The Prince's Bride Part 2 - J.J. McAvoy Page 0,121

But it didn’t always work. I couldn’t stop myself from thinking that all of this was insane. It reminded me of that quote, “There are decades where nothing happens, and there are weeks where decades happen.” This week felt like a decade, and I was tired, so very tired.

“Sweetheart. Sweetheart?”

“Huh?” I shook my head, looking at my mother as she sat on the edge.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” I replied, looking around the room. “Where did Wolfgang go?”

“He stepped away while you were zoning out.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“No need to be sorry.” She took my hand, petting it slowly. “If you want to zone out or you want to cry or scream, then zone out or cry or scream. If you want to leave, then let’s leave.”

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