‘Did he say where he was going?’
The security guy shook his head. She walked back through to the office and picked up her bag. She’d arranged to admit three patients to one of the hospitals. Her medical instincts were overwhelming. She should go and speak to the staff about treatment plans, review their conditions.
One of the patients had been someone Sullivan had assessed. It could be that he’d decided to go and follow up. But in her heart of hearts she knew he would have spoken to her if that had been his plan.
She climbed into the car outside the clinic. ‘Take me back to the palace first. I’ll go the hospital later.’
The driver nodded. She couldn’t sit still. Her hands were shaking. She needed to speak to Sullivan. She wanted to tell him that she loved him. She wanted to tell him she would be by his side the whole time.
By the time she reached the palace she could barely breathe. She ran inside and upstairs to where his apartments were. From the end of the corridor she could see the open door.
Her heart thudded in her chest as she reached the bedroom. This time the cupboard doors were open. His suit and dress uniform were still hanging inside. The drawers in the dresser were empty, the bathroom bare.
Bile rose in the back of her throat.
Arun appeared at her side. ‘Princess, is something wrong?’
She spun around. ‘Where is he? Where has he gone?’
Arun winced. She could tell by one look that he knew everything.
He spoke carefully. ‘He said he had something to deal with. Something he had to deal with on his own.’ His voice softened. ‘He’s gone, Gabrielle. I’m sorry.’
She stepped back. It was the first time Arun had ever just called her by her name. He’d always used her title before.
She could see the sympathy on his face.
Tears welled up in her eyes. She couldn’t do this without Sullivan. She didn’t want to do this without him.
She clenched her fists. Andreas. This was all his fault. It wasn’t enough that he’d tried to destroy their country. Now his behaviour could ruin her relationship with the man she loved.
She sucked in a deep breath.
No. No more.
Tears poured down her face. This wasn’t really about Andreas.
This was about her.
She should have acted sooner. She should have told Sullivan how she felt about him. Asked him how he truly felt about her.
But now she knew.
The love she had in her heart for him wasn’t echoed in his. Or, if it was, he still didn’t want to be here with her.
He’d left with no explanation. He’d known she was busy. He hadn’t even taken the time to talk to her.
But was that true?
He’d seen her on the phone. She’d been so overwhelmed she hadn’t realised that those were the few seconds she’d really needed to break the call and talk to him.
Whether she’d meant to or not, she might have pushed him away.
She looked out of the window at the city below her. How on earth could she rule all of this? Her heart had hoped that Sullivan would be by her side. All the insecurities she’d had before were now bubbling to the surface.
It was time for her to take stock. To take charge.
To prioritise. She had to sort out her country. She had to function and serve as Head of State. It was time to fulfil the role that she’d inherited.
She watched the movement in the view below her. In a city full of people she’d never felt so alone.
She rubbed her hands up and down her arms as the tears continued to flow down her cheeks.
Alone.
The ache in her heart would never lessen.
She couldn’t walk away from her country.
It seemed she had to walk away from her heart.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
TWENTY HOURS LATER he was beyond exhausted.
Stepping off the plane at almost four in the morning, Oregon time, he couldn’t figure out if he should be awake or asleep.
The drive from the airport took just over an hour. The suburbs disappeared quickly, replaced by the rolling hills, greenery and trees he’d been so used to.
His stomach lurched as everything grew more familiar. Even though the temperature in the car hadn’t changed, all the tiny hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
As he ventured down the long drive he closed his eyes for the briefest of seconds. He just knew. He just knew as soon as he rounded the corner what he would see.
The traditional detached five-bed house sat on the edge of the scenic three-acre lake. The Cape Cod styled home with its wraparound porch and large single deck had a panoramic view of the lake, its large windows glinting in the orange sunrise. A three-stall horse barn with tack room and fenced pasture was behind the house, leading off to riding trails. It didn’t matter the stalls had been empty for more than five years; if he breathed in right now, his senses would remember the smell. On the other side of the acreage was an orchard. Even from here he could see that his neighbour had kept good care of it after their handshake a few years ago.
As the car got closer, the details became clearer. The fishing dock at the front of house. The fire pit with custom pavers. The traditional dark wood door.
Perspiration started to trickle down his spine as he swung the car up in front of the house. He didn’t want to get out. He didn’t want to go inside.
His hands clenched the steering wheel and he just breathed. In. Out. In. Out.
The last time he’d actually gone to the diner just down the road and sat there for hours and hours. He’d eaten lunch and dinner, then nursed a cup of coffee that hadn’t even been that good before he’d finally taken the road home under cover of darkness. He was tempted to do it all again today.
Gabrielle’s face flashed in front of his face.
It was enough to make him open his eyes. He stared at one of the windows in the house. The pale yellow drapes moved a little. Was someone inside?
Before he knew it he was out of the car and trying the front door. It didn’t open. He rattled it. Then pulled the key from his pocket, turning it swiftly and stepping inside.
