Page 70 of Redemption of a Prince

She probably should look up the other family, though. If there were grandparents or aunts and uncles out there, did they deserve to know Lydia?

That would mean telling them the whole story.

It would mean significantly increasing the risk that it would become public knowledge. That could hurt so many people, not the least of which was Lydia herself.

Nikki put her paperwork away and pulled out her laptop.

With a deep breath, she logged in and did a search for his name.

She hovered the pointer finger of her mouse over the link to his obituary on the official New Sargassian military website.

She needed to know.

If only she knew which way she wanted the answer to go.

* * *

With wordout about his father’s condition and location, a horde of reporters and well-wishers waited for Zeke when he arrived at the main entrance of the hospital.

He desperately needed sleep, but had no idea when he’d be able to get some, or whether he’d even be able to rest once he closed his eyes. Rather, he fully expected to be overwhelmed with memories and thoughts related to Nikki, Lydia, and anything else that could conspire to keep him from sleeping.

He kept his head high, but ignored the questions called to him by reporters. He gave a polite wave and head nod to the crowd of citizens gathered there.

They were his people. His first priority.

Inside, a team took him through secured corridors until he reached the same place he’d been when he’d seen his father before.

He still looked weak, frail even, but there were less tubes than there had been when he left hours earlier.

Caleb had been standing watch. He gave Zeke a hug and admonished him that their father was still in and out of it.

He sat next to his father’s bed again, taking his father’s slack hand in his own gloved one. “It’s Zeke. I’m here, Papa.”

His father’s eyes fluttered open. “You’ll make a good king.”

Tears filled Zeke’s eyes and flooded onto his cheeks. “Someday maybe, but not yet. You have to fight.”

“As much as you adore her, she’s not your daughter. You’re eligible to take over when I’m gone.”

“I know. Mum told me.”

“Make things right with Nikki, Zeke. She’s the best thing that ever happened to you.” His father’s words took much longer to get out than normal. He took a shallow breath between every other word or so.

“I’m not sure I can forgive her.” The words cut him as surely as they would hurt Nikki if she heard them.

“You have to. Unforgiveness only hurts you.”

“I don’t know if I can. And if I can, I don’t think there can be a future for us.”

“Reconciliation is a beautiful thing.” With that, his father’s eyes closed again.

A nurse walked in. “Sir, your father insisted on talking with you, but he needs his rest.”

Zeke stared at his father for another moment. “Of course. I know a member of my family will be here most of the time, but please make sure I’m kept apprised of any change in his condition.”

“Of course, sir.” The nurse moved to one of the machines and did something to it.

After one last look, Zeke turned and left the room. He spoke with Caleb for a moment then went out a back door. He hadn’t been there long enough to want to go out the front. In fact, he thought most of the family would enter the front and exit somewhere else to hide the toll sitting by their father’s bedside was taking on them.

---