CARLY
Since I met Rome, I learned a few things in the kitchen. I could now make sandwiches and boil water without burning the whole kitchen down. I could make an omelet and pasta sauce. I finally put the food processor to good use.
“Hey. Are you going out tonight?” I called him out from the kitchen. He had changed to casual from the suit he had worn earlier before work. Yeah, we finally had a good conversation. We were not really back like how we used to be, and we had not slept together, but we were getting there. And I was happy with that.
“Yeah. Did I forget to tell you?” He seemed to think about it.
“You don’t tell me shit, Romare.” I continued stirring the sauce in the pot.
“Whoa.” He arched a brow. “We talked about using words, Carlott Laylin Jemaine Storm Gattewarde Braynburd. And you just called me by the name you hate.”
“I don’t hate your name. And next month, I will hyphenate Langston.” I tapped the wood ladle a little bit stronger on the pot.
“Will the palace allow you?”
“Who gives a shit? I’m a rogue princess, remember? I will do what I want and hyphenate your name.”
“That sounds great, sweetheart, but it’s okay even if you don’t. Our children will have my family name, anyway.”
“Child,” I corrected him.
“What is it? Your third day today?” He came to me and kissed the side of my head. “And you don’t have to cook.”
“Because I don’t know how doesn’t mean I can’t try.” I pointed the ladle at him.
“Okay, Storm. Sit down.” He held me in my arms.
“Go ahead. Go out and have fun. I’ll stay here and eat alone.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He helped me sit on the stool. Then he grabbed his phone and dialed someone. “Thay, I’m so sorry. I can’t make it. Tell Caed we’ll play football next time. That’s a promise.”
“Wait. You’re meeting my brother?” Now I felt the guilt twisting in my stomach.
“It’s alright.” He rubbed my arm. Then he replied again, “Storm is cooking. I’ll have dinner at home. Tell Kennedy I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay. You can go,” I forced him to go. “Don’t cancel it.”
“Thanks. Bye.”
“It’s done. I’m staying. Why didn’t you tell me you are cooking?”
“I am practicing.” I rolled my eyes.
He went behind the stove and tasted my sauce. “You need more basil. And you can sprinkle a little bit of sugar if you use fresh tomatoes. Sometimes fresh is a little bit sour.”
“Thank you for the tip, Masterchef.”
I thought I saw a smile appearing on his lips. “You’re improving. It’s much better if you prepare the sauce first, cook it, then you can boil water for the pasta.”
“If I hadn’t met you, I would never have learned to chop tomatoes.”
“Sweetheart, you don’t need to learn anything in the kitchen. That part is mine.”
“I used the food processor, by the way. It saved my time, but I can slice vegetables and fruits alright. And I can’t just depend on everything in the kitchen. What if you’re on a business trip and our children get hungry? What do I do then.”
A huge smile broke on his face. “So, children then? And I will hire nannies and chefs so that you don’t have to worry about everything.”
“Shut that smug smile on your face.” I scowled at him.
He looked over the island with the food processor I used. “Okay, calm down, but it’s still impressive.”
“I still want to help or maybe cook for you one day.”
“I’ll clean this up.” He was talking about the load of messes I made. “You can cook for me, but no pressure.”
“I can clean that too.”
“That won’t be necessary. Did you like the nail polish I bought for you?”
I widened my eyes at him. “You mean the bulk of the kit? I can’t even use them all for ten years.”
A satisfying smile appeared on his lips because he knew I loved it. “You’re welcome.”
***
I’m stressing out.
The closer the wedding got, the more I felt pressured. Although everything would be perfect on the wedding day, I still felt like I was the one who was not. I just wanted to get married and run away with my husband.
“Mother, can Rome and I just elope and be done with it?”
My mother gave me an are-you-crazy look. Maybe I was going crazy. “Why would you want to do that?”
“I don’t know. I just wanna get married right now.”
“You’re checking the internet again.”
“I did not,” I denied. The people were expecting a wedding of the century, and they kept comparing and guessing with other royals and my brother.
“You did, honey.”
“Well, kinda.” I shrugged.
“You can’t keep doing that. We spent so much time, money, and effort on this wedding, and everything is gonna be perfect. Your groom is excited to see you walking down the aisle, Carlott. What’s going on?”
“I need a break. Bye, Mommy.”
“Carlott.”
“See you later, mother. I love you.” I walk out of her office.
Twenty-days. The waiting was excruciating. No matter how much I tried to focus on my work when I went home, the time seemed to stop ticking.
“Can you arrange my schedule? I need to go to Guardion for two days. I’ll be leaving tonight,” I told Cossima over the phone.
“I’ll make it possible, Princess. Should I inform your fiancé, ma’am?”
“No. I’m sure he has a lot of things on his plate right now.”
Rome was busy with business, and he was in the U. S right now. I wanted to see the progress of the house he bought for us, but he would not let me. So I had to wait until it was done. I guess my brother was right. They had a thing with surprises. So I agreed with him.
“I’ll keep you posted, Princess.”
“Thank you.”
