Stranded

by Chance Carter

  “A swing?”

  She looked up at me. “Yeah. Can’t you imagine us sitting out here, swinging away?”

  The image flashed through my mind. Stars above, quiet below. Peaceful.

  I smirked. “You only just got the place and you already want to start changing things around. You’re ruthless.”

  We’d spent the afternoon exploring the rooms of the house. They were familiar to me, but to my bride there was a surprise behind every door. Even rooms she’d seen before she now saw in a new light. They were her rooms. This was her house. It belonged to both of us, but Springfield Manor was my gift to Tamara.

  Tamara shoved my shoulder and giggled. “I don’t want to change a single thing. It’s not like I want to put a pool in. It’s just a swing.”

  “A pool,” I mused. “Now there’s an interesting thought.”

  “Don’t you dare touch a single blade of grass on the lawn,” she warned.

  I chuckled. “Yes ma’am.”

  Tamara sighed and stretched her legs out on the blanket, leaning back against the mountain of pillows. We’d piled up every one we could find in the house to make ourselves a little lounge area, and it was paradise.

  “I wish we didn’t have to go back in the morning,” she said. “I wish we could just get married here, tonight, without anyone else around to bother us.”

  “I think we’ve gone off book enough as it is.”

  I shouldn’t have said it. Tamara glanced my way and worry laced her words.

  “You never told me what your family said when you told them.”

  “Because they didn’t say anything of consequence.” I pulled her a little tighter.

  Tamara was stressed enough without me adding to that by revealing that my announcement had ended with an argument between my father and I. Edward had stayed out of it, as did Victoria, but I hadn’t spoken to the king since. There was nothing he would or could do to stop the wedding, so it didn’t matter. What was done was done.

  “I feel like you’re holding back on me,” Tamara said. “I don’t like secrets.”

  “Tamara, I told you.” I kissed her forehead. “We ruffled a few royal feathers. That’s it—just some feather ruffling. It’s going to blow over.”

  “I don’t want your dad to hate me.”

  “He doesn’t.”

  Me, however? Perhaps a little.

  My phone rang and I welcomed the distraction, even though Edward’s name popped up and I’d specifically told him not to bother me tonight.

  “Hello, brother,” I answered.

  “Forgive me for interrupting. I know that you had something special planned for Tamara tonight.”

  “I assume it’s important?”

  Tamara sat up and her face filled with concern. I smiled reassuringly, even as Edward proceeded to ruin my evening.

  “I need you to come home,” he said. “A couple of flighty sponsors have backed out of the project. I’ve arranged a press conference in the morning to assure everyone you’re the right man for the job. I’m having a speech drawn up and delivered to your apartment.”

  My smile slipped. “Bugger.”

  “Just memorize the speech and pour on a couple bucket loads of that famous Alexander charm. Things will normalize.”

  “Thanks for the heads up. We’ll leave now.”

  I ended the call and pulled Tamara in for one last cuddle. “I’m sorry, Kitty Kat. I’m afraid we have to cut the fun short.”

  “Is everything okay?”

  I struggled to translate what Edward had told me into less grim language. I didn’t want to lie to Tamara, but I didn’t want her to worry either. I knew how much everything was stressing her out and I was terrified that one day she would decide it was too much and call it quits.

  “Flighty sponsors,” I answered finally. “Never did the world of business run smooth.”

  “Anything I can do?”

  I shook my head and stood from the blanket, extending my hand to help her up. “Not this time. You can come cheer me on at the press conference tomorrow, though.”

  Tamara smiled and took my hand. “That I can do.”

  It was late by the time I dropped Tamara off and got back to my apartment. Nana was watching Hank for me tonight so I didn’t expect to find anyone waiting for me, which was why I was surprised to walk through the door and hear Debussy’s “Nocturnes”.

  My father stood from the couch, holding his hands behind his back in the dignified way he did when he needed to say something uncomfortable. It was the same stance he’d taken when he passed on the news of my mother’s death.