Silence. A waft of vanilla and peach. This wasn’t the normal aroma of the house. Wood polish was what he remembered.
He looked around, holding his breath.
The sun was rising higher in the sky, sending a beam of light streaming through the window. Each window had a stained-glass inset at the top, and shards of shimmering green, purples and reds lit up the white walls around him.
Each footstep on the wooden floor echoed along the hallway. His head flicked from side to side, listening to the silence.
He strode through to the main room, eyes fixing on the curtains. There was still a tiny flicker of movement left in the yellow drapes. The room looked untouched. Comfortable cream recliners and sofas with wooden frames. Familiar paintings on the wall. If he closed his eyes right now he’d see his father sitting in his favourite chair.
His skin on his right arm prickled. He felt air. A breeze, carrying in the smell of peaches and vanilla from the orchard outside.
He turned and strode through to the kitchen. There. A small hopper window was open at the back of the house near the orchard, letting fresh air into the room. His finger ran along the counter top and he frowned as he looked at it.
Clean. No dust.
What the...?
Something washed over him. A realisation. When he’d shaken hands with his neighbour about the orchard he’d handed over an emergency key, just in case of fire or flood. Matt’s wife, Alice, obviously occasionally looked over the place. They were a kind-hearted young couple who’d moved here with their kids to build a new life. His dad had liked them immediately. He would have to say thank
you.
He stared about him. The maple staircase was almost beckoning. Calling him upstairs. His muscles tensed. So many memories were all around.
He moved to the foot of the stairs and rested his palm on the hand rail. His body jerked. An involuntary action. As if someone had just stuck their hand through his chest and grabbed hold of his heart with an icy grasp.
I can do this. I can do this. I can do this.
He started whispering the mantra out loud that was echoing around his head.
He’d done this before. He’d been up the stairs in the house after his father had died. He’d spent the night here before. Had he slept? Not a bit.
None of these were first times.
But he’d been so shuttered. It was almost like walking around in a plastic bubble, storing all the emotions inside so tightly it was almost as if they weren’t there.
Today his emotions were front and centre. There was no barrier. No camouflage.
His hand trembled on the rail. His feet started moving slowly and steadily up the stairs. There was nothing to fear up here. There was no bogeyman. No axe murderer.
There were just a million memories of a man he’d loved and adored.
A father who’d centred his life around his son. Who’d adjusted his career. Who’d told him a thousand stories about his mother to try and keep her memory alive. There had never been a step-mom. His dad had always said his heart belonged to one woman.
And Sullivan understood that now.
He’d met Gabrielle. The picture in his head was of her dancing in the tent in her cut-off shorts and pink T-shirt, shimmying to the music. Even now it brought a smile to his lips. He wanted to get to the point where he could tell Gabrielle what she was to him. That she was the sun, moon and stars—never mind a princess. He had no idea if she would find him worthy. He could only live in hope.
His feet were still moving, automatically taking him to the door of his father’s room. It was wide open, inviting him in.
There was no aroma of peaches and vanilla up here.
He moved slowly across the room. His hand shook as he reached for the handle on the wardrobe. He jerked it open and within seconds the smell hit him full in the face.
He staggered, not quite ready to deal with the overwhelming rush of feeling that flooded through his system.
There were all the clothes. Hanging there, waiting. Waiting for his father to reach out and pick something out to put on. The button-down shirts. The pants. The jackets.
And the uniforms.
He reached out and touched the blue sleeve. The feel of the fabric shot a pulse of memories straight to his brain. He could see his father’s smile and laughing eyes as he’d proudly worn the dress uniform. If he went downstairs right now he’d find a hundred pictures of the two of them in uniform together. His father had once made it out to Helmand Province. His all-time favourite picture of them both was one that a friend had snapped with a phone. It was of the two of them sitting on a block of concrete surrounded by the dirt of Afghanistan, hats at their feet and laughing as if a famous comedian was putting on a private show for them both.
One snap immortalised their whole relationship for Sullivan. Fun, love and mutual respect.
He staggered backwards and landed on the bed.
And then he sobbed.
CHAPTER TWELVE
HER HEART WAS wound so tightly in her chest it felt as if it could explode.
Three weeks. Three weeks of hearing nothing from Sullivan. She was pretty sure that he’d turned his phone off.
Arun had tracked his flights. She didn’t know how and she wasn’t going to ask any questions but Sullivan had gone to the place he should have—home.
Sleep had been a complete stranger these last three weeks. The first night she could smell his aftershave on the neighbouring pillow. She’d swapped it immediately with her own then had spent the rest of night hanging onto it for dear life.
She was determined. She had a duty, one that she would fulfil.
But she had another duty, one for herself and the man she loved.
Her rigid stance and feisty personality had meant that for the last few weeks her palace staff had seen a whole new side to Princess Gabrielle.
