Chapter 17
To Meredith’s relief, the dinner hour passed without Spencer breathing a word about the children’s holiday coming to an abrupt end.
In fact, it was a surprisingly pleasant meal.
Spencer genuinely tried to connect with his children.
He only looked at his phone once and, perhaps due to the schoolteacher look she gave him, he then silenced it and stowed it in his shirt pocket.
After dinner, Mishka begged for a movie night.
It was his turn to pick the film, so he opted for The Lion King.
Kat pretended to be vexed, but by the time Meredith came back from the kitchen with popcorn, Kat had stuck around.
And whether it was sincere or not, Spencer was telling his children how much he’d loved this movie as a child.
As usual, Mishka snuggled up to Meredith on the couch. But when the scene came when Mufasa was killed, Mishka moved to sit next to his dad. Despite herself, Meredith was teary-eyed when she and Spencer exchanged looks.
The next morning, Meredith rose early again.
She dressed and went downstairs before the children awoke so she could enjoy a little stroll.
She suspected this might be her last day here, and after praying about everything—and giving it all to God—she was fine with leaving.
She’d done her best for the children, and hopefully this little royal family would grow closer when they returned to Rotslavia.
“Good morning.”
Meredith turned to see Spencer coming her way. She waved and returned the greeting. Today he wore khaki shorts, a white polo shirt, and a ball cap. Not exactly traveling clothes.
“I’m glad I caught you before the children woke up,” he said. “I’d hoped we could make some sort of game plan.”
“Game plan?”
“I considered your suggestions. And I believe you’re right—it’s not necessary to upset Mishka with the possibility of danger.
I won’t mention it to him. Although I do plan to discuss the situation with Katerina.
She’s old enough to understand. And besides that, I’ve decided to give them both some additional time to adjust to the idea of returning to Rotslavia. ”
“I’m so glad to hear that.”
“I’ll tell them about the altered holiday plans this morning. But we won’t leave until Monday. That’ll give them a couple more days to be here. I’d like the extra time myself.” His smile looked genuine. “To practice being a dad.”
She returned his smile. Hearing her phone jingle, she pointed out it was breakfast time. As they walked up to the house together, Mishka’s voice carried their way from outside the dining room. She yelled back, waving toward him, and he came running.
“Oh, Meri!” He threw his arms around her waist. “I had a bad dream.”
“Really?” She smoothed his hair.
“I went to your room, but you weren’t there. I thought you left us. Just like in my dream.”
“I’m still here, Mishka. I was just out for a walk.”
“With Papa?” His eyes lit up.
“Yes,” Spencer said. “With Papa. And I was about to challenge Meredith to a football match. Boys against girls.” He patted Mishka’s back. “Think you and I can show the ladies a thing or two?”
“Yes.” Mishka nodded eagerly. “Boys against girls. We’ll win for sure, Papa.”
“Breakfast first.” Spencer’s eyes twinkled, and Meredith suppressed the urge to chuckle. Little did Spencer know, they would be hard pressed to beat the ladies.
When the football match ended, Meredith had to remind Kat not to gloat. “The only thing worse than a sore loser is a smug winner,” she whispered to her.
“Okay.” Kat turned to look back where Spencer and Mishka were slowly coming up the hill behind them. “Nice match, fellas,” she called out. “Better luck next time.”
Meredith giggled, playfully punching Kat in the arm. “Is that the best you can do?”
“Hey, they’re the ones who were gloating at the beginning,” Kat replied. “You know what they say, Meri. If you can’t take it, don’t dish it out.”
Meredith shook her head. “I hope you learn a bit more humility before you reign in Rotslavia.”
Kat glanced over her shoulder then grabbed Meredith by the arm, tugging her ahead faster. “I want to talk to you in private,” she said quietly. “Okay?”
“Let’s take some drinks up to my room.” Meredith was curious about why Kat was being so secretive but waited until they were behind closed doors to ask.
“Did Papa tell you about the terrorist threats?” Kat asked.
“Yes, sort of. He didn’t go into great detail, but I’m aware of it. I’m also aware that he doesn’t want to worry Mishka.”
Kat took a long swig of soda. “Well, did you know I may not be able to return to my school?”
Meredith considered this. “I can understand about potential security concerns. But he never mentioned it.”
“Before I became friends with Kalina, I wouldn’t have cared, but now I’m looking forward to having such a good friend in school.”
