Encounter

Part 29: ***I never promised you a Rose Garden

My father's pages arrived early and started to pack all of my belongings to take back to the embassy. What a bittersweet morning after a thrilling night with Freddie. Freddie's joke last night about me being a A+ student had me glowing. I wonder what lesson 3 would entail, maybe I'll find out some day, hmmm, maybe tonight. Freddie walked into the kitchen looking as fresh as a daisy, how can he do that, I'm exhausted..

"Good morning, darling. I trust you slept well" said Freddie with a twinkle in his eyes.

"You should know Freddie, though not a lot of sleep was had" said Carolyn.

Phoebe looked at Freddie with his eyebrows raised.

"Phoebe, what's for breakfast?" Freddie said quickly.

"Pancakes, pancakes, can we have pancakes, lots of them, bathed in delicious maple syrup" Carolyn cried.

"Of course princess" said Phoebe, "and may I say you look particularly fetching this morning. there is a glow about you, a je ne sais quoi, don't you think so Freddie?"

"I'm sorry, I don't speak "assistant." Freddie snarled.

Phoebe embarrassed, hung his head and went back to the pancake batter.

"FREDDIE!" Carolyn shouted at him.

Lost in thought, Freddie shook his head and asked Phoebe to come into the dining room away from Carolyn.

Resting his arm on Phoebe's shoulder, Freddie said quietly, "I'm terribly sorry for snapping at you my friend. You know Carolyn is leaving today, and I don't know if I'll ever see her again, or ever have a chance to be with her again."

"Freddie, do you have feelings for her?" Asked Phoebe softly, almost afraid of asking Freddie a most personal question.

Freddie looked up at Phoebe with eyes glistened with tears.

Without waiting for Freddie's answer Phoebe said, "Freddie, go refresh yourself and come in for pancakes" He knew the answer.

Carolyn was seated at the table when Freddie rejoined them in a completely somber mood.

"Carolyn, what's your plans for today?"

'I told you Freddie, I'm going back to be with my father. The embassy sent word that my father may be released today, and I really don't know what the future holds for me, but I promise I will connect with you" Carolyn said rather sadly.

"CONNECT, CONNECT?" shouted Freddie and with saying that he abruptly jumped to his feet and left the room.

" Oh Phoebe, what am I going to do about him? He won't even let me say goodbye"

"I don't know princess, but he usually works these things out, give him time." Phoebe said

"But I no longer have any time. Phoebe I'm leaving right after breakfast, my things are already packed."

"Oh Carolyn, I will miss you, Freddie most certainly will miss you."

"Doesn't seem like it"

" Carolyn, he is the most impulsive man. He needs to come to terms with your leaving."

Upon hearing that, Carolyn reached up to this mountain of a man and kissed him on the cheek. "Au revoir, Phoebe,  if you are ever tired of playing nursemaid to his majesty, the job of Majordomo  is yours. "

"Thank you Your Royal Highness, but I will never leave Freddie."

Carolyn walked to the staircase and called up to Freddie, "Goodbye, Freddie" and not receiving a response back went back into the kitchen.