Page 16 of Redemption of a Prince

Ezekiel stifled a sigh of his own. “I do, too.”

With a nod, Gideon left the office.

Resting his elbows on his desk, Zeke covered his face with his hands and groaned. After giving himself a moment to get his wayward emotions under control, Zeke reached out and pressed a button on his phone.

“Yes, sir?”

“Please set up an appointment with Nicolette Major in half an hour if she can make it.”

“I don’t know if she can, sir, but you have a phone call with the executives from Athmetis in an hour. Would thirty minutes be enough time for your meeting with Ms. Major?”

Zeke groaned. “No, it won’t.” And his assistant likely knew that already. “What about after the phone meeting?”

“Would you like to have lunch delivered to your office for both of you?”

Definitely not. “What about after lunch?”

“I’ll check with Ms. Major and see if she’s available. If not, I will schedule an appointment with her at the earliest mutually available time.”

“Thanks.” He hesitated then continued. “Will you see if I can have lunch with Lydia in her schoolroom today?”

“Of course, sir. I’ll message you with both answers.”

The intercom clicked off.

A minute later, an instant message popped up on his computer screen. The answer to both questions was yes. The meeting would be held an hour after he finished lunch.

He spent the next hour getting ready for his phone meeting. When it ended, he headed up to the family quarters.

Lydia was still working on her literature assignment when he walked in. It didn’t look like she was enjoying herself.

The change in the look on her face when she saw him walk in attested to that.

“Zeekie!” She pushed away from the table and ran to give him a hug. “I’m so glad you came up for lunch.”

“Me, too. I decided I needed to spend some time with my favorite girl today.” He hugged her close. “How are you?” Zeke left his arm around her shoulders as they started for the table.

Lydia gave the over-exaggerated sigh only a teen girl could give. “I’m supposed to be doing an analysis ofLand of the Moons, and I don’t want to. I love the books. I really do. But I love them on a surface level, mostly. I don’t want to dig for the subtext and hidden meanings.”

Zeke squeezed her shoulder before he let go. “I read them. I read them, and I can converse intelligently about them, but I don’t get the fascination. Caleb and Joss with the costumes and themed weddings to Rosie and Minnie, and all of that.” Which was why he was such a poor choice to head up the resort project.

They spent lunch talking about anything except the books and her paper.

“Are you worried about Papa?” she asked suddenly as they shared a piece of chocolate cake.

“Some,” Zeke admitted. “But he’s getting the best care in the country, and everyone here at the palace is getting tested. If there’s no match, then I have no doubt thousands of people nationwide will get tested. There has to be a match out there somewhere.”

“What if there isn’t?”

Zeke set his fork down and reached across the table to cover Lydia’s hands with his own. “We’re going to keep praying and hoping and believing that he’s going to be all right.”

A tear slid down Lydia’s cheek. “I am. I pray all the time. I just want toknowhe’s going to be all right. He’s my papa.”

The stabbing pain went straight through Zeke’s heart. “Me too, kiddo.”

After a silent moment, he squeezed her hands. “I’ve got to get back to work. Let’s do this again soon.”

She nodded. Zeke went around the table and gave her the best hug he could while she remained seated. He kissed the top of her head. “Love you.”

---