think we can all be friendly with one another tonight,” Ellie said. She cleared her throat and raised her glass. “I’d like to make a toast to equality.”
Melody gave her a sharp look, suddenly realizing what Ellie had done and why Dower was there.
“Indeed,” MP Dower said. “You know, this vote has me terribly upset.”
Several members of staff entered the room and set down plates filled with salad.
“Please explain,” Melody said, her heart racing. He was one of the swing votes needed to pass the amendment. How did Ellie end up with that information? She must have made phone calls not only to find out his name, but to find out that he was the more malleable of the two swing votes.
MP Dower chewed on a bit of salad thoughtfully. He swallowed and spoke. “I mean to say, I think tradition is one of the only things we have left to hold onto in this modern world. And traditionally, a man and a woman were to be married.”
“Depends on what period of time you set your watch by,” Ellie said. “And which part of the map you’re looking at. Same sex marriage existed in ancient Greece, Mesopotamia, parts of China—”
“I do mean the more modern parts of Europe. The more Christian parts of Europe. There’s a sense of morality that is lacking in the world today.”
“Where was that Christian morality during the Crusades?” Luca asked sharply.
Ellie could have kissed him full on the lips. This was exactly why she had invited him. Men had the tendency to listen to other men. Usually, that would piss Ellie off. But today, she was using that misogynistic habit in her favor.
Dower cleared his throat in a sheepish way. “Well, you know, Christianity is imperfect.”
“Exactly the reason to look to other sources for a more modern sense of morality,” Ellie said.
Dower put down his fork. He looked incisively at Melody and Ellie. “You two are quite happy together?”
“Yes,” Melody and Ellie said. Melody took Ellie’s hand across the table.
He cleared his throat. “Then I see no reason to not vote for the amendment.”
“And you’ll work on MP Watson?”
Incredible, Melody thought. She really had done her research; Watson was the other swing vote.
“I’ll see what I can do.”
Luca raised his wine glass. “I can drink to that.”
And they did.
CHAPTER SIXTY-FIVE
Melody paced her bedroom in her floor-length, emerald green dress. The lace on her arms and neck itched her skin. She walked over to her royal blue velvet high heels and groaned a little as she strapped them on.
“I think Converse would be entirely appropriate. Your dress is long enough to hide them. No one would have to know but me. You must have a pair in royal blue, right?” Ellie asked from the door.
Melody smiled as she saw her fiancée in her own royal blue dress. It was tea-length with a puff of tulle that made up the skirt. Her long, red hair was done up in a loose French braid that she had pulled over one shoulder. She looked stunning to Melody.
The feeling was mutual. Ellie had never seen her fiancée look more gorgeous than she did in that moment.
“You’re not supposed to see me before the wedding!” Melody said with a grin.
“I think we’ve already broken enough traditions that one more won’t matter much,” Ellie replied, walking over to Melody’s closet and pulling down a pair of blue Converse. “Here, wear these.”
Melody smiled. “Thank you.” She glanced at the clock on the wall. “It’s nearly time to leave for the church.”
“My family is already there,” Ellie said. “And I think your dad left the castle, too.” She glanced at a garment bag hanging on the wall. “Is this your coronation dress?” She unzipped the bag and a mound of white lace fell out.
“It is,” Melody said. She sighed.
“What’s wrong?”
“I just feel like everything is being shared today. There’s nothing personal. We get married at the church in front of a bunch of dignitaries. Then the parade back to the castle. Then the coronation, all on the same day. When do we get time to just have something for ourselves?”
“The wedding night,” Ellie said with a suggestive wiggle of her eyebrows.
“I know that,” Melody said, taking the shoes from Ellie and pulling them on.
Ellie’s face turned serious.
“What?”
“You want us to have something, just the two of us? Meet me in the library in ten minutes.”
“What on earth—”
“Just trust me, okay? Everyone will wait for us. We already know that. They can’t very well start without us.”
Ellie ran out of the room as fast as her heels would carry her.
Melody walked down to the library ten minutes later. There were candles leading up to the door along with a few sprinkled rose petals. She pushed the doors open and gasped.
Ellie was standing near one of the windows with Herschel, who was holding a Bible. Ellie hummed a wedding march for Melody to walk to.
“What is this?”
“It’s our wedding ceremony. Just in private like you wanted. Herschel is ordained.”
“One of my many hidden talents,” Herschel said with a smile.
Melody took Ellie’s hands. “We’ll be really, really late to the ceremony.”
“Not if we speed things up,” Ellie said. “That’s the beauty of your own private ceremony. We can skip the boring parts.”
