“I’m thankful that Suzzy is engaged and getting married. And he’s got money, not like your kind of money, Aiden, but enough that she will always be taken care of. ‘Cause that’s important, you know?” Sheila actually lifted her glass to that nonsense. “And even though she is spending the holiday with her fiancé’s family in Aspen, she’s here in spirit.”

“Your turn, Fin,” Dad sounded ready for us to be done with this.

“I’m thankful for my friends and family.” I glanced at Jess, since she was the majority of the family I was thankful for, and because she had been so brutally excluded, yet again, by her dick of a mom. “And for you.” I turned to Aiden. We’d been in a good place since last night, mostly because we agreed not to discuss Andorra.

“And I you.” He lifted my hand and kissed.

“Well, now that everyone is grateful for something, let’s eat.” Dad started cutting his turkey. Everything was perfect because Sheila hadn’t cooked a single thing. At this point, the team in the kitchen was cleaning and preparing dessert.

She was rocking her fake smile, the one that made Jess nervous as she cut her veg and took a small bite.

“What day are you girls arriving in Andorra?” Dad asked, his tone had changed to slightly more solemn.

“I’ve asked everyone to arrive on the twenty-third,” Aiden answered for us, reaching into his pocket and handing Dad a small envelope. It was the same as the one I had been given. Seeing it made my stomach turn.

I lowered my fork, watching my dad open it. His eyes were wide and excited, like this was some sort of good news, until he saw it. And then, like the man I knew he was capable of being, he was crushed. A glimmer of devastation crossed his expression. He paused and swallowed all that pain back down, nodding and forcing a smile. “Congratulations, Aiden.” His voice cracked, something he tried to disguise with clearing his throat. He couldn't have sounded worse.

“Lemme see!” Sheila snatched the card from him, her eyes wide and excited. “Oh my God! This is the best news ever.” She was simply glowing, no doubt aware what this meant for us and me. Unlike my dad, she didn't get that Aiden’s dad was dying, and at such a young age he would lose a second person from his immediate family.

Jess’ eyes glistened as she gazed over her mother’s shoulder. She didn't disguise the pain on her face. “I’m so sorry,” she offered quietly.

“Sorry? Why?” Sheila burst, still gushing. “This is great news! Aiden’s going to be king. We have royalty at our table. We’re going to a royal coronation. You guys are such downers.” She turned to me. “Is this because you’re so selfish and can’t handle that he has to put something above you?”

“Sheila!” Dad said loudly. “Aiden’s becoming king because his father is sick.” Dad sounded disgusted. “This is no celebratory coronation. I’m sorry, Son.”

“Oh.” Sheila’s eyebrows furrowed. “Right.”

“It’s fine. I’m just glad you can all make it, and, Sheila, we will miss you being there.”

“I’m coming!” Sheila burst.

“Oh, I thought you’d be in Aspen with Suzzy, Mom. You said that was your plan,” Jess added.

“Oh right. I mean, she probably won’t care—”

“Nonsense, Sheila. She is your firstborn, and she would be devastated that you didn't make her first Christmas with his family. No, you’re going to Aspen.” Dad patted her on the hand firmly, letting her know this wasn't up for discussion.

But I saw something else.

She was pissed off and this wouldn't be the end of it.

Jess flashed me a look. I nodded subtly.

We both knew what was coming.

“Fine.” She continued to force herself to eat.

None of the rest of us had a fork in our hands.

My appetite was long gone.

“And we will all be there the twenty-third. Wouldn't miss it for the life of me,” Dad added fuel to the fire as Sheila plotted his life, specifically the end of it.

“Thank you, sir. You’re support means the world to me.” Aiden squeezed my hand again. “All of you.”

“How’s college going in Andorra?” Dad lifted his fork again and began eating.

“It’s busy. I never paid much attention to the details of being a king before. And now I’m studying that with my college courses. It can get a bit heavy.” Aiden also lifted his fork and scooped some mashed potatoes and gravy, forcing the bite.

“You still have time for skiing though,” Sheila said venomously. “I loved that photo shoot you did recently. Gorgeous girl you had there.”

“My sister, yes. She’s lovely.” Aiden tried to play it down.

