Dominic
I don’t know what kind of homecoming I expected. There wasn’t going to be a parade with the Royal Navy, marking my grand return from rehab.
I walked into my apartments. There was a vase of flowers on the round table in the foyer. They were exotic and rare. I knew who sent them before I read the note.
I plucked the card from table.
Welcome home, brother. I’m so proud of you.
All my love,
Isabel
xoxo
“Hmm.” I folded it in half and tossed it next to the vase. “Where is Isabel?” I asked Kenley.
She was busy directing the valets with my luggage.
“She’s still in Spain,” she replied.
“I see.”
“Everyone misses her. I’m sure she’ll be back at the palace soon. Maybe another week or two at the most. I understand she has fallen in love with the countryside.”
Kenley’s heels clicked across the marble when one of the royal messengers entered. She whispered something to him and faced me.
“The king and queen would like for you to join them for dinner tonight as a welcome home supper,” she conveyed.
“Would they?”
She nodded. “Here is the royal invitation, signed by the queen.”
“How is that working out?” I asked.
“Excuse me?”
“The queen. I’ve only met her once and then my brother married her.”
Kenley’s eyes widened. “Oh. She has been wonderful. A truly modern queen.”
“Kenley.” I stared at her.
I didn’t know why she had been so strange since the flight. Maybe my constant drunken haze had made it seem like she was more forthcoming, but something seemed different. Kenley seemed different toward me, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Should I send a reply?” she asked.
“After you tell me what you really think of my sister-in-law.”
My fingers itched. I turned for the bar and stopped mid-stride. Wasn’t
that what I always did? I’d pour a drink while Kenley filled me in on the palace news. It was part of our routine. Sometimes she would try to talk me out of a fourth or fifth drink.
I didn’t remember her succeeding often.
I didn’t have to look to know the bar was stripped. Alcohol would never be served in these apartments again. I felt a swell of triumph knowing I didn’t want it. I liked viewing the world with clarity.
I decided to settle on more tea instead.