CHAPTER 32
B ack in the Drawing Room, Ava sat on the couch with Stormy on her lap while Justin picked Douglas fir tree needles out of his fur.
Now it was her mother’s turn to pace back and forth in front of the fireplace.
“Stormy, what have you done?” her mother in a tone that was unusually stern. “You’ve destroyed all of Ava’s hard work and everything we’d set up for the Christmas party. Ava’s right. You have to go.”
Ava’s head jerked up to give her mother an incredulous look. “Wait, what?! Mother, no. We can’t send Stormy back to the shelter. It was an accident. He didn’t mean to do it—”
“Not to the shelter—to Justin’s Puppy Bootcamp,” her mother clarified.
Ava let out a sigh of relief as her mother walked over to her desk, opened a drawer, and took out a sparkling new red dog collar and matching leash. She handed them to Justin.
“Justin, please take Stormy and work your magic. Only bring him back when he’s ready. However long that takes,” her mother said.
Stormy tilted his head as if he was listening to her.
“You got it,” Justin replied as he picked Stormy up off Ava’s lap, put him on the floor, and started putting his new collar on.
“Wait, Mother, I thought you wanted to introduce Stormy at the Christmas party tomorrow night.”
She gave her daughter a surprised look. “I did, but obviously, that can’t happen now since we’re canceling the party.”
Ava jumped up from the couch. “What are you talking about? We’re not canceling this party. It’s been a royal tradition for decades. The charities are counting on us—”
“Have you seen the Grand Hall?” her mother asked. “Everything is ruined. We can make a donation to the charities—”
“No,” Ava interrupted her. “It’s not the same. People count on this. They look forward to it all year. It’s a Christmas tradition, and this year, we’re honoring Father. We’re having the party. I’ll handle it,” Ava said with more confidence than she felt.
Her mother gave her a skeptical look. “In less than twenty-four hours?”
“I can do it,” Ava said. At the moment, she had no idea how, but she knew she couldn’t give up. She had no intention of breaking tradition and letting the charities or her father down.
“And I’ll help,” Justin jumped in. “I’m not much of a party planner, but I’ll do whatever you need me to do.”
Her mother gave him a grateful look. “Thank you, Justin. Right now, I think the best thing for everyone would be for you to take Stormy with you and bring him back for the party tomorrow. This way, we know he’s being well taken care of while we figure all this out.”
“That I can do,” Justin said happily.
“And of course, you’re invited to the party as well,” her mother said with her most charming smile.
Ava’s eyes narrowed. She couldn’t believe her mother was still trying to play matchmaker. She was grateful that at least Justin didn’t know anything about it.
“Mother, I’m sure Justin is very busy and has other plans. It’s Christmas Eve.”
“Do you have plans, Justin?” the queen asked.
Ava saw Justin squirm a little. Just say yes , she thought. Say you’re busy …
When her mother walked up to Justin, took his hand, and looked into his eyes, Ava groaned. Her mother was pulling out all the stops.
“Justin, I know you’re away from home this Christmas, away from your family, and I feel responsible for that,” her mother said. “Because you so graciously agreed to come here and train Stormy I would hate for you to be alone—unless, of course, you have other plans?”
Ava sighed. Now she was starting to feel bad thinking of Justin being all alone at Christmas. When he caught her eye, she nodded. “My mother’s right. You should come.”
Her mother grinned. “Can you say that again, please? The part about me being right ? I don’t believe I’ve ever heard you say that before. It’s a Christmas miracle—”
“Okay, enough,” Ava interrupted. “Justin, please, just agree to come so we can all get back to work. I have a party to replan.”
“With that lovely invitation from you, how could I say no?” Justin said with a twinkle in his eyes as he smiled at Ava.
Before Ava could say another word, Edgar rushed in, looking frantic.
“Princess, you need to come right away,” he said. “It’s Midnight. Something’s wrong. Justin, you should come, too.”
Ava laughed and gave her mother a look.
“Seriously, Mother, now you’re even trying to include Midnight in your plan, thinking this is another way to try and throw Justin and me together?”
