Royally Not Ready(103)
“It was more of a selfish decision on my end. Being here, it feels like I’m close to my mom again.”
“Well, your decision feels heroic to us,” Theo says. “I’m just—I’m beyond words. I don’t know what to say.”
“I do,” Katla says, placing her hand on Theo’s leg. Queen Katla has never treated Theo with anything but utter adoration, their PDA never concealed. She’s not a cold woman, but a slightly broken one. Proud, yet sad. I know that deep within there is a warm-hearted woman who longed for restoration with her estranged daughter. And now she has a chance in some ways. “It takes a courageous woman to fly to a foreign country, find out she’s a princess, and being the remarkable adult that she is, accept the responsibility that’s been handed down to her. I know I’ve done some heinous acts in the past regarding communication with my children, but, Lilija, I need you to know that I’ll spend the rest of my time making up for it. I’m a stubborn woman, but I also know where I’ve wronged this country, and pushing my children away is my fault. Having you here, it feels almost like I don’t deserve it.”
“Katla,” Theo says softly. “We’ve spoken about this.”
“I know, but I need Lilija to know where I stand.” She levels herself with Lilly. “And I stand with you, Lilija. I shall be your backbone, your support, your concierge. I’ll be everything you need.”
“How about a grandma?” Lilly asks softly. “Never really had one of those, and it was what I was excited about most when coming to Strombly.”
Katla’s eyes now well up as she nods. “Yes, yes, I can do that for you.”
“There’s a lot I don’t know about you guys, and I would love to spend some time getting to know you. And maybe you can show me some of the things my mom made. Maybe some pictures of when she was younger?”
“We would be most pleased to do so,” Katla says. “Is there anything else you request?”
“Um, well, not sure you need to know this, but . . .” She twists her hands together and looks at me, and the hairs on the back of my neck rise. Fuck, she’s going to tell them. “Keller, well, he’s . . . uh, we’re sort of an item.”
Theo smirks.
Katla shifts her attention to me.
And a light sweat breaks out on my upper lip.
“Is that so?” Theo asks. “Keller, care to explain?”
“Yes, sir,” I say. “Although I know it’s not in my position to let my personal business mingle with my professional, and I apologize for that, I attempted to avoid getting involved with Lilly, but as time went on, that was harder and harder to do.”
“I didn’t make it easy on him, either,” Lilly says. “And I didn’t tell him I was going to admit this, so he’s caught off guard, but I want to be open with you both. Keller means a lot to me. He’s been my lifeline during this whole process. If I could request anything, it would be that we’re allowed to continue to date, because I would be devastated if that wasn’t allowed.”
“Lilly,” I say quietly. “Maybe we should talk about this—”
“I see no problem in them dating, do you, Katla?” Theo says, still grinning.
“No, I don’t see why it would be an issue. Keller is an excellent young man. You have good taste, Lilija.”
My gaze falls to theirs as the insides of my body start to itch, my insecurities roaring to life. It’s true that I’ve had a lot to do with Queen Katla over the years. She loved my mum dearly and was devastated when she died. But I’ve never felt the same connection with her that I feel with Theo. She’s always kept herself more aloof than warm with me. Is she honestly pleased or saying what she believes Lilly wants to hear? I pull on the back of my neck and whisper, “We can talk about this later.”
“Oh, sure, okay,” Lilly says, looking incredibly unsure.
“Lilija, why don’t I show you some of the table runners your mother embroidered over the years?” Katla stands from her seat and holds out her hand.
Lilly lights up as she says, “I’d love that.” She stands as well, Katla takes her hand, and together, they walk over to a dresser on the other side of the room, leaving me with Theo.
He grips the armrest of the settee and then lifts himself up. “Keller, join me in my office.”
I can only imagine what this will be about.
I open the hidden door that leads to his office and watch him slowly walk through. I’m so glad that he’s actually out of bed and not coughing. That relieves me, but it also feels as if he’s aged ten years since I last saw him.
I shut the door behind us, knowing he’s going to want the privacy to lecture me, and we both take a seat in his seating area, each opting for a fabric captain’s chair in a navy blue. They match the curtains that run floor to ceiling in his circular office.
Theo sets his cane down and says, “So, you and Lilly.”
“Yes.” I shift uncomfortably.
“Did that happen after our conversation when I told you to comfort her?”
I shift again. “Yes.”
“Uh-huh, comforted her a little much there?” he teases, but I don’t find it funny.
Looking him in the eyes, I say, “I wasn’t planning on giving in to my feelings, I truly wasn’t. I was trying to keep her at a distance, but . . .” I rub my forehead. “Hell, I just couldn’t stay away. She’s . . . she’s special, Theo. It feels as if she’s always belonged to me.”