“I understand that.” It saddened Meredith that Kat had made this progress but might not get to live it out.
“I told Papa I still want to go to school there, but I don’t think he heard me. But he may listen to you.”
“Oh, I don’t know.”
“Grandmama wants me back at the palace. That’s two against one. If you were on my side, it may help.”
“I am on your side, but honestly, I doubt it will make any difference.”
“I can tell Papa respects you.”
Meredith wanted to question this but didn’t.
“If you could just tell him, you know, as a teacher, that you think I need to be in school…well, it may do the trick. Okay?” Kat looked so hopeful, Meredith knew she couldn’t disappoint her.
“I’ll do my best, but I’d be surprised if it changed anything.”
To Meredith’s surprise, Kat hugged her. “Thank you.”
Meredith hugged her back. “We better get down to lunch.”
As they went down, Kat asked Meredith to save that conversation until Meredith was alone with her dad. “And please don’t tell him I asked you to do this, okay?”
Meredith agreed as they went into the dining room to join Spencer and Mishka.
As if trying to make points, Kat attempted to act more gracious about the whooping they’d given the boys on the football field.
“Mishka’s skills have really improved,” she told her father.
“If he keeps it up, you guys may whip us next time.”
“Why don’t we play boys against girls with a tennis match?” Mishka suggested eagerly. “Can we do that, Papa?”
“I don’t see why not.” And so they soon agreed to meet on the courts at two.
Thanks to Spencer’s superior tennis skills and Meredith’s distraction over trying to come up with a way to convince him to rethink Kat’s education plans, the boys proved to be more competitive at the next match.
After they won, Mishka suggested they cool off at the pool.
“You have to come too, Papa,” he insisted. “So I can show you my swimming.”
“I wouldn’t miss it,” Spencer promised.
Meredith knew that Spencer was being extra cooperative because he felt guilty about taking the children back to the palace sooner than planned, but it was fun seeing him playing with his kids in the pool and acting like a real dad.
Kat and Mishka seemed to be eating it up.
After swimming a few laps, Meredith decided to enjoy not being so much in demand by sitting in the sun on the deck.
Besides, she thought, the children should start getting used to it.
In a couple days, they would all be saying goodbye.
Eventually they tired of the water, but Kat, in a rather uncharacteristic fashion, started helping Mishka towel off and began ushering him toward the house.
She gave Meredith a look that suggested now might be the time to talk about her schooling plans.
Feeling fairly certain she’d be rejected straight away, Meredith asked Spencer if she could have a word with him just as the children were out of earshot.
“Sure.” With an oversized pool towel over his shoulders, he came over to sit on the lounge chair next to her. “What’s up?”
“Kat told me you talked to her,” Meredith began. “And she’s worried that she may not be able to continue her schooling and she’s—”
“I thought Kat hated that school,” he interrupted.
“She may have before. But now that she has a friend, her attitude has changed.”
“Are we talking about the Kalina girl?”
“I think she may be Kat’s first real friend.
It’s important for her development.” She launched into teacher mode, explaining the values of socialization and how the habits formed in childhood would carry through adulthood.
“If Kat’s going to rule a country someday, it would be wise to allow her to learn these skills now. ”
Spencer pursed his lips and leaned back, closing his eyes. Hopefully not closing his mind, but she continued just the same.
“I realize you’re worried about security, but it’s not like she’s in a public school with kids and staff coming and going. I’m no expert on it, but aren’t private boarding schools relatively safe? Other parents must be just as concerned about safety as you.”
“I’m sure you’re right.” He sat up straight now, eyes opened. “And I may even agree with you on the socialization points. But you don’t know Kat’s grandmother. She is a force to be dealt with.”
“Not to mention the queen.” Meredith sighed.
“But I’ll try to present this side of things to her,” he said. “For Kat’s sake.” He stood, smiling down on her. “And for yours.”
“Thank you.” She smiled back.
Once again, he extended a hand. It was probably just a polite gesture, but as he pulled her up, she found herself uncomfortably near him, and yet he continued to hold on.
“It’s touching how close you’ve gotten to the children.
How much you care for them.” He released her hand, and she stepped back, catching her balance and her breath as a flushed heat warmed her face.
She hoped he thought it was from the sun.
“I do care for them,” she said quietly. “It’s barely been three weeks, and I am surprised how much I care for them.”