Page 54 of Bride By Coronation

I take a sip of my latte, then continue reading.

It's funny that seven was your number. Your father did have an eccentric obsession with numbers. However, they have meaning, so if you inherited that trait, it's something to be celebrated.

Thank you for sharing your memory of your father with me. I can imagine you as a little girl, sitting on your father's lap and staring at the sky, lit by the moon's luminescence.

I blink hard.

How did he know I sat on my father's lap?

I wait until the nostalgia passes, then read more.

Since you shared your story with me, I'll disclose one to you. It might give some insight into why your father loved the moon so much.

One night, your father took me outside. He pointed tothe sky, and the moon was unlike anything I'd ever seen. He told me, "The moon's surface is covered in craters. To the uneducated, it would appear damaged. Yet the power held within is greater than anything else in the universe. It's so strong, its gravitational pull stabilizes the Earth's tilt. It creates tides, which humans have used since the beginning of time for guidance. It has moonquakes and water and tidal locking, so it always faces our planet."

I remember staring at the radiant ball in the sky, surprised by all your father knew about it.

Then he said, "The craters only tell a story of its history. Billions of years ago it was bombarded with a heavy collision of space rocks. Asteroids, comets, and meteoroids… They all tried to destroy it, but they couldn't. Even today, there are collisions. Some scientists think it's attacked on a daily basis. Yet the moon continues to remain powerful, controlling our oceans and glowing in the dead of night for all to see."

He jabbed his finger in my chest and added, "That's what you have to remember about yourself. The power you hold isn't what others can see unless they choose to look at it, and the ones who choose to look away can be damned upon your choosing. Embrace being underestimated. You can allow craters to defeat you or empower you. So dig deep to understand how formidable you are, because the rocks will always fly at you. If it wasn't this, it would have been something else. It's up to you how you protect yourself and still develop the potential I see in you that no one else does."

"If it wasn't this it would have been something else?"What does that mean?

I reread the section, not coming to any answers, then continue.

Since you've been honest with me, I'll admit that your father saved my life that night for a second time. It shaped who I became and how I learned to deal with things.

What things?

I reread the entire section then continue on.

On another note, I can't tell you how relieved and pleased I am that you love the lingerie and dress with the dove. Yes, it's the one I chose for you. Maybe I do have some good fashion sense if you say I do. Ha. Ha.

I hope this answers your questions.

Sincerely,

The King

P.S. I'm sure you're busy, but can you take a moment and write me a note? I have figured out the borrowed item. I need to fly far to retrieve it, though. I have a small window of time to make the round trip. I don't want to get this wrong, so please tell me if you prefer newer or older things. Thank you.

Newer or older things? And what is he getting that he has to fly so far?

I sit back in my chair, drink more of my latte, and reread the letter, pondering his question, unsure how to answer.

There's a knock on the door.

I put the envelope and letter on my lap, calling out, "Yes?"

The door opens, and Brax sticks his head inside. "Are you done yet?"

I glare at him.

"Fiona, I'm going to be in some big shit with Liam if I don't get this task completed," he whines.

"Not my problem." I smirk, not happy he's interrupting my thoughts and pressuring me to figure out my answer.

"Jesus. You two are meant to be together," he mumbles.

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