Page 31 of Royal Reluctance

I sit on my hands to warm them. It also helps with the shaking.

Abigail talked to her parents and told them we had been invited to stay at the castle. I know she hasn’t ever told them who Tema’s father is, but it wouldn’t be difficult to do the math and figure out it was Bo. The Lockes’ have kept so many secrets for me over the years.

I need to tell them everything. They deserve it.

When Bo and I first got together in high school, we would hang out at Abigail’s, usually with Spencer. Her brothers were younger, and always at hockey practice or tournaments, so we would have the place to ourselves.

Bo loved how the Lockes’ treated him like just another friend of their daughters, not like he was part of the royal family. Mrs.Locke made his favourite cookies, Mr. Locke always wanted to know what time he would bring us home—I stayed there most weekends—and there was always an open invitation for Taco Tuesday dinners.

The world has seen how some royal families are treated, and I’m glad it was never like that for Bo’s family, but even a little extra attention was too much for him.

Bo might have felt like a Rapuzel-like character, but he was like Pinocchio to me—all he wanted was to be a regular boy.

But how can you be a regular boy when you grow up in a castle with a father—however cool and laid-back as he may be—as the king?

The only voices in the car during the drive to the castle are from Tema and Abigail in the backseat, and that’s only because Tema comments on everything she sees, like usual.

Abigail is so good with her. Sometimes I think she’s done a better job at mothering Tema, and then my little girl holds up her arms to me, and I then I know I’m her mother and my heart gets all warm.

I can’t believe Bo knows about her. He knows, and the world didn’t end like I always thought it would.

What did I think would happen? That Bo—quiet, solemn Bo—would overreact and try to snatch my baby away from me?

The thought actually did pop into my mind more than a few times over the years.

He’s smart. Methodical. He thinks before he speaks.

He would call Spencer and get him to figure out how to get Tema away from me rather than do it himself.

It’s not fair to Spencer for me to be afraid of him.

He was at the wedding, the only one of the family to be there. Bo had Spencer and I had Abigail as we stood under the trees and told the forest how much we loved each other. Spencer held the ring that Bo put on my finger before the justice of the peace proclaimed us husband and wife.

Spencer opened the champagne after it was over and hugged me and told me I was good for Bo. And then he and Abigail flew back to Battle Harbour and neither of them ever told a soul what they had witnessed.

Spencer might not be of royal blood, but the way he kept our secret made him as much of a brother to Bo as Kalle, Odin, and Gunnar are.

“Mrs. Theissen is making up rooms for you,” Bo tells me. “I’ll see that you’re settled, but then I have to run back into town for a bit. Will you be okay? I’ll be back for dinner.”

“Can we have pizza?” Tema chirps from the backseat.

Bo glances at her in the rearview mirror. “I can do pizza.”

“Your father…”

“Will be back tomorrow morning. I’ll talk to him then.”

“Okay.”

He glances at me. “Really? Just okay?”

“I’d rather not say how freaked out I am in front of the backseat,” I say under my breath.

Tema bounces on the seat. “Can I meet the king?”

“Tomorrow,” Bo promises, like it’s no big deal.

I met King Magnus at the queen’s funeral and I doubt he remembers me. He had just lost his wife and had five children plus a country to comfort. Bo introduced me as Hettie—no last name,no explanation. I wonder what would have happened if he had told the king I was his wife?

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