Page 61 of A Royal Arrangement
“I have something set up for you on your favorite balcony.” He extended his arm to Rosalie. She hurried over and accepted it.
Colin led her up a set of stairs and through the hallway until they reached her balcony, with a setup he had prepared all by himself. It wasn’t perfect—the vase of flowers didn’tlook professional by any means, and the tea lights didn’t have any rhyme or reason to their arrangement—but he had tried, and he hoped that was what would matter in her eyes.
Once they sat down, he lifted the dome off a large plate holding two ramekins.
“Is that chocolate mousse?” Rosalie’s voice wobbled.
He nodded. “Charlotte said it was your sister’s favorite dessert.”
Her chin trembled as she tried to maintain her composure.
“I hope you’re not mad. Your friends told me about your sister. And Rosalie…”—he took her hands in his—“I am, again, so incredibly sorry for what I said on the beach.”
“It’s in the past.” She intertwined her fingers with his. “It’s honestly easier that they told you. It’s still hard for me to share about it, even all these years later.”
He leaned back into the couch cushions, able to get more comfortable now that he knew she wasn’t mad at him. “You don’t have to talk about her if you don’t want to. I, of all people, can understand that.”
“It might help to talk about the good memories I have of her. Sometimes it still hurts to remember, but I don’t want to ever forget.” She laid her head on his shoulder as they both stared out at the ocean. “Most of my favorite memories with Ari were at the ocean. Our family used to visit the beach every summer and winter. Leo, Ari, and I would play in the water until our parents dragged us out. Our hands and feet were always pruned all week long. I loved the sandcastle-building contests we had, and Ari and I would bury Leo’s legs in the sand and give him a mermaid tail while he napped on the beach every trip.”
“How much younger than you was she?”
“She was four years younger than me. Ari tried to copy basically everything I did. Whenever I asked her what she wanted to be when she was older, Ari’s answer was always that she wanted to be just like me.”
“You’re a good person to emulate. The world could use more people like you.”
Rosalie didn’t respond, allowing Colin to soak in the moment. The feel of her hand in his, the press of her head on his shoulder…it felt right. He could feel their relationship changing with each passing moment. And moments like this, when they could simplybetogether, were ones that could have the greatest impact.
“You said most of your favorite memories with Ariana were at the beach. How has it been for you living in this palace where you see the ocean every day?” Colin asked.
She sat up straight, and when he looked at her, her eyes were glossy.
“Since losing her, being near the ocean has been bittersweet. It brings with it all those happy memories from my childhood, but it also reignites the sting of losing her far too soon. Some days, it’s hard being here, but I think it’s been more healing than anything.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I wouldn’t wish to cause any undue harm.”
Rosalie let out a light laugh. “It’s not like you purposefully chose a palace on the water, knowing you would marry me one day.”
“Touché.” A hint of a smile pulled at the corners of his mouth, but it quickly faded. “I’m so sorry you had to experience her loss so young. It was hard when I lost Isabella as an adult. I can’t begin to imagine what it must’ve felt like to lose your sister when you were so young.”
“Itwas really difficult.” She paused, carefully choosing her next words. “I guess since then I’ve felt older than I am because losing Ariana when I was a teenager made me grow up quickly. I didn’t only lose Ariana that day. I lost my naivety and my youth. And my parents…” She paused, dabbing her fingers at the corners of her eyes. “They were so lost in their own grief that I don’t think they saw mine.”
“Have you ever talked to them about how you feel?”
Rosalie shook her head. “I never wanted to make things worse. They lost their daughter.”
“Yes, but you also lost your sister. You shouldn’t have to feel like you lost the rest of your family too.”
“I don’t want my feelings to be a burden.” She pulled her hand back from his.
He lightly lifted her chin with his pointer finger and thumb so she was looking directly into his eyes when he said, “Your feelings are valid andnevera burden.”
Tears started pouring down her cheeks. Colin pulled the handkerchief from his suit coat pocket and gently wiped away her tears. He wrapped his arm around her, and she nestled into him, leaning her head on his shoulder as her sniffling subsided.
“Thank you,” Rosalie whispered.
“Any time,” Colin responded.
And he meant it.
