Royal Love (10 page)

T
HE
PLANE
had a smooth takeoff, and the stewards served coffee and soda. Movies were put on to entertain Jack, Darren, and Michael, while David and Shane got some more rest in the rear of the plane.

Eight hours later, they were told to prepare for landing.

“Where are we coming in at, Shane?”

“We’re landing at Andrews. The president would never allow us to land elsewhere, especially in a plane from the White House fleet.”

“Yeah, that makes sense. Look, there’s Washington coming into view. It’s kind of good to be home.”

“I know how much you miss this city,” Shane said, looking at his husband.

“Sometimes, yeah.”

Everyone buckled up, and the plane glided to a stop on the tarmac at Andrews Air Force Base. David looked out the window and saw an official motorcade waiting for them.

“Look,
Marine One
is here. I wonder if the president’s down there?” Shane said.

The door to the plane was opened, and the moving staircase joined the aircraft. Protocol had David and Shane exit first followed by everyone else. Jack was right behind his dads.

“Damn, she is here!” David said when he spotted the president getting out of a limo.

The president was waiting when David hit the ground, and they hugged and kissed. Then it was Shane’s turn and Jack’s. When she saw her son, tears formed in her eyes.

“Darren, I’ve missed you so much!” she said and hugged him tightly.

“Mom, you remember Prince Michael.”

“Of course, welcome to the United States, Your Highness.”

“Thank you, Madam President. I convey the best wishes of the king, whom I am representing on this wonderful occasion.”

“Wonderful! Jack! Come here and give me another hug, you cutie!”

Jack broke out in a huge smile, rushed to the president, and melted into her hug.

David noticed some of his old staff present and made a point to shake their hands.

“I decided to come over and meet your plane, because I couldn’t wait to see you all. I’m going back to the White House in the motorcade, and since you’ve had a long flight, you can stay there tonight. Ready to go?”

Darren, Michael, and Jack got into the presidential limo dubbed the Beast, as David and Shane got into the limo behind the president’s. When everyone was settled, the motorcade of twenty-one vehicles—including the standard ambulance—moved out.

As they picked up speed and sailed through lights and intersections, Michael and Jack were glued to the windows. Darren talked quietly with his mother.

“I’ve never traveled this fast in a royal motorcade! This is incredible,” said Michael.

“Hey, where’s Brandon, Mom?” Darren asked.

“He’s in school, honey. It’s finals week, and I didn’t want him missing all that. He’ll be with us for the rest of the celebration, but today, he keeps his nose in the books.”

“I look forward to meeting your brother, Darren,” Michael said.

“Oh he’ll love you! You’re not only hot, but you’re a prince. He already wants me to find a prince for him!”

“Hmm, I’ll have to look around in the family closets,” Michael replied, and they all laughed.

Before they knew it, they were pulling in to the White House driveway and up to the diplomatic entrance.

“Welcome back to the White House, David and Shane,” Victoria said as everyone got out.

“Still standing, good,” David replied with a smile. They entered the White House and headed straight up to the family quarters.

“Victoria, where’s your intended?”

“This is the last day at his office and then he’s catching a helicopter down to DC from New York. He’ll be here this evening, hopefully in time for dinner. By the way, I’m expecting all of you to eat here as much as possible. I haven’t had much company at dinner, and I’m making up for it over the next few days.”

“Will your husband be staying here after you’re married?” Shane asked.

“You bet he will. He can transfer his office to the White House or to K Street. I’m not having him flying back and forth every day from New York.”

“And does Harry agree with this change?” Shane smiled.

“We’ve discussed it, and he knows that as the husband to the president, he must accept certain things. This is one of them.”

“Yes, I remember clearly how being president can affect your life. Harry is going to have some adjusting to do,” David said.

“Yeah, you were lucky,” Victoria said. “Your husband worked in this fishbowl and understood the world we live in.”

“Is he going to take up any duties as first spouse?” Darren asked.

“I doubt he’ll be much involved beyond being with me for State dinners and special events. The family business keeps him quite busy. Why don’t we all go into the dining room and have a snack? Anyone hungry?”

“I am!” Jack volunteered.

“In that case, let’s go!” Victoria said.

As they sat, the butlers immediately set out a continental breakfast and took drink requests. Everyone ordered iced tea and began to enjoy White House cooking once again.

“Is there anything you particularly want to see while you’re here in Washington, Michael?” the president asked.

“Everything, of course!” he replied, and everyone laughed.

“While that might not be possible, I’m sure you’ll be back here in the future once in a while.”

Darren looked at his mother and smiled. She smiled back, and all her feelings about Michael were made clear to Darren in that brief exchange.

“Michael’s wearing his prince’s uniform to the wedding. Wait until you see him!” Darren boasted.

“Really? That will certainly add a touch of class. Thank you, Michael. Would you boys mind spending an hour or so with me before bed this evening? I’d like to get to know you better, Michael,” she said.

“Of course, Mom,” Darren said.

“I guess that means the adults have to go to bed early!” Shane joked.

“Well, I for one am not leaving this house until I see Brandon. I hope he’s doing very well,” David said.

“Of course. He’s not required to stay after his last final, so he’ll be home in about two hours.”

“Good. Then the gang will all be here!” David said.

“The wedding is the day after tomorrow. Is Harry having a bachelor party tomorrow night?” Shane asked.

“Not to my knowledge. He’s certainly not going to a strip club or some sordid thing like that, but I’m sure he’d appreciate spending the evening with you men, if you’re interested.”

“Sure, but what would we do?” David asked.

“I don’t know, but I’m sure you’ll come up with something,” Victoria replied.

