“No! He’s the king! He can’t soak his hands in pee pans!”
We all roared with laughter, Caroline included, taking several minutes to collect ourselves. Caroline stepped forward and offered to pop down to the kitchen and find us an actual bowl.
“A shame, I was really looking forward to teasing you about soaking your hands in bed pans for the foreseeable future,” Adelaide whispered to me.
An hour later, deep green nail polish adorned all ten of my fingers. Adelaide painted Isla’s Royalty Red, and Isla gave Adelaide Lady Lavender.
“This was the best day,” Isla announced with a happy sigh as we took her back to her room.
“It really was,” Adelaide agreed.
Isla turned, appraising her work on my nails. “Everyone is going toloveyour nails, Your Majesty. Make sure you let them know that it’s called Wexstone Pine and they can get it at the pharmacy.”
“I will definitely let them know,” I promised sincerely.
Adelaide rapped softly on the door before we entered. Josie sat on a couch by the window, a book in her lap, looking refreshed.
“I was just about to come get you. It’s almost time for your next dose.”
Isla’s grin melted as she sank in her chair. “Aw, man. I don’t want to.”
“I know, sweetie. But we have to stick to the schedule so that you can feel better and come home soon.”
“King Oliver, do you ever have to do things you don’t want to? Or do you just make other people do it for you?” Isla asked as Josie lifted her onto her bed.
I took a seat in the chair next to Isla’s bed, leaning forward with my elbows on my knees. “Oh, I do things I don’t want to all the time. A good leader doesn’t just offload all the things they don’t want to do; they have to be willing to do some of those things themselves, too.”
“Even scary stuff?” Isla’s voice was small.
I nodded. “Even scary stuff.”
“Can you tell me some scary things you’ve done while the nurse gives me my IV?”
“Absolutely.” I scooted my chair closer and took her tiny hand in mine. A nurse came in with a tray of supplies and an IV bag of medicine. She bobbed a quick curtsy when she saw me, then started taking Isla’s vitals. “You know what? Just a few months ago I had to do something really scary.”
Isla’s eyes widened and she gripped my hand tighter. “What was it?”
“Well, I don’t know if you know this, but I had to be crowned king in front of alotof people.”
Isla brightened. “Yeah! We watched it on the TV in one of the lounges here with some of the nurses and other patients!”
“That sounds like a fun little party,” Adelaide said from where she sat beside Josie on the couch.
“It was! We had snacks and made paper crowns.” Isla’s eyes danced over to the crafted crown that sat on top of a dresser in the corner of the room.
“Can I tell you a secret, Isla?” She nodded solemnly. “Until last year, I didn’t think I would have to become king. It was a big, big change for me, and I was so nervous to take on the responsibility. What if I make the wrong decisions for the country, for people like you and your mum? But even though I was scared, I knew I could be brave at the same time.”
“That’s something my mum tells me! That you can be scared and brave at the same time.”
I glanced briefly at Josie, noting the silvery sheen of tears in her eyes. Adelaide reached over and took her hand. The nurse finished taking Isla’s vitals and started prepping her arm for the IV, one side of her mouth tipped up in a smile.
“Your mum is very wise,” I said. “Want to know something else?”
Isla nodded again. With her gaze locked on me, she was unaware of her mother wiping the tears from her eyes across the room.
“Do you remember when I had to wear the crown and hold the orb and scepter?”
“Uh-huh.”
