Chapter no 23

The One (The Selection, 3)

โ€œโ€”UNDERSTAND. SHEโ€™LL WANT TO VISIT her family.โ€

โ€œIf she does, it can only be for a day at the most. I donโ€™t approve of her, but the people are fond of her, not to mention the Italians. It would be very inconvenient if she died.โ€

I opened my eyes. I was on my bed, but not under my covers. I saw out of the corner of my eye that Mary was in the room with me.

The shouting voices were muted, and I realized that was because they were just outside my door.

โ€œThat wonโ€™t be enough. She loved her father dearly; sheโ€™ll want time,โ€ Maxon argued.

I heard something like a fist hitting a wall, and Mary and I both jumped at the sound. โ€œFine,โ€ the king huffed. โ€œFour days. Thatโ€™s it.โ€

โ€œWhat if she decides not to come back? Even though this wasnโ€™t rebel caused, she might want to stay.โ€

โ€œIf sheโ€™s dumb enough to want that, then good riddance. She was supposed to give me an answer about those announcements anyway, and if sheโ€™s not willing, then she can stay home.โ€

โ€œShe said she would. She told me earlier tonight,โ€ Maxon lied. But he knew, didnโ€™t he?

โ€œAbout time. As soon as she returns, weโ€™ll get her in the studio. I want this done by the New Year.โ€ His tone was irritated, even as he got what he wanted.

There was a pause before Maxon dared to speak. โ€œI want to go with her.โ€

โ€œLike hell you will!โ€ King Clarkson yelled.

โ€œWeโ€™re down to four, Father. That girl might be my wife. Am I supposed to send her alone?โ€

โ€œYes! If she dies, itโ€™s one thing. If you die, itโ€™s a whole other issue.

Youโ€™re staying here!โ€

I thought the fist hitting the wall this time was Maxonโ€™s. โ€œI am not a commodity! And neither are they! I wish for once you would look at me and see a person.โ€

The door opened quickly, and Maxon came in. โ€œIโ€™m so sorry,โ€ he said, walking over and sitting on the bed. โ€œI didnโ€™t mean to wake you.โ€

โ€œIs it real?โ€

โ€œYes, darling. Heโ€™s gone.โ€ He gently took my hand, looking pained. โ€œThere was a problem with his heart.โ€

I sat up and threw myself into Maxonโ€™s arms. He held me tightly, letting me weep into his shoulder.

โ€œDaddy,โ€ I cried. โ€œDaddy.โ€

โ€œHush, darling. Itโ€™ll be all right,โ€ Maxon soothed. โ€œYouโ€™ll fly out tomorrow morning to go pay your respects.โ€

โ€œI didnโ€™t get to say good-bye. I didnโ€™t . . .โ€

โ€œAmerica, listen to me. Your father loved you. He was proud youโ€™d done so well. He wouldnโ€™t hold this against you.โ€

I nodded, knowing he was right. Practically everything my dad had told me since Iโ€™d come here was about how proud he was.

โ€œThis is what you need to do, okay?โ€ he instructed, wiping tears off my cheeks. โ€œYou need to sleep as best as you can. Youโ€™ll fly out tomorrow and stay at home for four days with your family. I wanted to get you more time, but Father is quite insistent.โ€

โ€œItโ€™s okay.โ€

โ€œYour maids are making an appropriate dress for the funeral, and theyโ€™ll pack everything you need. Youโ€™re going to have to take one of them with you, and a few guards. Speaking of which,โ€ he said, standing to acknowledge the figure standing in the open door. โ€œOfficer Leger, thank you for coming.โ€

โ€œNot at all, Your Majesty. I apologize for being out of uniform, sir.โ€

Maxon reached out and shook Aspenโ€™s hand. โ€œLeast of my concerns right now. Iโ€™m sure you know why youโ€™re here.โ€

โ€œI do.โ€ Aspen turned to me. โ€œIโ€™m very sorry for your loss, miss.โ€ โ€œThank you,โ€ I mumbled.

