by Imani King
“I’ve always had a keen interest in history, and I found a Ph.D. program at one of the local universities here in Scotland. Assuming I do that, then I think that I might like to become a professor. I’ve never really thought about it before, but now that I know I don’t have to assume the throne, it seems like a wide world of possibilities has opened up in front of me.”
She looked relieved. “I haven’t decided yet if I want to get a job or go back to school yet. I heard that Abby isn’t planning to come back here for her Ph.D. program.”
“Here or there, it doesn’t matter. You’ll be able to see her whenever you want to,” I said. “After all, we’re all family now aren’t we?”
She smiled. I wanted to take a picture of her just like that. I would remember that expression forever.
We finished our lunch, and she suggested that we go shopping. After all, we were going to have visitors soon, and I knew she wanted to make sure the flat was ready. For the rest of the day, it was all about Eva. That was the way it was going to be for the rest of my life, and I couldn’t have been happier about it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
As soon as Abby and Kian arrived, I felt like my life was complete. I hugged her tightly to me, and we jumped up and down in excitement around our shared pregnancies. I knew that Aidan and Kian were watching us with amused expressions, but I didn’t care. I felt like it had been years since I had seen Abby’s face, and she seemed to glow from the inside. She told me that I looked the same way, but I assured her it was simply because I had been throwing up regularly for the last few weeks.
The four of us moved into the living room, which sat in the center of the flat. I watched as Kian and Aidan exchanged pleasantries, and Abby and I sat down to have a chat.
“I have to tell you Eva, things are pretty bad at the palace right now. I was glad that Kian suggested we take this time away. His parents are so upset. The don’t know what they’re going to do if both Aidan and Kian don’t want to be king. I don’t think they ever considered this possibility in a million years.”
“Well, they should have. It’s 2016, for heaven sakes. Not everybody wants to grow up and rule a country. Talk about pressure.”
“How about we join this conversation?” Aidan asked. He and Kian had already broken open a bottle of scotch that he had purchased earlier in the day. He also had two champagne flutes full of grape sparkling wine for Abby and me. It was a thoughtful touch, but then again, Aidan was always the considerate one.
He winked at me as he handed me one of the flutes. “But first, let’s have a toast. To new beginnings and happy endings for everyone,” he said.
“I’ll drink to that,” Kian said. He smiled widely at Abby, and I could tell by the way that she was blushing that her love for him had only grown stronger since they had gotten married. I was deliriously happy for all of us, even though there was still the matter at hand of what they were going to do about the Sorenian monarchy.
We clinked our glasses together and then sat down to get to work. If there was one thing that I was good at, it was solving problems, even if it took a bit of time to get there. This was one that seemed insurmountable at face value, but Aidan and Kian seemed sure that we could find the right answer.
“Well, we know that father isn’t going to want to name another noble family’s bloodline as his successor, even though that would make the most sense. That means that as long as he’s alive, there will be an Ilves on the throne. But regarding Ilves males available to succeed him, there’s only me and Kian left. That puts us in a bit of a sticky mess,” Aidan said as he opened the conversation. We all started to talk about this, throwing out different ideas. We had all agreed that we’d be open to any idea, no matter how outlandish it might seem.
I sat back and listened for a few minutes, though. I was the one that had the least amount experience with any of it. At least Abby had been exposed to the monarchy for several months before she and Kian had gotten married. She had a lay of the land that I did not have because I had always been the outsider.
Aidan continued to press on the idea of selecting another noble family as the best option, but Kian wasn’t having any of it. “They’re never going to go for naming someone outside of the Ilves bloodline as the successor.” Kian leaned back in his seat and ran his hand through his hair. “There’s been an Ilves on the throne for the last hundred years. Father takes great pride in that fact, plus Mother would never let him do anything like that. Honest to God, I would imagine that those two have been trying to have a baby of their own ever since they heard about all of this mess.”
My eyebrows shot up at the idea of the king and queen having a baby after me and Abby. As I looked over at my friend, I saw that she was similarly startled by this idea.
“Or, Father might just decide that he’s going to live long enough that if either one of us have a son, that the succession plan would jump over our generation and go directly to that child,” Aidan said. “He could also change the law that makes both of us ineligible for the throne, but if he died before our children were of age, they would be looked after, and there would be someone who would rule in their stead in the meantime. Probably a guardian like Mother.”
I sat up at this idea because I didn’t like it one bit. “I’ve told you I don’t want anything to do with being in charge of ruling a country, and that goes for my children too. You can’t possibly expect me to agree to exposing them to all of that, so that is an unacceptable solution.”
Abby agreed with me, which I could tell was slightly frustrating to the two men.
“We don’t want to make decisions for our children the way that our parents made decisions for us, though,” Aidan argued. I understood what he was saying, but at the same time, if I raised my children out of the public eye, I didn’t want to destroy their lives when they were teenagers and force them to accept the idea that one day they might be in charge of ruling a country.
