Other than Cousin Blake, who headed O’Shay’s human resources, the O’Shays had moved on.Now the future of the company fell to Scottie.She’d never seen it more clearly than this past week.
From the moment she’d walked into the office, she was bombarded with questions, drawn into meetings, brought up-to-date on the End of Fiscal Year profit projections, informed of work force adjustments, and regaled with how Jack Gillingham, Veep of Marketing, averted a disaster while on a commercial shoot.
The rest of the week, she was at her desk by seven a.m., working until nine p.m.At home, she microwaved a semi-healthy frozen dinner, sipped on a small glass of wine, watched a rerun ofFamily Ties, and fell asleep on the sofa.
She’d wake up in the wee hours and head to her room, envisioning the Princess Charlotte suite.She missed afternoon teas with Kate and walking with her along the cliffs when she felt strong.She missed the cry of the wind slicing up Whistlecrag Bluff and the sound of Michael’s voice when he met her in the Grand Foyer.
Kate had texted several times but never informed Scottie on her health or asked when she was returning.Cranston sent a message and, in his kind, devoted way, implored Scottie to return.
Cranston: Lady Royal, you bring her such joy and joy is healing.
Scottie: I’ll be there Sunday.Thank you, Cranston.
“Refill anyone?”Shug came along with a pitcher of icy sweet tea and paused to peer toward Dad and Remi.“I’ve not seen Trent like this since Kate.I wasn’t sure I’d ever see him in love again.A man’s broken heart doesn’t heal the way a woman’s does.”
Wait.What?Scottie leaned toward her grandmother.“You saw Dad and Kate together?In love?”
“Yes, she lived with us when she was pregnant with you.”Shug set down the tea pitcher and sat on the other side of Scottie.“Well, the last four months, anyway.”
“She lived with you and Fritz?I thought she was in Nashville.”
“Who said?She was here.You were born in this house, Scottie.Hmm, guess that’s another thing we never told you.Didn’t want you asking questions.The second suite upstairs was Kate’s.Her dad, the king, sent over his personal doctor and nurse for the delivery.They lived in our guesthouse until you came quietly into the world.”
“Oh, that’s right.Scottie, you were so quiet we thought you were dead,” Aunt Leanne said.“You never made a sound.Sort of like a hiccup, wasn’t it, Octavia?”
“Wait, wait, wait.Aunt Leanne also knew my mother?”
“I always thought she mewed, like a kitten,” Shug said.
“I mewed?”She’d never heard any of these stories.In the first grade when LaToya Dixon told her babies were delivered by storks, Scottie believed it.She must have arrived by a bird’s beak because she didn’t have a mother.And no one ever told her otherwise until she learned about the birds and bees.
“I only saw her once.From a distance.I didnotknow your mother was a crown princess.”Aunt Leanne shot a wry glance at Shug.“That secret was kept in a vault.”
“We couldn’t tell anyone.”Shug sat back, sipping her tea and bringing her sunglasses from her head to her eyes.“You were the most beautiful, sweetest baby, Scottie.I thought I’d break into a million pieces when Kate realized her father was not going to let her bring you home.It was one thing to not marry Trent, a whole other thing to leave you behind.”
“Looking back, perhaps it was a good thing,” Aunt Leanne said.“Scottie is heir to O’Shay.Who knew the daughter of a princess would be the last O’Shay in Hearts Bend to take over?”She leaned to see Scottie.“We’re all counting on you.”
“Don’t put pressure on her, Leanne.You never know what the future holds.O’Shay may not be around forever.”
“It will as long as Scottie has breath in her lungs.”Leanne huffed and puffed in her chair.“Kick butt and take names, Scottie.Marry that hunky Army Ranger, Cap.I liked him.”
“Me too.But he’s going to marry his ex-wife.”
“His ex-wife.Well shut the front door.Did you have a clue?”
“No, but don’t worry, he wasn’t my true love.”
“Maybe she’ll meet a handsome prince at the Rose Ball.”Shug tossed Scottie a wink.“You always fancied yourself a Cinderella.”
“All the princes of the North Sea nations are married or too young.Besides, I don’t think any of them would want to move to Hearts Bend.And I never, ever fancied myself a Cinderella.”
Where did people come up with this stuff?
A splash in the pool followed by a yelping laugh closed the conversation as Dad cannonballed in front of them.“Get in the pool!”he said.“How about a game of water polo?Men against the women.”
“On your own head be it,” Shug said.“You have Fritz, Walt, and Fletcher.I have Remi, Scottie, and Leanne.”
“Exactly,” Leanne said, tossing off her sarong and adjusting her suit, tugging at her wrinkled arms.“We float.You don’t.”
