Page 125 of Royally Benevolent

“Odette, I am sorry for everything. When I shouted at you, I should have been more compassionate. I flew off the handle thinking about protecting Theo, but never really thought about what yougaveTheo.”

“Gave him?”

“A sense of stability, love beyond what I thought someone coming into my life could give, a feeling of being seen, and the whole French thing.”

“The French thing?”

“We don’t speak to him in French—at all. He may speak tomein French, but I usually answer in Frenglish. The older he gets, the more this angers him. I never thought kids could have identities with this stuff. He’s being punished at school for not speaking English. He cries about it. I cannot do a goddamn thing to fix it, either. I try, but my brain doesn’t work that way. You made him feelsoseen, Odie. He doesn’t light up like that with anyone but me and Mom.”

Tears welled. My throat felt scratchy. Emotionally, I was on a rollercoaster and trying not to shut down.

“I never knew he even cared. I hoped he would like the present. It felt bad to exclude him.”

“He loved it,” Wyatt said. “It was too thoughtful. I wanted to call you for days but figured you’d never answer. He loved the gift but then sobbed for days because I wouldn’t let him say thank you in person. He hasn’t been back here.”

“Will you ever come back? Wyatt, I cannot move to America—at least not until the niblings are older. Alex needs me to help.”

“I’m not asking you to move,” Wyatt said. “I think we’ll come back as much as that means for me with travel because he hates living there. It hurts a little because I love it there. We had this blissful time splitting life back and forth. I returned here because I felt closer to Isla and her family. They haven’t seen him in months, and it feels selfish. I should have fought harder. It was the wrong choice for all of us.”

“The press frightened you. I understand that must have been hard, Wyatt.”

“They did, but I should have taken a moment to breathe. The press release was the last straw. Honestly, as much as I do not want the press up our asses, I cannot live with denial that you love me. It felt terrible.”

I furrowed my brow, “It hurt you?”

“Odette, I love you so much. I want you with me all the time. I want us to spend Sunday mornings together in front of the fireplace, with Theo building God knows what out of Legos and you just… reading happily.”

“I want that, too.”

“What can we do to keep the press at bay—besides your denial of our relationship? Well, whatwasour relationship.”

I squeezed Wyatt’s hand. “I love you. Even now. Especially now. We’re together if you want to be together.”

He kissed my forehead. “I do. But we need a plan.”

“You need to get a different house. One in the country or something. At least one with more grounds and better security. I can ask Alex about using my allowance for security?—”

He cupped my chin. “Odette, sweetheart, this is not ayouproblem to solve. I can cover security. And I never thought about the house. Maybe it is worth the fresh start?”

“I know that house means a lot to you?—”

“It was one we built together,” Wyatt said. “That doesn’t mean I cannot build a home with you and Theo. And maybe we should do that. Isla isn’t here, and even if she were, she’d want what was best for Theo.”

“So, are you looking for a house now?” I laughed.

He ran his hand through my hair, drawing me even closer. “I thinkwewill look for a house as soon as we can figure out the move and after Theo’s school ends in May.”

“I can make that work,” I agreed. “And either way, I am stuck holed up here for the next week and a half. There is no escape. Even after the funeral, I have a month of mourning.”

“So, no tram opening?”

“No,” I laughed. “Not even trams.”

“Looks like my Monday just opened up,” Wyatt laughed. “I calledoff my trips. I’m going to stay. And whether you want it or not, I called Mom. She thinks I should stay after the funeral and keep Theo on, too. He misses me, and he’d love to see you.”

I rested my head on his shoulder. “I’d love that.”

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