Page 26 of Royal Reluctance

Tema searches for another block as if this were an everyday occurrence for her. “I’d like to go out on one to see what it’s like.”

“Might be a little cold for that now. But sometimes you can see whales.”

“I like whales. Do you have polar bears?”

Bo nods. He still hasn’t looked at me for—what? Approval? Reassurance? He doesn’t need either, since he’s doing better than I am. I’m waiting for Tema to run screaming away from Bo.

I shouldn’t be, because Tema would never do that. My daughter is the bravest person I know.

“In the north.”

Tema’s eyes widen. “Have you ever seen one?”

“Couple of times. Big.” He points at Tema’s sweatshirt. “Did you see her in concert?”

“No,” Tema says scornfully. “Mom says I’m too young.”

“Maybe a little. You’ll see her next time she tours.”

Tema scoots closer to him. “Really?”

Bo shrugs. “We’ve been trying to get her to play here for a while.”

“That would beexcellent. Are you really my dad?” She stares at him, not upset or confused, just curious. And she seems pretty cheerful about the conversation there on the floor.

He glances up at me and I shrug. I had no clue how it would be, telling my child about her father, but I have to say, it’s goingmuchbetter than I expected. So much, so that I’m able to start breathing normally.

“Would that be okay if I was?” Bo asks her.

Tema laughs. Shelaughs.“You’re a prince, soyeah.You have a castle and a king for a dad and a—I’m sorry about the queen. I heard she died.”

“Tema—”

“Thank you,” Bo says gravely. “She did die. I miss her.”

And Tema, my brilliant, beautiful little girl, puts her little hand on Bo’s knee. “It’s hard to have only one parent when everyone else has two. Or three—my best friend Adam has a mother and a fatheranda step-father and they all live next door to each other.”

Bo smiles. “Sounds like it’s a good setup.”

“Do you live in the castle all the time?” she asks, pushing her pile of blocks closer to him. “Abigail showed it to me when we wentto get coffee. She really likes coffee. Because maybe you could live next door to us in Victoria. Or would that be too hard if you’re a prince here?”

I can barely follow the conversation. My brain spins with the sight of Bo just sitting on the floor beside his daughter and how Tema has just accepted it. Him. This entire situation.

How can she be smiling about it when I’m completely freaking out?

Add in the crushing guilt and shame that I kept this from both of them, and I’m not in a good place right now. Plus—

I swipe my finger under my eye and it comes back wet. I’m crying. It’s too much. And Bo…

“I don’t live in the castle all the time,” he tells her, picking up a few LEGO pieces and pressing them together. “I live in the woods most of the time.”

“But you’re a prince, so you should—”

“He’s more than a prince, Tema,” I interrupt.

“But youarea prince, right? Does that mean I’m a princess?” She claps her hands. “I think it’d be fun to be a princess.”

“Sometimes it’s fun,” Bo agrees.

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