Chapter Two
Sadie
My name is Sadie Rodgers. Hi, I’m Sadie Rodgers. Sadie Rodgers is who I am.
These sentences looped in my head as I looked out the plane window at the sprawling Atlantic Ocean below.
I had to make this new identity mine or else I’d end up right back where I definitely did not want to be.
I was no longer Aislinn Síomóin of the tiny kingdom of Verdalach.
I was not the daughter of Conall and Eithne.
King Conall and Queen Eithne.
I was not a princess.
Nor was I betrothed to Cian ó Néill who only wanted me for the power that came from being my husband.
Being a bargaining chip in governmental affairs hardly caused romantic feelings to bloom, but Cian wasn’t all that concerned with romance.
He craved possessions, which my father was happy to consider me.
Cian was also hungry for power, which my father could grant him.
As the deal was being made, I’d stood right there beside my mother, staring at her so intensely she had to have noticed.
Rescue me, my eyes had begged.
But she hadn’t seen me. Or, more likely, she had noticed my distress and had dismissed it.
After all, she’d become queen in a similar deal when her father presented her to my father’s family against her will.
Marriage in Verdalach was nothing more than a way to create alliances.
Antiquated to be sure, but it hadn’t been done any other way in hundreds of years, and I was certain it would continue to be done that way for hundreds of years more.
I wouldn’t be participating, however. No thank you.
Hard pass. I’d heard a girl in the airport say that phrase when I’d been waiting to board this plane and if I’d caught its meaning correctly, it definitely applied to my situation.
While I’d been waiting, I’d also been constantly looking over my shoulder for Verdalachian guards marching toward me, intent on dragging me back to my father’s court.
Back to Cian.
Back to a life I didn’t want, hadn’t dreamed of, and never would accept.
“There are places all over the world that do not use marriage like this,” I’d protested.
“Verdalach is not one of those places, my dear girl,” my father had countered. “It is a great honor for you to act as a bridge between our kingdom and Cian’s. We will all benefit from this association.”
Not all of us. I’d seen enough of Cian’s callousness, temper, and general disagreeability to know spending a lifetime by his side would not result in bliss.
Not like the bliss I’d secretly read about in the books my attendant and friend, Orla, had snuck into my chambers.
She had a cousin who lived in America who had sent her these wonderful stories of romance and strong women and . . . passion.
Oh, the passion . . .
I fanned my face now as I still peered at the ocean below the plane. Swimming in that water might cool me off after thinking about those steamy scenes where the heroes made the heroines feel absolutely wonderful.
I wanted to feel absolutely wonderful. I deserved to feel absolutely wonderful.
At least, that was what Orla had told me, and I wanted to believe her.
When she’d hatched this crazy plan to get me a new identity and help me leave Verdalach under the cover darkness, I never thought it would actually work.
But, somehow, it had.
Orla had managed to secure me travel documentation under the name Sadie Rodgers and provided me with an American driver’s license—even though I was thirty and had never driven a car. I knew how to drive. I’d just never had to actually do it.
“You take these.” After a quick bow, she’d pushed the fake materials into my hands. “Fionn will get you to the airport undetected.”
“How?” I’d asked. Fionn was Orla’s brother, another servant and friend, but what did he know about sneaking princesses out of palaces?
“Put these on.” Orla had handed me clothes made of simple fabrics that were probably her own. “These will hide your royalty, but when you arrive in America, buy an outfit that fits the fashion there so you’ll blend in better.”
She’d helped me change and had freed my long, red hair from the bejeweled braid it had been in. Brushing through it, she’d said, “Let this hang about you, Princess. It makes you look more casual and less royal.”
I’d fingered my unbound tresses, marveling over how . . . independent the carefree hairstyle made me feel.
The next hours had been a blur as Fionn whisked me away from the palace, my home, my parents, my unwanted fate of being Cian’s wife. He’d ferried me across an expanse of water to the mainland where he then drove me to an airport.
“Orla managed to sell some of your jewelry and gowns.” Fionn had handed me an envelope as we’d stood together outside the entrance to the airport. “There’s enough here to buy a ticket and secure lodging in America. The rest is up to you, Sadie.” He’d winked at the use of my new name.
I’d taken the envelope. “Thank you, Fionn. I will never forget what you and Orla have risked for me.”
“It was the right thing for us to do,” he’d said. “To help you. You’ve always treated us so kindly and we will miss you greatly. Maybe one day things will change in Verdalach and you can return.”
I’d had many things I’d wished to say to him, more gratitude to express, some fears to reveal, but Fionn had nudged me toward the airport doors.
“Choose a nice place to begin again, my lady.” He’d bowed slightly so as not to attract attention, backed away a step, then hopped into the flow of people bustling about outside, becoming lost to me in mere seconds.
Then I’d been alone. Utterly and completely alone.
The fear had almost gotten the best of me.
I’d nearly flagged down another driver and demanded to be taken back to the palace, but laughter to my right had me turning in that direction.
A man and a woman had been leaning against each other, their lips locked in a kiss that announced to the world how happy they were to see each other.
I would never, ever experience a kiss like that if I stayed in Verdalach. If I married Cian. If I lived my royal life.
And I wished, more than anything, to be kissed like that.
That desire had been enough to send me into the airport where I’d fumbled my way through purchasing a ticket to a destination called Vermont in the United States.
I’d selected it purely because it began with V-e-r like Verdalach, and although I’d been fleeing my home country, I also wanted something that still tied me to it.
Luckily, English was spoken in Verdalach—allowing me to enjoy those romance novels Orla loaned me—and language wouldn’t present a problem for me in America.
