“Don’t you mean Your Royal Highness, Prince Magnus?” Eric asked dryly. “I’ve never understood the fascination with royalty. I mean, what do they even do? Magnus, tell me, what was the last thing of importance that could actually be attributed to you? You know, outside of redesigning your family’s crest or something.”
Magnus looked up from his laptop and met Eric’s gaze. “Last year, I successfully renegotiated a labor agreement with the European Union to allow free movement of people and payments for Vandorra citizens—vastly reducing unemployment and growing our economy by 2.5 percent. Since I have taken the lead on domestic and foreign policy initiatives, poverty is down, enrollment in universities is up, and our lower crime rates reflect that the needs of my people are being met.”
Eric’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
Magnus closed his laptop. “In Vandorra, royals are not figureheads. The welfare of our people depends on us. From the time I could walk, I understood that the survival of my country would one day rest on my shoulders.”
Eric looked mildly impressed, but that was huge for him. It gave Rachelle hope that Magnus could actually convince Eric to sign in to a clinic. It also made Rachelle glad she hadn’t told Eric that she knew anything. The last thing the trip needed was another layer of tension. Eric said, “That’s a lot of pressure to put on a kid. What if you had decided you didn’t want the keys to the kingdom?”
Magnus shrugged. “I wasn’t given the freedom of choice. My mother had only one child.”
“Thankfully I was the second son in our fiefdom,” Eric said. “Brett took over the family business, which allowed me to step away—far, far away—a move that was the best for all of us.”
The sadness in his voice pulled at Rachelle’s heart. “Not all of us, Eric. I needed as much help with Nicolette and Spencer as I could get. I still do.”
Magnus nodded at Rachelle. “She does. Nicolette is a wild one.”
“How do you—” Rachelle started to ask, then shook her head. “I don’t want to know, do I?”
“Probably not,” Magnus said with a shameless smile.
The three of them fell quiet again. She decided it might help for her brother to see, as he opened up, that she wouldn’t come at him as if she knew all the answers. “Until recently I thought I was the only thing holding our family together; then I realized it was perfectly capable of going on without me.” She touched Eric’s arm. “I’m here because I love you, but also because I was hoping you could help me. I thought that getting to know you again might help me find a piece of myself I lost somehow.”
Eric placed his hand over hers. “I didn’t think any of you needed me.”
Rachelle blinked back tears she thought would be too much for the moment. “Well, now you know we do.” Magnus excused himself, saying he needed to use the facilities, allowing Rachelle and Eric to continue their conversation in private. The prince had two sides—one maddening and arrogant, the other surprisingly considerate and supportive.
Eric lapsed into silence before once again meeting her eyes. “I’m sorry I’ve been MIA since you arrived.”
“I understand. It’s not like I didn’t spring my visit on you.”
Let me in, Eric. Please.
“How’s Mom?” Eric asked.
“Better now that she watches Linda twice a week. I had a hard time getting her out of her house before then. Spencer and Hailey have set a wedding date for November. They’re hoping you’ll come. We all are.”
“It’ll depend on my filming schedule.”
Rachelle took a deep breath and leapt. “Why do you keep making those films if you hate being Water Bear Man?”
Eric withdrew his hand but didn’t turn away. “Do you know how many people I employ? I’m not even sure I do anymore.”
Since he’d opened the door to asking, Rachelle did. “Eric, who is Reggie?”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s obvious he’s more than an electrician.”
“He’s my friend. When I needed someone, he was there for me. I know he’s hiding his wife and kids in the east wing. I don’t even care—I’d gift him the whole damn house if I thought he could afford to maintain it. He’s the only person I trust.”
That last part wasn’t easy to hear, but Rachelle couldn’t let the moment become about her. It was good to hear that Eric had someone he trusted. “Maybe you should tell him you’re okay with his family living there.”
“No, if I do that, everyone will want to move their kids in. Some things are better left not discussed. Reggie only moved them in when his wife lost her job, so I gave him a raise. He could afford a new place now, but his kids like the pool. They’re also doing well in school.”
“How do you know that?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“Does everyone with money think privacy for others is optional?”
“Knowledge is power. You weren’t raised with money, Rachelle, but now that you’ve been in the public eye, you’ll have to learn how to protect yourself. When we were young, I thought it was cruel of Mom to not allow you access to your money, but now I see the wisdom in it. Never again will you know if people like you for who you are or for what is in your bank account. Some will want to get close to you because they want to use you—others will see you as competition and will befriend you long enough to learn your weaknesses. It will affect every friendship you have, every potential relationship. Go back into hiding, Rachelle, if it’s not already too late. Otherwise, every move you make, every word you say, will be dissected and judged by people who will find you wanting. You can try to ignore it, but eventually, like slow-drip torture, it will change the way you see yourself.”
Oh, Eric. “You sound as lost as I feel.”
He grimaced. “I’m fine.” He looked across the plane at Magnus, who was standing, speaking to one of his men. “Be careful with him, Rachelle. I don’t trust him.”
It wasn’t surprising, considering what he’d just shared about trusting anyone. “At least he’s not after my money. He runs several companies as well as his country.”
Eric’s eyebrows rose with humor. “And how do you know that?”
“I did a Google search on him.” Rachelle defended herself with a smile. “It’s totally different.”
“Whatever you say.”
Rachelle playfully slugged his arm just as she would have with Spencer. “Okay, okay. I’ll try to be less quick to judge.” Eric laughed, and the sound warmed Rachelle’s heart. She couldn’t help but add, “Please make it to Spencer’s wedding. You don’t know how much it will mean to him.”
“I doubt that. We’re not exactly a close family, are we?”
Rachelle swallowed hard before answering. “We could be. I barely knew Brett before he made an effort to be part of our lives again. It was painfully awkward at first—”
“Like this.”
“Exactly like this. Maybe even worse. I didn’t like his timing with Alisha. Spencer was still fake-engaged to her when he found out that Mark was his real father. I didn’t see why he and Alisha couldn’t wait for the dust to settle, and I was pretty vocal about it.”
“The heart wants what the heart wants, I guess.”
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been in love. I thought I was, but those relationships never lasted very long. How about you?”
“No. I gave up on fairy tales like that around the same time I stopped believing in Santa Claus. Or in family.”
That last part nearly gutted Rachelle. So many trite retorts came to mind, but she dismissed them. Eric needed something solid. “A year ago I would have said you and Spencer were cut from the same cloth. He was angry with all of us—especially Brett, Delinda, and Dad. The damage seemed irreparable, but they’re all at least talking now. They still have issues, but Brett says family is his first priority, and that has gone a long way to mending bridges.”
“Brett definitely drank Delinda’s Kool-Aid. I can spend about two minutes with him before I remember why we don’t talk anymore.”