The advisors and lawyers were now firmly in their places.
But Gabrielle had discovered skills she hadn’t even known she possessed. She’d been determined Andreas was going to be held to account for his actions and, thankfully, the government in Bermuda agreed.
She strode through to the room that had been specially set up in the palace. Her dark curls were pinned back into a bun and she’d asked for her make-up to be heavier than normal. She wanted her appearance to reflect exactly how she was feeling. This situation was serious.
She nodded at Franz. ‘Everything ready?’
A look of panic crossed his face. He turned to the director. ‘Well, we have to practise lighting and sound checks and set-up and—’
Gabrielle held up her hand. She narrowed her eyes and looked at the director. ‘I expect all of these things to have been carried out. I’m ready. Are you?’
The room was silent. She walked around to the desk set up in front of the camera and sat down, taking a few seconds to adjust the seat and microphone.
She looked straight into the camera. ‘There’s no rehearsal. I don’t need one. Let’s begin.’
There was a flurry of activity. People took their places instantly. She wasn’t trying to be scary. She was just trying to be direct. Her patience was spent.
After a couple of minutes the director gave her a nod. ‘Princess Gabrielle, if you’re ready, we’re ready. I’ll count you down.’
She nodded. The director gave a wave and spoke loudly. ‘Three, two, one and go.’
Gabrielle took a deep breath. Her heart was thumping wildly but everything in her head was crystal clear.
‘Good evening, citizens of Mirinez. As you know, I’m Princess Gabrielle, your new Head of State. You are all aware that this role is new to me. I’ve spent the last three years working as a physician specialising in TB medicine for Doctors Without Borders in various places across the world. I never thought the role of Head of State in Mirinez would be one I would have to fulfil. However, with the abdication of Prince Andreas, I have been called into service—this is a role I take seriously and am fully committed to.
‘On my arrival back in Mirinez I discovered that a number of duties normally carried out by the Head of State had been neglected. I want to assure you all that since I’ve arrived, all outstanding matters of state have been dealt with. Unfortunately, I also discovered that some funds had been misappropriated and some national treasures belonging to Mirinez had disappeared. A full inventory has been taken. I’ve also requested a full and independent investigation of all accounting irregularities. After taking legal advice, a warrant for the arrest and a request for the extradition of Andreas Cartier was made to the government in Bermuda.’
Gabrielle stopped to take a deep breath.
‘The warrant was served a few hours ago, the request for extradition granted and arrangements are now being made for the return of Andreas Cartier to Mirinez. A number of items missing from state have also been recovered.’
She kept her back ramrod-straight and didn’t let any emotion show on her face.
‘Andreas Cartier will be held to account for his actions, just as any citizen of Mirinez would be.’
She licked her lips.
‘When I returned to Mirinez many of you will know that I had a friend—a companion—with me. Sullivan Darcy, a respected surgeon and colleague at Doctors Without Borders, helped with this transition in my life. He also assisted at the mining accident, operating on a number of patients. It is my intention to continue working as a doctor, as well as functioning as Head of Stat
e. I think that the two duties complement each other and will allow me to keep in touch with our citizens in the most fundamental way—by serving them at one of our community clinics.’
She felt her muscles relax a little, her expression soften.
‘I will be gone for the next few days. But I can assure you all matters of state are in hand. What I need to do now is personal. I need to deal with some affairs of the heart.’
She couldn’t help but give a small hopeful smile as she ignored all the chins bouncing off the floor in the room around her.
‘When I return I will make arrangements for my dual role. And perhaps I will have some other news for the citizens of Mirinez. I ask you all to have patience with me in my time of transition and know that I am committed to doing the best job possible.’
Gabrielle stood up and walked out. Questions raged all around her. But Arun was waiting at the door.
She had one thing on her mind. She’d more or less just worn her heart on her sleeve for the entire world to see.
But she’d meant every word.
It was time to put her heart first. It was time to reach out to the person she loved and be there for him. She’d no idea what he’d say when she got there. She’d no idea what she’d find. But it was time to find out.
Three long weeks. That’s how long it had taken to get to this point.
And it had been the longest three weeks of her life.
All the arrangements were in place.
She met Arun’s gaze and he gave the briefest nod of his head, and spirited her away.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
HE’D STARTED TO appreciate the silence. He’d spent so much of his life surrounded by noise and confusion that the silence of the lake was washing over him like a soothing balm. He’d spent the first night sleeping in his father’s bed. What amazed him most was that he’d managed a few hours of actual sleep. But he’d woken with the biggest crick in his back in the world. It was clear the mattress needed replacing.
Yesterday he’d managed to take a few things from the wardrobe and chest of drawers and pack them up for goodwill. That had been hard. Every cardigan, every shirt brought back a flash of memory. The uniforms still hung in place. He’d get to them. He would. Just not yet. He wasn’t quite ready.
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