Page 29 of The Crown

His heart hardened. Did she have no idea what he was going through? Surely whatever it was that concerned her they could fix. Could she not wait until they got through the coronation?

“Jo, we don’t have time for whatever this is. Can you just hang on? We’ll put our people on the problem and fix this when we get everything else in order.”

She frowned. “It’s not that simple, and no, this has to be addressed today, several hours ago.” She turned from him. “I’m leaving tonight.”

She infuriated him. All the sorrow and stress of the past few days weighed down around him, and he lost patience with her. Instead of running after her, or trying to change her mind, he turned on his heel and stomped to his next meeting. Her concern, though real to her, seemed overly childish to him right now as he faced yet another crisis in dealing with a hostile nation to their East.

15

The plane ride home felt more frustrating than usual. The trans-Atlantic flight took all night, and she sat on a plane full of crowded people, bumping her arms and spilling crumbs on her legs. Her father and Nurse June sat across the aisle. Sierra had opted to stay. She and Julian would be married in six months.

New tears welled in Jo’s eyes at the thought. She was happy for her friend, but felt completely lonely that she would be having a life Jo had thought would be hers.

She hated leaving. She hated giving up everything that could be hers in Torren. But how could she stay when Nico so obviously cared for another, when he couldn’t be bothered to talk to her when her concerns were obviously so urgent. She needed a different kind of relationship when she got married. If she ever would. The worst part about everything was that she loved Nico so much that she couldn’t imagine ever feeling love again.

She felt comforted though, knowing that her father would be shielded from ridicule and the nefarious designs of the press. She needed him lucid for the next few weeks and felt grateful for the medication that seemed to be working superhuman powers into his brain, preserving what was left.

Now she must face this next challenge.Kevin. Their days as young college students in love at Vanderbilt felt like lies. She could roast him alive. In his letter from a lawyer, he had outlined all the changes to be made at the marina and the start dates of his many projects. Apparently, while he was visiting Jo this past summer, he had convinced her father to sign over a power of attorney to himself and to deed him half the property. Jo suspected that due to her father’s dementia, the dear man thought he was signing it over to herself.

Her father needed to be present to fight this power of attorney, and if Kevin wasn’t willing to back down, a lawyer and judge would also be needed.

She cringed, thinking of what damage Kevin might have already wreaked on her beloved marina.

Opening the door to her home, musty unused smells greeted her at the door. Memories of the open crisp marble rooms of the palace filled her with a sharp ache.

She called their attorney, and he came over right away. After talking with him and signing several papers, she felt like they had done all they could for now, and at the encouragement of her father, went to her room, but sleep was far away. She flipped open her laptop to catch up on the Torren tabloid news. Someone had to tell her what was going on.

An hour into images of her crazed father, her own stricken face, and plenty of Nico and Monique, Jo fell asleep to restless and unhappy dreams.

The next morning Jo woke to her father’s shouts, “No, don’t take her! Leave me alone.”

Nurse June’s calm voice followed him into his bedroom. Jo ran toward them. “What’s the matter?”

“Jo.” Her father rushed to her. “I’m so happy you are here. They didn’t get you.”

“Of course I’m here.” She looked over his shoulder. Nurse June shook her head and shrugged. “Father, what’s the matter. Are you feeling confused again?

He pulled away. “I don’t know. I got so scared. It seemed so real.” He turned back to his room. “I need to go back to sleep.”

She let him go, nurse following after. Jo knew the new medication would not maintain the good effects it had forever. But she had hoped she had more time. Perhaps she still did.

The attorney called. Listening to him, her mood dropped further. There was a large chance the power of attorney would stand. Kevin might be her new Marina business partner. She cringed, in dread of the thought.

Everything seemed terrible and getting worse. She moved to the kitchen for a snack, before turning on the television. The coronation was about to begin.

The chapel of the church looked beautiful. They had hung flowers just as had been planned. The stained glass shone brilliant blues down on the faces of those walking up the aisle. Jo remembered her first day at the palace and those same hues. She hugged a pillow to her chest, tight pain making it difficult to breathe. How could she have left Nico? Her heart couldn’t keep beating. She knew any moment the pain would be too great. But how could she stay? Monique’s self-satisfied expression when they walked out of that dark room was enough to tell Jo her standing. And the marina. She couldn’t let Kevin just take it from them.

At home on her couch, Jo watched people file in to their seats getting ready for the procession. And then the music changed and everyone stood. She sat forward, aching for the first sign of Nico.

He entered, and she melted like she did the first time she saw him. She ached with missing him. His mother’s hand rested on his arm. Both regal in their bearing. Jo sighed. He looked like a king. His expression. His firm jaw, his bearing, and the strength of his gait. He reverberated power. His sister followed and each brother. Trane, the duke, looked especially handsome, and she realized for the first time, he was taller than Nico. And then her heart sank. At the back of the family group was Monique, on the arm of their youngest brother, Daniel.

Seeing her there with the family was so shocking, she almost turned off the television, unable to bear the pain. The queen had even mentioned Jo coming in with a different group, Jo, the fiancé might have entered with another group. And here was Monique part of their cozy family. Tears began to fall.

Monique had known their family forever. She had all the press connections. She knew what to say, to whom she should speak, and when to say it. She was beautiful, and Jo remembered from all the pictures earlier, she looked fabulous on Nico’s arm.

Jo sank lower into the sofa. Thunder echoed above her house, and rain started to fall. As if on que. She laughed without humor, then turned up the television. The announcer was talking about each person in the procession. The Baldeez brothers and their parents entered. Each as handsome as the other. Jo shook her head. Criteria for being a royal: more beautiful than anyone around you. Check. But none of them could capture Jo’s heart like Nico. No one else ever would.

When they had all arrived, and the priest stood at the front to open the ceremony, the speakers were announced. Nico would go last.

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