Page 21 of Awaiting

“Well, ifthat’sthe case, I’m sure I can cover for you while you’re gone.”

“Really?” she asked hopefully.

“You really like this woman, don’t you?” her brother asked.

“I do,” she admitted, looking skyward. “She makes my heart do that flutter thing, and then my stomach feels like it’s going to jump out of my throat or something.”

“That’s graphic.”

“You know what I mean,” she said.

“I’ve never heard you talk about someone like this before.”

“I’ve neverhadanyone to talk about like this before,” Alex replied.

Lawrence smiled at her and said, “Then, go to Kleinland. Just send the schedule to–”

“I will. I will.” Alex pulled him in for a hug. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Lawrence laughed, hugging her back.

“I’m going to go say hi to Margaret and the boys before I leave.”

“The splashing should be more or less over by now, but my wife is likely at her peek frustration with Louis since it’s now bedtime, and he hates bedtime, so prepare yourself.”

“And why is your wife the one dealing with this while you read the paper?”

“Because I dealt with it last night while she read a novel,” he replied. “If you hear a toddler temper tantrum, back away. Just trust me.”

CHAPTER 8

Bexley had made some progress. The supplies and furniture she’d requested had already arrived, and she’d spent one whole day just trying to clean the dirt and dust off things. If this was going to work, she needed it to at least look presentable. She found she actually liked the solitude of the work. There was a podcast playing in her headphones, and she could tune out everything else while she listened to it and tried to put furniture into place. She knew she couldn’t possibly have the place entirely ready by the time the students showed up, which had been her initial hope, but she’d have it most of the way there, and they could help with the rest.

For now, though, Bexley needed to pick up more cleaning supplies from the stockpile she’d placed by the elevator, so she walked out of the first office and headed that way.

“Oh, my God!” she yelped, covering her heart with her hand, and had to catch her breath from the scare before she pulled her headphones out of her ears.

“Hey, Bex,” Alice greeted. “Sorry; did we scare you?”

“What are you doing here? You scared the shit–” Then, Bexley saw who was standing next to her friend, expecting it to be Nora, but it wasn’t. “Oh. Sorry. Hello, Your Royal–”

“I’m wearing a tool belt – I think you can just call me Alex,” the Princess said.

Bexley looked down, and sure enough, the Princess of the United Kingdom was wearing a tool belt on her hips. There were even actual tools in it.

“What are you–”

“I thought you could use some help. Alex was free. She’s volunteered her services.”

“Sorry, what?” Bexley asked, wiping sweat from her forehead.

“You wouldn’t accept help from me or Nora. We even tried to get soldiers here, and you said no. Hell, Romero volunteered to help, and he’s an old man, Bex.”

“She’sa Princess,” Bexley said, pointing to Alex. “Shit. Can I even point at you?”

“That’s an instant tower situation,” Alex teased, recalling an earlier conversation they’d had about the Tower of London.

Bexley dropped her hand and said, “I’m almost done. I don’t know what you can do. I mean, you’re a Princess. I–”

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