Genevieve
The next two days were idyllic. The day after our hiking trip – and that hot scene in the painting studio – Carrie took me to Snoqualmie Casino.
She taught me how to play blackjack and how to bet on roulette, and when I won a hundred dollars in the nickel slots she spun me around whooping it up with me as if I’d won a million dollars.
The next day I helped her on a catering job, ignoring the curious looks from her business partner as I helped serve at a retirement brunch for some executive at a local manufacturing company.
Unlike my first catering gig, no one harassed me here, and I managed to get through the whole shift without dropping anything.
A few times I caught people looking at me like they thought I looked familiar, but no one approached me or said anything, so I convinced myself that I was just imagining it. After all, why would a princess be gambling on nickel slots or serving people at a party?
That night we ordered pizza and watched the last episode of Ride or Die, which should have been a sign that things were coming to an end, but as we made love and fell asleep in each other’s arms, we were blissfully unaware of what would happen next.
We were eating waffles and bacon in the kitchen the next morning when we heard the doorbell. A few minutes later I heard Carrie call, “Genny? You’d better come out here.”
My parents were standing on the porch, flanked by two giant men with visible guns. My heart dropped into my stomach. Without considering my actions I shoved Carrie behind me. “Don’t hurt her.”
My mother rolled her eyes. “Don’t be melodramatic Genevieve.”
We all stood there staring at each other for so long I thought we’d freeze that way. Finally Carrie spoke up. “Would you like to come in? We were just eating breakfast.”
My parents exchanged a look, then my father addressed their bodyguards. “Stay out here please.”
They walked into the house, looking around curiously. I couldn’t help but wonder if either of my parents had ever seen an average person’s house. They’d both grown up with what most Americans would consider to be obscene wealth.
We followed Carrie into the kitchen while I wondered how my parents had found me, and why they’d come themselves rather than sending the police.
“Have a seat,” Carrie said, then she paused. “Oh sorry, we haven’t been introduced. I’m Carrie Owens, Genny’s… uh, friend.”
My mother gave me a curious look.
“This is my mother Queen Abigail and my father King Simon of Saint Marenne.”
Carrie gave them a nod. “Nice to meet you both. Can I offer you coffee? We have waffles and bacon too if you’d like.”
“Just coffee please,” my mother said stiffly. “For both me and my husband.”
While Carrie poured their coffees I went to the fridge to grab some milk for my mother. We didn’t have cream since Carrie and I both drank our coffees black, so she’d have to deal with milk instead.
Once we were all settled at the table I broke the silence. “How did you find me?”
My mother huffed out an aggrieved sigh, but my father pulled out his phone, opening something up and turning it towards me.
It was a picture from the retirement banquet yesterday with a clear view of me standing behind the table, hair in braids and carrying a tray.
Carrie and I exchanged a look but neither of us spoke.
“We had some reports about someone fitting your description gambling at a casino,” he said in a disapproving voice. “Then we saw this picture. Are you a waitress now?”
“The Americans say server not waitress,” I corrected automatically.
“If you’d excuse us for a few moments, we’d like to talk to our daughter alone.” Dad directed his words to Carrie, but his eyes didn’t leave my face.
I lifted my chin and met his glare head on. “Carrie stays. This is her house, you know. Anything you want to say you can say in front of her.”
“I can…”
I grabbed Carrie’s wrist, stalling her move to get up. “Stay. Please.”
I met her eyes, communicating how much I needed her there for support.
“Okay.”
When I looked back, my parents were watching me carefully.
“We were worried about you, Genevieve.”
I looked at my mother. “I emailed Evangeline and told her I was going away for a few days.”
“So she said, but that’s what a kidnapper would make you say.”
“Have you received a ransom request?” I asked sarcastically. “Because if not, you should have assumed your adult daughter meant what she said when she told her sister she needed a few days away.”
“It was very rude the way you disappeared. Hans was quite offended.”
“Hans was being polite to you,” I responded. “He had no interest in me, and I certainly have no interest in him, or any man.”
“Is this about the lesbian thing?” my mother asked, her expression pained as she looked between me and Carrie.
“There’s no ‘thing’ Mom, I’m a lesbian. It’s not something you grow out of. But why this sudden interest in my love life?”
My parents exchanged another long look. They’d been able to do this for as long as I could remember – have a silent conversation. I knew at that moment that whatever was coming next wouldn’t be good. My father leaned forward in his chair.
“I’m sick, Genevieve.”
“What do you mean?”
Both of my parents looked over at Carrie, but I still had a death grip on her hand, so she didn’t move.
“This is strictly confidential,” Mom told her, voice stern.
Carrie nodded, her gaze still fixed on me.
“They found a tumor,” my father continued. “In my colon. I need to have surgery.”
“Then why are you in Seattle?” I asked. “And what does that have to do with Hans?”
“I’m going to abdicate and install Evangeline on the throne before I start cancer treatment.”
“What? Why?”
“I’ve been thinking about retiring for a while now, but this news has sped up my timeline.
” My father’s voice sounded frail for the first time in my life.
“My doctors tell me I have a long road ahead of me, but my chances of recovery are good. I want to spend the rest of any time I have left with my family, not going to state dinners or presiding over Parliament.”
My mind was reeling. My father had always been so strong and healthy, the idea of him being sick was unfathomable.
“Your father and I just want to see you settled down and happy in case… well in case things don’t go well.”
“You wanted me to marry a total stranger in case you die?” I asked incredulously. “Did it ever occur to you to ask me if I was already happy? I have a job I like and… someone I, uh, care about too.”
My eyes pinned to Carrie’s, making sure she knew I was talking about her.
I’d started to call her my girlfriend, but we hadn’t put labels on it.
I didn’t even know if she would want to see me after all this was over.
Maybe this was just a fling for her. I mean, I didn’t think it was, but…
surely she was having the same feelings as I was, right?
I wasn’t just imagining the connection between us.
Carrie met my gaze but didn’t say anything.
“Mom, Dad, what do you need from me now?” I raised my hand before they could answer. “And don’t say get married to some random guy. I’ll do whatever you need from me to help out while you’re in treatment, but I’m not marrying some rando.”
“Come home Genevieve. You need to attend your sister’s coronation. The citizens will need to see us as one happy family as they learn of your father’s illness.”
My father was very beloved in Saint Marenne, and I knew that people would take his illness hard. I also knew that my sister would need my support during this transition. I could probably take a leave of absence from my job, or even work remotely for a while, but that left one big thing unresolved.
Carrie.
“I uh…”
“You need to go,” she nodded. “I know.”
“I’ll come for as long as I can,” I said. “But I’m not giving up my life here in Seattle. That’s too much to ask.”
My mother huffed out another aggrieved sigh. “Fine.”
“When are you leaving for home?” I asked my parents.
“Now that we’ve located you, we’ll be wheels up first thing in the morning,” my father said briskly.
My mind was racing with everything I needed to do. Talk to my boss. Pack my suitcases. Make arrangements for someone to water my plants and check on my condo.
“I’ll see you both at the airport in the morning then,” I said. “Does seven work?”
“Yes, we’ll alert the pilot.”
“Great, I’ll see you tomorrow then.”
“You’re not going back to your place?” my mother asked.
I looked at Carrie and she gave me a slight nod, understanding my unspoken question. “No, not yet.”
My voice was husky with emotion. I had one more day left and I planned to spend it with Carrie. I wasn’t sure if this was the end or just a pause for us, but I couldn’t just waltz out that door with my parents, not without having a conversation with her about the future.
I only hoped she wanted a future.