Chapter 14
CHAPTER 14
“ F airfax, what are you doing here?” Gabe scowled. “How did you find me?”
“I’m sorry, sir.” He walked over to Gabe and leaned over to where only he could hear. “I had a tracking device placed on your truck, of course. For security purposes.”
Gabe started to say something along the lines of this is why he had to leave Delnovia because there is absolutely no privacy, but Fairfax cut him off.
“It’s your father, sir. He’s been in an accident. You need to get back home as soon as possible.”
His heart leaped in his chest. “Father? Is he all right?”
“It’s critical, sir. The car carrying him to a meeting in Truance was sideswiped on your father’s side. We need you back in Delnovia.”
“What about the monarchy? Am I now the acting king? What is to happen if he....”
“Sir, maybe now is not the time...” Fairfax glanced at Genevieve.
Oh no. I completely forgot where I am. “Genevieve, I’m sorry I must go...”
“Monarchy? King?” She frowned. “What in the world are you talking about, Gabe?”
“It’s a really long story. I must go now. I’m so sorry. I will call you as soon as I can.”
He kissed her quickly on the cheek and raced off with Fairfax.
Genevieve sipped a cup of tea, trying to calm her racing mind. It had been eight hours since Gabe had left. She couldn’t sleep. All she could think about was what she’d heard. Who was Gabe Roberts? Who was that guy who knocked on the door? Obviously not who he said he was. Tears pricked her eyes. It’s happened again. What is wrong with me? Why do I keep falling for the wrong men? Tea sloshed out of the cup. She sat the cup down and clasped her shaking hands. She jumped when the phone rang. She glanced at it. Gabe.
Genevieve cleared her throat and tried to sound natural, relaxed. “Hello?”
“Hey, it’s Gabe.”
He sounded strained and tired. Genevieve bit her nails and didn’t even admonish herself for it. “How’s your father?”
She heard Gabe take a deep breath. “He just went in for a second surgery. I’m sorry I’m just now calling. There was so much going on... my mother... my mother is having a really hard time with this.”
She wasn’t sure if it was the connection, but it sounded like his voice cracked. Her heart hurt for him and his family. “I’m sure she is. I’m so sorry about your father.”
“The doctors hope he will make a full recovery. His pelvis was crushed, so he will be in for a lot of physical therapy... will probably be a slow, painful process. But he will make it, so that’s the most important thing.”
“Yes, it most certainly is.” She paused. “Gabe, it’s probably not the best time, but what is going on?” Her mind raced with all the possibilities. Please don’t let him be married. I don’t think I could make it if I had to deal with something like that again .
He sighed. It seemed like an eternity before he continued. “Look, Genevieve, I know this is going to sound crazy, but you have to believe me that I never meant to hurt you in any way, okay?”
Her pulse slammed inside her chest. “Go on.”
“My name is Gabe Rafferty, not Roberts. My father is the King of Delnovia, a small European country. I’m his oldest son, which makes me the Crown Prince—first in line for the throne.”
“You’re a prince? Are you serious?” Her mind couldn’t seem to wrap itself around that possibility.
“Yes, I’m serious. Before I came to Forest Grove, my father told me he would give me six months before I had to take over as king. I wanted six months of normalcy before my life changed forever. So, I found a small town in America where I could just be a normal guy. Be Gabe Roberts.”
She couldn’t process this. A prince? Could this really be true? “So, either you are telling me the truth, or this is the craziest lie I’ve ever heard.”
“Look me up online. My real name is Gabriel Rafferty, Crown Prince of Delnovia. My father is King Phillip Rafferty, and my mother is Her Royal Highness Queen Gwendolyn Rafferty.”
“Oh, I will. Don’t worry.” She raked a hand through her hair. “Even if you are telling me the truth now, why lie to me the whole time we were snowed in together? I told you everything about my personal life... EVERY SINGLE THING. And you didn’t even tell me your real name.” Her stomach rolled. I think I might be sick . “I just can’t deal with this now. I hope your father recovers quickly.” She hung up the phone. She sat down on the couch and wept.
Gabe stared at the phone. I can’t believe she hung up on me. I knew she would be mad, but I didn’t expect this. He rolled his shoulders and let out a deep breath. Well, it’s done. I told her the truth. He took a deep breath and went to find his family. He rounded the corner of the long corridor to see his mother and brother, Christian, standing there talking to the doctor. Christian waved Gabe over.
