Royal Heir (Westerly Billionaire #3)(32)
Eric looked over at Rachelle, and there was an expression of humility in his eyes. It was as if he hadn’t understood until just then that only he saw himself as a pathetic joke. Spandex, cape, and all, he was bringing real joy to a sick child. He handed Finn a stuffed water bear, placed his hands on his hips, and said, “Finn of Vandorra, I want very much to meet the children of this place, but I require a guide. Are you up to the task?”
Finn looked to his parents for permission, who looked to the nurse beside them. She nodded and said he could wheel his IV with him.
“This is going to be great,” Finn announced, “but I should put on some pants.”
Eric raised a stuffed water bear in the air and boomed, “Yes, Finn of Vandorra, put on some pants, and we shall tour this place and leave mini-mes all over this land.”
Finn waved for the nurses to pull his IV, then scrambled off the bed, gathered his clothing, and headed into the bathroom of his room. While he was in there, Rachelle took the opportunity to speak to Eric. “His family is so happy you’re here. You’ve touched their lives.”
Eric gave her a playful slug to the arm. “I wouldn’t be here at all if it weren’t for you. Thank you.”
Magnus joined them. “The suit does make a difference.”
Eric’s eyes narrowed, but the anger from earlier was gone. When Finn entered the room again, Eric said, “Prince Magnus, that is hilarious. You should tell jokes to all the children. Finn, ask your prince to tell you a joke. He’s so funny.”
Finn stepped up and looked back and forth between his two heroes. “Do you know any jokes?”
Magnus looked stumped, then uncomfortable. Rachelle leaned toward Magnus and said, “Knock, knock.”
“Who’s there?” Magnus asked.
“Orange.”
“Orange who?”
“Knock, knock.”
“Who’s there?” Magnus asked again.
“Orange.”
“Orange who?”
“Knock, knock.”
“Who’s there?”
“Orange.”
“Orange who?”
“Orange you glad we’re off to meet another child instead of telling knock-knock jokes all day?”
Everyone laughed—even Eric and Magnus. For a moment they were on the same side.
Finn led the way, organizing the support staff, who were carrying boxes of stuffed animals. He shared his visitation route with the intensity of a child who had spent considerable time dreaming of exactly how the day would go. Eric walked at his side, waving to all the children while staying true to his superhero character.
Magnus remained at Rachelle’s side, leaving her only to greet each child. They were as excited to meet him as they were Water Bear Man, and Rachelle loved watching Magnus become more and more comfortable with them. His humor was dry, but the children laughed, and their parents gushed their gratitude.
One mother said she traveled several hours each day because she could not afford to stay in the nearby hotels anymore. Magnus called the hospital’s administrator over and asked if she knew of a successful program for providing short-term housing at hospitals. She said she did, but so far, she had not made headway getting the funds to maintain it. Magnus merely nodded, but that seemed promising enough for the administrator to look pleased. His people trust him to care about them. Where do you see that in leaders anymore?
The last room they visited held Tinsley, still bald from treatments, who left her bed as soon as Magnus entered the room and took his hand. Despite the dark circles beneath her sparkling blue eyes, she turned her eyes adoringly up at Magnus. “I have waited my whole life for you,” she said so seriously that Rachelle swallowed the laugh she’d almost let out.
Magnus sat in the chair so he was at her eye level. “That’s an awfully long time.”
“Three years,” Tinsley said.
The girl’s parents stood off to one side, smiling. It was impossible not to. The little girl was absolutely adorable.
“I have good news and bad news for you,” Magnus said in a serious tone.
The little girl’s bottom lip jutted out in a pout. “No bad news.”
“Okay, then I have good news and better news.”
Tinsley smiled and clapped. “Good news.”
“There are castles at Disney, but none that are mine, so there is no need to marry me.”
The little girl’s smile faded; then she looked at him with hope in her eyes. “Better news?”
“If it’s okay with your parents, I will send you to the Disney park of your choice as soon as you are healthy enough to go. So you’d better get healthy soon. Mickey Mouse is waiting to meet you.”
“Disney!” Tinsley cried out, and threw her arms around Magnus. Her parents came over to thank him. He looked up, and the smile he gave Rachelle stole another piece of her heart.
Eric chuckled from the doorway. “Nothing I could say will top that.”
Magnus said goodbye to Tinsley one last time and walked out of her room with Rachelle and Eric. He caught his reflection in a glass window and realized he was smiling. How had something that had been such a miserable experience just a few days ago become enjoyable?
Rachelle.
He could easily picture her by his side at other events. Her simple light-blue slacks and cream blouse would not gain the front page of a fashion magazine, but his people didn’t need a fashion role model. They needed someone who would care about them, someone who would raise the next generation of his family with the same moral integrity his mother had.