“No, it isn’t about giving them a choice. It’s setting them up for failure. Because if they are expected to take the throne, then your parents are going to insist that they spend their lives growing up the same way you did, Aidan.” I needed to figure out the right way to articulate this argument to make him understand. “In the end, it wouldn’t be any different from what you and Kian experienced. Because the everything hinges on one of them becoming the next king. Or queen for that matter. If we’re proposing updating law, we should be getting rid of the one that says that women can’t be in charge too. It’s just silly.”
I saw the brothers exchange a glance. “I think we’d have better luck getting them to name another family’s bloodline as the successor as opposed to opening up that can of worms,” Kian finally said.
Abby and I both crossed our arms over our chests. “How very modern of you,” I said with a roll of my eyes.
I started to sense that this was going to go around in circles, and we weren’t going to get anywhere. I needed to think outside the box. Hell, we all had to. Then I thought about the British. They never had this problem. Of course, they had plenty of male heirs to choose from at the same time, but they didn’t have outdated laws like people couldn’t marry people who weren’t of noble blood either.
“What if you suggested that they change the law entirely?”
“What you mean?” Aidan asked.
I stood up as and started to pace the room. I tried to think about how I would articulate to this to the brothers and what they would think about it. “What if you do something like what we do in the United States or even what Great Britain does? Take the bulk of the responsibilities of the monarchy and turn it over to the administrative office. That means that the king and queen are more like figureheads than anything else, and Parliament can take on the majority of the responsibility of ruling the country. Then, maybe down the road when your father passes on, the two of you could share duties as figureheads for the people only.”
Aidan stood up and came to me then. “If we could even get them to
agree to something like that, then that would mean you would also be a figurehead, as you say.”
I realize that in my stubbornness, I had been the one so far that had made no compromises. I had forced Aidan to be the one to compromise on everything, and now that we were married, it hadn’t been right or fair. He needed to be able to have a win in his column.
“If you can agree to that, then I can agree to be a royal in name only.”
I saw Aidan look at Kian, who shrugged his shoulders. “It’s worth a shot,” Kian said.
Aidan looked back at me. “Are you sure about this, Eva?”
I put my arms around him and went up on my tiptoes to give him a kiss. “It doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is that we figure this out so we can all get what we want. I want that for you, just the same way you want that for me.”
As he deepened the kiss, I heard the groans coming from the other side of the room. He and I broke apart smiling at each other, and I sensed that everything was going to be okay. We had been navigating shark infested waters, but he and I had everything we needed to arrive on the other side unscathed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
It seemed as if everything had changed in the blink of an eye. One minute, Eva and I were getting married. The next moment, I was by her side at the birth of our son and daughter. I couldn’t believe that it was possible for me to be happier or more content with my life until I saw their two tiny, scrunched faces for the first time.
Eva had taken everything in stride, and I continued to be in awe of my strong, beautiful wife. As soon as we were given the all clear from the pediatrician, we both knew that it was time for all of us to return to Sorenia.
I hadn’t been back since my decision to get married to Eva. Kian had played the part of the peacekeeper with our parents, as he had promised. I was nervous about seeing my parents for the first time in over a year, but based on the large bouquet of flowers and the exorbitant number of children’s toys that had arrived from them right after the twins’ birth, I sensed that there had been a shift in my parents’ attitude. Grandchildren usually did that kind of thing from what I had heard.
As we pulled up to the palace in the limousine, I checked on Eva to see how she was feeling.
“Just say the word, and we will hightail it back to Scotland,” I said to her.
“Don’t be silly. I can’t wait to see Abby and Kian’s son, and they haven’t had a chance to meet Rowan and Elizabeth yet either,” Eva said.
I looked down at our children’s angelic faces as they slept peacefully in their car seats. It still was hard for me to believe every day that I was a father. This responsibility felt heavier on my shoulders than the idea of carrying the weight of the country.
“I hope that they grow up to be as smart as their mother,” I said as I leaned over and gave her a deep kiss.
In the end, reluctantly, my parents had agreed to the plan that Eva had started and brainstormed with us. It actually signaled a kind of end to the Ilves family on the throne. We would no longer have any day-to-day ruling responsibilities once my father died. All of the changes to the law would go into effect then, giving my father and Parliament plenty of time to navigate all the decisions they needed to make to ensure a smooth transition as that branch took over the administrative responsibilities of the country. It seemed as if it was a compromise that made everyone happy or least, less unhappy, and I was incredibly proud that it had been my wife who had come up with the idea for us to set in motion.
We got out of the limo and made our way into the palace courtyard. I was surprised to find my mother and father waiting for us there. I sensed Eva tense next to me, but was probably as surprised as she was when my mother stepped forward and took her into her arms to give her a fast hug. My father came over to me and offered me his hand. “It’s good of you to come home, son. We’ve missed you.”
I was next in line for my mother’s embrace. It felt slightly awkward, but I appreciated the gesture nonetheless. “You must both be exhausted. What can we do to help?” my mother asked. She stared down into the car seats and started to clap her hands. “I’m just so delighted to meet my grandchildren for the first time. We are so happy to have you here.”
Shockingly, I believed her. Something about having grandchildren had softened all of the crisp edges of her demeanor in a way that I never expected. She looked different to me, as did my father.
