SOFIA
An air horn jolted Sofia from her deep slumber.
Disoriented, her hand searched the voluminous comforter as another horn blared. Her only cognizant thought was to make it stop. At last, her hand grasped her newly acquired phone. The one that had been procured for her once she’d asked Zeke for a way to communicate with Marcus.
Ever the gentleman, Sir Zeke had apologized profusely at the oversight. And palace security had delivered a secure mobile, fitted with anti-hacker encryption, within the hour. Unfortunately, by the time she received it, Marcus was unavailable.
And… it would appear their brother’s hacking skills had rubbed off on Grace, because who else would’ve changed her alert to an air horn?
Sofia didn’t normally sleep with her cell phone. In Sweetwater, she’d had to break herself of the habit of doom scrolling or rechecking her emails late into the night as her mind raced through all the to-do’s that seemed never ending. The only cure she’d discovered was investing in an abrasive alarm clock and charging her phone in the kitchen. Something that seemed brilliant, right now, as she unlocked her phone, and the blinding screen announced it was six a.m.
Her exasperation, however, dissipated when she saw the alerts had been text messages. From Marcus:
Good morning, beautiful.
I’m sorry I missed your call last night.
Alone in her room, Sofia gave in to the urge to beam.
Though it had been only two days since she’d seen him, she missed him. And this, waking up to a text, immediately being happy that the person she was thinking about, was thinking about her, felt good. In a world of abnormal, she appreciated this small sense of normalcy. A crush that was requited.
With a grin, she typed her reply: New phone, who dis?
Sofia watched the screen as the typing dots appeared... then disappeared. A heartbeat went by, then another. She was about to send a follow-up when her phone sang Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You.” Marcus was calling. And she was going to throttle her sister.
Sofia cleared her throat, trying to get rid of the morning frogs in her voice, before she answered, “Roadkill café, you kill it, we grill it. How can I help you?”
The line was silent, and Sofia wondered, momentarily, if she hadn’t accepted the call properly.
She swiftly glanced at the screen, which displayed they were connected. Then Marcus’s baritone laughter rumbled near her ear. That rare sound soothed and delighted her.
“You’re going to keep me on my toes, aren’t you?” His voice washed over her, and she felt some of her worries melt away. Marcus sounded good. No hint of their last heated exchange laced his words. But a lot had happened since then.
“There’s a high probability of that.”
“Wouldn’t have it any other way.” Marcus chuckled, and Sofia settled into her pillows, relaxing into the sound of his voice. In the stillness of the morning, before the day’s demands took hold of them both, Sofia felt contentment.
His deep voice washed over her as he spoke, “Though, I have to ask. Should I be jealous?”
“Jealous…?” Sofia had no idea what Marcus was talking about. But another chuckle from him, which sounded like home and warmth all in one, reassured her that he was teasing.
“I’m gone from the palace less than twenty-four hours, and you’re already getting into trouble without me? I thought unflattering headlines was our thing.” She fought the blush that appeared unbidden when she realized Marcus wasn’t just teasing her, he was flirting with her. And she liked it.
Sofia ignored the headline comment for a moment, giving in to the desire to hold on to normalcy and simply flirt back, “Oh, we have a thing, now?”
“I hope so.” Marcus’s confident reply did something to her. Despite all the question marks, Sofia recognized that she’d begun to hope so, too.
“I take it you haven’t seen the headlines, yet?” Marcus asked, and she quipped, “No, I have this rule about no bad news before waking up. Or before coffee.”
“I can get behind that. In fact, I see your rule, and I’ll raise you, ‘No bad news until after your coffee and your ride with Chance.’” His words were muffled by the rustle of fabric and Sofia pictured him putting on his suit jacket, as he cradled the phone between his ear and shoulder, trading sides with each sleeve. “How does that sound?”
Sofia knew he was right. What was done had already been done. Putting off worrying about it for an hour or so wouldn’t change much. But getting her time with Chance, away from expectations and responsibilities, would center her for the day ahead.
“Twist my arm, why don’t you?”
“Good. From hence forth, it is so decreed. How’s Chance doing?”
“He’s missing kicking your butt in every race.”
“I miss you, too, Sofia. I’d say I’m sorry my text woke you, but I’m glad I get to hear your voice.”
“It’s good to hear yours, too.” And it was. Hearing his voice settled her in a way she hadn’t experienced before. “On a scale of I-can-leave-my-room to fuel-up-the-jet-and-take-me-home, how bad is it?”
“Nothing the palace press can’t handle. You’re not alone in this, Sof. At least you were eloquent. Some of the outlets even played the clip in its entirety, without editing it down to fit their narrative. You must’ve impressed a few of them. I know you impressed me.”
