I lean over her and place a soft kiss on her forehead, inhaling her sweet scent, and for a brief moment I wonder if maybe we could somehow make it work. I don’t know how, but I don’t think I can let her go. I’ve only known her for a short time, but in that time, she’s managed to crawl under my skin and bury herself in the cavity of my chest.
My phone buzzes. This time it’s my brother. Mom must’ve gotten a hold of him.
I walk out of the bedroom and softly close the door behind me. “Hey.”
“Jack and I are on our way to the airport. Jessica ordered us a car.” Jessica must be the woman he’s been spending his time with. I didn’t pay attention to who either of them picked—my only focus on Natalie.
“The pilot said because of the weather it will be a few hours.”
“Fuck,” he hisses. “Okay, we’ll see you there.”
As we’re hanging up, there’s a knock on the door. I already know it’s Harold to grab my luggage. I open the door and roll it out into the hallway.
“The car is ready, sir.”
I glance back at the now closed door, picturing Natalie asleep, cuddled up with the blanket. All I want to do is crawl back into bed with her and ignore the world around us.
“I’ll, uh… Give me a moment, please. I’ll meet you down there.” I can’t do this. I can’t leave her. I’ll take her with me.
“Yes, sir.”
As I’m reaching for the handle to go back inside, the phone buzzes in my pocket. Again. Fuck. It’s my mom again. This can’t be good. “Mom.”
“He’s gone,” she cries. “His heart… it just wasn’t strong enough.”
My forehead drops against the wall and I close my eyes. “I’m so sorry we’re not there.”
“There’s nothing either of you could’ve done.”
I shake my head at her response and start walking down the hall. Even if there was something we could’ve done, she wouldn’t tell us that. “We’re on our way. The weather is bad, but the pilot thinks we can take off in a few hours.” I step into the elevator and press the button for the lobby.
“Stay safe,” she tells me. “I’ll be here when you return. Love you.” Her voice is so broken and sad, I want to reach through the phone and hug her.
“Love you too.”
When I hang up, I step out of the elevator and find myself standing in front of the hotel Starbucks, making me think of Natalie. Yesterday morning when I had breakfast brought up, the first thing she went after was the coffee, telling me she can’t live without caffeine. I chuckle at the thought of her in Lexenburg. We don’t drink coffee. We drink tea. I’ll have to buy her a coffee maker and coffee…
And with that thought, I know I’ve made my decision. I can’t leave without her. Maybe she won’t even want to go with me, but I have to try.
With a coffee and pastries in my hands, I head back upstairs to our room. I should probably be nervous. I mean, I’m about to ask a woman I’ve just met to fly back to my country with me. But for some reason, I’m not. And I know it’s because it feels right. Being with Natalie feels right.
I open the door and the second I enter, I already know she’s gone. I check the bathroom, the balcony, the other rooms… but she’s not here. Her clothes and her phone and camera are gone as well. She left.
My phone buzzes for what feels like the millionth time this morning. “Hello.”
“The system has shifted and we’re clear to take off as soon as you arrive.”
“Thank you.”
I set the coffee and pastries down and then head out. I consider stopping at the bordello on our way, but decide against it. If she wanted to be with me, she wouldn’t have left, but she did. And now I need to focus on my family. My mom and brother are going to need me to be strong for them.
Everything is about to change.
Present Day
“Your luggage was gone,” Natalie says. “How was I supposed to know you were downstairs buying me coffee?”
I sigh, knowing she’s right. “I wasn’t thinking. My dad had just died and my mom was across the pond. I was scrambling to get back home to her and I didn’t think.” Of course she would’ve assumed I left. Because I was planning to. Harold took my luggage and I was heading to the car. I had every intention of leaving her there sleeping.
“I came back because I didn’t want to be without you.”
A single tear leaks from her eye and I reach over to wipe it away with my thumb.
“I didn’t know your number,” she says. “Your last name… nothing. You knew where I worked but—”
“I called there.” Her eyes go wide. “A few days later, after the funeral, I was lying in bed and missing you. I looked up the number and called, but the man told me you didn’t work there and he refused to give me any information.”
“They won’t give out any information over the phone. Some guys get… attached.” Her cheeks turn a light shade of pink.
“I was attached.”
“I was too.” The pink of her cheeks deepens.
“We have a daughter…”
“She’s amazing,” she gushes, her entire face lighting up. “She’s so smart and sweet. She’s obsessed with castles.” She laughs, glancing around at the irony. “We’ve visited so many over the years. I can’t believe here, of all places, is where we found you.”
“Were you looking for me?” I was upset at first that she didn’t tell me, but again, I wasn’t thinking straight. She would’ve had no way to find me, and it’s my fault. I didn’t give her my full name or phone number. I didn’t even tell her where I live. Because I had no intention of ever seeing her again. Until I did, and it was too late.
“I didn’t think I would ever find you,” she says with a slight frown. “But you said you live in a small country in Central Europe, so whenever we’re walking down the streets or are on the tube, I always look around, just in case.” She laughs. “Which is now kind of funny because you’re the king, so I doubt you’ve ever just walked the streets or used public transportation.”
She’s not wrong. Unless it was at an event, we never would’ve crossed paths. “Do you live here?”
“No, we’re traveling.” She beams. “After you left, I took your advice and took off. I quit my job and packed a single suitcase and started traveling.” Her grin widens. “I started in Greece and was working my way through Europe when I found out I was pregnant.” Her hand absently goes to her belly. “My friends, Aria and Giovanni, live in Florence, so I stopped there to confirm it. I was so scared…”
She swallows thickly, and I find myself taking her hands in mine. Her skin is still so soft. “I didn’t have anyone, so I placed roots in Florence near them. I bought a small flat and continued to travel until Jasmine was born. Once she turned a year old and could walk, I started traveling again with her.”
“Do you have a blog?” I remember her telling me about wanting to start one.
“I do.” She pulls out her phone and types something, then hands it to me. I scroll through picture after picture, post after post about her travels. In every photo is our daughter. The Windsor Castle in England, the Carreg Cennen Castle in Wales. They’ve been to the Predjama Castle in Slovenia. The photos continue on and my heart swells with pride at the life she’s created for her and our daughter.