I woke up in a bed covered in bandages. I felt nothing, not even Suzanne's hand laying upon my arm. Suzanne said I was doped, otherwise I would be in horrible pain. I smiled looking upon her aura coming from the light bulb behind her. I glanced around the room to notice we were in a cement basement called a bunker.
The soldiers took us across a field of flowers where I started wheezing while unconscious hanging from a soldier's shoulders. Suzanne begged them to allow her to retrieve medicine inside my knapsack to stop my lips from turning blue. When I puked on the soldier, they allowed it. Suzanne thought I woke up after she gave me a shot of adrenaline, but my eyes were so glazed she knew I was still sleeping inside my head. They then walked on into a nearby town and entered the bunker mazes through a shop. One night, she said, waking up covered in rats she screamed her head off. After practically climbing a guard who came in, the guards had target practice and bashed the rats off me. The guards warmed up a little to us after that incident to our advantage. Our food was warm and they never beat her to gain information. She admitted we were spies looking for them, only getting caught was not part of the plan. She made videotapes for the guards to prove they had us held prisoner. Once she tripped and had to be helped up because her hands and feet were in chains. She grabbed a grenade out of a guard's pocket using an old magic card trick she learned as a kid. She assured me that we will be rescued soon because the GPS chip in my cell phone would put out signals when I sent a S.O.S. until we went underground. We had to wait for their plan to be formed.
A guard heard Suzanne whispering to me so I was promptly videotaped to show I was alright. I lost my voice so I had to speak with hand signals our unit used in combat since machine guns make so much noise. Plus, I had a hankerchief over my face to protect my lungs from the dust I am allergic to. Suzanne translated my signals. Naturally her translations were not correct, but what the guards wanted to hear. I sat in our cell often in the Buddha position atop of my blanket. The stress of looking at the filth on the walls and floor was enough to cause another asthma attack, but my meditating helped calm my nerves.
Once I told the guard bringing our food that he was late. He thought I was psychic. I explained he came the same time every day after my chanting exercises I learned from another soldier in my unit. Today he was late. He explained he was delayed by talking to a guard. He said I was not what he was expecting in a prisoner, I show no fear when they could kill us if negotiations for our release go bad. I explained we are worth more alive and unharmed than dead. He saw my point. He informed me that my president was in Kashmir and asked if I thought my president would save us. I laughed. I entrusted in him that The Jackal is not trying to save us, only his reputation. I explained The Jackal does not give a damn how many soldiers die in his wars as long as he gains points in his ratings. If he really wanted to save us, then he would end the war so I can go home. He assured me that they all want to go home too.
Suzanne and I passed the time reciting stories causing a lot of laughter that made the guards kick the door. Then I felt vibrations in the middle of a story and knew were about to be rescued. Dust trickled down from the ceiling like snow. A guard barged in and ordered us to leave the room. I limped at a snail's pace and the guard picked me up. We raced down the hall when we heard an explosion and dust covered us all. We all had hankerchiefs covered our faces by now. The ground shook and I was laid down. Alert to intrusion, the guard's weapon was drawn up. Every direction in the tunnels we heard scrambling feet and voices of unseen men. We stopped near a dark, narrow tunnel and the guard pointed his gun at me ordering me to start crawling into it to leave the bunker. I turned my head toward Suzanne who had pulled out her grenade. When he looked at her, she pulled the trigger and dropped it saying a dramatic oops. The guard kicked it down the hall toward a corner his comrades were rushing around it. It exploded before they could scream in fright. He aimed his gun at Suzanne, but I kicked his knees as hard as I could and he went down. Suzanne stepped on his rifle and kicked him in the face. There was another explosion ripping up the ceiling apart and bodies dressed in solid black with infrared goggles fell down. They pointed their guns at us. We lifted our hands up with fingers making the sign of the devil common at American rock concerts so they would know we were Americans.