Justin looked confused.
So did her mother.
Ava continued, looking smug. “Well, obviously, you didn’t know Justin’s afraid of horses. So whatever plan you were cooking up won’t work this time.”
Edgar and the queen shared a concerned look.
“Ava, I know nothing about Midnight. I didn’t do this,” her mother said.
Ava looked from her mother to Edgar and then to Justin. When they all looked equally confused, her heart stopped. “Wait, is Midnight really in trouble?”
“Yes!” Edgar said.
Ava didn’t wait to hear more. She was already running out of the room.
? ? ?
Inside the royal stables, Midnight was lying down in his stall with a Christmas blanket draped across his back. His breathing was labored.
Ava sat next to him, petting him, trying to reassure him and not let him sense her panic.
“It’s going to be okay, Midnight. Everything’s going to be okay,” she said in almost a whisper. She only wished she believed it. She had never seen Midnight in pain like this before.
Justin tentatively approached, holding a black leather veterinarian’s bag. He looked at Midnight like the horse was a loaded gun.
“Justin, are you sure you can do this?” Ava asked. She could see how uncomfortable and scared he was. “We can wait until our vet gets here—”
“No, we can’t,” Justin said. “You said your vet is stuck up north because of the storm. Who knows how long she will be? We can’t afford to wait.”
Midnight snorted and tossed his head.
Ava watched Justin freeze. She could sense his dread, and she knew if she could sense it, so could Midnight.
She was terrified for both of them.
Justin shut his eyes, took a deep breath, and then continued walking toward Midnight. “Easy, there, Midnight. We’re going to take this nice and slow.”
Ava gave Justin a grateful look as she hugged Midnight. “Justin is going to help you. He’s our friend. He’s a good guy. I trust him. It’s going to be okay…”
? ? ?
A half-hour later, Ava and Justin stood outside Midnight’s stall watching the stallion sleep peacefully.
“We’re very lucky we caught this when we did so I could drain the abscess on his foot before the infection spread any further,” Justin said. “It could have caused blood poisoning and that would have been—”
Ava shuddered, hugging herself. “Don’t even say it. I know. Just tell me he’s going to be okay.”
Justin looked into her eyes. “Midnight is going to be okay.”
Ava nodded. “Thank you.” She shivered.
“You’re shaking,” Justin said. “You should go back inside—”
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying here with Midnight,” Ava said.
“He’s stable right now, and that’s a good sign. I can stay with him until your vet gets here,” Justin offered.
Ava saw how exhausted Justin looked, and she felt a rush of gratitude. “Thank you so much for taking care of him. You were wonderful with him. I know it wasn’t easy for you. No one would know you’re afraid of horses.”
“Except the horses,” Justin said. “And you.”
“Your secret is safe with me,” Ava said and crossed her fingers across her heart. “Cross my heart. Did I do that right?”
“Very nice,” Justin said. “You were perfect.”
They shared a smile.
“I couldn’t have done this without you,” Justin said. “I think that pep talk you gave Midnight about me being a good guy really helped.”
“I had to say something—you looked terrified.”
“Honestly, I was,” Justin said. “A healthy horse is bad enough, but with a sick animal, any animal, you never know what they’re going to do.”
“Then how were you able to do this?” Ava asked.
“I just kept telling myself he was a giant grass-eating puppy.”
Ava laughed. It was amazing to her that even during the most stressful times, Justin always found a way to lighten the mood and make her laugh.
She checked her phone to see if Henry had answered any of her texts yet. She’d sent him several and had tried calling twice. Still no response.
Justin glanced at her. “You keep looking at your phone. Are you waiting to hear from someone? Your mom?”
“Henry,” Ava answered.
Justin arched an eyebrow. “The fiancé. What’s the problem? Is he ghosting you?”
Ava put her phone away. “No, he’s just busy.”
“You are never too busy to make a quick call,” Justin said.
“Maybe you’re not, but he is, obviously,” Ava said, trying to pretend she didn’t care when she was actually very frustrated.
She stifled a yawn as a wave of exhaustion suddenly hit her.