Sofia fidgeted. It was hard to accept that Marcus was telling the truth when she’d so clearly bungled her first national address. And when she couldn’t see his face. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
“My first speaking engagement, I didn’t. Completely choked. Couldn’t shake the nickname, ‘Prince Marcus the Mute’ for years.” His voice was even, but Sofia could hear the tinge of hurt from the old wound. “Wanted to share that after our first headline but…”
But she’d defaulted to her singlehood habits. Seeking comfort from her sister, and isolation, instead of her potential partner. A partner who had experience swimming these shark infested press waters.
“I’m sorry you had to endure that, Marcus. That’s awful.”
“It’ll get better. When they get the chance to know how wonderful you are. They won’t be able to help falling in love with you, just like—” Marcus cut off so abruptly, Sofia glanced at the screen again to see if they’d been disconnected. They hadn’t. His voice came back on the line, “Just like everyone who meets you does.”
Her heart fluttered. Had he been about to say, just like he had? Was Marcus falling in love with her as well? Lord, what are we doing? There’s still so much we don’t know about each other. So many ways we aren’t compatible…
Inundated with feelings Sofia wasn’t ready to sort through yet, she redirected. “Thank you, but I should’ve just gotten into the car like Bella told me to.”
“Bella now, huh? I think you just proved my point… Are you sure I shouldn’t be jealous?”
Her own belly-laugh surprised Sofia. “Yes, as a matter of fact, you should be. We’ve decided that a shared spinster life of leisure, out of the public eye, suits us both and we’ve arranged to disappear to a private island before you get back…”
“I wouldn’t blame either of you. How are you doing? How is—”
Sofia noticed Marcus cut himself off before asking how Bella was, out of respect to her.
But she found that she wasn’t bothered by his instinct to ask after the other woman. In fact, it endeared him to her more. Compassion was something she had prayed for in a husband. “She was… hard to read at first. Understandably. But also… incredible, you know? I don’t know how you let her go. Especially when…”
Things were still undecided between them, was left unsaid. But Marcus heard it anyway.
“Outside of present phone-company, and my grandmother, I don’t know a more formidable woman. Bella is a force of nature, and a dear friend. But… I realized that’s all it was for me. Friendship. And she deserves more than that. It wasn’t right to string her along…” Sofia waited as Marcus choose his words, “Not when I have feelings for you. And I do, Sofia. I know we haven’t had much time together. I know we have a lot of obstacles to overcome… But I want to give us a chance. I hope you do, too.”
Sofia took a deep breath. Simultaneously wishing she could see his face, and glad for the opportunity to process his declaration without observation. When she didn’t respond, Marcus filled the silence. “I wanted you to know I’m all in. On us, on figuring out what our marriage could look like. But it’s still your choice.”
Given the Queen’s demand that Marcus be settled in matrimony by Christmas Eve, Sofia knew that while releasing Bella had been the honorable thing to do, Marcus had also taken a risk.
But he’d been willing to gamble on denying his grandmother’s dying wish and ascending the throne, without the support of a true consort and wife, to pursue a relationship with her.
Suddenly, all Sofia wanted was more time with him. In person, even a video-call wouldn’t do. “When are you coming home?”
She heard the smile at her use of the word ‘home,’ when he replied. “I’ll be home as soon as I’m able. This treaty… Father seemed so certain it was a done deal. But negotiations aren’t going well. And being caged in a room with Lord Belaye all day is a form or torture I could do without—”
“You’re with Bella’s dad? After dumping his daughter?” Sofia was dubious. “Do you have enough security with you?”
“Fortunately, looks can’t kill, or I’d be a dead man twenty times over. I don’t even fully understand how he had a seat at the negotiation table. But he and father were always close.”
Something in his voice alerted her. “What is it?”
She heard his frustrated exhale, and pictured him running his hand through his hair, leaving tufts sticking up in its wake. “It’s a simple trade agreement. I know everyone wants to get it buttoned up before the holidays… I don’t know. Hopefully, it’ll conclude soon.”
“I—” Sofia stopped when she heard a knock, on Marcus’s side of the call. “I should probably let you go.”
She heard Marcus say something, but it was muffled, like the phone was against his chest while he spoke to whoever had come into the room. And then, he was back. “Sorry. I do have to get going. But promise me you’ll have your coffee and ride with Chance before looking at the news?”
Though she’d playfully agreed earlier, Sofia had her doubts about the wisdom of waiting. She’d cross a lot of people’s paths just walking to and from the stables. Sometimes forearmed was forewarned. But she also saw the value in not starting her day with other people’s opinions and judgements.
“We all have had to find our ways of living in this fishbowl, Sof. I support you setting a boundary of no bad news before coffee and Chance time. For me.”
“Okay.” Sofia relented, touched by the fact that Marcus knew how much that hour of liberty meant to her. And it felt good to have someone be protective of her needs. “I’ll be praying for you today.”