A familiar tall man carried me over to the hole in the ceiling and did an acrobatic trick grabbing my hands as he rolled onto his back with his feet pushing me up through the ceiling. Invisible hands pulled me up the rest of the way. He pushed up Suzanne the same way since we are such tiny women. The guys climbed up on ropes and we ran up stairs to get on the roof of the shop where helicopters landed. Suzanne and I held onto each other as the helicopter flew away from the town. As the red rockets and bombs disappeared, I noticed the sun rising in horizon. I let go of Suzanne to absorb the pretty picture. In more light, I saw one familiar figure staring right at me. He removed his goggles to show his mesmerizing eyes peeking through his ski mask.
"Josh!" I screeched jumping into his arms.
I laid my head on his chest and fell drowsy. Yawning, I asked him to marry me since he is my hero. He didn't answer, but laughed. Disappointed, I fell asleep in his arms. The next morning, the doctor affirmed that was well taken care of given my circumstances. I got doses of allergy medicine and felt much better. Josh visited me bringing cookies he received from his mother. He asked if I was serious asking him to marry me or just emotional from being rescued. I hesitated at first before answering that it depended on his reaction how serious I was in that proposal. I told him thinking of his face while meditating and not meditating helped me get through being imprisoned. He smiled and replied that he would have to think about it. I learned to walk again with brain and nerve damage from the rocket knocking me over when we were captured. It was hard, but Josh came by every day cheering me on with every step I took. The Jackal managed a temporary truce and proudly displayed the fact that we were rescued. The Kashmir issue was debated between the leaders of Pakistan and India, with the inclusion of The Jackal as referee between the two. The war soon to be over, Josh answered my question. We were married in a hangar with the whole based celebrating the peace treaty and our wedding. It couldn't have been a more perfect day. Until, The Jackal stopped by our base to give a speech and medals for our unit for outstanding conduct in battle and rescue. He postured and preached that we showed great loyalty and heroism to each other. He shook our hands as he handed medals to us. I wiped my hand off on my pants after The Jackal moved on to praise Major Suzanne. Little did I know that a photographer took a close up of me wiping my hand after The President shook it and cause an uproar in the States at my disrespect of a great man handing me a medal of valor. How dare I, many cried. The Jackal became no fan of mine after the story was published. No matter, I was off to my honeymoon in New Zealand.
The weather was wonderful and the ocean was beautiful. We took a boat ride out to the coral reefs and went scuba diving. My new husband desired to feed the sharks that they offered at the hotel, but I flatly said no. A book publisher who read about handshake scandal in the papers had an agent hunt me down in New Zealand to offer a deal for an author write my biography. I agreed to lunch at a ritzy hotel and glanced over the contract open to negotiations. I had no need for a hundred free copies of the book to give out to family and friends. Most people I know barely manage reading through a five-page magazine article. For an advancement, I demanded only enough to place a down payment on a house once it was explained I receive royalties after their advance to me is recovered in sales. To further advertise the book, it was suggested a documentary be made on my struggles to regain a normal life after seeing the horrors of war. I would also be expected to travel on a book tour and be interviewed by reporters. It was enough to make my head swim. The agent became nervous at the suggestion of a chapter including my husband with a much longer military career than myself.
After lunch, we left to tour the area more thinking about the book deal while visiting the zoo and resumed our negotiations during dinner that night. We found many road blocks and armed guards patrolling the streets. People chattered on how His Highness was coming this way during his tour of New Zealand. Crowds lined several streets forcing us to take lesser streets not equipped for wheelchairs. His Highness was said to be returning from a polo match when dinnertime arrived. The agent never mentioned the royal visitor, nor did anyone else sitting in the dining room as we further conversed on the book deal. Soon after we began eating, the hotel staff ordered everyone out of the dining room because His Highness wished to eat there alone with his guests. The hotel lobby appeared as a nightmare with security ordering people out of the hotel's ground floor. People lucky enough to have rooms walked upstairs because it was announced the elevators had been locked by security. The agent showed his room key to the employee asking how to get upstairs with my wheelchair. The kind host directed us to the operational service elevator behind the kitchen doors. The agent handed the man a handsome tip for his service after my husband and I slid into the elevator.
