24. Courtney
CHAPTER 24
COURTNEY
A s I push open the white picket gate, the familiar scent of Texas bluebonnets greets me like an old friend. My feet tread the well-worn path to the porch where Mom sits, rocking gently in her favorite chair, a glass of sweet tea sweating in the afternoon heat. Her eyes, so much like my own, lift and lock onto mine.
“Hey, sugar,” she greets with that warm southern lilt that I didn’t realize I missed so much. “You look like you’ve got stories to tell.”
I take a deep breath, feeling the burden of secrets untold and revelations uncovered. Before I can speak, though, I set my bags down and give her a long hug. It’s good to be home.
“Mom.” I take the rocking chair next to her. “A lot happened on my trip, but… most importantly, there’s something about Grandma I learned in Bergovia.”
Her hand stills on the armrest, the creaking of the rocker coming to a halt. “What is it, Courtney?”
“Grandma… she was noble. She had ties to the royal family there.” The words spill out, almost too surreal to believe, even now.
Mom’s mouth parts slightly, shock registering across her face before it blooms into a soft, wistful smile.
“Noble?” she echoes, disbelief and pride mingling in her voice. “Your grandmother always had an air about her, but to think…”
I nod, a small chuckle escaping me despite the tumultuous emotions. “Yeah, it’s true. It explains so much about her.”
“Goodness,” Mom murmurs, shaking her head as if to clear it. “To think of all the stories she must’ve carried in her heart.” Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, but they’re not sad — just full.
“Are you okay with this? With knowing?” I ask tentatively, watching her closely.
“Of course. It’s like she’s still here, giving us gifts from beyond.” Mom reaches out, her fingers wrapping around mine, grounding me. “And you brought this piece of her back to us. That means the world to me.”
Despite all the pain I’m still carrying, I feel a surge of gratitude. The trip to Bergovia wasn’t a waste after all.
“Good. If nothing else, I’m glad I could do that for you, for us.” I squeeze her hand, the simple touch speaking volumes.
“Tell me everything about Bergovia. Start from the beginning.”
And so I do. I even tell her about Jakob, as hard as that part is. As I talk, though, I find that sharing the story shakes loose some of the pain in my heart. Here, with Mom, under the vast Texas sky, I find a different kind of peace, one that fills the cracks left by betrayal and loss.
“Whew.” She blows out a breath. “That’s quite the story, Court.”
“I know.” I lean back in my rocking chair, more exhausted from sharing it than I am from the long flight.
“How are you now?”
“I’m… already better.” I smile, realizing just how much I mean that.
“Dinner is almost ready. Lasagna.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I pause. “Actually, if we have a bit of time, there’s something I’d like to do first. An errand. I’ll be quick.”
“You take your time.” She reaches over and smooths my hair.
The cemetery is close, only about ten minutes in the car. I drive over, feeling odd that it’s the first time I’ll have been here since the funeral.
Navigating my way down the path, I find the foot of my grandmother’s grave, the Texas sun shining over the marble headstone. The wind rustles the leaves, carrying with it the scent of wildflowers and earth.
“Hey, Grandma,” I murmur, a smile tugging at the corner of my lips despite the bittersweet pang in my chest. “I visited Bergovia, you know? It was beautiful — like stepping into a fairy tale.”
My fingers trace the engraved letters of her name. “Castles, gardens, and those snow-capped mountains. Now I see where I get my taste for adventure.”
I settle onto the neatly trimmed grass, folding my legs beneath me. “But I’m home now, and there’s no place like Texas. I understand why you left it all behind and never looked back.” A lump forms in my throat as I think of the secrets and lies that beat at the edges of my mind. “The royal family… they’re not what they seem. You protected us from that, didn’t you?”
Sighing, I let my gaze drift to the horizon, where the sky melds into a canvas of dusky pinks and oranges. “I can’t say I’m not hurt by what happened. Jakob… he betrayed me in a way I never thought possible.” The words hang heavy in the air, but speaking them here feels right — like Grandma is listening, her spirit offering silent solace.
As the sun dips lower, casting long shadows across the graveyard, I push myself to my feet. “I should go. Tomorrow’s my first day back at work. Back to reality.” I offer a small, wistful smile to the headstone. “Thanks for listening, Grandma.”
The drive home is quiet, the roads familiar and comforting in their own right. Each passing block brings me closer to the life I’ve built here — the one that’s real and tangible, not a fantasy wrapped in deception.
In the embrace of my own house, setting the table with my mom, I find a different kind of peace — one that promises new beginnings and the chance to heal. Jakob left an imprint on my heart, but he’s not the entire world. Life goes on, and so will I.