One Night

Chapter 2 - The Royal Ride

© 2012 Astrix.

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                                                        Chapter 2

                                                    The Royal Ride

“You’re what?” My mother’s eyes widen in shock as she stares at me.

“I’m pregnant.”

“This is a sick joke Jadelynn.” My father says back, leaning forward on his chair, placing his elbows on his wooden desk.

“It’s not a joke Father.”

A hand collides with my cheek.

“How can you bring such a disgrace upon your family?!” I place a hand over my throbbing cheek as I look at my mother.

“Who’s the father?” My dad simply asks from behind his desk.

“You do know who the father is.” My mother’s statement comes off as a question.

“I do.”

“Who is it?” My father inquires again.

“I won’t say.”

“And why is that?” My mother starts pacing, “he’s probably a peasant, isn’t he?”

“He’s not,” I assure her, “but he does not want it. So I see no point in mentioning his name.”

“He does not- he does not want it?” My mother freezes mid step, “surely neither do you.”

“I’m keeping it.”

“Of course you are,” my father nods.

“What?” My mother turns to face him, “a child? Out of wedlock? The daughter of Giovanni Bernard and Katarina Rachelle the Duke and Duchess of Newland having a child out of wedlock? What will the king and queen think of us? And the rest of the society? We’d be the laugh of the entire country! One of Kosta’s most appraised members of society with a daughter who has a child out of wedlock. I don’t think so.”

“Then I’ll go away.” I remove the and from my cheek, holding my head high, “I’m not having an abortion, nor am I putting it away for adoption. This baby is mine. It has my blood running through its veins. And through mine blood, yours. If you don’t want it, then that means you don’t want me.”

“You’re still in school Jadelynn,” Father says.

“I don’t care,” I say, turning to face my mother, “it’s your choice mother. It’s both of us, or neither.”

“Mommy. Mommy. Mom!” I jolt away. Which turns out to be a bad idea while wearing a seatbelt around your wait, “good, you’re up. We’re here.”

I open my windshield and realize that indeed we had landed.

“You have a very smart child,” I turn to my right with a smile on my face.

“Thank you,” I say to the elderly women seated to Dalia’s right.

Once I had both Dalia’s and mine luggage, I push us towards the escalators leading to the receiving area, where families await.

I didn’t look anywhere, knowing that no one was waiting for me. I had not informed anyone the day of my arrival.

“Mommy?”

I look down at Dalia, who’s looking somewhere ahead of us, “yes sweetheart?”

“That man has your name on a paper.” I follow her fingers and see that indeed a man wearing the Royal Army uniform – which consists a Pale blue color suit, back tie and a peaked hat under his arm with three medals hanging from the left side pocket – has a sign in front of him with my name on it.

“Yes he does,” I whisper, heading towards the men who looks rather surprise.

“Jadelynn Newland?”

“Yes sir,” I say with a small smile.

“Finally,” he says and I raise my eyebrows at him, “I beg your pardon, but the royal family has been sending a person here every day for the past two months to await your arrival. Lucky for you today was the last day.”

“Lucky me,” I say, my stomach tightening, “Lead the way then.”

“Mommy?” The sound of Dalia’s voice makes the soldier eyes widen and look down at the girl, “what’s the Royal Family?”

“It’s the king and queen sweetie, now come on, we don’t want to cause a commotion here,” I tell her as the soldier gets over his shock and comes to take the trolley from me.

“You know the king and queen?” she asks as I pick her up in my arms and follow the men.

“Kind of,” I say, struggling.

“That’s so cool!” I kiss the top of Dalia’s head as she smiles ahead of her, “it’s a good thing you taught me how to curtsy and eat properly.”

“See, I told you you’ll need it one day,” I smile.

I watch quietly as Dalia plays around in the limousine. But only because I have a feeling if I open my mouth I’ll vomit.

Why would the king and queen send a limo to get me? But not just any Limo, no it’s one of the Royal Limousines, with the flags in the front and everything.

Looking down at my jeans and blouse, I curse myself for not letting Dalia wear one of her dresses. There was no way we weren’t going to be seeing a member of the Royal Family today.

Dalia fell asleep half way through the drive to my parents’ home. Couldn’t blame her, I’m surprise she didn’t crash sooner. It’s two in the morning back in the states. Way pass her bed time.

We stop in front of the gates four miles away from my parents’ manor. From my view, it hadn’t changed one bit.

The landscape on either side of the driveway is still just short grass. At the end of the four mile drive is a half wall on either side. The top part painted yellow, the bottom blue; the colors of the country. Behind this walls are pine trees, about six feet apart. The manor itself is three stories. The entire front is yellow. On either side it has two other parts, connected to the house and only one story. The back part of the house is also three stories but slightly larger than the front. That’s where my old bedroom is.

When the limousine stops, I go towards Dalia quietly as to not wake her up.

I pick her up just as the door opens, let the nightmare begin.