After Dad and Leanne set up the net and argued about the rules, Leanne called for a girls’ strategy meeting.Scottie headed over, but Dad gently pulled her aside.
“Hey,” he said softly.“We haven’t had much of a chance to talk.You doing okay?”
“Yeah, I am.”She glanced toward Remi.“It’s kind of weird seeing you in love but—”
“You’ll always be my favorite girl.”Dad chucked her chin with his finger.“You know that, right?”
“I’m happy for you.Honest.I can see she loves you very much.”
“Are you okay going back to Lauchtenland?I don’t like you being caught up in these protests.What’s going on?Some group trying to end the monarchy?”
“It’s a small but loud contingent.”She kept her meeting with MP Fickle to herself.
“You don’t have to go back, Scottie.Do you feel safe?”
An image of Michael flashed across her mind.“Yeah, Dad.I’m safe.Really safe.”
“Okay then…you still going to be my best girl at the wedding?”
That’s when the volleyball bonked him in the head and Remi taunted him to get in the pool.Dad ran down the deck and dove into the deep end, surfacing with his in-love smile.
Scottie felt every one of his movements in her soul.The plunge into the water, headfirst, then surfacing into sunshine, into love.
All her life she’d followed in Dad’s footsteps.She was his mini-me.They talked about life and sports and O’Shay Shirts, about her education and how she’d one day be in command.Yet at this very moment, Dad revealed a whole other side of himself.Scottie was undone, wanting nothing more than to follow him once again and plunge headlong into love.
But that was impossible.
* * *
Michael
The steward at Blue Hall, 03 Row Clemency, led Scottie and Michael down a wide corridor, past the portraits of former MPs looking sternly through the glow of ornate wall sconces.The carpet was plush and bound by the House of Blue cypher.
He glanced over at Scottie.She smiled, which made his heart beat faster.She seemed different to him.Lighter?As if she’d let go of an unseen burden.
“Do you think Hamish Fickle realizes everything holding Lauchtenland together comes from the House of Blue?”she said.“That the Crown defines us as a people, as a nation.The demise of the Blues would mean the demise of Lauchtenland.”
“I’m not sure he’s thinking about anything but his own career.”
Her hand brushed his, and a small chill crept up his arm.He must put his feelings in check.
“Do you have your notes of what you want to say?”
“Yeah, but I really want to talk from here.”Scottie tapped over her heart and Michael admired her all the more.
The steward stopped at a gold and mahogany door and led them into a square, paneled room with groupings of tables and chairs, a row of windows with heavy damask curtains, and a portrait of Queen Catherine on the western wall.
“Would you like some tea?”
“Yes, please.”Michael aimed for a set of chairs.“Where is MP Fickle?”The man should be in the room waiting, tipping cream into his own cuppa.
“He’ll be along shortly.”
Scottie sat in a dark red club chair with thick arms and deep buttons punched through gold tapestry.“Now I’m nervous.”
“Don’t be.It’ll only make you waffle when Fickle shows himself.”Michael paced to the window.“He’s playing games.Making us wait.”
“I was so confident about this when I asked to meet him but now—”