I arrived home feeling empty.
Since that night, I have been sleeping in his room, and he was okay with the sleeping arrangement, but we did not sleep together. I felt we are back to the stone age where the bride should remain a virgin until the wedding night.
Right now, I feel lonely. I missed him. I went to bed and picked up his pillow, and smelled it. It did not fill the void. I wanted to talk to Heera, but she was also busy with her family now that she and Zee were getting married as well.
I dialed Rome, but my call was directed to his voicemail. “Langston, call me when you’re free. Take care, babe. I miss you.”
I got up and prepared my travel bag.
“Ma’am, according to the weather, it would be best if we will leave now. There’s an upcoming storm in less than twenty-four hours.”
“Okay. Is my itinerary ready?”
“Yes, Princess. The hele is ready in the pad.”
“You don’t have to send me to the pad. Seth is coming with me anyway.”
“Okay, ma’am. I’ll keep you posted.”
“Thanks. I don’t need you on the weekend. You can take those days as paid non-working days.”
“Thank you, ma’am.”
“You are welcome.”
After an hour, we were flying the Guardion. Rome had not returned my call. I sent him a message instead. I was not worried about him doing something to hurt me, but he just had a heavy workload since the wedding was fast approaching. He wanted to make things done so that he would be free on our honeymoon.
I was touched and beyond grateful that he had sacrificed a lot of things for me. I guessed I could say I was lucky to have him as my best friend and future husband.
My mother was right. Even Mrs. Langston had a considerable contribution to making my wedding day perfect. If I could have that perfect beautiful day, what twenty days of waiting, right?
I settled at the cabin alone.
***
The Storm started. The wind became stronger. I threw chopped wood into the fireplace when the room temperature suddenly dropped despite the heater being on.
Since I chose to be alone, Seth was staying at the Fortress.
Hours later, the wind was getting stronger. I wasn’t aware the storm was worse and more crippling. I should have stayed at the Winterbourn, but I loved being in this place. It cleared my head and made me think. At the same time, it reminded me of the day I spent with Rome.
Despite my thick winter clothes, I wrapped myself in a blanket and sat on the couch. The Storm was approaching Guardion.
I kept the update on the weather on my phone, then it just vibrated in my hand, and it was my father calling me.
“Daddy?”
“Carlott, are you in Guardion?”
“Yes, Daddy.”
“The storm is strong, honey. Why did you even travel over there without telling us?”
“I’m safe. I’m at the cabin.”
“I know, and I will call Thorn to take you to the Fortress.”
“No, Daddy. I’m fine. I’m safe here.”
There was a long pause. Maybe he tried not to get mad or something. “Okay. Stay there. Turn on the heater and keep yourself warm. Do you have food?”
I chuckled. “You worry too much. I promise I am safe. I will keep you posted. And I will call for help if I’m in trouble. I love you. And tell Mommy I’ll be fine.”
“She’s listening, Carlott.”
“Great. I love you both. Bye.”
My phone rang again. This time it was Rome.
“Babe, my darling Rome.” I smiled. I felt a sudden relief flood through me.
“Wow.” He chuckled. “I should call you more often.”
“I started to get worried when you did not call me back.”
“Sorry about that. I was just excited to get home to you, so I moved my flight.”
“Wait. Where are you?”
“I’m back, sweetheart.”
“You’re in Winterbourn?”
“No. I maybe- whoa. It’s so cold.” His voice began shaking.
My stomach did a nosedive. I prayed to God I was wrong. And all that went through my head within seconds.
“Langston, where are you?” I asked quickly.
“As I said, I was excited to see you. I was away from you for two days. The deal was successful.” He paused, and he sounded shivering. “I didn’t know there was a storm coming to Guardion- ”
“Rome, babe, where are you? Please answer me?” I was already on my feet. “Babe.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve never been reckless like this. I told Cade to stay at his apartment in Winterbourn, and I could take care of myself. When I found out you’re in Guardion-”
“You are here.” I was torn between thrilled and distressed. My eyes started to fill with tears.
“Yeah, sweetheart, but I may be a little late. I’m stranded.”
“Langston, stranded where? Where exactly are you?” My voice was trembling, and my hands were, too but not from the cold. I was beginning to get really worried.
“I was on the way, and suddenly the gush of wind and the snowfall hit my windshield, and I could barely see the road. I was trying to get away from the wrong lane track passing, and my car slipped off the road.”
“Baby, are you hurt?”
“No, sweetheart. But my car is stuck in the snow. The engine is still on, but it won’t last long. If I don’t- ”
“Don’t! Don’t ever say that, okay? I will never forgive you.”
“Sweetheart- ”
“Save your strength, okay? I’m calling for help now.”
“Track my phone while it’s still on. And I’m sending you my location now.”
“Stay calm.”
“I should be the one telling you that. I can feel you worrying.”
“Well, I am, and enough of surprises, Langston! Just- ” My eyes began to sting.
“Storm.”
“I’ll hang up now.” My chin trembled. “I’ll call you back. Please, babe. I love you.”