“No, the other one. Alex.” Sheila’s eyes shone.

“She is his sister-in-law, Mom,” Jess offered weakly.

“Oh, I see.” Sheila played dumb but she was visibly plotting. And when it was time for dessert, she had a new gleam in her eyes. She reminded me of the Grinch in that respect. The moment she had something awful figured out, she shone.

“I’m stuffed,” Aiden patted his flat abs. “Dinner was wonderful, Sheila.”

“Yes, thanks, dear.” Dad lifted her hand and kissed it the way Aiden had done mine.

“You’re welcome. I’m thankful for all of you.” Her eyes landed on me as she said it.

Jess gulped, loud enough that I heard it. It made me smile, nervously.

“And thanks for coming all this way to celebrate with us.” Dad smiled at Jess and me. “I know the jet lag is misery and the trip isn’t worth the four days, but I’m really glad you did it.”

“I can’t believe we go back tomorrow, already,” Jess picked at her pumpkin pie with her fork. “Feels like it flew by.” She sounded sad. If she was, it was because she had hardly been able to see Aaron since she’d arrived.

He, Carter, and Linna had to spend time with their families as well. We’d hung out one night so far. I wondered if Johan knew about anything. Or if Aiden had noticed the difference in her.

“Thanks again for dinner.” I got up, tugging at Aiden’s hand. I led him from the dining room to the stairs and forced him up them, not caring my dad wouldn't be comfortable with this. His hotel room was across the city and my bedroom was a few feet from us.

When we got into the dark room, I closed the door and pulled him to my bed, forcefully making him lie down and curling up in his arms.

“So, is it safe to say Sheila was wearing her plotting face?” he asked after a couple of minutes.

I started to laugh, shaking us both with my giggling. “Yes. She’s so crazy. We have to be ready. She’ll up the ante on this.”

“Okay. I’ll keep my eyes open for a booby trap.” He kissed the side of my head. “I have to admit, if she manages a plot in Andorra, I might not be able to deny a small measure of admiration for it.”

“After you recover from whatever side effects it causes.” I imparted my warning as I closed my eyes and sighed, breathing in the smell of him. “If you recover,” I added, forgetting that part. There had been things she’d done that I had never recovered from. Sometimes it was a needed life lesson, like going to Hattie’s. Other times it was devastation in a way I didn't heal from. I had to move on. Get past it so I didn't kill her and spend the rest of my life in jail.

“She doesn't scare me.”

“She should. She’s nuttier than a fruitcake. Anyway, how long have you known he was this sick?”

“A month.”

“So ‘moderately better’ was a lie?”

“No, a hope. The diet did perk him up for about four weeks. And then we were waiting on results, hoping for a change. When we got them on the twenty-fourth of October, it was all bad news. The doctors are doing what they could for comfort, to keep him stable and plateaued. But he will weaken. The chemo has made it impossible for him to be in Andorra; he’s been moved to Switzerland for six weeks of treatments. Mary went with him, finishing her studies from there. Mother is staying with me to help the transition go smoothly. Mary and Father will be back around the time of the coronation.”

“That's why you’ve been so tense?” The date and the weeks afterward and his behavior all clicked into place with finding out this news. “Why didn't you tell me?”

“I didn't know how.” He pressed his lips against my face again. “I’m trying so hard to be something I don't want to be, something I never wanted to be, and I have this terrible feeling I’ll have to choose between my country and you.”

“Aiden.” I lifted my face, meeting the worry in his gaze. “I would never make you pick one or the other.” What I would do, a thought I kept to myself, was remove myself from the equation.

“Well, I don't hold you to the engagement, like I said before. The ring will always mean that to me, it will always represent my heart. But if you need to walk away, I understand. You didn't sign up for this.”

“I signed up for you.” I couldn't make promises that I wouldn't be able to keep. Living in Andorra for the rest of my life, being tied to a country and responsible for all those people and the government didn't appeal to me. But I could promise one thing. “I will keep your heart safe until we have to make a decision about anything.”

“I wish we could stay like this.”

“Maybe one day.” I wanted so badly to cry but I wouldn't. I wouldn't burden him with my tears and my sadness, not when his world was literally falling apart and being put back together for him.