Page 16 of The Crown

She texted Nico back. “We are at the lower gates. What’s going on?”

“Just hurry.”

They pulled through and went on up the hill, entering the canyon. She usually loved this approach, but could not enjoy it today.

Her father sat still, his face pale, hands trembling.

“Dad, what is it?”

“Did you see their signs?”

“Some of them. I’m sure we will know what’s going on in just a moment when we arrive.”

“Go back to America. Take your father with you.” His voice shook.

“What?” How could they say something like that? She watched her father. He sat still as stone.

“They are picketing your new Alzheimer’s initiative.” He reached for her hand. “And targeting me.” He cleared his throat. “Don’t do this for me, Jo. I love what you have here. It’s incredible. You can do so much good.” He paused and searched her face. “The queen of a nation.” He looked out the window to see their approach on the open plateau to the palace. “I’ll tell Nurse June it’s time for us to go back to the marina.”

“No! Dad, don’t do that. I need you here.” Panic rose inside. She couldn’t have him living so far away, not when his health could decline in an instant, not when she had so much on her shoulders here. “Let’s just talk it through and find out what’s going on. It may not be serious at all.” She waved her hand at the small crowd now shrinking in the distance behind them.

Nico was waiting for them in the carport when then pulled up. She stepped out of the car before anyone could come to open the door. “How could you be here already?”

He looked confused for a moment, then smiled. “Oh, we took the helicopter over when we got the first inkling of where the press was going with this.” He pulled her into a hug. “I wanted to be here when you arrived.”

Her heart warmed to him again and a small measure of comfort settled inside. “Dad wants to leave, to go back to Shady Lake.” She pulled back and whispered. “You can’t let him.”

Her father approached them from the other side of the car. “That was quite a welcome we had at the gates.” His eyes showed his concern. He waited, watching Nico’s face.

He nodded. “I’m sorry about that. Let’s get inside to our conference room and we can pull up the news pundits and talk about what is going on.”

Her worry heightened. This sounded more serious than a handful of people demonstrating at the gate.

They entered the family conference room, within the family quarters, that she had not yet entered. It was comfortable. Large, overstuffed furniture, a television, and beautiful floor length windows that lined one wall with the best view of the distant ocean and the town spread out to their front. The ocean looked a grey blue, almost matching the color of the sky.

These family gatherings were becoming all too familiar. “Do you have this many meetings dealing with the press when I’m not around?” She forced a slight laugh, but no one smiled in return.

She and her father sat, side by side at the table, across from Trane and Daniel. The brothers gave her half smiles once she was seated, but Dahlia rolled her eyes and turned to look at the far wall.

The local television channels were up in a grid of boxes to their front. The sound muted. Trane called out. “Channel ten is back up.”

The newscaster’s familiar voice filled the room. “Many have taken to the streets in reaction to Prince Nico’s announcement. They are holding signs, marching and planning to stay the night.”

A close up shot showed one sign. “Change country policy to benefit the American’s father?”

Many signs simply said, “Go back home.”

The hurt welled inside. “What is the matter?” She looked around the room. “What did I do wrong?”

Nico turned to her and pulled her into his arms. “Nothing at all. You’ve been wonderful.”

She looked over his shoulder at the queen. Her eyes showed compassion but her expression was grave. “They feel we have created a whole platform of assistance and support in our country to benefit your father.”

Nico’s phone dinged again and she wondered if it was Monique.

Her father’s face looked a little more ashen, but otherwise calm. His confusion and anxiety were so much less since he had changed his medicine. She reached for his hand. He gave hers a reassuring squeeze.

The king entered and they stood. Everyone was present, all the brothers, the sister, and the queen, whose face was a mask. They simply waited for Francisco to take his spot at the head of the conference table, and they joined him. He looked at them all in turn, and when his eyes reached her, they were filled with such kindness, a warmth she had not as yet seen fully from him. And he said, “Jo.”

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