  “I hope you haven’t been waiting long.” I closed the door behind me and went straight to the bar. “Gin?”

  “Please.”

  I poured us each a drink and handed his over. He sat and I took the armchair across from him.

  What was he doing here? If he’d come to harangue me further about my engagement, he’d come at a bad time. Then again, there wasn’t a good time to try to talk me out of marrying the love of my life.

  Father cleared his throat. “We exchanged some uncomfortable words the other evening.”

  “That’s one way of putting it.” I took a sip of my drink and watched him. “If you’ve come to have another go, you’re wasting your time.”

  “I think you misunderstood me.”

  “I think I understood you perfectly.” I sat forward. “You think I’m a rash, opinionated child. You like Tamara, just not enough for me to marry her.”

  His mustache twitched. “That’s not what I said.”

  “It’s close enough.”

  The music filled the long, silent gap between us. I upended my glass and went to stand, but he held out a hand to stop me.

  “I found fault in your execution, not in your decision,” he said. “It came so quickly. You didn’t follow the correct procedures. You didn’t tell anyone in the family first. You did what you always do—jumped in with both feet and hoped for the best.”

  I settled back in my seat and swiped my tongue over my dry lips. “I don’t see the point in arguing about it again. I’m marrying Tamara.”

  “I know, and I’m not here to argue with you.”

  “What are you here for?”

  Father sighed. He swirled the liquid in his glass and stared at it, a slight hunch in his shoulders.

  “Your mother didn’t care much for procedure either,” he said finally. “She wanted everything all at once.” He chuckled. “I used to ask her what the rush was. Things take time, especially in our family. We can date our lineage back a thousand years, so why fuss over a little wait? A little care?”

  I sensed this was something my father hadn’t thought about, much less spoken about, in a long time. It intrigued me, and was happy to sit back and just let him talk.

  His eyes glassed over. “And then she died. My beautiful, impatient Noelle, who never took her time, didn’t even take her time to die. It felt like a second passed between the moment we realized she was sick and the moment I buried her. Just like that.” He looked up at me, looking more fragile than I’d ever seen him. “I have few regrets in life, but my biggest one is not doing more for her. Giving her more. I should have moved mountains for her, son, not built a winding path around them.”

  “She never blamed you,” I said. “She knew your duty. She knew hers.”

  “I know.” He nodded sadly. “And my regrets won’t bring her back. I know that too. What I’m saying is, I see a lot of your mother in you, Alexander. Especially with everything you’ve done recently, all the growth you’ve shown. If you’d come to me with a fiancée a few months ago, that would be a different story, but the man you are deserves more credit than I have given.”

  “You’re saying you support the marriage?”

  He smiled. “I’m saying I support you. I’m proud of you, son, and I believe in the goodness of your heart. And you can count on my continued support as long as you try not to cause too much more drama.” He laughed gr
uffly. “You’ll give your poor brother a heart attack.”

  I couldn’t remember the last time I’d had a moment so candid with my father. Had I ever? It felt bloody good, like I was shedding years of doubt and resentment.

  I stood to get us another drink and my eye caught on the folded paper on the table. My speech for tomorrow.

  An idea pinged in the back of my brain and I grinned. “Very well,” I said. “Only, I’ve got a little more drama to cause.”

  Chapter 32

  Tamara

  The car was empty. I frowned.

  What was I expecting? Of course the car would be empty. Alex was probably busy rehearsing his speech or combing his hair, and I’d been a fool for thinking he would accompany me to the press conference personally. My nerves were a little less understanding.

  Alex was in hot water. He could play it down all he wanted, but I could tell last night’s phone call had stressed him out. Whatever was going on with his charity intertwined with our engagement, and I suspected that all the reporters baying for blood wanted nothing more than for us to fail.

  I slipped into the car and did what Alex had told me to do. I banished the negative thoughts with dreams of our home, our future. It was a future I believed in and nobody would take that from me. No matter what happened today, how the press reacted, how Alex’s family treated me, we were in love and that was all that mattered. Everything else was just background noise.

