Chapter 16

“I need to go home to say goodbye to my mother,” Ari replied when they were on their way back to Queens, New York. “When are we leaving?”

Lillian shrugged, smiling. “As soon as we get to the private jet.”

“Would you mind?” Ari really needed to see her mother... regardless. But she knew it would sound better as a request. She didn’t want to start off her new married life on the wrong foot.

Lillian gave her hand a gentle squeeze, her eyes filled with concern. “Whatever you need.” She paused for a moment, and then added, “Would you like to swing by the hospital one more time to see your sister, too?”

Ari shook her head. “No but thank you. I’ve already said my goodbyes to her. And I’m sure she doesn’t want to see me right now, either.” Henley could really be really stubborn when she wanted to. But then again, so could she.

Lillian sighed as she wrapped both hands around her hand. “Your sister doesn’t understand. But eventually, when you are able to explain, I’m sure she will.”

Ari shook her head, tears brimming her eyes. “I just hope she can forgive me one day... for not being there for her now.”

Lillian nodded. “I wish I could tell you that you can stay here and come to Estrea when you’re ready, but that’s just not possible.”

“I know that.” Ari smiled, pushing back tears. “I just wish I could do both. But I’ve made my decision... and along with it, my peace.”

To Ari’s surprise, tears brimmed Lillian’s eyes, too. “You’re a strong woman.” Then she leaned in and whispered, “You’ll make a great queen one day.”

Ari smiled. “I hope so. I don’t want to let anyone down.”

Lillian gave her hand one last pat and then released it. “You won’t.” Then she looked into the rearview mirror at the driver. “We have one more stop to make before we go to the airport.”

“Yes, ma’am.” The driver glanced up. “What’s the address?”

To Ari’s surprise, Lillian gave him the address without looking at anything, having committed it to memory. Ari guessed that Lillian had checked her out fully as soon as Prince Grayson told her. Lillian really was excellent at her job.

Before long, they pulled up in front of her house, and the driver got out and opened her door.

Ari patted Lillian’s hand. “I’ll only be a minute.”

Lillian nodded. “Take your time.”

Ari smiled, and then took the driver’s hand that he offered. He closed the car door and then folded his hands, waiting. Ari wrapped her coat around her and headed inside, squaring her shoulders. But she knew it would be colder inside the house, once her mother found out that she was leaving.

Standing in the living room, her mother folded her arms over her chest, calmer than Ari would have thought, when she walked in. “What’s going on?”

Ari sighed, not bothering to take off her coat. “I’m leaving, Mom.”

“May I ask why?”

Ari bit her lower lip and then released it. “I can’t tell you.”

“Why are you leaving now... with everything that’s going on?” her mother asked, angrily wiping away a tear.

“I can’t tell you.”

Her mother nodded. “Where did you get the money for the limo?” She nodded toward the window. “And who are they?”

“I can’t tell you.”

“Is there anything you can tell me?” her mother shouted, losing her cool. “Because I’m trying to understand why you would leave us now, of all things. Please, Ari, help me to understand.”

Tears sprang to Ari’s eyes. “I can’t tell you.”

“Well, have a safe trip and keep in touch.” Her mother pulled her into her arms and kissed her forehead. Then she looked into her eyes. “Whatever it is that you think you have to do, you don’t.” She placed her hands on the side of Ari’s head. “We can get through this, but we have to stick together.”

Ari shook her head as tears coursed down her cheeks. “Mom, I’ve already made my choice. I can’t change my mind.” She kissed her mother’s cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you, too,” her mother said flatly, letting her hands drop from her daughter’s face. “But I can’t believe you’re being so selfish as to do this now. Why don’t you wait a few months?”

“Mom, please don’t make this any harder than it already is.” Then she backed away from her toward the door before she changed her mind. She laid an envelope filled with money on the table next to the door. “I have a new cell phone number. I wrote it inside.”

Her mother nodded. “Take good care of yourself.” Then she turned her back on her. Never before had her mother treated her this way, but Ari understood why. If the roles were reversed, she may have done the same thing.

Tears coursed down Ari’s cheeks as she headed out the door. She knew her mother didn’t understand now. But Ari hoped that one day, she would, just as Lillian had said about her sister. As she headed toward the waiting limo, she hoped it was true.

The driver opened the door and she slid in.

Lillian squeezed her hand. “Driver, to the airport, please.”

“Yes, ma’am.” As they pulled away from the curb, Ari knew it would be for the last time for a while… if ever.

A few moments later, the driver pulled the limo into the airport, right onto the tarmac and pulled to a stop before a private jet.

Lillian reached over and squeezed her hand, smiling. “Are you ready?”

Ari nodded. She took the driver’s hand, letting him help her out of the limo. Two men dressed in suits stood at the top of the stairs just outside of the plane, and another man stood at the bottom. He extended his hand to her, smiling. “Welcome, Miss Douglas.” Then he guided her to the stairs. She was going to have to get used to this level of attention.

At the top of the stairs, one of the gentlemen extended his hand. “Miss Douglas.” He helped her into the plane while the other spotted her.

How many people does it take to get a future princess onto a private jet? She smiled to herself, thinking of the old joke.

As soon as she took her seat, a swivel chair, a flight attendant approached. “Anything before takeoff?”

“Coke Zero?” Ari replied, not sure if she would be able to get it in Estrea.

The flight attendant smiled. “Right away.” She took Lillian’s order and then walked toward the back of the plane.

“So, what do you think so far?” Lillian asked, sitting across from her.

Ari lifted an eyebrow, tilting her head to the side. “It has it’s perks.” She couldn’t bring herself to say that being engaged to royalty had its perks. For some reason, that part wasn’t real to her yet. But she knew that when she met Prince Grayson, it would.