The Ambassador's Daughter

Chapter 34

After a few more days of close observation and assessments, T'Challa's doctors cleared Louise to leave her bed. Her mother, an annoyingly constant visitor to the palace, immediately rang for their driver and insisted that she and Louise return to the Mansion. "Mamma," Louise protested, staring at her mother's reflection as she brushed her hair. "I don't want to go back to that place...yet." She added, seeing the hurt look on her mother's face.

"Louise," Elise scolded, "We can't stay in Wakanda forever. We must return to the Mansion so that we can pack our things and return to America." Louise's eyes widened.

"But, Mamma, I-I can't go back to America." Louise stammered. Her mother gave her a sever look.

"Why ever not!" Elise demanded. Louise looked away, fussing about the lay of her skirt. "Oh! It's not that...that..." Elise couldn't finish, as if she couldn't find a word to strong enough to describe her distaste for Bucky.

"That what, Mother?" Louise asked, her eyes flashing dangerously. Her tone clearly warned her mother to tread carefully. Suddenly, Elise burst into tears. Not the crocodile-tears that some people employ in order to manipulate others, but the heartbroken sobs of a woman who has been struggling to keep herself together and has utterly failed. The tears of a woman who has just had her whole world shattered. Louise gaped at her mother. Louise had never seen her mother cry so violently, not even when news of her brother's death had reached the family. It took a moment for Louise to regain her composure. When she did, she moved quickly to her mother's side and pulled her close. As Elise sobbed, clinging to her daughter as if she was a life preserver thrown into her sea of despair, Louise gently rocked her back and forth murmuring soothingly and alternating between stroking her hair and rubbing her back.

Eventually, Elise regained her composure and pulled back. Louise grabbed a box of tissues and offered them to her mother. Elise pulled one and then paused, considering the box, and grabbed two more. Louise set the box down on the bed between the two of them and waited. Elise wiped the tears from her face then dabbed at her eyes and nose, taking deep shaking breaths.

"I have loved that man for nearly thirty years." Elise whispered, her voice thick with tears. "Through two stillborn babies and your brother's death in service of his country." Louise nodded, looking down at her lap. "I've followed him through more countries than I care to remember. Each of my children were born in different countries. Always in an embassy mansion, so always on American soil, but four different countries. I've stood by him as he has made decisions that others disagreed with. I have slowly watched him morph into a monster. I love your father, Louise. I do, whole heartedly. But even I can see that our life together is at an end. He is now in a Wakandan prison, unlikely to get out for many many years. I must look to the care of what remains of my family. That means you, my child. I do not think it is safe for us to remain in this country."

Louise clenched her fist in her lap, but said nothing. Her mother continued, "We no longer have the protection of being the ambassador's family. We must make our own way. The best way we can do that is in a free country!"

"Mamma," Louise said, dispassionately, "Just because the king is still very much the head of this country does not mean it's not a free country."

Elise ignored her, "Ideally I'd like to go to back to France, but I know you will be more comfortable in the United States. Plus you will be able to finish your schooling on campus."

Louise lifted her head. She looked at her mother and took her hands, knowing this was the only way to actually get her attention. "Mamma, I understand your reasons for wanting to return to the United States, and I really appreciate you considering my comfort and education in your reasons, but I have something to ask you." Elise looked into her daughter's brown eyes, expectantly, "Think about how much you loved Father when you first knew him, before my brother's death, before Father had to make unpopular decisions. Back when he was everything you ever wanted." A small smile played around Elise's mouth as she thought back to the early days of her courtship and marriage with William Brandt. "That's what you're asking me to give up if I go back to America with you."

Elise's eyes widened. Louise nodded. "I love Bucky. I don't want to leave him and I know he won't go to America."

"So he would ask you to stay here, but he would not go with you anywhere else."

"Mamma," Louise said reproachfully, "It's not that simple and you know it. Most of the world still sees Bucky as a dangerous assassin. The only place he can have even a glimmer of the freedom he needs and I want for him is here, in Wakanda." Elise raised an eyebrow, making it very clear that she, too, considered Bucky a dangerous assassin. Louise could see her mother hadn't been swayed an inch in her decision that both of them would be returning to the United States as soon as possible. "Mamma, if I go with you, I will be leaving part of my heart here. If I stay here with him, I will be sending part of my heart away. I don't know which will be more bearable." Louise murmured, dropping her face into her hands.

"I will give you time to think on this, mychild." Elise said, softly. Her tone made it clear which option she expectedLouise to choose. Louise sighed deeply as she felt her mother rise and leavethe room. Now that she was alone, it was her turn to cry.NfNElO