Page 129 of Royally Benevolent

“Papa!”

Theo’s face went from confused to excited as soon as he spotted me. Before I could even stand, he raced to me. I picked him up and kissed him. Even at this height and weight, I’d pick him up as long as he’d let me and my back allowed. Childhood was precious and fleeting.

“You made it,” I said. “I’m so happy you’re here.”

Mom patted him on the head and kissed me on the cheek.

She turned to Odette. “I am so sorry for your loss, as I told your sister.”

That must have been an interesting conversation.

“I hope you enjoy bombastic funerals,” Alexandra said. “But make no mistake that this is freedom.”

“Thank you for your sentiments,” Odette said.

Theo looked at Odette, his brain putting it all together despite the jet lag. “Odie!”

She stood to give him a hug, bum ankle or not. I slowed him down.

“Odette’s ankle is hurt, buddy. We need to give her some space and be gentle.”

“You’re here? Are you and Papa getting married?” Theo asked in French. “Why did you go?”

Odette sweetly pushed back his curls and smiled. In maternal French, she answered him back. “We were both busy with other things but are back together now. I thought about you every day, Theo. You were always in my heart.”

Theo buried his head in her waist, squeezing too tightly, then turned back. “Papa, are you getting married?”

“That,” I answered, “is a grown-up question for a later date.”

“A much later date,” Odette said. “We need to live in the same country and do a few more things before we can even talk about that,ma puce.”

I knelt before Theo, his hands in mine. “We’re moving home, okay? To Neandia. When you finish school, we’ll move back.”

“Forever?”

“For as long as I know, buddy,” I said. “And Odette will be living with us.”

He turned to Odette for confirmation.

“Ouais, ma puce,” she said, tenderly. “That is the last word.”

75

A CHATEAU FOR THREE

ODETTE

“The chateau with the stables is too big,” I said.

We flipped through our colour-coded spreadsheet of houses. As with anything, Wyatt had to crunch numbers. I loved him for this, but I wasn’t sure how to buy a home. Either way, it was his money. I wasn’t going to tell him how to spend it.

“But that was your first choice,” Wyatt said.

“It’s too big. A chateau for three people? Silly, Wy.”

“Your sister has a massive palace for a household of eight.”

“Okay, but she’s a queen with four children. Children take up space.”

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