A Princess For Christmas (Of The Dreams We Seek)

Twenty- Seven

Avni looked at the schematics. She was in charge of renovating the old neighborhood. And doing so she had made couple of very new friends including the children and the construction workers. The project is progressing very smoothly, the part was almost complete now. Ready to be moved in. The children were happy to have the place they call home back. 

Today was a holiday and Serafina, Rachel and surprisingly Robert who was now Serafina's guard in training planned a picnic by the lake Callahan had once shown her on the Castle grounds. Someone knocked at her door. "Come in" It was Serafina and Robert who had his eyes trained everywhere around him. 

"Sifi" She hugged her. "Robert" He bowed. "Come on, Robbie, don't be so curt, didn't you say yourself I am like your big sister?" He hugged her at last. "Ready for the day your highness?" Robert asked pushing Serafina's wheelchair. He was three years older than Serafina that means he will turn fifteen soon. "So where is Rachel?" Avni asked as they crossed the west wing. And a pain jolted in her heart. That was three weeks since Avni had talked to Callahan.

 On many occasions their paths crossed she didn't talk to him. She didn't answer her calls. He even came to have dinner with the family but after few attempts when he was present Avni doesn't. "She is setting up the Picnic" Robert said. "All by herself?" Avni was surprised. "You will be surprised how capable she is in organizing things." Serafina sounded excited, Robert looked bored. 

And Avni was just enjoying the normalcy in her life. For once there is no Royal drama in her life. But her thoughts about having good time shattered when she reached to the lake shore. It was the opposite side of the once Callahan had shown. It too held lush grass, that was something Avni cannot understand, how could it survive in bitter cold? But that wasn't what ruined her mood, it was Callahan and Margret.

 Past few days they are making many public appearances together and Margret still insults her more often then usually and that too publicly. "Don't pay attention to them." Robert said. She wishes she could do that. But she cannot sadly. It isn't in her inbuilt system to avoid people even the snobby, obnoxious, bratty people.

Callahan looked at her. She looked radiant but she didn't hold the smile on her face. That is three weeks since he had any proper contact with her. She had locked him out of that door. And by the pace things are going the chances of her opening that door up is pretty slim to none. He just cannot stand it.

 Each night he walks up to that door and cower before knocking it. And then like a stalker he gets into the passageway to her room and watches her while she sleeps. It had been his routine while he was not busy trashing the room after each public appearance with Lady Margret. He doesn't like it at all. He misses Avni, but he was at fault.

 The bruises on her hand told him the story of that night. How could he be so harsh on her? And her sister told him that she didn't knew that Rachel and her will go to that part of town. They often sneaked and went there. This time he happens to know. That it wasn't Avni's fault. It was hers, and she was sorry.

 But this all had broke him and her. She became impassive towards him and he had been hiding it all behind his cold smile. His eyes were on her and he didn't want to look away. It had been days since he had seen her in light of the day, she looked much more radiant than any painting he can come up with. 

She is better than any portrait he might made of her throughout the days. "Callahan, I am talking to you" Callahan had to force his eyes away from the unusual treat he was getting and he didn't want to. 

"Yes, I am not interested in knowing the dresses you are planning on wearing for the ball. I am not going with you; I am sorry but this is how it is. I am sorry, I am not interested." Callahan said and walked towards the trees leaning against him watching her talking to Robert and his sister. There was this stillness around her, the calmness that she had bestowed upon his heart. And he can look at her for days and not get tired. Hear her voice and not get tired.