Page 80 of Royal Reluctance

Tema screws up her face. “I like staying with Nana and Papa but… it’s acastle.”

I glance at Abigail. “I think they understand.”

“Maybe they can come stay there, too!”

“I think they’re happy at their house.” Abigail laughs as she holds open the door for Tema.

Inside, Coffee for the Sole has changed. Little things: new tables and chairs, mugs and the art on the wall have been updated, but it smells the same. I may be a tea drinker, but there’s always been something about the scent of coffee that makes me want to give it another try.

“Well, isn’t it Abigail Locke,” Silas Bell, owner of the premier coffeeshop in Laandia calls as we approach the counter. We spent a lot of time in here during high school. “And Hettie Crow. And a small person I don’t know.” He grins at us, but his gaze fixes on Tema.

“I’m Princess Tema,” my daughter announces.

I catch my breath. Bo and I haven’t talked about going public with the fact that Bo is Tema’s father, so Tema telling the entire coffee shop is…

I don’t know what it is.

Silas laughs, not fazed in the slightest by her announcement. “Nice to meet you, Your Highness. What would you like to drink?”

“Abigail says you have unicorns.” Tema rushes to the counter and props her elbows on it. Abigail gives me a wide-eyed glance and follows her.

“Unicornfroth,” Silas corrects. “Unfortunately, unicorns like to stay out of the snow. Hot chocolate?” he asks me as I stand behind Tema with my hand on her shoulder.

“Yes, please. Look at that fish on the wall!” Tema darts to the corner of the shop where the plastic fish flops against the wall when a person walks by.

“I didn’t hear you two were back in town,” Silas says after he takes our order and instructs one of the baristas to start on them. The shop is full, with nearly all the tables occupied, but there is no one in line.

“We’re keeping it quiet,” I tell him. “It might not be for long.”

“I take it Princess Tema is yours? She’s adorable.” I hold my breath in case Silas starts with how much Tema resembles Princess Lyra, but after a last, long look at her, he turns his attention back to us.

“Thanks.”

“It’s strange I haven’t even seen you around. Did you just get in?”

“We’ve been staying at the castle,” I admit.

“Oh.” Silas’s eyebrows shoot up, disappearing into the dark hair that flops over his forehead. He takes another glance at Tema. “Oh!”

“We’re keeping things quiet,” I say again. It’s not a warning, but it should be because Silas knows everyone, with his radar tuned to everything going on around here.

“Ah. I get it.”

Does he? I think he really might and I’m not sure how I feel about that.

It won’t be just one person who knows about Tema—the news will spread until some reporters hears and comes to make Bo’s life miserable.

My life, too, but I can leave if I need to.

I could run away, but it’s a lot more difficult for Bo.

Abigail chats with Silas while all this races through my mind. I pull myself back into the conversation in time for Silas to ask if we have plans tonight.

“You should come into town.” He points to the far wall. “Next door. My, ah, my girlfriend opened a club.”

“Girlfriend?” Abigail and I say in unison. Silas is older than us, but most of the girls in town have had a crush on him at one time or another. He might be the nicest guy I know.

“Fiancée,” he admits, his cheeks reddening. “It’s a recent thing.”

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