Now, I was about to land in this Vermont place, hopefully play the part of Sadie Rodgers to some success, and find the love Orla’s books made seem possible.
Or at least avoid living under Verdalach’s old-fashioned ways.
I dozed on the plane, but my dreams were filled with visions of my father and Verdalach’s guards coming for me and dragging me back home. I awoke with a start several times, annoying the older woman sitting beside me.
“Sorry,” I said for the third time.
“Is this your first time flying?” the woman asked.
“Yes.” It was my first time being anywhere other than Verdalach.
The woman’s face softened. “Flying can be scary. I was nine years old my first time. My parents had surprised me with a trip to Disney World. Only the hope of seeing Mickey Mouse and riding all the rides in the park got me on that plane.”
I didn’t know what Disney World was or who Mickey Mouse was, but a big smile had blossomed on the woman’s face so I gathered they were fun things.
“It was totally worth the flight,” she continued. “And I actually enjoyed the return flight. Been flying ever since without a worry in the world.” She patted my arm on the arm rest between us. “You’re going to be fine. We’re almost to Vermont anyway.”
“We are?” I hadn’t kept track of the time. Fionn and Orla had given me a phone, but I wasn’t sure how to use it and had stuffed it into my bag. I imagined it showed the time though.
The woman nodded. “Yup.” She opened her mouth to say more, but a ding sounded and the plane was suddenly filled with a man’s voice.
“Hey, everyone. It’s your captain from the cockpit letting you know we’re making our approach to Crestington Airport and should have you on Vermont soil soon.
We hope you’ve enjoyed your flight, didn’t snore too loudly if you fell asleep, and maybe made a new friend with the person seated beside you. ”
I smiled at the woman next to me and she returned the gesture.
“Pump yourself up for arrival and I’ll be back with an update in a few.” The cabin went quiet for a moment then the captain said, “Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you to look out those windows for a glimpse at Vermont fall foliage at its finest.”
I peered out the window, surprised to find a mix of orange, red, and yellow below. “It looks aflame.”
“Aflame?” The woman leaned over and let out a little chuckle. “I suppose it does. That’s a poetic way to describe it.” She nudged my arm. “Are you a writer?”
I shook my head and pressed my lips together, fighting not to say, I’m a runaway princess.
“Well, I am.” She stuck her hand out. Fionn had said handshakes were important to Americans. “I’m Connie Mills and I write adult fiction.” Her raised brow indicated she awaited my introduction.
I slid my hand along hers, giving it one firm wiggle as Fionn had instructed. “I’m Sadie Rodgers.” I didn’t have an occupation to attach to that name. Not yet. Fortunately, Connie didn’t press me for one.
“It’s nice to meet you, Sadie,” she said.
“Likewise.” I was pleased she’d accepted my new name without any suspicion. Perhaps this crazy scheme would actually work and I could cease being so nervous that it wouldn’t.
“Are you from Vermont or visiting?” Connie asked.
“I’m moving there.” I forced myself to sound definitive. “How about you?” Orla had advised me to get people talking about themselves to take the focus off the details of me—details I couldn’t provide until I figured out what I was going to do with this new life of mine.
Connie launched into the story of how she grew up in Maine and by the time she was ten, she’d migrated south and had lived in every New England state before finally settling on Vermont.
“I guess I had to try them all out first like Goldilocks or something,” she joked, not that I knew who this Goldilocks was. “Maybe I can save you the trouble. Build yourself a life in Vermont and you won’t regret it, sweetie.”
I hoped with all my heart that was true.
The captain had been telling the truth and we landed a short time after his initial announcement. I followed Connie to claim the one bag I’d checked as she collected her two.
“One of them is full of books,” she said. “I did a signing in Ireland. It was divine. I got rid of my own books and packed this suitcase full of new ones to read.”
Were any of them like Orla’s romances? Such books might be the first thing I bought in America.
We parted ways at the baggage claim and I found my way to the area where rides away from the airport could be ordered.
“Where to, miss?” the older gentleman behind the desk asked.
A Vermont map was under glass atop the desk.
I ran my index finger along it with my eyes closed then stopped when felt guided to do so.
I’d been working on listening to my inner guidance for a few years now.
Secretly, of course, but I enjoyed meditating and grounding exercises and yoga and spending time in nature.
I didn’t get to do any of those activities nearly enough because they were considered foolish in Verdalach, but perhaps now was my chance.
I opened my eyes and looked down at the map. My fingertip had landed on a placed called Greenridge. Green reminded me of the rolling hills that surrounded the palace back home in Verdalach.
“Greenridge,” I told the man behind the desk.
Ten minutes later, I sat in the back seat of a sturdy-looking vehicle, zooming along a stretch of roadway that offered a stunning view of the colorful trees and the surrounding mountains. Luckily the driver wasn’t conversational and I was allowed to enjoy the ride in peace.
Well, as much peace as a person who had fled her home, taken on a new identity, and had no idea what her future held could experience.
“So this is the main drag of Greenridge,” the driver finally said. “Where did you want to be dropped off specifically, miss?”
Specifically, I had no destination, but that would be odd to admit, wouldn’t it?
“Right here is fine.” I’d figure something out. I’d have to.
The driver gave me an odd look in the mirror, but he pulled the vehicle over to the side of the road and got out. I met him at the back where he retrieved my suitcase. I paid him for his services then watched him drive away.
I, Sadie Rodgers, formerly Princess Aislinn Síomóin of Verdalach, had made it safely to Vermont.
What came next was anyone’s guess.