Page 116 of Loyally, Luke
Her gaze came back to his. “My phone. Where is it?” She rushed back to the bedroom and came back a moment later, phone in hand. “It’s dead. The water.”
“All right.” He nodded. “We’ll figure this out. Do you know Cameron’s number?”
“Not from memory.”
He looked back down at his phone and began texting. “Gordon can get it for us.”
Within a few minutes, Luke had Cameron on the phone and was explaining what had happened and trying to sort out a plan. But as Cameron detailed the extent of the storm damage, the truth became clearer.
She wouldn’t make it.
“Holton is going to share the news about the storm keeping you, Ellie.” Luke repeated Cameron’s words from the other side of the phone for Ellie’s benefit. “The people will understand. Cameron said a good number of folks have had to cancel their trips due to the weather, so you won’t be the only one.”
“And what is the plan?”
Luke turned the phone on speaker. “Ellie asked what is the plan, Cam?”
“I’ll be there in less than two hours.”
Luke’s brows rose as he met Ellie’s gaze. Ellie gave a one-shouldered shrug.
“With the storm damage, you think you can do that?” Luke asked.
“I work for the king, Mr.Edgewood,” came Cameron’s pedantic response. “He has the power to make the impossible happen.”
“Well, I’m sure the princess is all for the impossible right now, so I’m glad to hear it.”
Not even a chuckle. Sigh.
Luke gave Ellie his phone to contact whoever she needed, so while she retired to the bedroom for some privacy, he worked to get her clothes dry without electricity.
After a while, she walked back into the room, still rocking his clothes. “Cameron just called. He said he should be here in ten minutes.”
Luke looked down at the clock. True to his word. He’d even managed to make it up the mountain in about an hour and a half. “I think everyone needs a Cameron in their lives.”
“By the time we drive down the mountain, I still won’t make it to the banquet. And this was my opportunity to show everyone in this very visible way how I followed through with a task close to my heart.” She sighed. “And I bungled it like I do all the time.”
“Hey, hey.” He moved to her side and touched her arm. “Youmay be royalty, but I don’t think you have the power to control the weather.”
“But it’s my patronage, Luke.” She sank down onto the couch. “And now it’s my fault all over again. And whatever photos the reporter took will only capitalize on the fact that I chose my heart over my duty.”
“You did not.” He took her by the shoulders. “Ellie, I’m glad to hear that I reside somewhere in your heart, but the truth is, you had every intention of fulfilling your duties. Not telling Cam the truth might have been a bit reckless, but you never meant to forgo the banquet. Everyone at Cambric knows that those kids live in your heart too.”
He gave her shoulders a squeeze, drawing her attention back to him. “Don’t let them jerk you around. You’re stronger than that. We can spend a lot of time living a lie when we give people the power of our identities, but they don’t really have that power. They’re pretending to have power over you because it’s been working for so long.”
Her brows crinkled as she listened.
“Do you doubt your dad’s going to love you even when you mess up?”
“No, he’s been so gracious to me with all of my brokenness.”
“Right, so he’s not going to just toss up his hands and say, ‘Nope. Ellie’s not my daughter anymore because she screwed up one too many times,’ right?”
“No.” She grinned, blinking up with those watery eyes. “He’d never do that.”
“You’ll still be his daughter.” He smiled down at her. “Keep that truth close and embrace what God says about you. Who He says you are.” He ran a palm down her arm, wishing he could infuse strength. “Then those reporters and naysayers and Monster Maxims... they won’t have any hold on you anymore. Because you’ll know your real worth and you can walk with your head high.”
“My head knows you’re right. My heart is struggling with theconsequences of my choices and people’s reactions.” Her perfect posture deflated. “It’s so hard not to let their words beat at my insecurities, Luke.”