“Well, I suppose we could hire some strippers and hookers and import them to Blair House.” Shane snickered.

“Like hell you will, mister! You do that, and I’ll find a pretext to have you thrown into the new Alcatraz your husband rebuilt!”

After they all stopped laughing, Shane replied, “Now you know I’d never do something like that!”

“Uh-huh. You’re a male. There’s nothing I wouldn’t put past you, especially considering some of the things you two have gotten into over the last five years.”

Changing the subject, David asked, “Are any heads of state coming?”

“No. I didn’t want this to be a State occasion. This is a private matter between Harry, myself, and our families and close friends. Otherwise, it would turn into a circus with all the motorcades and be a huge drain on the Secret Service. I’ll be nervous enough without all that.”

“I wish my family felt that way,” Michael said.

“Well, your family is slightly different in that you are part of a monarchy, and it’s tradition that other royal families attend weddings and funerals. I’m not saying that’s wrong, Michael, just that I don’t want that.”

An aide walked into the gathering. “Excuse me, Madam President, but there’s a call you should take.”

“Thank you. Excuse me, gentlemen. I shall return… hopefully.”

After she left the room, everyone seemed to relax a little more.

“Your mother seems in great spirits,” Michael commented.

“Yeah, but I can tell she’s a little uptight. I hope everything’s all right.”

“It’s a big day in a person’s life. Marriage is a major step for men and women,” Shane said.

“Yeah, but she was married to my father, so this isn’t brand new to her. When he died in that airplane accident, she said she’d never marry again. I’m wondering if that’s going through her mind. I hope it isn’t,” Darren said. “Maybe my brother can tell us something when I can get him alone.”

“Good thinking. As long as it isn’t too personal, let us know if she’s troubled over something. It could also have something to do with her job. God only knows what the nuts of the world are up to,” David replied.

The president came back and said, “My apologies. I must attend an unexpected meeting on the budget. You know who is at it again, wanting to cut Social Security.”

“Mom, is it okay if I show Michael around the White House? I’ve been all over three of his palaces,” Darren said.

“Sure. An agent will have to accompany you, but you know what Michael can see and what he can’t. No offense, young man, but some things are classified.”

“No offense taken, Madam. I understand completely.”

“I’m off. What are you three going to do?” Victoria asked David, Shane, and Jack.

“I think we’ll head over to Blair House and get settled in.”

“Excellent. I have no idea how long this will last. See you for dinner.”

She spoke to one of her agents on the way out, and when Darren and Michael left the dining room, the agent approached and said he had been assigned to them. They left on their private tour as David, Shane, and Jack went across the street to Blair House.

As Michael and Darren enjoyed the various paintings of the White House, David, Shane, and Jack arrived at their destination and went to their bedrooms. Jack liked his because it had a view of the White House just like David and Shane’s room. David knew they would be sharing the house with other family members, and he reminded Jack and Shane of that fact.

“While Victoria’s family is well accustomed to gay people, I don’t know about the Rothschilds. So let’s keep that in mind when we’re in public.”

“This place is kinda small, isn’t it?” Jack asked.

“Yes, it is small. It was even smaller before the government bought three houses in a row and joined them to make one. But the size of most of the rooms was unchanged. You’re just spoiled by Winfield House and our home in Cape May.”

“Maybe, but I understand why we can’t stay across the street. I can go to the party after the wedding, right?” Jack asked with pleading eyes.

“Yes, you’re old enough. Just behave like a gentleman, and for God’s sake, watch your mouth!” David answered.

“Dad, I’m not gonna embarrass you and Daddy. I slip sometimes when it’s just us because I’m totally comfortable with you. But after your husband had his blow out the other night, I try to be even more careful.”

“My husband? You mean your other father, right?” David asked in concern.

“Yeah, of course that’s who I mean. I was just busting his ba… um, his cookies.”

Shane smiled at David.

“It seems his reaction made an impact on you,” David said to Jack.

“Yeah, and a lot better one than what he wanted to do!”

“And what was that, Jack?” Shane asked.

“You wanted to beat my ass!”

This time no one got angry, everyone just laughed.

“You’re very lucky that my husband intervened on your behalf,” Shane said. “Or you wouldn’t have sat very comfortably for a while.”

“I know, and I apologize for what I said,” Jack said as he looked down at the floor.

David went over to Jack and hugged him. “You just keep working on that issue, okay? Your other dad loves you just as much as I do, and don’t ever forget that.”

“That’s true, Jack,” Shane said. “Just because I was mad at you, doesn’t mean I don’t love you. It means I want you to be a better person.”

Jack ran over to Shane and hugged him. “I know that, Daddy, and it’s one of the reasons I survived the kidnapping. I kept you both in my mind and asked myself what you would do if you were there instead of me. I have to confess, though, I said a lot of bad words just because I knew it upset them. I laughed inside each time they called me part of a camel for something I said.”

“Whatever you did, it worked. You’re here, and the men who took you are dead. No one messes with a member of our family. Why don’t we all have showers now? It’s been a long day already, and we should look fresh for dinner.”

For the next hour, they showered, dressed in fresh clothes, and relaxed with iced tea and Diet 7-Up. Then a tornado hit the front door of Blair House—Brandon was home from school.

He ran straight to David and hugged him.

“I’ve missed you all so much. I was happy to hear you all were coming,” Brandon said as he looked around the room. He went to Shane and hugged him before walking over to shake Jack’s hand, which Jack was having none of.

“You’re getting hugged,” Jack said and grabbed onto the teary-eyed Brandon.

“I wish you could stay here. I owe you so much,” Brandon said.

“Your life is good, then?” Jack asked.