Page 11 of Appointing

“What?” Elizabeth asked, letting go of Palmer’s hand and leaning forward with her wife now.

“He’s going to stay in the Air Force. He plans to retire from it one day.”

“Elin, you’re…” Elizabeth didn’t finish her sentence.

“About to be named Queen of Norway, yes,” she confirmed.

“Oh, my God,” Elizabeth said.

“You can probably understand why I requested the visit now.”

“Of course,” Elizabeth replied.

“Is this what you want?” Palmer asked.

“I don’t know, honestly. IthinkI’m okay with it. I’m still a little in shock, though, and I have no idea how I’m going to do it. Most sovereigns assume the throne after they lose a parent.” She looked at Elizabeth. “Not only is my father still alive, but my older brother is, too.”

“Well, you’re twins,” Palmer reminded. “He only has a few minutes on you.”

“That doesn’t matter in our world, does it?” Elin asked.

“No, it doesn’t,” Palmer replied.

“How are you?”

“I’m nervous,” Elin admitted. “I was content being Princess and watching Christian become King, get married, and have kids. They’d take over after him, and I…” She faded out. “I just don’t know what to do now.”

“Because you don’t want children.” Elizabeth nodded in understanding.

“And because I’m gay,” Elin added.

“Well, we’re out. And Alex is out, too. She’ll be Queen of the United Kingdom one day. It’s much more common now,” Palmer reasoned.

“What kind of Queen willImake, though? You two at least have children; you don’t have to rely on Victoria’s kids to carry the line. Alexandria came out as a Princess, so people already know what they’ll get when she becomes Queen. They’ve had time to prepare. I’m just… me. I’ve been hiding behind my twin brother since birth. Suddenly, I’m going to be Queen,andI’m gay,andI’ve never wanted to have children. Do I have kids anyway because it’s the right thing to do? Do I just pretend to be straight and marry that Prince of Denmark my mom keeps suggesting I spend time with?”

“Of course not,” Elizabeth replied, taking Palmer’s hand again. “You must be yourself.”

“What ifI’mnot what the monarchy needs? What if I bring it down?”

“I rememberyousaying the same things tomebefore,” Palmer commented, looking over at her wife.

“And you told me I was exactly what St. Rais needed. I haven’t brought it down yet.” Elizabeth smiled at her. “Elin, I remember the feeling of the loss of my family, but also the confusion over how I would do all this like it was yesterday. I had two older siblings and a niece and nephew above me in line. I thought I’d get my doctorate, and I figured after Teagan divorced my brother and left me for good, I’d end up alone,” she said of her ex-girlfriend and their complicated family dynamic.

Elin watched as Palmer leaned over and kissed her wife’s temple.

“It’s so hard, but even though I wasn’t meant to be Queen of St. Rais – IamQueen of St. Rais. I met Palmer. We fell in love and got married.” Her serious expression changed to a wide smile. “Now, we have two beautiful children, and St. Rais has a lower crime rate, a higher graduation rate for students, better programs for our veterans and seniors, and I’d like to think that at least some of that is due to our hard work,” she said, turning to her wife.

“I just don’t know… I don’t know how I can see all of that for myself or my country right now,” Elin replied, picking up her iced tea glass from the small table between the sofa and her chair.

“Ma’am, may I come in?” Ingrid said, standing in the open doorway.

Elin dropped the iced tea glass onto the carpet.

“Oh, God! I’m so sorry,” she said to Elizabeth and Palmer.

“It’s fine. It’ll come out,” Elizabeth replied. “Palmer, can–”

“I’ll grab the cleaner,” Palmer finished for her.

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