Page 61 of The Un-Apparent Heir

“Not too livid to avoid me.”

“The chemistry was undeniable then as it remains now.”

The music slowed. Natalie moved closer, resting her head on Ed’s shoulder.

“My neck hurts,” she groaned.

“That thing must be heavy.”

For their anniversary, Ed gifted Natalie a particularly nice bit of jewellery. His grandmother left him a small fortune. Given how hard the last year was and how strong she remained, he felt no one deserved spoiling more than she did. And, quite frankly, his grandmother would be proud to see a good bit of coin now decorating the head of a princess. She always did like the royals.

“It’s beautiful, though,” Natalie said. “You know I am still unsure of diadems, but… it is fabulous. I love a belle époque tiara.”

“So said your mother,” Ed chuckled.

“Scale of 1 to 10 how much did you shit your pants when you found out what a tiara cost?”

“It was closer to a 10 than a one,” Ed chuckled. “And yet, I didn’t mind. Natalie, you have always been there when I needed you and stuck by me. You always will. I could not love you more. If anyone deserves serious spoiling, it is you, my love. So, looking at that thing on your head only makes me love you more.”

“Why?”

“Because… I dunno. You chose me. You choose me every damn day. And I don’t know why. Because you’re gorgeous and confident. You could have any man on this Earth. And yet, you choose me. So, when you do things—like wear this damn thing on my head—it reminds me that you have always chosen me. And that feels precious.”

Natalie smiled. “God, you’re going to make me cry, Ed.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. I just… I love you more than words. And this year has been a fucking slog, but we made it, baby.”

“We did,” Natalie agreed. “But I knew we would.”

“What’s next?”

“I dunno. Only the stars know. Maybe we will discover I have an evil triplet or something in another universe.”

“Oh, that could be fun,” Ed joked.

“I love you, Edwin. You make me so very happy. And there is no one on this Earth I would rather accept blood diamonds from—no one.”

He snickered. “Those are very vintage.”

“Still filled with atrocity like everything in these places.”

“You gotta make it weird.”

“Oh, I will start returning things the day they give me the keys. Just wait. Don’t tell anyone!”

“Your secret is safe with me, Princess.”

“We’re happy, aren’t we?” Natalie asked.

“So happy in ways I never expected. I don’t know. I will still always wish we could have a child or several. I will always wonder why we couldn’t and curse it a bit. I am grateful to wake up next to you in the morning. You’re the first face I see in the morning and the last before I fall asleep. I never expected to marry the person I most admired. I cannot complain about a single thing.”

“I feel the same way,” Natalie said. “I can shake my fist at the sky, but at the end of the day, you’re my teammate. I don’t understand why it worked this way, but I love you more than words.”

“To another fifty years?” Ed chuckled. “I’ll probably be dead by then, but who knows?”

“I would be so glad to get another fifty, baby. It’s all I want.”

PART III

---