“I love you, Dad.I don’t care about O’Shay Shirts.I care about you.About us.The family, you and Remi, and your happily ever after.”
He batted away the tears resting in the corner of his eye.“I didn’t want to hide another story from you like I had to with your mother.I wanted you to know before the news and—”
“Dad, stop.There’s no blame in any of this.Businesses are raised up and brought low.Bought and sold.Started and ended.Few things go on forever.But we’re forever.Our family.”She squeezed his hand, the one that had held hers through fevers and first heartbreaks.“I can’t wait to see what the future has for you and Remi and our newly blended family.I’ll find something to do.”Scottie shot a look toward Shug.“Don’t say marriage and family.”
“I’ll say it if I have a mind and don’t tell me what to do, young’un.”
Dad’s laugh was solid and genuine.“I’m famished.How about that lunch, Mom?”
“Just the ticket.”Shug stood, popping her hands together.“Y’all sit tight.I’ll bring it out to the patio.It’s not too hot yet.How about a swim later?Water polo?Boys against girls.”
“Sounds good, but I want to partner with my girl,” Dad said, his eyes boring into hers with gratitude and love.“Just the two of us.One last time before everything changes.”
Scottie kissed his cheek.“One last time, but Dad, in case you haven’t noticed, everything has already changed.”
* * *
Michael
October
In the new wing of the Cross PF Youth Football League hub, Michael toured Her Majesty, Queen Catherine the Second, showing her round the construction to the architectural renderings framed and hanging on a wall.
Not long after Scottie returned to Hearts Bend, he decided life was too short to wait for right moments.He’d taken a chance with Scottie and his heart, why not with his career?He resigned from Her Majesty’s Security Detail, moved into one of the quaint Cross cottages along the old Port Fressa quay, and over the summer became the leader of the Cross youth football league.
This was what he was meant to do.
“All of this will be new.We’ve finalized the plans and obtained the permits.Construction should start next week.”
Queen Catherine had rung him up out of the blue, inquiring about a tour of the new Cross PF Youth Football League’s facilities.
She seemed strong and healthy, wearing a bright yellow dress coat, her dark handbag swinging from a gloved hand as she leaned toward the glass case containing old photos of the league.“The article I read said you’ve plans for a hub in Dalholm as well.”
The queen looked at him for confirmation, but he knew the football facility was not on her mind, didn’t he?She wanted to ask about Scottie.
“We do, ma’am.We’d like one in The Haskells, and Branford-on-the-Reserve.”
“Marvelous.Sport is good for our young people.”The queen walked on, inspecting the drawings attached to the wall.Her team of two protection officers circulated through the enclosed space and stayed on her six.“It suits you, Michael, leading the charge for the entire Cross Youth Athletic Association.It’s run aground of late.”
“Thank you, ma’am.With everything that happened… I felt it was time for a change.”
Queen Catherine’s expression was one of a mother speaking to the man who loved her daughter.
“I miss her,” she said softly.
“As do I.”
“I’d planned a grand final day for us.”
“Yes, ma’am.”Michael had been made privy to her plans the night of the ball.She’d wanted Scottie’s last days to be fun and adventurous.
“Lunch at a vineyard in The Haskells, then a ride on the gondolas over the mountains.”The queen walked toward the doors opened to the pitch.“I wanted her to see some of the shops in the old foothill villages.My father used to take us there every year when Arabella and I were girls.We were allowed to run free across the wide board floors, the proprietors smiling on us, letting us choose whatever we wanted from the candy jars.My favorite doll was handmade by a Grandma Moses sort of woman.I can still see the lines fanning out from her bright eyes.”
“If I may, ma’am, Lady Royal never saw our world, our way of life, as hers.I think we all forgot how American she is, forthright, determined, stubborn.”
“And broken, as we all are.I wanted to help her heal.She certainly helped me heal.”
“She only recently admitted she was wounded.”
