Alara nodded reluctantly."Thanks.I really appreciate it.I'm just a bit wiped out, I think."
"Is your head any better?"Callie asked.
She said yes, but Callie wasn't inclined to believe her.She wanted to ask more questions but knew there was no point.From the few times they'd chatted, she already knew that Alara was as proud as she was.She wouldn't admit weakness — whether it was health-wise or financially.
She went to the fridge and put away the milk and yogurts — the yogurts she'd noticed Zia enjoyed in the kitchen with Elena at the big house during the week.She put a pack of protein shakes in there for Alara as well, then held up a bottle of orange juice.
She didn't ask but caught Alara's eye.When she nodded, Zia called, "Yes please!I'd love some orange juice."
Alara laughed."You can't get a thing by her, you know."
Callie chuckled."I already discovered that, didn't I, little miss?"
"You sure did, Lady Sunshine," said Zia as she gave Ollie's shoulders one last poke."I just cannot find them," she said on a sigh before plopping down beside him, her little legs swinging from the edge of the seat."Are they secret?"she asked.
Ollie chuckled."I guess they are."
Alara smiled at Callie, and they both watched Zia study Ollie closely.
"You're Prince Daddy's best friend," she said, looking thoughtful, "and you're one of the Flying Ones," she added slowly.She slipped down and walked around him to study him from the other side.
Callie had a feeling she knew where this was going.She'd witnessed Zia naming people a few times.Her favorite had been the look on Walt the groundskeeper's face when Zia had proclaimed that he was Sir Growly Green, also known as Wally Boots.
Now the little girl rested her hands on Ollie's knees and looked up into his eyes.Ollie chuckled and leaned down until his forehead was resting against Zia's.She laughed too.
"I've watched you give everyone else names, young lady, but I think you just can't figure me out, can you?"
Callie's hand came up to cover her heart as she watched Zia shake her head in a no while still keeping her forehead pressed against Ollie's.
"I couldn't," Zia said slowly."Iwantedto give you a name, but I didn't know what it might be.I hope you weren't sad that you didn't get one."
"I was a little," Ollie admitted.
Callie and Alara smiled at each other when Zia climbed up onto Ollie's lap and said, "I'm very sorry that I made you sad.But it's okay because I have your name now."She placed her hands on his shoulders."You, sir, are the Secret King."
Ollie sputtered and glanced at both her and Alara before asking Zia, "What makes you say that?"
Zia patted his shoulder."Because that’s what you are, and I see it now — the Secret King, and I'm glad you came to see us."She turned to Callie."Thank you for bringing him, Lady Sunshine.You like him too, don't you?"
Callie could only laugh."I do.He's a good guy."
Zia nodded solemnly."He's a very good Secret King."
~ ~ ~
By the time they were ready to leave, Ollie was maybe more concerned about Alara than he had been when they arrived.As Callie had said, she did look pale, but what bothered him more was that Zia seemed to think it was normal.She talked about Mommy's headaches and how Mommy needed to take a nap sometimes — not as though those things were an issue, but they just naturally came up when she said that she made her sparkly postcards while Mommy was sleeping.
He was hoping to get Callie's read on the situation before he flew home later.He was going to have to call Reaves.He'd already texted him to put him out of his misery, letting him know that they'd found Alara and Zia and that they were okay and he’d report in more detail later on.
But if Ollie had to guess, he'd say that Alara needed to see a doctor.And the other guys might tease him sometimes that he came from so much privilege that he was clueless, but even he understood that she likely wouldn't agree to see a doctor until she'd started this job — the one with benefits.
Little Zia hopped up beside him and tapped the end of his nose."You're thinking hard.Are you lost in your secrets?"
His stomach dropped.How the hell had the kid known to call him that?He winked at her and made himself smile, which wasn't hard to do as the little imp grinned at him.He patted his shoulder, hoping that maybe she’d named him because of the mysterious wings she couldn’t find.He didn’t like to mislead her — he could tell her that the wings were on the plane not on him, but he liked the idea of disappointing her even less."Some things have to stay secret."
She crossed her eyes at him."One day I'll figure you out.I need to know what you're made of, too."
He raised his eyebrows."What I'm made of?"
