Page 29 of Royal Reluctance

“They think I don’t hear them.” She rolls her eyes. “That I don’t know exactly what they’re talking about. But I do.”

“Yeah, well, sometimes adults forget kids have ears.” And before I stop myself, I tug on her earlobe, the first time I’ve touched my daughter.

She has earrings. Hettie pierced our daughter’s ears without telling me.

“I have very big ears,” Tema informs me. “Or so Mommy and Abs always tell me.”

They’re a family. They’re a family, and I’m not part of it.

But there is no surge of anger. There’s only a determinedyet.

Suddenly, my world has turned upside down. With onehe’s my dadcomment, I am ready to move mountains for one little girl. She is going to change everything, and I’m fine with it.

I want it.

After the LEGO is picked up, I wait outside as Hettie packs their things for the move to the castle and Abigail calls her parents to explain what’s going on.

How much do they know? And if they know everything, how did they ever keep it a secret?

Questions for a later time because there’s something I need to do first.

This isn’t something you text to someone, so I call Spencer. “I need a favour,” I say when he picks up.

“Hello to you too.”

Spencer Laz is like my fourth brother. Along with his father, Duncan, they’re both unofficial members of the royal family. Spence has a good relationship with every one of us, but I’m the only one who knows he calls me his best friend.

“Hey. Hettie’s here,” I tell him with no preamble.

“What?” There’s a crash in the background. “Dammit, you made me spill my coffee. Say that again.”

“Hettie is here in Battle Harbour,” I say, staring at the house as I pace around the car. “I’m with her.”

I hear Spencer’s swift intake of air. “Are you with her, with her?”

“I’m currently standing outside Abigail’s parents’ house, where Hettie has been staying.” I stop my pacing on the side of the car. If any of the neighbours could see me, they’d call the cops on this stalker for sure.

“You didn’t know she was coming?” There’s surprise in Spencer’s voice, but he’s already switched into fixer mode. It’s always been like that with him—if something goes wrong, call Spence.

“I had no clue.”

I lean my head on the car roof. This is a blindside worse than any done on Survivor. I feel like I could sit right down in the snow and close my eyes.

I’d only do that if closing my eyes would make this all go away.

But do I want it to go away? “There’s more,” I tell Spencer reluctantly.

“She finally wants a divorce?”

“How did you know?” I demand.

“What other reason would she have for coming back?”

Me. But no. “Well, yeah, but there’smore.” I take a deep breath. “She has a little girl. I have a daughter.”

Even saying it sounds strange. Surreal. Unbelievable.

Silence for a long beat. “Are you serious?” Spencer finally says.

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