As they walked us through the palace to the garden out back, I saw that there was a table there that had been set up for lunch. My mother chatted with Eva the entire way. She asked her questions about her pregnancy and about how her first few months had been going as a mother. Somewhere along the way, Eva started to loosen up, and I sensed that perhaps there was a chance that they could at least get along.
“Times are changing, aren’t they?” my father said beside me. I looked at him with a questioning glance. He shrugged. “A parent always wants what is best for their child. Sometimes we are so blinded by what we think you need, that we miss what you need. I hope you will forgive your mother and her fervor to try and make you happy. I am glad that you are here.”
I found that I was too. Although we had made Scotland our home, Sorenia would always have a place in my heart. It was also the place of my future.
We found Abby and Kian waiting for us at the table. Abby rushed into Eva’s arms, and then there was a lot of cooing and awing over the three babies present. The three of us men looked at the women, all with bemused expressions on our faces. I was proud of my children just as I knew Kian was of his son. And then there was my father who I could tell was looking at all of us with pride. Everything felt right.
As we settled down to lunch, the conversation inevitably turned toward what we were planning to do next.
“I heard you are doing well in school, Aidan,” my mother said. “I’m sure that will come in handy in the future.”
“Yes, he is doing very well, plus he’s pulling all-nighters helping me with the babies. He’s so good with them, and I’m able to get some semblance of sleep. I don’t know what I’d do without him,” Eva said. Her praise almost made me blush. To me, I was just doing what any normal father was supposed to do.
“Eva plans to go back to work in a few months,” I cut in to turn the attention away from me. “She’s got a line on a job with one of the biggest marketing firms in London. I think that things are going to be great. And of course, we will be back here every summer to visit.”
My parents nodded. I could tell that this idea made them happy.
The conversation continued on to the children and what we thought of planning for their first birthdays, which seemed so far away but I knew would be here before we knew it. Everyone seemed relaxed and at peace. Especially me. I looked over at Eva and caught her eye. She smiled at me and gave me a small nod of her head. We had been through hell and back, but at the end of the day, we were together. That was what mattered.
The prince had found his princess. She had come in the form that I hadn’t expected, but nonetheless, I was grateful. It was true what they say after all. Even in a family like ours or perhaps especially in a family like ours, everyone gets their happily ever after.
A Preview of Kian: Prince of Sorenia
Want to know what happened with Abby and Kian?
******
My phone shakes in my hand. Trembles and a wave of nausea grip me. I’m falling. People press around me lining up to board the plane, but I’m stuck in this moment. Disbelief. It can’t be real. Right? This isn’t happening. Not to me. I don’t deserve this. I’ve always done the right thing, been the good girl, followed the rules. How could he do this to me?
“Abby?” Eva grips my arm as she leans close, looking into my eyes.
Looking up at her, I try to say something but the lump in my throat is barely allowing me to breathe. Getting words past it isn’t working. My mouth moves but sounds refuse to come out. The concern on Eva’s face is obvious. I want to answer her but I can’t.
Lifting my phone up, I turn it so she can see the message. Her eyes widen, her mouth drops open and she shakes her head side to side. Tears stream down my face and some of the other passengers are giving us odd looks.
“Abby, I’m so sorry, it, could it be a joke? Someone trying to stir problems?”
Shaking my head I inhale deeply and try to regain some semblance of composure. “I don’t think so.”
“Now boarding for flight 2205, Class B,” an announcement comes over the loudspeaker.
Grabbing my carry-on bag, Eva and I shuffle forward in line. She places an arm around my shoulders and hugs me, keeping it in place as we move. I lean my head onto her shoulder taking her support. My stomach is a tight knot of boiling acid, my head is throbbing, and my sinuses feel like a torch has been shoved into them. We reach the ticket taker, and she checks our tickets and passports for probably the third time now. She smiles as she hands them back to us and we walk down the gangway.
“Watch your head,” the pretty flight attendant warns as we step onto the plane proper.
Eva and I find our row and she looks at me then back at the seat. Smiling I slide in and take the window seat. She doesn’t like flying and seeing how high up we are makes her stomach queasy. I shut the window for her sake, fasten my seat belt, then lean back in the seat. Eva straps in then grabs onto the arm rest squeezing so hard her knuckles are turning white.
“Hey,” I say, glad to focus on something besides the empty ache in my chest.
Eva smiles, swallows hard, then grits her teeth. Finally, she nods then relaxes her grip.
“I'm all right,” she says. “Are you?”
I smile. What else can I do?
“This sucks,” I reply.
“You’re sure it’s not someone trying to prank you?” she asks again.
I think about it. Somehow I know it’s not. Something has been off for a while now, and I’ve known it. Everyone always said a long distance relationship wouldn’t work and you can’t get much more long distance than this. Four thousand miles is a lot, which is how far it is from Glasgow to Kansas City. Roger is attending KU Med while I go abroad to finish my degree in Literary History at St. Andrews in Glasgow, Scotland. I was sure Roger and I were different.