We continued the contract negotiations in the hotel room for an hour while finishing our meal. I would agree to the documentary and interviews. The publisher agreed to include my husband in the book and the amount of advancement I requested. The three of us strolled down the hall assuming the important dining guest had surely left by now. A maid walked by singing to herself. The agent stopped her to ask if the elevators were working again. She said His Highness was to enjoy the penthouse overnight so she was not sure. She opened the service elevator for us and we dropped down to the kitchens. As the door slid open, a group of men in dark suits jumped in the elevator and turned the key to the penthouse. They must be security guards for His Highness. We had an extra long elevator ride with the agent squished on top on me while my husband was pressed up against the wall behind me.
"Hope you do not mind our intrusion," one man apologized.
I raised my hand in an obscene gesture.
"Yes we do mind! We were about to blow this popsicle stand when you barged in" I screeched.
"Excuse us, miss, but we just outran obnoxious fans ready to tear His Highness apart." answered a smug voice.
"That's ma'am to you, sir. And you can tell his royalness he ruined my honeymoon with his visit. You have any idea how hard it is to go through a swarm of bees in a wheelchair. Then we get kicked out in the middle of dinner so his royalness can eat alone and told to take the stairs." I finished.
"His Royalness apologizes, ma'am." said a voice behind the dark suits.
We waited patiently to reach the penthouse.
"Don't I know you, ma'am?" asked one of the men. Weren't you in the paper with the American President receiving a medal of valor after being held prisoner?"
That was me, unfortunately."I answered.
The elevator dinged as it came to a complete stop.
We do apologize for the inconvenience, good night." said one guard as the men fell out into the hallway.
We stretched out and a guard came back in to inform us that he would escort us from the building safely. When the door shut again, the agent asked if I realized I just flipped off William, the Prince of Wales. I defended not being unable to see the any of the men's faces well from where I sat. Besides that, the prince did ruin my day attracting crowds. The guard lead us out and the agent decided to hit the clubs to celebrate. With less people on the streets, it was a peacefully night for a stroll.
Prince William left the city early in the morning before we got out of bed. We finished our tour with a shopping trip in the little shops near the wharf. The flight home was long, but entertaining to read the paper on The Prince's tour. My Mom greeted us at the airport. She cried how terrible it was that her baby had been injured so severely she had to travel in a wheelchair. She was eagerly look for houses handicap assessable. Josh and her saw five houses while I stayed in my mother's house before taking me along to see The One. It was a quaint ranch style farm house on the edge of my hometown with three bedrooms and spacious galley kitchen. It had a basement, deck, and attached garage too. I became excited thinking about furnishing the place. The loan officer gladly received the check from the book publisher and we signed both our names. Everything was in order when we discovered I was pregnant a month later. The camera crew showed up to start filming our daily lives and caught shots of Josh planting rose bushes. I used my walker most of the time for balance and used Josh's exercise equipment to gain strength. Sitting on a bar stool I cooked our meals and baked cookies Josh loves.
Soon a local summer camp for handicapped children asked me to benefit from riding horses. The children were disappointed I was not wearing my uniform they were so familiar with. I noticed my muscles tightening each time I went riding. Major Suzanne even stopped by our house and slept in the guest bedroom next to the incomplete nursery. She joined me at the camp and talked about her military career. Since the war, she had been busy getting back in touch with her friends and family in her hometown. She has a new boyfriend who her friends introduced her to. He is a local DJ at a dance club and treats her like a lady. They met at his club and he invited her into his booth. The next week he announced a gig in another city and was having a party at his house. Suzanne and the friend who introduced them were asked to come over before the party to help move furniture. Suzanne showed up to be greeted by a soaking wet DJ in a towel. He rushed to get ready while Suzanne looked at his music collection. The friend never came so Suzanne and the DJ moved furniture around to create a dance floor. Waiting for guests to arrive they talked and got to know each other. Suzanne called him amazing.
Visiting her old neighborhood, Suzanne started to consider going into politics since the army stationed her nearby. I told her that I would love to help her get elected to the city council. We descended our horses to be greeted by journalists begging for interviews describing our charity work at the camp. We bluntly replied no and explained briefly we were invited to ride horses by the camp. We left the horde of photographers growing and pushing the children aside to get their shots. Josh pushed one journalist over to pick up a small girl with braces who fell over. Suzanne continued her conversation of her plan to be elect for city council. The rest of the visit was spent talking to churches and city halls about my military experiences. One person asked what it felt like to be a soldier held in prison. I asked back what it felt like living a sheltered life never knowing what goes on beyond your backyard. The person did not answer so I answered for him.