Melody laughed.
“I’ll go first with the vows.” Ellie cleared her throat. “Melody Louise Winthrop Bryant, you are the love of my entire life. I promise to love and protect you, and to always let you borrow my copies of Harry Potter. And take the last slice of cheesecake from the kitchen, of course. I promise to bake you cookies in the middle of the night, and to hold your hand when you cry. I will be by your side forever.”
Tears streamed down Melody’s cheeks, but she smiled all the same. “Ellie Diana Mayhew, you are the love of my entire life. I couldn’t ask for a better partner in crime. I promise to scheme with you, and draw you baths, and take hidden trips to our treehouse in the forest. I will love you until my dying day and for all eternity after that.”
Herschel sniffled. “Apologies,” he said. He pulled out a handkerchief and blew his nose loudly. “It’s just that I’m so happy to be here for both of you. Will you take each other to have and to hold, from this day forward, for as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” said Ellie.
“I do,” said Melody.
Then they kissed.
CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX
The rest of the day was a total blur for Melody. They went to the church and got married (again) in front of a crowd of people. The parade was even more massive than the one that had been prepared for her and Luca. She was shuffled into her bedroom to change into her coronation gown. This time, she pulled on high heels. Her mother would have insisted had she b
een there.
Melody wanted to honor her.
She walked to the staging room behind the balcony. There was a line of people leading up to the open doors. Ellie’s entire family was there, beaming at her.
“You’ll do so great,” Lily said, kissing Melody on the cheek. “You’re a part of our family now.”
“Thank you,” Melody replied.
“Couldn’t wish for a better daughter-in-law,” Tom said with a smile. He patted her on the back.
Eric was next. “You’re not so bad, I guess.”
“Back at you,” Melody replied. She hugged him.
Blanche was there looking resolute and holding onto her walker. “I told you that you’d see me again. I never lie.” She reached out a shaky hand to Melody and caressed her cheek. “I always wanted another granddaughter.”
Melody beamed at her.
Ellie was next. “My love. You have the opportunity to directly influence people and make a difference in the world. I know you will do amazing, wonderful things. Never take this power for granted.”
“I won’t,” Melody whispered in response.
Her father was the last person standing there awaiting her. He was in full regal dress, with medals adorning his blue suit.
“I wish your mother could be here to see this,” Paul said. “She would be so proud of you.”
Melody’s eyes filled with tears. “I know.”
She stepped out onto the balcony to thunderous applause.
She had her people before her and her people behind her.
She felt like the luckiest woman in the world as the crown was placed on her head.
CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN
FIVE YEARS LATER
“Camille!” Ellie yelled up the stairs. “Your mother is going to be so annoyed that you’re running late!”
“Coming, Mommy!” Camille called back in her little girl voice. “I’m trying to find my light up shoes.”
“They’re packed! Just put on anything for the drive over.”
Ellie tapped her high heel impatiently at the bottom of the stairs. There was a pile of suitcases next to her that the staff were dragging to the Suburban waiting outside. She texted Melody. Hurry up. We’re leaving soon.
Her phone buzzed, but it wasn’t a message from Melody. It was from Eric. “Final exam today. Then I’m officially done with school!”
Ellie smiled. Melody and Ellie had paid for him to go back to school. He was on his way to getting an MBA after he finished his undergraduate program.
Tom and Lily had been sad to see him leave home, but Melody had put them in touch with a business advisor. He helped them get the tool shop back into the black. It had been a long road, but they were boosting income with online sales.
Blanche was still going strong, spending much of her time knitting things for her great-granddaughter Camille. The Mayhews were all flying out to spend two summer months at Melody and Ellie’s summer home in the mountains.
That is, they would be if Melody would only come down the stairs with Camille. Prince Paul was already up there. He relished spending time with his granddaughter and was her primary caregiver at the castle when Melody and Ellie were away on state business.
Ellie heard urgent footsteps. Melody appeared at the top of the stairs.
“Check your email.”
“We need to go if we’re going to get to the summer house by nightfall,” Ellie replied.
Melody was beaming. “Seriously, just check it.”
“Go get Camille and I’ll check my email.”
“Deal,” Melody said. “But I want to be close enough to hear your shriek with delight.”
Ellie looked at her, puzzled.
“Just check it. Camille!” She turned around and called down the hallway. “Baby girl, we need to get going if we’re going to see Grandma and Grandpa Mayhew!”
Ellie flipped through several screens on her phone before reaching her email. She paused and shrieked. “Oh my God!”
“I told you!” Melody called back.
