AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Please, come inside. We have a lot to talk about today.” Tabitha didn’t know exactly what Julie had told her mother, but she looked extremely worried, which just went to show, as if it hadn’t been adequately demonstrated already, that Julie would choose to have Tabitha’s back when it really counted, even if it meant risking the wrath of the Queen of England herself.
Her mother followed her inside but stopped short at the sight of JK. “Are you the bodyguard? What are you doing here?” she snapped.
“Don’t talk to JK like that! This is my house, and you will show my guests respect.”
“Your house? You forget thatI’mthe one paying for this place, Tabitha.”
“Actually, no,” Tabitha said calmly. “I spoke to the owner. I bought this house last week.”
JK covered her mouth with her hand as she coughed, which did a fairly good job of hiding her chuckle.
Mary’s nostrils flared, but she didn’t argue. “Very well. Let’s talk, Tabitha. JK, you may wait out in the hall. By Peter’s absence, I presume you have re-hired JK as your bodyguard?”
“Actually, no. That’s part of what I need to talk to you about, and J is going to be part of that conversation.”
Her mother frowned but nodded. “Very well. Lead the way, Tabitha.”
JK sat down next to Tabitha on the couch, while her mother sat opposite them. Her bodyguards stood behind her, their eyes darting around the room.
“Give us the room,” she nodded to them.
“Well? What is going on, Tabitha?”
Tabitha took a deep breath, trying to quell her nerves. JK took her hand and squeezed.
“Mom, I’m gay.”
“Well, yes, I had assumed as much—or at least something along those lines. You’ve never been interested in men. Why do you think I’ve never pushed you for marriage?”
“You’re… You’re okay with it?”
Mary’s expression softened. “Of course I am, Tabitha. I’m sorry if I ever gave you the impression that I would condemn you for your sexuality. It is just… well… obviously complicated by who you are, but we can get to that bit. We will find a way. I just wish you’d told me sooner.”
Well, so far, so good.
“I’m in love with JK.”
The understanding expression vanished at once. “This is where the difficulty arises.”
“Difficulty or not, that is the case, and I’m not going to pretend otherwise anymore. I’m going to be with JK, whether it is difficult or not.”
Mary’s eyes narrowed. “I don’t think you understand, Tabitha. I have the power to ruin you, if I choose. You would do best not to cross me.”
JK spoke up. “The only thing you have the power to do is disown her. You think she would be alone in the world if you did that, but she wouldn’t. She’d have me. Tabitha is far from helpless. It may take some time, but I have utter confidence that she would find a way to flourish in the world without you. I can support her until she finds her feet. She’ll be just fine without you. I have her back.”
“As do I.” Tabitha hadn’t even noticed Julie coming in, but she stepped forward now, glaring at Mary. “Tabitha is my best friend, and I am fully prepared to take her and JK in, or support them financially from afar if they choose to stay in the U.S. You don’t have as much control over your daughter as you think you do.”
Mary looked positively apoplectic. “You—you would abandon your duty?”
“Mom, I don’t want to abandon anything. I have every intention of being Queen one day and fulfilling my duties to England, but I’m not willing to sacrifice my happiness to do that, nor do I think it’s fair of you to ask me to. Do you really want me to live a life of misery just because you think the woman I love doesn’t hold a high enough station to be politically appropriate?”
“You would get over her. You could find someone so much better.”
“No, she wouldn’t!” Julie snapped. “You didn’t see her when I arrived. She was a mess. You yourself wondered if we’d have to admit her.”
“Depression is temporary.”
“A broken heart isn’t! You should know that, Mom!”
