Oh, fuck. They want to move in.
“If only there was someone who had extra space...”
I close my eyes and fight the deep sigh building in my chest. “Ruben, you and Evi should come stay here.”
“Really?”
“Oh, definitely. We have more than enough rooms.”
He must have given her the thumbs up because the next thing I hear is her voice. “Mr. Whiskers, too?”
“Mr. Whiskers, too,” I say, dreading the thought of having the devil cat in the palace. I can just picture him shredding every last linen in the entire place.
“Are you certain? Because the insurance adjuster said it’ll likely be about eight months.”
I snap the pencil in my hand. “I’m absolutely positive, Ruben.” Positive that you’re going to drive me mad for about eight solid months.
“Thank you, Artie. This means the world to us.” Ruben says, his voice sounding emotional. Dear God, do not let him start crying. If he does, I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to look him in the eye again.
“No need to thank me. It’s nothing.” Nothing I would ever want to do.
“Okay, we’ll pack what’s left of our clothes and be there in a couple of hours.”
“Do you need help? I’d come myself, but I have a meeting with the Swedish Ambassador this morning. I can send some staff, though.”
“No, we’ll be fine, thanks. I think Evi needs some more time to yell at me before we get there, and that’s probably best done in private.”
“Understood.” I almost feel sorry for him. “I’ll tell Tessa.”
“Oh, yes, please do. Break it to her gently about the house. We don’t want to upset her.”
Then maybe don’t move in. “Me neither.”
“See you soon. We should be there in time for lunch. Are they making those blueberry scones today?”
“Not sure.”
“They would certainly ease the pain of what’s happened.”
“I can call down and ask for some.” I roll my eyes so hard, they feel like they might get stuck in the back of my head.
“Thanks, Artie! You’re not such a bad son-in-law after all.”
In the background, I hear Evi say, “Tell me you didn’t just ask for them to make you a batch of scones!”
He rings off, leaving me to take the short walk to Tessa’s office, where she’s spending most of her days now that she’s feeling better. Excellent, so I get to interrupt her and tell her the horrible news. I cringe, thinking of how upset she’s going to be. This entire thing is going to completely undo all the hard work trying to keep her happy and calm whilst she’s in such a delicate state. And before you go getting up on your high horse, suggesting I’m being a chauvinist, may I point out that she’s still looking very pale, so in my mind, she really is very delicate.
When I pass Vincent’s desk, he opens his mouth to say something, then clearly notices the expression on my face and changes his mind. I stop in front of him.
“Vincent, my in-laws will be moving in today for the better part of a year. Could you have the kitchen make some scones to welcome them?”
His jaw drops, then he shakes his head and nods. “Of course, Your Highness.”
“Oh, and arrange for them to have an apartment as far from ours as possible. Their cat, Satan, will be joining them, and I want him as far from Chester and Dexter as can be managed.” I also want Evi and Ruben as far from Tessa as can be managed.
“Shall I postpone your meeting with the ambassador?”
I shake my head. “I’ll be back in time. If I’m not, just give him some of that tea he loves and ask him about his son—the one finishing med school, not the one in rehab. He won’t even notice I’m not there.”