โ€œWith the elevated rebel activity, weโ€™re all concerned about Lady Americaโ€™s safety,โ€ Maxon started. โ€œWeโ€™ve already had some local officers dispatched to her home and to the sites being used over the next few days, and there are still palace-trained guards there, of course. But with her actually in the house, I think we should send more.โ€

โ€œAbsolutely, Your Majesty.โ€

โ€œAnd youโ€™re familiar with the area?โ€ โ€œVery, sir.โ€

โ€œGood. Youโ€™ll be heading up the team going with her. Pick whomever you like, between six and eight guards.โ€

Aspen raised his eyebrows.

โ€œI know,โ€ Maxon conceded. โ€œWeโ€™re stretched tight right now, but at least three of the palace guards weโ€™ve sent to her house have already abandoned their posts. And I want her to be as safe as, if not safer than, she is here.โ€

โ€œIโ€™ll take care of it, sir.โ€

โ€œExcellent. There will also be a maid going with her; watch her as well.โ€ He turned to me. โ€œDo you know who you want to go?โ€

I shrugged, unable to think straight.

Aspen spoke on my behalf. โ€œIf I may, I know Anne is your head maid, but I remember Lucy getting along well with your sister and mother. Maybe it would be good for them to see a friendly face right now.โ€

I nodded. โ€œLucy.โ€

โ€œVery good,โ€ Maxon said. โ€œOfficer, you donโ€™t have much time.

Youโ€™ll be leaving after breakfast.โ€

โ€œIโ€™ll get to work, sir. See you in the morning, miss,โ€ Aspen said. I could tell he was having a hard time keeping his distance, and, in that moment, I wanted nothing more than for him to comfort me. Aspen really knew my dad, and I wanted someone who understood him like I did to miss him with me.

Once Aspen left, Maxon came to sit with me again.

โ€œOne more thing before I go.โ€ He reached for my hands, holding them tenderly. โ€œSometimes when youโ€™re upset, you tend to be impulsive.โ€ He looked at me, and I actually smiled a little at the accusing look in his eyes. โ€œTry to be sensible while youโ€™re away. I need you to take care of yourself.โ€

I rubbed the back of his hands with my thumbs. โ€œI will. I promise.โ€ โ€œThank you.โ€ A sense of peace encircled us, the way it did

sometimes. Even though my world would never be the same now, for that moment, with Maxon holding me, the loss didnโ€™t ache so much.

He leaned his head toward mine until our foreheads touched. I heard him draw in a breath as if he might say something and then change his mind. After a few seconds, he did it again. Finally, Maxon leaned back and shook his head and kissed my cheek. โ€œStay safe.โ€

Then he left me alone in my sadness.

It was cold in Carolina, the humidity from the ocean coming inland and making the chill in the air damp. Secretly, Iโ€™d hoped for snow, but it didnโ€™t happen. I felt guilty for wanting anything at all.

Christmas Day. Iโ€™d spent the last few weeks imagining it several different ways. I thought maybe Iโ€™d be here, eliminated and home. Weโ€™d all be around our tree, dejected that I wasnโ€™t a princess but blissfully happy to be together. Iโ€™d also considered opening gifts under the massive tree at the palace, eating myself sick, and laughing with the other girls and Maxon, for one day every corner of the competition suspended to celebrate.

Never could I have imagined Iโ€™d be bracing myself for the task of putting my father in the ground.

As the car pulled up to my street, I started to see the masses. Though people ought to be home with their families, they instead crowded outside in the cold. I realized they were hoping to catch a glimpse of me, and I felt a little sick. People pointed as we passed, and some local news crews took footage.

The car stopped in front of my house, and the people waiting started cheering. I didnโ€™t understand. Didnโ€™t they know why I was here? I walked up the cracked sidewalk with Lucy by my side and six guards surrounding us. No chance was being taken.

โ€œLady America!โ€ people called.

โ€œCan I have your autograph?โ€ someone screamed, and others joined

in.

I kept moving, looking ahead. For once, I felt I could excuse myself

from being theirs. I lifted my head to the lights hanging off the roof. Dad did that. Who was going to take them down?

Aspen, at the head of my entourage, knocked on the front door and waited. Another guard came to answer and he and Aspen spoke quickly before we were allowed inside. It was hard to get all of us down the hall, but once the space opened into the living room, I immediately felt something . . . wrong.