It feels insecure because you have no idea what is going on.
Suzanne whispered it was a good reply. She left during my tour of eager listeners yearning to hear about the ugly face of war. All they had to do was watch war movies to get a feel how frightening it is to be shot at. Then again, George Armstrong Custer once said at the beginning of the Civil War that during his training at West Point he fired off many cannons, but it is a different sound when the cannonballs are coming toward you. The book publisher finished filming their promotional documentary. The author flew home after interviewing all my friends and family. My Mom happily let him snoop through old pictures and papers packed up from my childhood. I gave two speeches for Suzanne'’s election to city council. The catchy chant a few members of her family's church invented was "For Suzanne". I gave birth to twin girls; Linnette Amelia and Sorcha Morgan. Josh kept hopping in baby duties while I gained enough strength in my arms to help him. The babies were soon crawling all over the house and discovering the rose bushes along the deck. Josh took a leave of absence to raise the girls and went back to work when they were weaned to solid food. Suzanne was soon elected to city council and swiftly became the outspoken fly in the ointment.
When the twins learned to walk, the book and promotional film debuted in New York. I flew over to fulfill my agreed to interviews and book signings. I was given an assistant to push my wheelchair and bring my walker. I caught the flu in Los Angeles and was spoon fed in the hospital. A movie star I didn'’t know walked through the wing shaking hands with patients and was insulted when I asked what movie she was in. I returned home a celebrity again and committed to one more book signing in my hometown. I received a small break while the publisher got ready to promote the book overseas. We took a trip up to Alaska so he could hunt and fish. I stayed behind in the hotel with the girls. The girls loved being pushed around the nature walks and pointed to the birds. I took a lot of pictures of the mountains and painted copies once I came home. We took a train ride and watched the caribous herds run away. Fury broke over a battleship being bombed while staying in a Saudi Arabian port. Josh was notified of impending conflict with the locals attacking sailors on shore leave. He convinced his commanding officer that he was needed at home to take care of me. His evidence was the fact of I had an assistant while on tour. His commander concurred and Josh stayed home to continue his desk job on the base.
I finished my scrapbook of our trip when I had to leave on my tour through Europe, Asia, and Australia. In Russia, I caused outrage in Turkey with a photo shoot interview that never took place for a Turkish magazine promoting the book. Unfortunately, the reporter stood by his story of interviewing me at the shoot. My biography was seized from the shelves and burned. I received bags of hate mail and did my best to translate the angry words. The best I could make out was the magazine declared I fully supported my president's declaration of the new President of Israel being a light of hope for peace in the Middle East. It is said the general in his career massacred Palestinian refugees before lands were set aside for the refugees to live under the protection of neighboring countries until a Palestinian state was recognized by the world. No Muslim believed this man was a light of hope for peace. Suicide bombers destroyed his election celebrations at an Americanized hotel.
The publisher pushed for a CNN interview broadcasted worldwide to refute the interview. Days later I was live with the whole world watching every blink and pause. I denied being interviewed during the photo shoot and simply posed in foreign clothes I would never wear at home. I got the sense the reporter who claimed the interview simply read things about me and twisted them to harness hate for his own cause. I assumed the devoted Christian bit in the article was from my speaking tours in churches. Also, the supporting the president part was from the fact I received a medal from the president and shook his hand with a smile. I declared my distaste for The Jackal going back to the widely publicized handshake scandal where I wiped off my hand in front of cameras afterwards. I also stated it was decided to skip Turkey and move on to the next stop in Greece. We visited the Acropolis in Athens without much fanfare. Queen Noor remembered me from Paris and called the hotel to invite me to dinner. I told her the book tour was simply trying to make a living after being wounded. She invited me to visit Egypt with her since I had time from skipping my Turkey visit. I refused the invitation. She demanded to know why I declined her offer because I was looking at her funny. I whispered I would tell her in the car. I started to panic with her eyes narrowing in curiosity. I hobbled with my walker avoiding her stares. She placed her hand on my shoulder and softly whispered that I could tell her why I am suddenly scared of Egypt. I raised my head to whisper that a bomb will go off when I arrive and close the airport. She asked if the bomb I foresaw would explode without my arrival to Egypt. I nodded my head.
