Suddenly Royal

“I don’t know yet.” I started to tell them I was going to Lilaria but stopped. “I have several options to choose from.”

“Like what?” Mary walked over to my desk with a box and helped me put some of my books and papers in it.

“Do you still have my field guide?” I brushed off her question.

“Oh, yeah. Hold on.” She ran to her desk and fished through her bag. “Here it is.”

“So, you’re just leaving?” David asked.

“I’ll be in touch. It’s not like I won’t ever see you guys again.”

“We should throw you a party!” Mary sat on the window ledge and looked at me. “It’ll be fun. We can invite the whole department.”

“Mary, I think that would be difficult right now.” David narrowed his eyes at her. “She has security following her to the bathroom. You really think they’re going to let her have a party?”

“Becca does not follow me into the bathroom.” I glared at David. “And there isn’t time. I’ll probably be leaving in a couple of days.”

“Are you going to Lilaria?” David leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees.

“Possibly.”

“We’re going to miss you.” Mary threw her arms around me and I laughed when she knocked me off balance. Becca moved closer, but I waved her away.

“I’m going to miss you too. Don’t drive David crazy, okay?”

“Bah. It’s so much fun.” Mary winked at me.

I walked over to David and hugged him before kissing his cheek. “Take care of yourself.”

“You too.”

I told everyone else good-bye, joking and laughing where I could. The truth was, I was crying inside. This had been my life for several years and it felt strange to leave it without having completed what I came for.

Parker took the box out of my hands when I left the office and Duvall looked at me expectantly. “I need to speak with Rose.”

“Very well. I’ll see if she has time this afternoon. In the meantime, where would you like to go?”

“My father’s.”

I called Dad on the ride over, letting him know I was on my way. Seemed like the polite thing to do since there were two news vans tailing us.

“I mean, really. What do they expect to find out? That I’m really an alien sent from Pluto?” I glanced over my shoulder quickly.

“Good shots can make a reporter’s career. Finding out the smallest bit of information can mean scooping another station. The fact is, right now you’re news.” Duvall looked back at me and if I didn’t know any better I would think there was sympathy in his expression.

“They don’t even know why they’re following me right now.”

“The little bit of information they have—”

“Misinformation!”

“Yes, the little bit they think they know means you’re a story their viewers would find interesting.”

I just shook my head. Dad was waiting for us when we pulled up. I could see him peeking out the side window. Since there were people following us, Duvall and Becca escorted me into the house. I hugged Dad and then introduced him to my shadows.

“Nice to meet you. Would you like something to drink?” Dad smiled at Duvall and Becca, who both declined.

I threw my box of books on the floor and sat down on the couch. Dad nodded his head and sat across from me. “You’re going?”

“Yeah.” I sighed, knowing he would probably put up a fight, but I was ready. “You’re coming with me.”

“Sam, I’m in the middle of chemo. I can’t just leave.”

“We’ll talk to your doctor and figure out what to do.” I sat up and looked him in the eye. “Have you been to Lilaria?”

“No.” Dad shook his head.

“There’s no time like the present.” I knew he loved to travel and damn it, if he was going to be okay with whatever happened, then he might as well live a little in the meantime.

“I may have to wait until after the last round of chemo.” He leaned forward and patted my knee. “But if you want me to come, I’ll come after that.”

I didn’t like it. I wanted him to meet with the specialist right away, but I understood he would be better off finishing what he started. “I might have to go before that. The duchess made it sound like I only had a few days.”

“Then go! I’ll be fine. Patricia will take me to my appointments.”

“Just call me cabby, why don’t you?” Patricia hollered from the kitchen. She leaned against the doorframe, a dish towel in her hand. “You’re going to Lilaria?”

I nodded my head. It still didn’t feel real. The entire last few days felt dreamlike. Especially the part where I had been plastered against Alex before sticking my foot in my mouth. Well, the foot in my mouth part felt pretty real. I’d been doing that my whole life.

“Good! Don’t you worry about your dad. I’ll keep him in line.”

“Samantha, the duchess said she would be free in an hour.” Duvall stepped forward. “Should I tell her you are coming?”

“Yes.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket and checked the time. “Where is she?”

“She’s at the Parallel.”

I glanced down at my clothes and sighed. I had worn jeans and a sweater, but it would have to do. There wasn’t enough time to go back to my house, change, and make it to the hotel.