Chapter 6 The Moment of Truth
The Moment of Truth
Astrid
“How do I tell him this isn’t what I want?” I paced across my sister’s sitting room in Windsor Castle, where I’d been dragged this morning against my will.
“Why are you whinging about it?” Alexandra asked.
“Because…” I searched for words. “It’s not that I am ungrateful. I love him. I love his big heart and how much he worked on this… but the wedding is one big royal nightmare for me. This was the one thing I got to make mine and his mother fucked it up.”
“So, he is fixing it,” Rick said. “Asti, Parker has moved mountains. He is so excited.”
“You will love it,” Odette brimmed. “Promise. He included me and Amara, and it will be so good.”
“From what I saw this morning, it will be lovely,” Alexandra added.
“But will it be fun? Or just more royal pageantry that says nothing about us as a couple?”
“It’s gonna be fun,” Ingrid said.
I trusted my sisters—especially Ingrid, our resident party animal.
“I just wanted to dance,” I said.
“Well, you will get your dancing. That I can promise you,” Ingrid patted my knee.
“Deep breaths,” Rick said. “And give the kid a break. He loves you, Asti. He is trying his hardest. You know party planning is not his strong suit.”
“For real,” I chuckled. “When he agreed to this, I thought it would be a disaster, but I was more worried about the house. Now, I’m just straight up panicking.”
Rick grabbed my shoulders, playfully shaking. “Snap out of it. It will be great.”
I smiled and nodded. “Okay.”
“Plus, you look beautiful,” Odette added. “Just enjoy the night.”
“Dance with your man. Drink. Have fun,” Ingrid added.
“I suppose with everyone here, it will be a good time.”
Alexandra gave me a hug and kissed my cheek. “It will be a wonderful night. And it will mean even more to know Parker did all of it. That awkward, eccentric man loves you, Astrid.”
Tears welled. “Okay. If you say so.”
Odette handed me a tissue like the good bridesmaid she was. I dabbed my tears so as not to ruin my makeup.
Parker knocked. “Asti?”
“Come in,” Alexandra called.
Parker entered, looking handsome in a tux.
He may have been awkward, but he always looked dashing fully turned out.
I know he didn’t enjoy formal attire, but I loved him for trying—for doing this for me.
Rick and Alexandra were right. He salvaged this.
No matter what it looked like, I had to love him for it.
“Asti…” he made a beeline for me. “You look… gorgeous.”
I pulled him in for a kiss, ignoring everyone else.
“I wish you’d wear a tux more,” I lamented. “You look handsome as fuck.”
Rick cleared his throat, bursting our bubble.
Parker—always afraid of Rick’s ire—took the hint. “I wanted to show you the party before everyone else arrived.”
“Shouldn’t everyone come?” I asked.
“No, Astrid. I want it just to be the two of us,” Parker said, voice too sweet to resist.
I squeezed his hand. “Okay, well show me, then.”
Our bank of rooms in the castle’s guest side was far from the great hall hosting our party. It wasn’t home, but if you’d seen one castle, you’d seen them all Or, so I thought.
Parker pulled me past a line of staff members putting finishing touches on the event. They bowed, surprised by my arrival. I thanked them and entered the hall. With dim lights, the place looked unrecognizable from the last time I attended a dinner Queen Natalie hosted.
Uplighting and trees with fairy lights made the whole place seem like a secret garden in the middle of January. The tables, lined with succulents and candles, made it even more intimate. A band stopped as they recognized they weren’t alone in their sound check.
“Oh, play on,” I said. “Don’t mind me.”
“So?” Parker asked.
I spun, pulling him towards me and wrapping my arms around his neck, “You win, Parker. This is beyond any dream I had. I love you.”
He swept me up in a kiss. The band played along, cueing our favourite sappy song.
“You told them?” I laughed.
“I spared no expense or detail, my love,” Parker said.
We danced. As we did, I realized there was nothing I wanted more than this. Even without the grand spectacle and crowd, it was perfect.
“It will be fun. I promise,” Parker kissed me as we slow danced surrounded by a forest of his making.
“It’s absolutely perfect,” I said, tears welling. “Parker, you made me cry!”
“I regret nothing,” Parker said. “You’re beautiful. You’re loved. This is only the start of our life together, Astrid. But I wanted something worthy of you.”
“You’re setting expectations really high!” I snickered.
“Well, I’m nothing if not an overachiever, Latte Girl,” he joked.
“It’s been a million years since I’ve heard that!” I giggled.
Parker kissed me. “I only wished I had a million more.”