Queen Noor took me back to my hotel prodding me for details of the future bombing. She then promised a safe private plane would take us to Egypt if I wanted to go. I finally accepted her invitation. That night she sent a detail out to rent transportation for her arrival and our planned tour of the countryside. She arranged tickets to a charity concert the Jordanian ambassador was planning to attend. Everything was in its place when officer arrived on the tarmac. An airport security officer entered the plane and informed us a bomb was discovered. It was remote controlled and they were in the process of disabling it when it went off. Three security officers were killed. The airport was now closed, rejecting all incoming and outgoing flights until the airport is searched for more bombs. Being on a private plane, he promised an escort off the premise. I told the man to check a brown leather bag with a black handle in a bathroom near the ticket counters. He looked at me funny, then got on his on his radio to repeat my message. He then asked if I was a terrorist involved in the plot to bomb the airport. I asked back if I were a terrorist, would I tell him where the other bomb is located? Queen Noor defended that I spoke of this bombing last night and she sent her security detail to find the person who I saw bring a bomb into curbside check in. The guard admitted the bomb was discovered when someone crashed into the bomber and knocked his suitcase open. They didn't find the remote control with him so they starting cutting wires when it exploded.
A voice reported finding the second remote controlled bomb and sprayed it with water. The plastic explosives were to be taken to the runway to be set off in front of a group of reporters to tape. I had no need to see a bomb explode so we left. Once at the hotel, Queen Noor ordered a meal for us. Our first day consisted of visiting shops and museums. The next day we rode camels around the pyramids and ancient temples. The third day we dressed up for the charity concert and I met the Jordanian ambassador to Egypt. His wife was friendly telling me of her trips to the Americas. She spoke in three languages and well informed in current events. She was amazed my husband took care of my girls and took them to my mother's house across town when he left for work an hour's drive away. I was not part of High Society. The ambassador was also friendly and listened to my war stories. He asked if I thought the American President a hero nudging a treaty between India and Pakistan. I scoffed. I stated that if the President stopped the war before it started he would my hero, but men must have war to prove their power. He said I had an interesting point of view. I told him that when you look death in the face and survive, it changes your outlook on life permanently.
I packed up the fourth day to return to Athens. We took a regular plane this time, first class. The ticket agent informed us that our flight had been cancelled and offered our choice of flights. I didn'’t like the first one because it was going to be delayed for hours from mechanical failure. The second choice was acceptable to me. Queen Noor whispered later that she heard the person behind us say to the ticket agent that he wanted the flight I was on. As we approached the escalators, I insisted on taking the stairs because a man was going to attack us on the escalator. He will have a knife hidden in right hand when he asks for her autograph. I was carried up the stairs because the elevator was broken. Then a man started yell the queen's name from the escalators and ran over begging for her autograph. The guard dropped me and I froze in a cold sweat as I clutched my walker. Her guard shouted the guy had a knife and twisted his arm around. Security jumped in and carried the guy away. Queen Noor and I were pulled away. We breezed through security with armed guards pushing my wheelchair. First class was very nice with dinner mints, a pillow and a computer outlet hooked up to the internet. We said our goodbyes and my assistant pushed me to my next flight to Spain.
Our next stop after Spain was Scotland where Suzanne had rented a cottage in the countryside for a week. I got a wonderful surprise waiting for me at the cottage, my husband and girls. They visited a fair just before I arrived and covered my clothes with cotton candy. I went to my nearby book signing the day after to get another surprise, a prince in disguise. I was signing book after book when I saw a note inside the cover inviting my family to private dinner at a notoriously expensive restaurant after a polo match signed by His Royalness wearing a fake nose in parentheses. In shock I stared into his nervous eyes and without a word wrote down that my signing was done at 5:00. I asked his name and signed my autograph. He gleamed walking away and glanced at my husband reading a story to our girls in the children’s section. After the signing was over, I announced we were having dinner with Prince Charming at a fancy restaurant. Josh was queasy I accepted so easily to a total stranger. I asked how many people would use the term His Royalness. In in my business suit, Josh rolled me over to the place to meet a snooty host who didn’t believe we were here for a private dinner with royalty. He left us to call upon the private dinner party taking place. He came back to lead us to the dining room and gave the girls crayons and pictures to color.
