Page 28 of The Prince and the Double Shot
“Are you ready to go to the beach?”
“Where you lead, I will follow.”
The choices I’ve made were coming back to roost. Life was totally unfair. We saw each other almost every day for the next two weeks – but something had shifted. We still flirted and enjoyed each other’s company. There were a few stolen kisses, but what I had said – something shifted.
PHIL
“Hello, Mother,” I answered the phone quickly.
“Hello, Phillipe. I hope that you are recuperating well in America. I didn’t want to bother you and wanted to give you the time you needed.”
“I’ve been growing and nurturing the plants and trees here on the grounds. It has taught me more than I expected and allowed me much time to reflect.”
“Are you planning on coming home soon?”
“That depends, I suppose. Is my time here almost up?”
“Not if you don’t want it to be. We do need you home, Phillipe, but we want you back when you’re ready to return.”
“I’m… not quite ready. But I’m healing. Can I say soon and leave it at that?”
“For now. We do have a lot that we need to discuss, though. When you return, I’ve hired someone to help find you a man of royal blood. We will, of course, also need to find a surrogate within the bloodline, too. I don’t mean to be pushy, but all of this will need to be in place before your father and I can give up the throne. Is this too much?”
“No, Mother. I understand what’s expected of me. I wish that this didn’t have to happen, though. But I understand the history. I just wish I could marry for love like the rest of our people.”
“We are not like the rest of our people.”
“I know.”
She sighed, and I could hear her fingertips clicking upon her table as she thought about what to say next.
“You’ve met someone?”
“I’ve met someone that I enjoy being around. We’ve been hanging out for the last couple of weeks. But I know that it can’t be forever. I’m taking it… We’re taking it very slow.”
“You are a smart man, my love. I wish that things were different, I do. You know, once, right before you met Petra, I had already started arranging a marriage for you. But it fell apart.”
“Politics? I’ve always hated the thought of being a pawn in a politically arranged marriage for the sake of some trade deal.”
“It was nothing like that, and no, it fell apart because of something beyond any of our control, in the end. It was such a shame. I heard the young man was beautiful and smart – spirited even. It would have brought about a lot of comfort and safety for both kingdoms. Alas, it could not happen.”
“Is he married now? If I have to marry for political reasons, it doesn’t really matter who it is in the end, does it?”
“Of course, it does. I would never want you to marry someone you didn’t like. Love can grow, but a match that isn’t a match can make you unhappy forever. In the end, the person you pick will be your choice, Phillipe. I just thought it prudent to warn you before you came back. We do need to have a plan in place. As for that boy, I have no idea. The… His mother canceled, and I have never really known why. The secrets and lies of a royal family stay within the family, dear. You know that.”
“Boy, do I ever. It’s truly wonderful here, Mother. Sheena is quite lovely.”
“She’s spirited and opinionated, but has always been someone that you could count on. Does she seem happy?”
“Yes, I think she does. Her wife is a lovely woman.”
“Hmm… I’ve never met her.”
“The hotel is having a ball next month, and there will be lots of royals in attendance. Perhaps you and Father could come?”
“I’ll have to think about that. I’ll ask your father. It’s been years since we made a trip to America. I’ll let you know.”
“Please. It would be nice for you to be here.”