  It was a comforting thought, more comforting than I expected. I could face anything with Alex by my side. How many people could honestly say they’d met their soulmate and set up the perfect future together over the course of a summer? I was lucky.

  A quiet calm stole in, filling the gaps left by the expired negative thoughts. I could do this.

  The driver pulled up to the back of a hotel, where a security team had cordoned off part of the lot. “One of them will escort you into the conference room through the back,” he said.

  I thanked him and stepped out of the car, smiling as I approached the security team. One of them split off from the group and directed me inside, and even though his stoic silence gave me the jitters, I still felt completely in control. Nothing could shake my confidence now, not with a lifetime of stargazing and tea drinking ahead of me. Nothing else mattered.

  They’d set up a sort of staging area in the smaller of the two conference rooms, which was where my security escort dropped me off. The room bubbled with life. I hadn’t expected so many people to be there, no less so many I didn’t recognize. I craned my neck to find Alexander but there was no trace of him.

  Edward’s face swam into view and he smiled at me, making his way through the crowd.

  “Hello, Tamara,” he said smoothly. “How are you?”

  To my surprise, I could tell he meant it.

  “I’m a little nervous,” I admitted.

  His eyes crinkled in tender concern. “You don’t have to be here. Nobody would blame you for wanting to shirk this particular spotlight.”

  I shook my head. “No, I want to be here. I’m going to swallow my anxiety and get up on that stage with Alexander.”

  “On stage?” His eyebrows drew toward the ceiling. “You don’t want to stay with the others?” He pointed to a TV in the corner. “You can watch it back here.”

  “I want to be there for Alex. I need to support him.” I chuckled. “After all, it’s not like I’m completely uninvolved.”

  Edward’s lip curved slightly and he gave a slow nod. “Very well. Don’t worry about all the fuss everyone’s making. It’s a standard press conference, it’s just that Alexander has been a bit of a loose cannon in the past and everyone thinks he’s going to do something stupid.”

  “Do you?”

  “I can’t think of a single decision he’s made recently that I disagree with.” Edward winked. “There’s refreshments in the corner but if you need anything else, let somebody know and they’ll get it for you.”

  “Thanks, Edward.”

  He smiled and left me to digest his comment. Was that his way of saying he approved of Alexander asking me to marry him? It must’ve been, right? Only after Edward had disappeared out the door did I realize that I forgot to ask him where Alexander was.

  I scanned the crowd for someone familiar who I could ask, but before I could decide, Svetlana caught my eye and approached me.

  “Remember me?” she asked, smiling sheepishly.

  I laughed. “I never forget a drunk Swede.”

  Her face relaxed. “I’m so sorry for how I acted that night. I was excited to meet you because I know how much Alex loves you and I think you guys have a special relationship.” She grimaced. “I’m afraid I may have taken it a little too far.”

  “No, not at all,” I assured. “I was only a little confused, but I’ve heard wonderful things about you and I’m glad we got to meet. Maybe next time we could get drunk together.”

  Her smile lit up the room. “That would be fantastic! If you’re half as fun as your sister, I think we’ll get along just fine.”

  “I’m exactly two-thirds as fun as my sister, so you’re in luck.”

  We both laughed, and I had a feeling in my gut that Svetlana would turn out to be a great friend. I was just about to ask her where Alex was when a man with a headset at the front of the room called for everyone’s attention. We both turned to watch. He explained that all those going into the main conference room should assemble by the doors, so I did.

  Edward joined me. “Alexander is making a couple last minute tweaks to the speech,” he explained. “He needed to be alone.”

  “Ah.”

  Our security detail guided us down the hall to the next room, which came to life the moment we stepped inside. Flashes of white painted the backs of my eyelids in starbursts, and I treated the walk up to the stage as if it were a red carpet. Minus the posing, obviously. One foot in front of the other, one step at a time.