William, Prince of Wales, sat at the head of the table surrounded by his girlfriend of the month and noisy friends who failed to notice we had entered the room. William stood up and came over to shake our hands. He ordered for us using French cuisine terms. I interrupted to decline the snails he requested because we have snails in our fish tank at home and it might upset the girls. I gave the girls crackers from the basket in the center of the table as William finished. I told him I was not expecting him to show up at my signing, I thought he forgot all about me. He said he could not easily forget the elevator ride in New Zealand, he had so much anger directed at him before when most people step on others to meet him. He sat back in chair and we chatted on with his friends to discover they are all children of his father’s friends. I commented how he must trust his father’s judgment of people or else his father was very controlling. William said I was wrong on both counts, he doesn’t know anyone else well because they are too busy bowing to him to become a real friend. All of a sudden I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman where she says “No wonder you came looking for me”. I replied that I knew how hard it is to make friends when people are jealous of you. I explained that when my mother got acting jobs for me to help feed the family after my father lost his job, everybody mistook me for Miss Hollywood and refused to be my friend anymore. Anyone who was friendly to me I discovered was selling my pencils and crayons I let them borrow. After catching strep throat, my father put an end to my acting career when my mother planned to take me on auditions even though I was passed out on the couch with a fever. William seemed touched when I concluded my story with my father explaining that it was not my job to take care the family, it was his. He said he understood why I was so resilient waiting to be rescued in India. Josh commented my mental strength is why he married me, no one could ever break my spirit.
When we returned to Suzanne’s cottage, she was standing in front of the TV in horror with her hand covering her lips. Seconds later we learned the President of the United States, whom I nicknamed the Hammer from his vow to hammer the nails into the coffins of terrorists, was assassinated while visiting the Pope in Rome. The news people speculated if the target was really the Pope or the President. Either way, the Hammer was down and the Pope was in serious condition. Sure I wept for a while because death is always sad, but I got over it and never watched the funeral on TV like Josh and Suzanne did. William was shook up at the assassination and held a service at his palace’s church to pray for leaders he never followed. After his service, we were invited to his palace because Josh mentioned at the dinner he loved hunting pheasant. William made a bet who shoot the most birds, even though I tried to talk him out of it since Josh is one of the best snipers in the army. William insisted he was a crack shot too and welcomed a challenge. Learning of our plan to renew our vows on our upcoming anniversary, William insisted on the ceremony take place in one of his palaces. We accepted.
We arrived late worried if we would be let inside the gates. His Highness was not at home to greet us, he was at garden party his cousin was hostess of. Waiting for him to come back, we tasted tea and crumpets with his girlfriend of the month. She never stopped talking about William and features of the house. I did my best to look interested. I was quite interested in talking a walk through the gardens on the other side of the window. Cherise said we could ride horses about the property with her, she is an expert horse woman. She is a foreign exchange student from France and met William when she pulled him on the dance floor at a bar. She didn’t realize who he was with his hat covering half his face until his guards came up to dislodge her from William. All he had to say was “No thank you” and walk away for her to get the hint that he didn’t want to dance with her. Actually he did want to dance with her and went up to her later to ask properly for her to dance with him. We both agree William can give confusing signals sometimes. Cherise said it was more the guards doing there job that causes conflicting signals. The guards were nice enough to help me onto the horse. We rode for nearly twenty minutes when His Highness arrived.
“Whatever you say, William.” I answered.
Soon, William invited us to stay for the dinner and ball he had planned for that evening. He invited many friends and family to a shooting party that weekend. I politely declined the invitation because we had no formal attire. He claims they have so many clothes that they can share. I borrowed one of Cherise’s ball gowns for the occasion and her stylist people made me up also. William got one of his tuxedos out for Josh. The rooms were full of Duke this and Baron that. Practically everyone knew William from childhood. We sat down to dinner in the formal dining room with an array of guests discussing the latest polo match. William introduced us to the crowd to have everyone stare at me as if I had a stain on my dress.