A pause and then, “Thanks. I’ll talk to you later, Sof.”
Her goodbye was barely spoken when the connection ended. She hadn’t even had a chance to tell him how much she admired what he’d accomplished with Ava’s Angels. With a tender smile, she mentally added it to the list of things to talk to him about next time.
Lord, whatever Marcus faces today, be with him. Guide him and give him strength. Open his eyes to any deception or underhandedness. And lend him confidence if he is unsure of himself…
As she showered, brushed her teeth, and dressed for her ride, Sofia continued her morning prayers. Covering the people in her life back home and all the new lives that had touched her since her arrival in Ducklenburge.
With Grace nowhere in sight, Sofia committed to tracking her sister down after her ride, to get the tones changed on her phone. She was almost out the door of her suite when she retraced her steps and peered into the library.
The wilted blackthorn blooms had been removed, and a single vase with a hodge podge of blossoms sat on the table next to her favorite chair.
She reached for the note. And though it wasn’t Marcus’s handwriting, the two-worded question was clearly from him:
Miss me?
She snapped a pic of her smiling next to the arrangement and sent it to Marcus, with the message:
Annoyingly, yes.
And then she stepped outside her suite to see what the Lord had for her to learn today.
⭐︎⭐︎⭐︎
Sofia held her head high as she walked through the halls of the palace, headed to the stables. She walked on the edges of the hallway, still bothered by the stupid rule that only royal feet tread the middle of the precious oriental rugs. Her protection detail followed in her wake.
At the stables, she stood just inside the threshold waiting for Berk to bring Chance to her.
While the old stablemaster allowed Sofia to settle Chance in his stall after rides, Berk still insisted on being the one to saddle up the steed. A point Sofia had conceded early on when the kind man reasoned, “Gives me a chance to remind this young stallion who exactly he’s carrying and how I expect him to behave.”
As she waited, she couldn’t contain her smile as she played back the flirtier parts of her conversation with the Crown Prince. Marcus wanted to be her husband. Wanted her to be his wife. How something could be so surreal and so delightful at the same time, still had her at a loss.
But she’d committed to walking into the unknown, now with her heart fully open and trusting.
If God was writing her love story, she was going to embrace and enjoy it. Confident that He would work out the details.
Not even the glares of the stable hands mucking stalls, the ones that had mocked her, could dampen her spirit. She saw her closest guard give one of the lads a stern look, causing the surly lad to turn away.
The back of a familiar blonde head in a nearby stall caught Sofia’s eye and she walked over, “Bella, good morning—”
But the woman who turned around wasn’t Lady Arabella.
Though similar in feature, this woman was older. Still stunning, but with a beauty that was cold. The frigid contempt in the woman’s eyes startled Sofia until she recognized the resemblance. So, this was Bella’s mom.
“Lady Belaye,” Berk’s voice cut through the stony silence. He approached the women, with Chance on a lead. “You’re here earlier than expected.”
“That would explain why our horses are not ready for transport, as we requested.”
The wrinkles in the leathery face of the stable master deepened with his frown. “They’ll be ready within the hour. Shame that they’re leaving, Arnie was making progress on the track.”
“As our daughter will no longer be riding with the Crown Prince, it seemed prudent to have them returned to our own stables. Wouldn’t want anything else of ours damaged in royal care, would we?”
“If Bella rides, I’d love—” Sofia wavered under the pure malice in Lady Belaye’s gaze. If looks could kill, indeed, Sofia thought. Reminded of Marcus’s description of the woman’s husband.
“Stop using that despicable nickname. You wrongly presume familiarity, but that is at an end. My daughter will not demean herself as your tour guide any longer.” The venom in the woman’s voice was lethal. “If you had any self-preservation at all, you’d get on a plane and return to your pedestrian life immediately. You do not know how woefully out of depth you are. And if you’re not careful, someone is going to drown you in it.”
Sofia stepped back under the blaze of the woman’s threat. One of her protection officers moved forward, placing himself just in front of Sofia. But it was Berk who stepped in, “Lady Belaye. Your steeds will arrive before noon. There is no need for you to oversee transport. I suggest you heed your own advice and leave instantly.”
Lady Belaye glared at the stable master, her eyes flicking past him to Chance, who Berk still had by the reins. Before returning her glower to Sofia, sizing her up with a sneer. “Saddled with dead weight. Pity that he’ll never become a champion now.”
The woman’s voice was loud enough to carry, and Sofia heard the snickers of the stable lads in the nearby stall. Sofia felt a flash of anger as she realized the Lady Belaye wasn’t just taking a cheap shot at her or Chance. She was talking about Marcus.