This wasnโ€™t home anymore.

I told myself I was crazy. Of course this was home. It was just the unfamiliarity of how this was unfolding. Everyone was here, even Kota. But Dad was gone, so it was only natural that it wouldnโ€™t seem quite right. And Kenna was holding a baby who Iโ€™d never seen in real life before. Iโ€™d have to get used to that.

And while Mom was in an apron and Gerad was in his pajamas, I was dressed for dinner at the palace: hair up, sapphires on my ears, and layers of luxurious fabrics draping to my heeled shoes. It felt as if I wasnโ€™t welcome for a moment.

But May hopped to her feet and ran to hug me, crying into my shoulder. I held her back. I remembered that this might be a strange adjustment, but this was the only place I could be right now. I had to be with my family.

โ€œAmerica,โ€ Kenna said, standing with her child in her arms. โ€œYou look so beautiful.โ€

โ€œThanks,โ€ I muttered, embarrassed.

She gave me a one-armed hug, and I peeked into the blankets at my sleeping niece. Astraโ€™s little face was serene as she slept, and every few seconds sheโ€™d unclench her tiny fist or fidget just a bit. She was breathtaking.

Aspen cleared his throat. โ€œMrs. Singer, Iโ€™m very sorry for your loss.โ€ Mom gave him a tired smile. โ€œThank you.โ€

โ€œIโ€™m sorry weโ€™re not here under better circumstances, but with Lady America home, weโ€™re going to have to be quite diligent about security,โ€ he said, a ring of authority in his voice. โ€œWeโ€™re going to have to ask everyone to stay in this house. I know itโ€™ll be tight, but itโ€™s only for a few days. And the guards have been provided an apartment nearby so we can rotate easily. Weโ€™re going to try to be as out of the way as possible.

โ€œJames, Kenna, Kota, weโ€™re prepared to leave for your homes to pick up your necessities whenever youโ€™re ready to go. If you need some time to make a list, thatโ€™s fine. Weโ€™re on your schedule.โ€

I smiled a little, happy to see Aspen this way. Heโ€™d grown so much. โ€œI canโ€™t stay away from my studio,โ€ Kota said. โ€œI have deadlines.

There are pieces due.โ€

Aspen, still professional, answered him. โ€œAny materials you need can come to the studio here.โ€ He pointed toward our converted garage. โ€œWeโ€™ll make as many trips as necessary.โ€

Kota crossed his arms and mumbled. โ€œThat place is a dump.โ€

โ€œFine,โ€ Aspen said firmly. โ€œThe choice is yours. You can either work in the dump, or you can risk your life at your apartment.โ€

The tension in the air was awkward, and very unnecessary at the moment. I decided to break it. โ€œMay, you can sleep with me. Kenna and James can have your room.โ€

They nodded.

โ€œLucy,โ€ I whispered. โ€œI want you near us. You might have to sleep on the floor, but I want you close by.โ€

She stood a bit taller. โ€œI wouldnโ€™t be anywhere else, miss.โ€ โ€œWhere am I supposed to sleep?โ€ Kota demanded.

โ€œWith me,โ€ Gerad offered, though he didnโ€™t seem excited about it. โ€œAbsolutely not!โ€ Kota scoffed. โ€œIโ€™m not sleeping on a bunk bed

with a child.โ€

โ€œKota!โ€ I said, stepping away from my sisters and Lucy. โ€œYou can sleep on the couch or in the garage or in the tree house for all I care; but if you donโ€™t check your attitude, Iโ€™ll send you back to your apartment right now! Have some gratitude for the security youโ€™ve been offered. Need I remind you that tomorrow weโ€™re burying our father? Either stop the bickering or go home.โ€ I turned on my heel and headed down the hall. Without checking, I knew Lucy was right behind me, suitcase in hand.

I opened the door to my room, waiting for her to come in with me. Once her skirts swished past the frame, I slammed it shut, heaving a sigh.

โ€œWas that too much?โ€ I asked.

โ€œIt was perfect!โ€ she replied with delight. โ€œYou might as well be the princess already, miss. Youโ€™re ready for it.โ€

โ€Œ

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