Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 116570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 116570 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 583(@200wpm)___ 466(@250wpm)___ 389(@300wpm)
My eyebrows furrowed, not understanding what she was saying. “The doctor said we should wait another day before—”
“I meant, leave Ersovia.”
“What?”
She squeezed my hand tighter. “You’ve done so well, sweetheart. Done more than I or anyone else could have ever done. But it’s okay not to win sometimes. It’s okay to stop trying.”
“Mom.”
“You’re tired. You’re scared. You’re confused. Someone poisoned you, Odette. That is not a small thing. It’s okay for you to take a step back and go home with me and truly rest. The moment you step out of this hospital, these people will be demanding you to do something, put yourself out there for criticism again. They did not stop even when their prince died. They won’t stop for you to catch your breath, either. If we go home, we won’t have to see anyone, just like in here. And you can even start making music again. Don’t you miss your music?”
I did. But then again... “I never had time to miss music. I had to keep to a schedule.”
“No more schedules,” she said sternly, though she forced herself to smile. “Just facials, yogurt, music, movie nights, and peace of mind. Don’t you want that?”
I nodded, hanging my head.
“So, let’s go home, sweetheart. Please.” She had forced a smile, but tears were now in her eyes as she begged me, her grip on me even tighter. “Odette, you are all I have. And I don’t want to risk you anymore for anything. Please listen to me. Let’s go.”
I nodded again. “Okay.”
“I’ll get our tickets,” she said, getting up quickly. “When we get back, and when you are feeling better, we could go on a road trip. See all fifty states. Drive with the top down and wrap scarves over our heads like in the movies.”
I swallowed something stuck in my throat and smiled. “What about the bugs that would hit our face.”
“Ew.” She cringed. “Maybe we can keep the top up.”
I laughed. “There is no point in the scarves.”
“Fashion is the point of the scarves, my dear—fashion.”
I rolled my eyes. “Fashion for the highway? Why don’t you just get us a full costume so other drivers will be entertained at least.”
“Oh, don’t give me ideas. Because I can go full-on Tina Turner for the outfits.”
“Oh, God.” I couldn’t help but laugh, and it felt nice. I could see it now, me and her, two women on our own. It was funny.
“Maybe you could even have a comeback tour.”
“I haven’t been gone long enough to do a comeback tour, Mom.”
“It feels like you’ve been gone years for me,” she muttered.
I leaned forward. “Aww, Mommy, did you miss me? And here all you do is complain that I nag.”
“You do nag. Like an old woman,” she shot back. “But when you’re gone, it’s very quiet. And that is even more annoying.”
“So, you missed me.”
“Stop grinning like that. Of course, I missed you. I am your mother, remember, so of course, I do. So do some of your bandmates. They call me all the time. You should have called them more. Oh, we can have a dinner for everyone.”
“Okay.” I grinned as she went on planning my big comeback. There was a pain in my chest, but I focused on her. I couldn’t make everyone happy, but making my mom happy was good enough for me. And seeing her talk and plan, joke, tease, and nag helped me forget again.
I did not like being in this role.
I just wanted everything to be in order.
Inhaling deeply, I lifted my fist and knocked.
“Enter.”
When I did, he was seated behind mounds of papers, folders, maps, and everything that could possibly fit on his desk. It felt like the days right after Prince Arthur had died. When Prince Galahad would bury himself in work, so he did not feel whatever it was he was feeling. He’d once again taken to sleeping in his office, and from the tray of uneaten food in the corner, he was now not eating again.
“What is it, Iskandar? Where is Balduin? We have work to do,” he questioned, signing something before moving.
“I asked him to wait for a moment.”
“Why?”
“Wolfgang called—”
“Is Odette all right?” he asked, already rising and reaching for his coat.
“She is fine. She and her mother booked a flight. They are leaving Ersovia tomorrow morning.”
He froze and said not a word. His eyes held on my face for a very long time, which was not what I expected. I thought he would already be walking, rushing to her side to stop her from leaving. But he stood there for a moment longer then nodded before sitting back down.
“Should I call for the car, sir?” I questioned to make sure.
“No,” he whispered, shaking his head and lifting his paperwork again. “Please send Balduin in.”
This was not him. He was lost again.