She’d been running on adrenaline. Now that she knew Midnight was going to be okay, everything that had happened over the last twenty-four hours was catching up to her.
“You need to go inside and get some rest,” Justin told her.
Ava shook her head. “No, I’m not going anywhere. I’m going to wait with you for the vet. We’ll do this together.”
She took two blankets from the stall and handed one to him.
“Thank you,” Justin said, looking touched. “And for the record, I’d always call you right back I’m just saying…”
“Say less,” Ava urged, but when she turned away from him, she couldn’t help thinking about how he probably would call her back. She couldn’t imagine Justin ever ignoring her like Henry was doing.
? ? ?
It was past one in the morning by the time everything with Midnight was finally settled. Standing next to Justin’s SUV, where Justin and Stormy were already inside, Ava felt a rush of gratitude that everything had all turned out okay.
She wasn’t surprised when her vet confirmed Justin’s diagnosis and credited him for probably saving Midnight’s life.
Even though she’d thanked Justin, multiple times, she doubted he understood the true depths of her gratitude.
She blamed herself for not doing more when she’d first noticed Midnight was limping.
Even though her same vet had told her Midnight just had a bruised hoof, she knew she should have kept a closer watch over him.
Midnight was her best friend. He’d deserved better, no matter how busy she’d been trying to chase down Stormy.
She felt terrible, like she’d let Midnight down.
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Justin asked her, seeing her frowning. “You look like you just lost your best friend.”
“I almost did,” Ava said.
“But Midnight is going to be fine, and we found Stormy. You should be celebrating!”
Ava sighed, unable to shake her doom and gloomy mood. “That was the plan at the Christmas party tomorrow, but oh, that’s right, all those plans have been ruined.”
Justin gave her a look. “You’re obviously exhausted.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because the princess I know doesn’t give up. She doesn’t take no for an answer, and she’d fight with everything she had to make sure this Christmas party was going to happen—”
“I know, but that was before everything with Midnight—”
“But now everything’s fine. Stop beating yourself up, get over it, and go find a new Christmas tree. You’re the Princess of Skydovia—make it happen!”
Ava’s mouth dropped open.
“Too much?” Justin asked. “Am I heading to the dungeon?”
Ava laughed. “No, this time, you’re safe. You’re right. I think I’m just tired. I can do this. Thanks for…”
Justin winced. “Being rude?”
“Being honest,” Ava said.
They shared a smile.
Ava leaned in the window so she could pet Stormy. “You be good for Justin.”
“What fun would that be?” Justin asked with a boyish grin.
Stormy barked and wagged his tail, as if in agreement.
“You two are impossible,” Ava said, but she was smiling.
“Thank you very much,” Justin said. “We’ll take that as a compliment, won’t we, Stormy?”
Stormy barked twice.
When Justin flashed her his sexy smile, she melted a little.
“I’ll bring him back tomorrow for the party,” Justin said as he petted Stormy. “So go be…the Princess of Party Planning, because if I’m coming, it better be a good one.”
Ava laughed. “That’s not one of the names they call me.”
“Well, it should be, and it will be after you pull off this party tomorrow night,” Justin said.
“You really believe I can do it?” Ava asked.
“Yes, because I’ve seen you in action. I believe you can do anything you set your mind to.”
Ava blushed. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For the pep talk. I needed it,” Ava said.
Justin smiled. “Anytime. I got your back. And now, I better get Stormy some rest because he has a big day of training tomorrow if he’s going to dazzle everyone at the party.”
“You really think he can learn anything in one day?” Ava asked, sounding skeptical.
“Look at all we’ve learned in one day,” Justin said with a wink.
Ava laughed. “Touché.”
“Call me if you need help with anything.”
“Thank you, Justin…for everything. Goodnight…”
Stormy barked.
Ava laughed. “And goodnight to you, too, Stormy. See you tomorrow.”
As Ava watched Justin’s SUV disappear down the road, she stood up straighter and lifted her chin high.
Justin was right , she thought.
She was the Princess of Party Planning, and she needed to get to work.