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Be Free. -R
I teared up, staring at him, eyes welling. He got it. This wasn’t about the press or about ticking a box. It was about Rick loving me. It was about him waiting for me—patiently. I wasn’t back to where I had been before, but I wasseen.I realised that I still loved him. I believed the feeling was mutual.
“Is it okay?” Rick asked.
I nodded. “It’s lovely.”
“Good,” Rick said. “I was hoping it would suit.”
“More than. Thanks,” I said, turning from him. “Can you help me? I’d like to wear it.”
“Sure, sure,” Rick said.
I sputtered, unsure as his hands brushed my shoulders. “I feel dreadful since I ruined your birthday and you’re being so sweet about mine?—”
“I fucked up my own birthday, Alexandra. I did that to me. It’s the least I could do for yours.”
He paused as if he wasn’t sure what to say. Then, he leaned down. Ever so gently, his lips met my neck. He kissed me and a shiver shot down my spine. It was so simple, yet more intimate than anything I’d felt to date.
“Sorry. I was… I uh…” Rick retracted, stepping back.
I turned, checking my necklace, to face him. “It’s okay.”
He shrunk towards the door. “I’ll leave you to have a moment to yourself. Be aware I have a great big cake on order for dinner, so save yourself for the final course, okay?”
I smiled, “Of course.”
Thirty-Four
Rick
The night before our wedding, we hosted many foreign dignitaries and royals at the palace. I struggled to keep my eyes off Alexandra for even a minute. She was stunning, carefree, and glowing. We no longer fought. We weren’t back in the place where I was sure we’d fall into bed together, but we made progress. We were back to being friends. Her sisters were wild and exuberant. We allowed all to attend. You could have thought Alexandra and I hung the moon by the way Ingrid told it.
The only person doubting it was Celeste. She sat in the corner glaring as people mingled. Still, it couldn’t keep Alexandra down. This was her palace. These were her friends now. This was her life. I watched from the sidelines, but I was proud to call her mine tomorrow.
“She’s happy as ever,” my mother said. “Beautiful.”
I nodded. “She is glad to be almost done with this. We both are.”
My mother shook her head. “Not what I meant. She’s lighter than last time.”
“She’s free. And really… I dunno… it’s as if I am, too. It’s the exact opposite. I am tying myself down. Seeing her like this, though, brings me even more happiness than if it were me. I mean, look at her. And look at the girls. I was part of that.”
Mamma chuckled. “Don’t give yourself too much credit. But she is beautiful—beaming. And you helped. She sees you, Rick. She understands you,min skat.”
I smiled. “I know.”
“Take good care of her,” Mamma said. “And those girls. You’re their big brother now. They need you, too, as she does. You’re taking on a lot of responsibility.”
“Of course.”
“But I think it suits you.”
I snickered. “Never thought you’d say that.”
“You make a good patriarch given the chance to get your act together. Don’t tear yourself down. You worked hard to help the girls and Alexandra. And if she makes you happy?—”
“She makes me happy.”
