Ever After

four | eikko

Once I make my way back to the second floor and drop off last night's jacket, Henri and Kile have caught up with me. We're heading to the Men's Parlor when Eadlyn's mother finds us in the hallway.

"Boys!" She calls, hurrying to us. I wish I didn't see her as someone ready to tip over at the next gust of wind, because her quick steps make me nervous for her wellbeing. I know I shouldn't be worried, though, between Kile and Eadlyn's words about the determined and resilient woman she is. 

When she reaches us, Kile offers her an arm. She takes it, and they fall into an obvious familiarity. "Hale and Ean have just arrived. I thought you three would like to go along with me to greet them?" Her grace and poise remain as she speaks. She's a small woman, but she stands taller than her height.

I frown, wondering why the retired queen was greeting Hale and Ean anyway. Wouldn't that normally be an advisor's job? Or Eadlyn?

"Of course," I say quietly. I don't mean to be so shy around the royal family, but it's just my nature. Quiet and hidden.

She unlatches from Kile and takes my arm before I even realize what she's done. Kile smiles knowingly at me, so I let her pull me along while he and Henri trail behind us. 

"Do you normally greet guests?" I ask once we've walked for a while.

She shakes her head. "No. Normally an advisor, like Lady Brice or General Leger would, but Eady needed Brice's companionship today in her meetings, and, as you know, Aspen isn't here."

 Eady. I smile at the nickname. Everyone in Eadlyn's family calls her by that, but it'd never rolled off my tongue as easily as her full name. I'm also not familiar to the use of Lady Brice and General Leger's names so casually, and it takes me a moment to realize that Aspen is, indeed, the general. 

"Besides, I was planning on grabbing you boys anyway. It would be strange for me to greet them, but not the three of you. I take it you all became good friends during the Selection?"

"Yes, ma'am."

She gives an sharp, amused breath and shakes her head. "Eikko, you're about to marry my daughter. I'm not ma'am to you. I'm America, or Mom. Whatever you prefer. Just not ma'am."

"Yes, ma'am," I say before I can stop myself. Then I smile sheepishly when she gives me a chastising glare. "Sorry, Mom," I repeat, the name tangling with my tongue. 

The next step I take is a stumble, and she looks at me questionably. 

My parents.

Oh, god.

My stomach knots. I had barely managed one call, with Henri, and I'd practically run off before they could get a word in. Then, I somehow happened to not call back with flight details. My mother was going to kill me.

The ex-queen seems to recognize my dilemma. "Speaking of mothers, yours will be landing this afternoon."

My head whips to her, and I must be showing the fear evidently on my face, because she laughs. "Miss Marlee and I called them early this morning. They'll be reaching us in time for dinner, and hopefully Eadlyn will be free to eat with all of us."

Yep. I'm dead. 

I'm certain of it. The moment she lands, Mom's going to grab my ear and drag me to a dark corner and chew me out for not calling, not checking in on her, Dad, or Niko the whole time I'd been here.

My original plan was to call at least twice a week, but... we were busy most nights. The boys would gather in the Men's Parlor and play cards or watch the TV, if they weren't out with Eadlyn. On the nights I got the chance to call my family, I always chickened out. Once too much time had passed, I kept pushing it off, scared of my mother's wrath for not calling sooner.