sensation-seeking press nothing but lies, then backed every lie with false witnesses.
Walker shook the shitty memories off. Somehow, he’d find a way to prove his innocence to the whole damned world.
Deep breath. Let it go.
Ascension Island was not in the plan. Walker wanted to cross the Atlantic sooner than later. Although, now that he had time to think, there was an airport on Ascension Island. He could catch a plane to Johannesburg. But that meant going ashore and through customs, where a man with no passport would be detained and…
“Stick to the plan,” he hissed. “Be smart. Keep your eyes open. You can do this.”
As always, it felt good to have faith in himself. Lonely. But good.
Chapter Twelve
Dinner with the Queen was refreshingly enjoyable. She’d brought elegant gifts of Irish crystal heart ornaments for her female guests. Lexie Rose Stewart sat on her lap at the moment, chattering like little girls did when they had someone’s undivided attention. Man, that little one was Kelsey Stewart all over again. Delicate frame, expressive eyes, and a dainty pert nose dotted with the tiniest chocolate sprinkle freckles. Shiny dark curls spiraled down her back, but those mischievous melted chocolate-kiss eyes sparkled more than the crystal settings adorning the elegant table.
The men and boys were dressed in business suits, and the women in dinner dresses. Little Lexie wore a lovely red velvet dress over black tights, shiny shoes, and a big smile.
Taciturn Hunter Christian and his pretty wife Meredith, sat at the Queen’s left, with their two sons. Courtney sat beside his father. Little Robert sat next to his mother.
Kelsey and Alex sat at the Queen’s immediate right, with Lexie’s empty chair next to Kelsey. Persia and Izza were next to Hunter’s family, while Eric and Shea Reynolds sat across from them, next to the Stewarts. Unfortunately, Eric’s two-year-old triplet girls, Summer, Sage, and Lyrik, were home with a stomach virus, with Eric’s mother watching over them.
The Queen had gifted each child a plush Winnie-the-Pooh, courtesy of A. A. Milne’s vivid imagination. After Lexie had curtsied and told Her Majesty, “Thank you, ma’am,” like a very good girl, she’d marched straight to the wooden rocking horse set out of the way, near the bay windows. To Persia’s amusement, Lexie had argued strongly with Alex when it came time to dismount. “But, Daddy, I wanna ride the pony. Why else is it here if not for us kids to ride it?”
To which he’d firmly said, “After dinner, sweetheart. Let’s sit down. It’s time to eat. Now.”
Lexie had pouted when he’d physically lifted her out of the tiny leather saddle and placed her on the booster seat next to Kelsey. Persia could’ve laughed out loud.
Only when the Queen asked if Lexie could, “Please, come and sit with me,” did that little girl’s smile return. Like a rock star.
Kelsey’s lashes fell then, and Persia was sure she chuckled under her breath, at the power struggle between one hard-assed father and his stubborn daughter. Seemed like that apple hadn’t fallen far from the Stewart tree.
Alex was a doting father, that much was clear. And Kelsey adored Lexie and him. The second he returned to his place, he rested his arm along the back of her chair and pressed a sigh and a kiss to her temple.
“Stop laughing at me,” he growled, ever so softly, his attention again focused on the Queen.
“That little girl’s as pigheaded as you,” Kelsey whispered back.
“Yeah, well…”
Eric chuckled at their interaction. “Relax, Boss. You could’ve had triplets. Three times the fun.”
“And we would’ve loved them!” Kelsey replied, her eyes bright as she elbowed her husband’s ribs. “Admit it, Alex. You’d love three more little girls just like Lexie running around the house. Or three sons would be cool, too. You need three Mini-Alexes following you everywhere you go. You could teach them carpentry.”
He rolled his eyes. “One of these days…”
Which caught Shea’s attention. Leaning over her place setting, she asked Kelsey, “Are you two pregnant?”
“No,” Alex answered, a bit too quickly.
“Alex?” the Queen asked from her place at the end of the table, her arms still around his precocious firstborn’s waist. “Are congratulations in order?”
My, how quickly that man stiffened to attention when she spoke, and Persia knew before he said one word. The biggest clue was that Kelsey had yet to say anything and her head was still down. No one could see into her eyes. Yup. The Stewarts are pregnant!
Persia elbowed Izza at her right to listen up.
“Err…” Alex took a deep