Page 70 of Royal Reluctance

Tema grins. “Of course. Princesses always tell the truth.”

I’m not sure that’s always the case, but I’m not about to correct her. Not when I’ve got an opportunity right before me. “Do you know who your mom is talking to?” This time I nail the casual.

“Probably Timothy.” She makes motorboat sounds as she moves a boat over a mountain of bubbles, much like a fishing boat in the middle of the Atlantic.

I wonder how much bubble bath Hettie dumped in the water. Any time I’ve had a bubble bath, they’ve never lasted this long.

“This Timothy—what’s he like?” Part of me is straining to hear any of Hettie’s conversation, but she’s taken the call in the living room. I wonder what she’s telling him. Things about my family? Things about me?

“He makes waffles,” Tema reports.

“Like, for a living?”

“No, for supper. He can only make waffles.”

“I can make more than waffles,” I can’t help but tell her.

“It’s not a competition,” she says with an expression older than her seven years.

“I know it’s not.”

“That’s what Mommy always says when I complain about something my friend Mikey can do that I can’t,” she explains. “She tells me all the things that Icando. You’re a prince. Timothy sells houses. There’s lots of things you can do that he can’t.”

I squint at Tema. “Are you sure you’re only seven? You’re not some small old person in a kid body?”

“No!” She laughs and scoops a handful of bubbles and blows it at me.

“I wouldn’t start that,” I warn her, taking my own handful of bubbles. “I’m very good in a bubble fight.”

“Not as good as me.” She leans out of the tub to smear bubbles on my beard.

“It’s not a competition,” I remind her with a laugh, dumping my handful on her head.

“It’son,” Tema cries.

I’ve never had so much fun playing in the bubbles. Of course, the bathroom is a disaster when Hettie comes back.

“What are you doing?” she demands.

I look at Tema and Tema looks at me. “Get her!” Tema throws the first handful of bubbles at Hettie and I’m quick to follow with a laugh that echoes around the bathroom.

25

Hettie

Idid not expectbath time to become a water fight. Bo surprised me.

It’s not the first time since I’ve been back.

He helps me put Tema to bed, cleaning up the water damage in the bathroom while I brush the tangles out of her hair. He sits on the edge of the bed while I read her a chapter of Harry Potter.

He drops a kiss on her forehead when he says good night.

I take a minute with Tema, but the excitement from the bath has worn off, and the lavender bubbles do their trick like they always do. Her eyes are heavy and with one last kiss, I back out of the room.

“Mommy?”

“Yes, Tema-toot?”

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