  Edward and I stepped up and stood at the back of the stage. The doors opened again and this time Alex walked through, smiling and waving at the reporters as they snapped an endless stream of photos. My heart did a nervous cha-cha but I kept my face composed. This would be over soon.

  Alex’s smile grew when he saw me up on stage and he practically leapt up the steps to kiss me.

  “You didn’t have to come up here,” he said.

  I rolled my eyes playfully. “Well I’m here now. Not like I can just walk out.”

  “I dare you,” he said, eyes twinkling with mischief.

  “Shut up. Don’t you have anything better to do than tease me?”

  “I guess I’ve got this speech thing,” he acknowledged. “Though I think teasing you is miles more important. And a lot more fun.”

  His smile chased away any residual stress from this morning and I found myself grinning back. Dozens of reporters murmured in the background, cameras flashing and tongues wagging, but I didn’t care. I saw only Alex. Felt only Alex. He was the start and the end for me, and I could face a sea of adversity if he smiled at me the way he did now.

  “Ed’s giving you the eye,” I whispered.

  Alex glanced over at his brother, who was indeed giving him the eye. He chuckled. “Guess duty calls. What are you doing after this?”

  I batted my lashes. “Are you asking me out, Mr. Rainhall?”

  “Hey, that’s Your Royal Highness to you.” Alex winked. “I’ll take that to mean you’re free and you definitely have time for ice cream by the river. I think we’ll both need it.”

  “Fine, fine.” I pushed him gently on the shoulder. “Now get over there before Edward blows his lid.”

  Alex kissed me again and then stepped beside his brother. The murmurs of the crowd went down to whispers and Edward walked to the podium.

  “Ladies and gentlemen of the press, thank you for meeting us here today,” he said in a voice deeper than I was used to. I had to hold in a snicker. “There have been a number of questions raised by the media these past few weeks about
my family, and we invited you all here to clear the air. My brother Alexander will say a few words, and then both of us will be available to take your questions.”

  He nodded to his brother, and Alexander stepped forward. Edward patted his arm on the way past and Alex nodded with a solemn expression much different than the one I witnessed a couple of minutes ago.

  “Good morning everyone,” Alex greeted, adjusting the microphone higher. “I’d like to join my brother in thanking you for coming. These past few months have been a whirlwind for me and I know you’re all very curious what I’m up to.”

  The assembly laughed. Edward’s lips pressed together ever so slightly and I wondered if that was part of the prepared speech.

  “We have a special relationship, don’t we?” he continued. “You and I, I mean. You’ve been there with me through all the ups and downs of my life, documenting my failures, my faux-pas, my poor fashion choices. As you should. I’m a prince of this country and I lead a public life. I have a responsibility to my people to do my best with that life. That was something my mother believed with her whole heart, and she practiced her belief every single day.”

  One look at Edward confirmed my suspicions. Alexander was not reciting the speech Edward gave him, though from the complete silence of the crowd it seemed to be going well anyway.

  “And that’s just it—being a good person, a good prince, is a practice. One you have to work at.” Alexander’s lips pulled into a half-smile. “And I’ve been doing a poor job of it.”

  Hushed chatter in the crowd. I could tell what they were all thinking—this was gold. The man second in line for the throne had just admitted his failures.

  Admittedly I didn’t know much about royal decorum, but I knew that confessing failure was an invitation for public outcry.

  But Alex didn’t have his tail between his legs. He didn’t seem ashamed, nor did he plead forgiveness. The man at the podium was the picture of confidence and dignity, and though the crowd were thinking of ways to spin his words against him, they hung onto his every word.

  “Something changed in me recently,” he continued. “Two things, actually. The first was that I realized the kind of man I wanted to be, even though I couldn’t quite figure out how to get there. The second was that I fell in love with the person who showed me the way.” He looked back, smiling as he spoke. “Love doesn’t always make sense. It’s not always convenient or proper, and it doesn’t pay heed to distance or time. Love is just love.”