“What did you find out?” He held his breath waiting for Christian’s response.
“The surgery went great.”
Gabe let out a deep breath. “Thank God. Can we go see him?”
“Mother just went into the recovery room to sit with him,” said Christian. “The doctor said only one person at a time.”
“This is great news. Great news.” Relief swept over him. I wish I could call Genevieve.
Christian lightly punched him on the arm. “Why the down face, brother? You should be happy.”
Gabe frowned. “I am happy.” He looked away. “I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine.” Christian looked at him knowingly. “You were worried about having to take over, weren’t you?”
“No, it’s not that.” He smiled sheepishly. “It’s Genevieve, the girl I told you about.”
Christian grinned at him like an idiot. “Did you come clean?”
“Yeah and she told me she couldn’t deal with this right now and hung up on me.” Gabe sighed. “I don’t know what to do. I mean, she lives on a different continent. Would it even have worked out anyway if I had told her from the get-go?”
His brother looked at him thoughtfully. “Well, since I do know more about women than you, do you want my honest advice?”
Gabe rolled his eyes. “You wish. But yeah, give me the truth.”
“Let her go. If she cares, she’ll come around. They say all women want to marry a prince right?” Christian chuckled. “Sounds to me like the woman who doesn’t want to be with you, the prince, might actually be the right woman for you, the man.”
Gabe let the truth of that statement sink in. “You’re right. That’s why I’m scared I’ve ruined everything.” He shook his head. “How did I get into this mess?”
Christian slung his arm over his brother’s shoulder. “You didn’t know what would happen. And I would have done the same thing in your shoes. Let’s go grab some coffee, then maybe Mother will be done, so we can visit Father.”
Gabe walked with his brother to the cafeteria and tried to focus on his family. I need to be here for them, not worried about what happened in Forest Grove. As much as he tried to tell himself that, he knew it was no use.
After leaving the hospital, Gabe talked his brother into grabbing a drink at one of the pubs they would occasionally visit. Lornigan’s Irish Pub was an old establishment in Turnkey Row Gardens, which was just off the beaten path, enough so that the tourists usually missed it. Benjamin, the owner of the pub for the last decade, was very accommodating and always put the princes in the back corner of the bar in order to keep them away from curious eyes.
Gabe sipped his Guinness and watched as his brother devoured a bowl of Irish stew. “Did you not eat anything today?”
Christian looked confused. “Um... I ate a sandwich at the hospital, plus my regular lunch and breakfast. Why?”
“You are swallowing that stew so fast I’m not sure you are even tasting it.”
Christian grinned. “I’m tasting it.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin and waved over the waitress. “Can I get an order of the shepherd’s pie, please?”
The waitress smiled a megawatt smile. “Coming right up, sir.” Gabe sucked in a breath. Please don’t curtsy. He let out a relieved sigh when she gathered up Christian’s empty bowl and walked back toward the kitchen. Christian munched on some saltines and eyed his brother curiously.
“I know I’m lovely company, but you seemed like you had something on your mind that you wanted to discuss.”
Gabe rolled his eyes. Christian knew him too well. “I just wanted to get your opinion on some things.”
Christian smiled like an idiot. “The girl or being king?”
Gabe frowned. “Both.” He took another sip of his beer. “Something Genevieve said keeps ringing in my head.” He paused. “Well, this was when I was lying about father being a businessowner, not a king, but...”
Christian laughed. “A businessowner.”
Gabe wadded up a napkin and threw it at his brother. “It was a good cover story.” He cleared his throat. “Anyway, she said father, being such a good businessman, wouldn’t consider turning the business over to me unless he was confident that I could do it.”
Christian nodded. “Good point. What do you think about that?”
Gabe raked a hand through his hair. “I think she’s right.” He paused. “I mean, father is a good king. Probably the best Delnovia has had, except for King Richard.”
“God rest his soul,” said Christian.
“And if father thinks I can do a good job and that I’m ready to be king, then I think I need to be man enough to rise to the challenge and prove to him I am ready.”
Christian’s grin disappeared. He looked at Gabe thoughtfully. “Hmm. Sounds like you need to prove it to yourself, too.” He sipped his drink. “And sounds like Genevieve really made you think.”
Gabe nodded. “She did.” He held up his glass. “So, a toast to being the future king of Delnovia?”
Christian clinked his glass against his brother’s then smiled. “So, now that you will be king, does that mean I can have your residence?”