I was pacing like a madman all over the embassy.  Sometimes I forgot how huge it is.  I went outside and then inside and then outside and then inside again.  That’s how big the place is, when you can do that and not repeat any of the rooms. 

Running my fingers through my hair in frustration, I eventually found a bar.  We kept it open poolside in case we needed a drink.  Seemed like a waste to hire a full time bartender just to man it, but now it was paying for itself.

“Manhattan on the rocks please,” I ordered.  “And keep them coming.”

“Yes, sir,” said the bartender.

“Byron!  Where is your swimsuit, huh?”

I turned.  Dominique was in the pool doing laps.

“Relax, my friend,” Dominique said.  “We shall get the paternity test.  Then we will know, huh?”

I threw my Manhattan against the ground.

“I do not want a test!” I snapped.  “I do not want to be a father!”

“Nonsense, Byron,” he countered.  “We have talked many times about having an heir.  All royals must have children.  Who’s going to live in your castle after you die?”

“I don’t care!  I’ll be dead!”

“That is a cynical view,” Dominique said, standing up in the shallow end.  “I know you don’t mean that.”

The bartender handed me a fresh Manhattan, then moved to sweep up the glass.  I downed the entire drink.  It was perfect as always.

“Dominique,” I whined.  “I am still a young man!  Being a father makes you old.  Makes you have responsibilities!”

“This is a good thing,” assured Dominique, pounding his chest.  “We are men.  We take on responsibilities.  Besides, do you not remember this woman from the party?”

I thought about it.  I did remember her.  The sex was incredible.  She was a gorgeous, vivacious woman, but weren’t they all in Los Angeles?  As I sat there drinking, I began to remember more of the night.  It was a great deal of fun, but did I really know this woman?  Dominique seemed to like her, but he liked liver pate, so what did he know?
“Who is this woman?  This Savannah?  What is she like?  I know nothing about her!”

“She is beautiful, sensual and loving,” said Dominique.  “That’s all I need to know about her.”

“But what of the books she’s read?  The things she knows?  The television shows and movies she likes?  What of all this, huh?”

“What kind of man spends all day with his wife, Byron?  You will still have a life outside your marriage.  Personally, I hope the child is mine.  I will marry her immediately.”

“You have told her this?”

“No, but I will marry her,” promised Dominique.  “And even if the child is yours, I will do this too.”

Wait a minute!  He can not be a father to my child!

“No!” I said, marching to the edge of the pool.  “I will marry her if the child is mine!  It is the honorable thing to do!”

Dominique laughed as he did a back stroke.

“Honorable, ha!  You are down here and where is she?”

“In her room where I left her,” I explained.  “I did not touch her!”

“Touch her all you want, she’s already pregnant!” laughed Dominique.  “I made sweet love to her all night.”

“But what if she’s carrying my baby?!”

“Then you should go make sweet love to her,” said Dominique.  “If it is my baby, I will not hold it against you.”

“Wait a minute,” I said, horrified.  “I freaked out and stormed away.  She must be furious with me!”

“You did what?”  said Dominique, standing up in the pool.  “Aw, no-no-no-no-no. You must apologize to my future wife.”

“My future wife!  Possibly.” I added.

I rushed back to Savannah’s room.  The four Manhattans had cleared my head.  I was a fool to be so rude, but she just blindsided me with the revelation.  Who tells someone that they’re pregnant like that?  Just blurt it out!

Halfway back to her room, I found Savannah walking into the lobby with her bag.  She was crying.

“Wait, where are you going?” I called to her.

“What do you care?!” she snapped.  “I’m leaving!”

“Aw, no-no-no-no-no.  Please,” I begged.  “I was very rude before.  I was just in shock.  Will you please come back upstairs with me?”

“Why should I?  You’re horrible!  You said all those mean things to me!”

“I did and I apologize,” I said.  “I have led a very sheltered life.  I do not deal with such news very well.  Please, I promise, if you come back upstairs, I will not raise my voice again.  Not once.”

Reluctantly, Savannah got into the elevator with me.  I carried her bag and tried to get her to smile.  She folded her arms and looked away from me.  This was going to require a little more charm and possible two or three more Manhattans.

We got back to her bedroom.  I set her bag aside and offered her a seat.  She sat down and looked away.  I handed her a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

“I’m dealing with enough, ya know?” she cried.  “I have a career that’s in danger of ending if this gets out.  You, you get go back to your castle and your piles of gold!”

“I am so sorry,” I apologized.  “I did not mean to upset you.  I was just surprised by the news.  It is frightening news to know that you might be a parent.”

“Well, how do you think that makes me feel?”

“Look,” I confessed.  “I was raised by nannies my whole life.  I did not want that for my kids.  I never really thought about kids before because I was scared.  This is a lot of responsibility and I don’t know how to deal with it.”

“At least you had a father that was around,” she said.  “My father took off and I barely saw him.  You have money and choices.  What’s this baby going to have?  Another absent father?”

“No,” I insisted.

It was time to man up.  It was time to take on responsibility.

“This child will not want for anything,” I assured her.  “This I promise.”

She looked away, but I turned her head toward me and looked into her deep blue eyes.

“This I swear,” I whispered.  “This child deserves more.  You deserve more.”

“Byron, did you really remember me from the night of the party?” she asked.

“I did,” I admitted.  “But I was very drunk too, so some of the night---  It is a blur.  But I remember we had a very good time, yes?”

“Yeah,” she smiled, remembering fondly.  “I’m sorry, if I’m emotional or over reacting.  My hormones are going a little crazy right now.”
“No-no, you have nothing to apologize for,” I insisted.  “I forgot myself.  I am a Royal and a member of the Royal Family should always present himself with respect and dignity, not to just himself but to all those around him.”

“Your embassy is fantastic, by the way,” Savanah complimented.  “Aaron showed me around.  It’s so big.”

“Yes, it is easy to get lost in.  Have you found your stay enjoyable?” I asked.

“I have,” she said.  “Are you willing to get the paternity test?”

“Of course, of course,” I assured her.  “We must find out whose baby it is.  I am excited now for it to be mine.”

“Really?”

“Yes,” I admitted.  “Although I am frightened that I might be a terrible father, I am excited to see the child.  What will they look like?  What will they do?  How do we raise them?  And the things I could teach it.”

“You mean like not referring to your kid as an it?” she joked.

“Yes,” I laughed.
“Don’t worry, I’m scared too,” she said.  “A few of my friends have kids and they say it changes your whole life.  Mostly, I never see those friends that have kids, ya know?  They’re just so busy raising them.”

“But it is a joy, they say,” I added.

“Yeah,” she said.  “Thanks for coming back, Byron.”

“I will not leave like that again, Savannah,” I assured her.

“You promise?”

“Even if the baby is not mine,” I assured her.  “I promise to never be that rude to you again.”

“Thanks.”

We looked into each other’s eyes.  There was a spark and we kissed.  Her kiss was something else I remembered.  It was warm, inviting and invigorating.  It was like kissing someone for the first time.  I pulled back and looked at her again to be sure.  We embraced and kissed more passionately now.  After a few moments, we were overcome.