Sofia’s hands clenched reflexively, but before she could give the woman a piece of her mind, a whisper stirred within her. Peace… Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
She released the tension in her body with a deep breath. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Not just for baseball, as her dad would say. She inhaled and exhaled, letting God’s promise dispel her anger before she stated, “My mom always said, ‘never say never.’ You just never know what can happen in life.”
Sofia heard a cough behind her, like one of her guards covering a laugh. Lady Belaye, however, was not amused. Not amused in the slightest. “You’ll ruin him.”
With that parting shot, Lady Belaye pushed past Sofia in disgust. If a cartoonist had to capture how the woman stormed off, Sofia mused, it would have to include billows of dust in her wake, and steam coming out of the woman’s ears.
Berk noticed the unrepentant stable hands smirking and barked, “Back to work. I want those stalls clean enough to eat in before lunchtime. Off you go.”
With a grumble the lads heads disappeared as they got back to work, and Sofia took the reins that Berk offered.
An airhorn sounded from her pocket, causing the lot of them, stablemaster, steed, security detail, and Sofia, to start. She fumbled for her phone.
“Sorry, my sister’s idea of a joke.” Sofia unlocked the phone and opened the message. It was a selfie from Marcus. Berk caught a glance of it and smiled.
Marcus was barely in frame; the camera caught more of an angled view of the table behind him. Older gentlemen in suits frowned at each other. Some of their hands were mid-gesture. She didn’t have to ask who Lord Belaye was, because a bull of a man was glaring daggers at Marcus. Who was looking into the lens with a goofy, adorable smile on his face.
He looked happy; she thought as she read the text that accompanied it.
Tell Chance to take you by the pond, past the old fence, for a view.
Sofia smiled. But another blast of the horn caused everyone to jump a little, again. Chance snorted and whinnied, shaking his mane in reproach. “Sorry, sorry!”
She quickly switched the phone to silent before going back to the last text.
Have fun. Be safe. Wish I was there.
Sofia debated mentioning the run-in with Lady Belaye but thought better of it. It was bad enough Marcus was stuck with the woman’s husband. And since there hadn’t been any bloodshed, she decided it could wait until they spoke again. Just another topic to add to the list of things to share with each other. And she discovered, she liked the idea of having her person.
It was nice to have someone who wanted to know her, wanted to hear all about the tiny and big moments that filled her day. Nice to want to hear all about his. Sofia grinned at that and typed her reply.
I’ll see your room of grouchy men and raise you a princess prep day… with Bella and Zeke tag-teaming the lessons.
His reply was instant, Hard pass. Enjoy your ride.
Berk’s voice brought her out of her thoughts. “I’ve known that boy, just about his whole life. And I like the change I’m starting to see in him. Like a light being turned on after sitting in a dark room for too long.”
Sofia tucked her phone away and led Chance outside. Berk, and her guards, in step with her as she wondered at the change, Berk said he saw, in Marcus.
“If this old man could offer some advice?”
“Please.”
“In my experience. It’s a hard thing. Fathoming how much God loves you when you’ve never known unconditional love.”
Sofia pondered Berk’s words as she mounted Chance effortlessly and waited for her guards to do the same on their steeds.
If it hadn’t been for how much her parents had loved her, and her siblings, growing up, flaws and all, would she have been able to believe that God, in all His power and glory, loved her completely and pursued her heart relentlessly? Not because she deserved it or earned it, but because of who He was? Perhaps, not.
Once she was settled and Berk was satisfied the straps were snug, he observed. “When every relationship in your life is transactional… it’s harder to accept that a gift, freely given, doesn’t have a hidden cost.”
Sofia nodded at the man with gratitude. He’d given her something to think about, and pray over, on her ride. A ride, that after that uncomfortable altercation with Bella’s mom, she desperately needed. “Thank you, Berk. We’ll be back soon… But not too soon.”
“Take your time. Our boy looks forward to his time with you. Don’t think he’ll mind if you put him through his paces a bit.”
“Come on boy, why don’t you show me that pond?” Sofia put a little pressure on the Friesian’s sides with her knees and, with that signal, Chance started to walk then trot. Finding his rhythm, Sofia cleared her mind and began posting in the saddle as he picked up his pace to a canter.
She rose from her seat, keeping her spine straight, when his front right shoulder moved forward. She sat back gently when it moved back. They found their two-beat rhythm quickly.
Eager for more speed, Chance’s canter turned into a gallop and Sofia lost herself in the exertion and exhilaration of their run.
~~~
Author's Note: Thank you all for re-joining me w Ever Always this past week. I'm scribbling on it daily, but I did want to give the heads up that unfortunately, I'll be traveling to a memorial for a loved one over the next few days and then I start a new gig on Monday that will take some prepping/time to learn the ropes. So, part 25 & 26 may be delayed another week or two before I can post. I hope you and yours are well until then... and yes, Truit Thanksgiving is coming up... Cheers! ~W.A.
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