She clicked on the news article.
“New York City real estate mogul and cooperative farming owner Jason Bell arrested on racketeering charges. Bell, thirty-two and originally from Manhattan, was running a Ponzi scheme with investors’ money. He was arrested on tax evasion charges and racketeering. The Block, the name for Bell’s urban farming cooperative, has been shut down at least temporarily. Bell’s representatives had no comment.”
Ellie did a little happy dance. “That asshole got what he deserved!”
“What’s an asshole, Mommy?” Camille was standing at the top of the stairs wearing clothes she’d picked out herself: a swimsuit with a tutu layered over the top of it.
“Don’t say that word, baby girl,” Melody said, sweeping her off her feet. “It’s a word for grownups only.”
“Sorry,” Camille said, laughing and shrieking as Melody tickled her. Her brown eyes that looked just like Melody’s glinted in the light from the stairwell.
They all piled into the car with all their luggage and drove away.
The sun was setting as Melody and Ellie sat on the back patio of the summer house. The air was chilly; they were only a few hundred feet from the snow line. The sun cast golden and red hues across everyone.
The rest of the family was below by the pool deck. Eric and Paul were playing Marco Polo with a giggling Camille in the heated pool, her hair up in two cute puffs and wearing a mismatched bikini that she had put on herself. Blanche had her feet in the water and was knitting a sweater. Lily and Tom were sitting on the edge of the cliff, their legs dangling into the valley below. Lily rested her head on Tom’s shoulder. It was an intimate moment and Ellie looked away.
“So, I have a surprise for you,” Ellie said, turning to Melody. “My dearest, darling Queen.”
Melody laughed. “I have one for you, too. It’s a little incomplete because I need your input. But you go first.”
Ellie pulled her laptop out of her computer bag and opened it, passing it to Melody.
“What is this?” Melody asked. It looked like the back end to a website.
“It’s your new blog,” Ellie said. “‘The Queen’s View.’ You can change the name if you want. It’s a pretty nice website. I’ve been coding it myself.”
“Those classes are really paying off, I see.” Melody scrolled through the templates. “Why do I need a blog?”
“Because you’re always writing in your notebooks and I think it’s time you shared it with the world. You can’t be a travel writer but who cares? You’re a writer at heart. It’s about time you shared your opinions with the world in a way that didn’t involve a speechwriter ruining your core message.”
Melody was speechless. “This is amazing, Ellie! Thank you!”
Ellie kissed her lips. “You’re an incredible writer. But that’s not it.” Ellie handed Melody her phone.
“What am I looking at?” Melody asked.
“You know that tiny little room under the back staircase? The one with the floor-to-ceiling window?”
“Yeah,” Melody said. “I used to hide in there and read when I was a kid.”
“I know,” Ellie said. “That’s the new room in that picture.”
Melody stared at the new parquet flooring, the desk that fit just so against the wall, the ergonomic chair; under the sloped ceiling were fitted shelves that housed three dozen brand-new Moleskine notebooks.
“You more than deserve your own space away from everything. I want to see big things coming out of that brain and being sent out into the world,” Ellie said.
Melody was in shock. “How did you pull this off without me knowing?”
“It’s a big castle,” Ellie said with a devilish grin. “So, what were you working on for me?”
Melody exhaled happily and leaned forward. “You know that room adjacent to the library?”
Ellie nodded. “The big one that overlooks the forest? It’s empty, isn’t it?”
“We were usi
ng it for storage,” Melody said. She reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone. She flipped through photos until she found what she was looking for. “Here. This is that room now.”
Ellie took the phone and held it close to her face. Camille’s laughter floated up from the pool. “It’s…transformed. Look at all those shelves! Are those polished concrete floors?”
“They are.”
“How did you pull this off without me knowing?”
“It’s a big castle,” Melody said, repeating Ellie’s phrase. “But that’s not all. I need your help filling it up. Which potter’s wheel is your favorite? And your favorite kiln?”
Ellie gaped at her. “What?”
“That’s your new space, Ellie. To do with as you please. But I’m thinking that it will be your ceramics studio.”
Ellie started crying. “You’re not serious. It’s been years since I’ve made any pottery.”
“What better time than now to get back at it? Camille is going to school in the fall. You’ll have your days free to do as you wish.”
Ellie leaned across the table and kissed Melody. “I love you so much.”
“I know you do,” Melody said, brushing back a strand of hair behind Ellie’s ear. “I love you, too.”
Melody and Ellie sat and watched the dwindling sunlight.
They had everything in the world they could ever want or need.
They were happy.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
