CHAPTER 19
Alistair
It took some persuading but she finally opened the door.
Once we got inside her dogs came right up to me and licked me on the hands. She tried not to but she couldn’t. She hugged me tight and I hugged her back just as tight. I came here to make sure she was always safe and in my arms forever and I wasn’t about to leave here without her.
“Why did you run out like that?”
“I heard your father.”
“I thought about it these last few days. That’s what I thought might have happened.”
“I’m not right for you, Alistair.”
“You’re right. You’re not right for me. You’re perfect for me.”
“Stop it! It’s not fair.”
“What’s not fair. That we were not only made for each other, but we basically are each other. We’re two halves that make a whole. What I told you that night was real. You’re mine now. I’m never letting you go.”
“But it can’t work out between us. I heard what your dad said.”
“Who cares what my dad says. I’m my own man. I do what I want. Family heritage or not.”
“It doesn’t work like that!”
“It does. Life is short. I have to go for exactly what I want. And what I want is you.”
“No. You can’t have me. I mean we can’t have each other. I won’t be the one who comes between you and your family, let alone the the entire country.”
“You said you heard my father, right?”
“Of course. It’s why I got out of there as quickly as I could. What he said makes sense.”
“But you didn’t hear what he said after my mother and I sat down and talked some sense into him.”
“What sense is there to talk him into? He’s right. He’s put everything into being the figurehead for the country. One day your older brother will take his place and you’ll be a permanent fixture there as well.”
“Did you notice there weren’t any camera crews out there that day when you left?”
“Come to think of it. You’re right. But what does that have to do with anything?”
“The media doesn’t care about me. They care about the throne. The royalty game. That means nothing to me. They were out that morning chasing after my brother. See how easily we could live if we just got out of here?”
“But I don’t want to be on the run. I love my country. I mean your country,” she says before she starts to laugh.
“We don’t have to go anywhere. I’m just saying it’s not as complicated as it sounds. And the most important thing, to get back on track, is that you heard what my dad said but you didn’t hear what my family said as a whole.”
“I can’t imagine they’d say anything that could change my mind, no matter how much I want to.”
“Faith, my dad is old. It’s a different time and place than what he’s used to. It’s a different time and place than what I’m used it! Your generation grew up on computers and gadgets and all that good stuff. I remember when someone gave you a stick and said ‘go play.’ To me those were the days. To you that would be incomprehensible. Well, then again you’re a bit of an old soul which is why we work so well together.”
“We don’t even know each other yet.”
“But we will. And you’ll get to know my family and that includes my father.”
“Your father. I think I know all about him that I need to know.”
“He may be old, but he is reasonable. We explained to him that things change. Okay, my mother has more of his ear than I do, but she was with me on this one 100%. It’s a new world we live in. Once where we embrace everything that comes out of love and respect and people being free to choose what they want, not what others want from them.”
“Comes out of love?”
“That’s what I said.”
A moment passes between us and it seems like time stands still. I stare into her eyes and realize I never told her the most important thing.
“Faith. We got in a hurry a few days ago. A hurry to get where we knew we were going. I don’t regret a second of it and I still look forward to making you my wife.”
“Alistair.”
“Hear me out. Please. In my hurry there was one thing that I didn’t tell you. I don’t know how I forgot, but I was just so truly lost in the moment and in finally being with you that somehow… well…I make no excuses. But now I’m here to tell you one thing that will stand the test of time forever. Faith…I love you more than anything in this world.”
She says nothing and a tear falls from her cheek.
“You mean it?”
“Absolutely.”
Suddenly she both starts sobbing and throws herself into my arms. I catch her again, but this time I know for sure she’s never, ever getting away, because I’ll never ever let her go.
She’s mine and I am hers. Forever.