During the ball after dinner, one Countess of Devonshire commented how confusing my book was stating I hated the war and everything it stood for, but fought anyway for a belief I didn’t support. I explained it is called being drafted and rolled away. Another Sir Edwin Raleigh took a swipe at me asking if my friendship with William was a publicity stunt to sell more books. I was so insulted I stormed out of the ballroom and cried on the portico. William grabbed the handles on my wheelchair and pushed me to a quite corner of the portico. He sat down on the ledge and waiting for me to speak. My make-up was ruined, I confessed of the insult and a wish to go back to Suzanne’s house. Josh came outside looking for me. William invited us to sleep overnight in one of his guests rooms. The maids always have toiletries out for guests and we can borrow pajamas off of them. His is very sorry his friends insulted me, some can be a little possessive and insecure about new people in his life. Josh accepted the overnight invitation.
The party went on without me late into the night. Once I woke up and forgot where I was, but quickly remembered when walking down a long hallway to get a glass of milk when I couldn’t get back to sleep. I rested on a couch with my walker and a guard came up to ask if I required assistance. I declined the aide politely citing that I will never gain my strength back if I never use my muscles. The guard followed me to the stairs and called on his radio an order of milk be brought up. Another arrived with my request and I drank it up. I walked back to hear admiration from the guard at my determination to walk again. I explained that I only wanted to be normal again, I can not give up now. The guard shut the door after I laid back down. Josh stirred and I snuggled up to him into a dreamless slumber.
During breakfast, I made the observation that all of William’s friends are shallow aristocrats. He explained that aristocrats are the only people he meets in the world that he can really socialize with. He only meets commoners while doing a walk about shaking hands and receiving flowers, he can not turn these crowds into friends. I replied that he is surrounded by commoners every day but he never notices them, what a pity. I had to further reply naming all his staff he speaks to every day who are in fact, commoners. William said nothing and sipped his tea with his pinkie up. I then declared to know why he chose me to be his friend. We are similar people, we both hide who we truly are.
“Excuse me, I have shown you everything about me since yesterday, Marsha.” answered William.
“Uh, no, you are showing me your wealth, your manners, your charity work, but never who you truly are. I have to ask if you ever drop the elite manners of a prince and just be William. I see politeness and distance in you, not friendship.” William gave no reply.
My husband Josh changed the subject and announced he was ready to win his bet with William. We stroll outside to the clay pigeon shooting range. William commented how the guard I spoke to last night told him about my attempted journey to the kitchen. I said the guards were helpful in getting me a glass of milk. Josh won by 2 pigeons and won the congratulations of the ice princess Cherise. I think she is scrutinizing me to see what I want out of this new found friendship with William, as if I chased him down. We bid each other good-bye and William invited us to go on a shopping trip he and his woman had planned the next month at the local mall. We accepted the invitation. Josh inquired what the deal was with these invitations.
“How should I know? Maybe he is clinging onto an honest friend who sees right through his act. I feel sorry for him.” I answered.
We traveled around signing more books and dining with local celebrities wanting their picture in the tabloids. The shopping trip came soon enough when my British leg of the Book Tour ended. Suzanne announced her engagement and suddenly needed a new dress for the ceremony. Feeling stronger, I tossed away the walker and used Josh to balance myself. For long walks, we kept the wheelchair handy. We met William and the ice princess at the mall entrance. Cameras are forbidden in the mall so we should have some privacy. Though people can be unpredictable.
I looked at dresses for me and the girls while Josh picked out a new suit. William left the ice princess with the personal shopper and accompanied me around the children’s section. He stopped at the piano sitting vacant under the escalator and I rested on the sofa.
“You asked if I ever drop the elite manners of a prince and just be William. On occasion I do.” was all he said before playing a few classical tunes.
A couple girls threw coins at him with a giggle and captured him with their cell phone. Most people didn’t look at who was playing the piano as they passed by. William took a bow and I clapped with the people standing in menswear.
“I bet that will be on the evening news. I wonder what father will say.” claimed William.
“He will say you played beautifully,” I replied.
And sure enough, the girl’s cell phone video was on the evening news.
