“Thank you, Mother. I appreciate your care.” I hope she understands that I’m not referring only to the redecorating but also to her concern for my happiness.
At first she remains stiff, but then she returns a shy hug.
That’s another thing that always bothered me about our relationship: she rarely touched or hugged me.
After a few seconds, sensing that it might be too much for one day, I pull back.
“You’re more mature, more confident about what you want,” she says.
“I think that’s what love does. It makes us stronger.”
She nods, but I’m not sure she truly knows what it is to be in love. Her marriage to my father was arranged; they had never met before their wedding day.
“I have to go.”
“All right,” I say, seeing her out.
The door closes, and I reach into my bag for my phone.
As soon as I turn it on to message Rodrick that I arrived safely, the device chimes with a text.
Duke:Call me.
How can he sound so bossy with just one word?I wonder, smiling, my heart already aching with longing.
I dial. “Hi.”
“You took a while to call.”
“I just got to the palace. Believe it or not, almost my entire family was waiting for me.”
“Even your mother?”
“No. She wasn’t there, but she came to see me here and we talked.”
“Is everything all right?”
“Yes. Not perfect, but we’re understanding each other better.”
“How was your trip?”
“I don’t like this formal tone between us. I’d rather you say that from the moment I stepped out of our house, you haven’t been able to think about anything but me and that you’ve come to the conclusion that I’m your entire world,” I tease, though I want that with all my soul.
“It’s true. You are my entire world, and your place is by my side.” He pauses. “I’ve decided I’m going to seek help.”
“What?”
“I’m going to see a therapist to see if I can put to bed some unresolved issues from my past. I did therapy as a teenager, but only briefly, right after my father died. Back then I was too angry and confused to truly try.”
“Are you doing this for me? I don’t want you to feel obligated or force yourself into something you don’t want because of me.”
“You know me, princess. The idea of opening up isn’t pleasant, but I want a future for us. I don’t think I’ll ever fully digest my past, but at least I’ll live with it without feeling filthy.”
“You’re not filthy. You’re honorable, strong, and good, but I know telling you that won’t help. You need to discover it yourself.”
“I know. That’s why I chose therapy. I want everything with you.”
My heart beats almost painfully. “Everything?”