Page 79 of Wait for Me

Not a morning person?

Marie’s watch said it was quite early still, even though the sun was rising. If their circumstances hadn’t changed, they’d all be looking forward to a fun day in Victoria. She hadn’t been to the gardens in years, and would love to join Mrs. Ping on the tour—even though she might end up being the third wheel.

She wondered what Logan would have liked to do in Victoria. He was the type who might enjoy the natural history museum. Well, Marie would too. It would have been a happy family vacation.

“Sorry we’re going to miss Victoria,” Marie said to Zaid.

“You’re sorry?” Zaid raised an eyebrow. “Thank God you’re alive.”

“I thank God every day,” Marie said.

“Good.”

Aliyah returned, and their group went to the front. Marie assumed the princess didn’t need to draw a number and wait their turn.

Jonas seemed sad to see his friend go. Marie thought that maybe later in the year or sometime, she could call the number on Zaid’s business card and invite them over.

You know, just like that.

Marie chuckled at her own naïveté. Surely a prince wouldn’t be that easy to invite.

Logan leaned toward her ear. “Something funny?”

Marie didn’t get to answer. She pointed to the people coming out of an elevator.

Mrs. Ping and the captain of theAlaskan Queen of the Arctic Seas.

She was wearing a wide-brimmed hat that matched her bright lime green blouse. Marie didn’t remember her wearing anything bright in the last five years. She might have gone shopping in Ketchikan or onboard the ship.

And what is that? Lipstick?When was the last time Mrs. Ping had worn lipstick?

Marie was smiling and thinking all those thoughts, and didn’t realize Logan was holding her hand.

It was obvious that she had indeed let her guard down with Logan to the point that she wasn’t bothered that his fingers were entwined in hers.

He squeezed her hand gently.

It still didn’t bother her.

Is this good or bad?

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Logan wondered what went through Marie’s mind as they walked across the gangplank ahead of a porter rolling a luggage cart containing their three suitcases. Jonas had insisted on carrying his own backpack, so he did.

Marie was looking in the direction of the parking lot, where the royal family was climbing into two SUVs with tinted windows.

Aliyah and Abdul went in the first vehicle. The assistant and one of the bodyguards went into the second one. Zaid and another bodyguard were talking to each other outside the vehicles.

“Where’s our ride?” Logan asked.

Marie pointed to a black SUV that was making its way around a row of tour buses—some were double-decker buses painted red—toward them. “We have enough time to get to the airport.”

“Forty minutes. When’s our flight?”

“Any time we’re ready.”

“Ah, yes. I forget.” A private plane courtesy of Mendenhall Security.

---