Ariella. “I’ll be on the balcony.”
The door closed behind him, and Ariella frowned. Should she tell her father she’d said no to him? Should she confess the truth about her pregnancy? It was all too much and her tired and emotional brain couldn’t handle it.
“Well, isn’t that something. I’m a guy from a small town in Montana and I just told a member of the British royal family to leave the room.”
“And I’m a girl from a small town in Montana and I’m having lunch with the president of the United States.”
He nodded and smiled, and his blue eyes sparkled. “I guess it proves we’re all just people once you look past the pomp and circumstance.” His expression grew serious. “Do you love him?”
She twisted her water glass in her hands. “I think I might.”
“You don’t sound too sure.”
“We really…click. I guess that’s the best way to put it. I have so much fun with him and I always feel relaxed in his company, which is really weird under the circumstances.” She did not feel the need to mention the intense sexual attraction. “I like him very, very much. But the fact is, we only met a few weeks ago and they’ve been some of the craziest weeks of my life and I don’t know what to think about anything anymore.”
“Well, I’ll give you a piece of advice that might be worth exactly what it’ll cost you.” He inhaled. “Don’t wait around for the ‘right time’ when everything falls into place and feels perfect.” He fixed his eyes on hers. “In my experience, which is considerable at this point, that time never comes.”
She nodded slowly.
He leaned forward and took her hand again. His hands were big and warm and soft. “If you love this young man—and from what I see in your eyes, I think you do—don’t blow the love of a lifetime because it doesn’t fit your calendar. I went off to college naively assuming that Ellie and the whole life I had planned out with her would still be there when I got back.” He shook his head. “Instead I got back to find that she’d left town and no one knew where she was. My entire future evaporated overnight just like that. Sure, I got the college education I wanted and then started the big career I’d always hoped for, but the soul of my life, the really important part, had got on a train one dark night and skipped town without me.”
His eyes were now soft with tears. “I missed Ellie so much those first few years. Then I suppose I grew numb, or grew used to the dull ache of living without her. When I think of the memories we could have shared it infuriates me that I missed out on all that through my own stupid fault. I should have married her and taken her to college with me instead of stupidly insisting on waiting until the time was right. Yes, times would have been hard and we would have had to scrimp a bit, but we would have had each other, and that’s the important thing. If you love this young man, then don’t miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime.” He squeezed her hand softly. “I don’t want you to live to regret it like I did.”
Ariella’s chest was so tight she could hardly breathe. “I’m having his baby. I just found out this week.” She had no idea how he’d react, but she knew she couldn’t keep it to herself any longer.
His mouth made a funny movement, like he wanted to say something but was too choked up.
“I told Ellie a couple of days ago and she urged me not to hide it from Simon. I took her advice today. It almost feels like history is repeating itself, doesn’t it?”
Her father shook his head. “No, Ariella. History isn’t repeating itself because you and Simon are braver and stronger and maybe a little more bullheaded than Ellie and I were.” He laughed. “Simon’s quite a young man. I don’t think you could go far wrong with him in your life.”
She smiled. “I know. He’s pretty amazing.” Then she swallowed. “But then there’s the rest of his family. And we’d have to live in England.”
He shrugged. “England’s just across the pond. A short plane flight. Simon told me he’d already introduced you to the whole family.”
“Did he also tell you they were all trying to pack my bags and get me on