Winning the Queen's Heart: Contemporary Christian Romance (The Brides of Belles Montagnes Book 2) (24 page)

“From your lips to God’s ears.” After a few more minutes, Dr. McCall and her nurse left, and Christiana tried to get some sleep. When she couldn’t, she picked up the massive remote and turned on the projector as the screen lowered.

Before she could flip over to the movie screen, the news came back from commercial. Had Alexander been the last one to watch? American News Network International was not usually her first choice.

“And in international royal news, Prince Alexander is back in Serenity Landing for a few days. Sources tell us his grandmother suffered a heart attack two days ago.”

The picture on the screen changed to a shot of her husband trotting down the stairs of Royal Air One and getting into a waiting car.

“The prince and his twin brother were seen walking through the halls of Cox South hospital in Springfield, Missouri, but the family has made no comment to the press at this time. His departure so quickly on the heels of the truth of his engagement and wedding to the queen has led to speculation that all is not well in Revenzarian palace. The queen, who has been on bed rest and restricted activity for much of her pregnancy, did not accompany him.”

They moved on to some other story as Christiana changed the input to movies. At least he was there. He was safe. He had security with him, and she knew he had friends who ran a security firm who would be there as well. Why did the thought of something happening to him bother her so? There were no known threats. Perhaps because all of the threats were against her.

Her stomach roiled. With just enough time to get to the bathroom, she hurried that way.

* * *

“Next up, Margie McCoy of
2 Cool 4 School
talking with us about the possibility of a reunion.”

Julia’s ears perked up. A reunion? Alex and Chris Slate hadn’t been seen since the show ended, and they disappeared back to whatever Midwestern town they’d emerged from a year before the show started.

She hurried through her morning routine and urged her own Alex to move a bit faster. The bus would be here before she knew it. By the time they came back for the bottom of the hour news break, she was brushing her teeth.

“And in international news, Prince Alexander of Ravenzario is in Springfield, Missouri visiting his grandmother after a heart attack.” The picture shifted to show Alexander with his twin brother. “The American is making his first visit to his homeland after marrying Queen Christiana in the fall. The royal couple is expecting their first child later this year. Back to Abby and Tod in New York.”

This time the picture showed the two co-hosts sitting with Margie McCoy on tall barstools.

The actress had a look on her face that Julia couldn’t quite identify, but it was quickly replaced by a pasted-on smile.

After exchanging pleasantries, Margie leaned forward.

“I think I may have just solved one of the biggest entertainment mysteries of our time. I think I know what happened to Alex and Chris Slate.”

Abby’s eyes went wide. “You haven’t kept in touch with them? We know they dropped out of the limelight, but they haven’t kept in touch with their costars?”

“Not that I’m aware of. Chris and I had a very public relationship for several years, but even I never knew for sure where they came from.”

“But you think you’ve solved the mystery?” Tod asked.

Margie looked off-screen. “Can you put that picture of Prince Alexander back up and put it next to one of the promo shots with the Slate brothers?”

Julia gasped as the two pictures appeared side-by-side.

Margie went on. “I don’t know for sure, obviously, since it only just occurred to me, but the names can’t be a coincidence, can they? Everyone knew Slate was a stage name, and if I’m right, it’s probably because of Christopher Mayfield from the movies in the sixties, seventies, and eighties. The names were too close.” The picture returned to the two hosts and the actress. “I’m saying that perhaps the new prince should clear it up if it’s not true. Or Alex and Chris should.”

“Well, the rumors about a reunion have been around for a long time. With all the other reunions going on, like
Girl Meets World
and
Fuller House
, it seems the time could be right.” Tod shifted in his seat. “It’s been assumed it would go on without the Slate brothers. If this supposition is correct, and looking at the pictures, it certainly could be, it doesn’t seem likely Prince Alexander would be involved anyway.”

Margie shrugged. “Who knows? Even though our characters were the main couple on the show, I never knew Alex very well. He was intensely private about most things, even more so than Chris.”

“Isn’t it odd that no one ever knew where they were from? Never visited their hometown with them?” Abby leaned forward in her chair. “I’ve been to Tod’s house many times. His wife makes a great brisket.”

“Oh, we did get together, but always in LA.” She waved a hand in the air. “Regardless of what Chris and Alex decide to do, there’s always been a huge call for a reunion. I’ve been talking with several of the others, including creator Dusty Ring, and we’d like to do this thing sometime in the next year or so. With the fifteen-year anniversary coming up, the timing seems right.”

Julia clicked the off button on the remote and grabbed her coat, rushing Alex outside ahead of her. Her boss’s brother was currently in the CVICU at Cox South. It gave her a reason to visit and see if Alexander remembered her.

Or the night he took her home.

* * *

“Did you see the news this morning?”

Alexander looked up as Christopher walked in the room. The grim look on his brother’s face told him he should have.

“No. Why?”

“Margie was on some morning show, saw a story about you being stateside, and put two and two together on the air.”

Alexander grimaced. “Did they buy the theory?”

“Lock, stock, and barrel. I talked to Mady half an hour ago. The calls are coming in fast and furious. Everything from the reunion show to
BoyzGoneWild
magazine. Again.”

“We’ve turned down every public appearance for a decade, and they think we’ll start now?” Alexander shook his head. “I’m married to the queen of Ravenzario, and they think I’ll do a photo shoot like that?”

“No, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. Guess they’re hoping one of use would do it.”

Running a hand through his hair, Alexander stood up. “Guess we should go face the assembled masses. How many reporters are in front of the hospital?”

“About half as many as there will be in a couple hours. Is there someone we want to give the story to rather than just a press conference?”

Alexander thought about that. “Not right now. I’ll make a statement. You can if you want to, but I think we leave it at that for the time being. No questions.” He started for the door.

“Don’t you think you should call your wife first?”

Right. His wife. Had he talked to Christiana since arriving in Missouri? He didn’t think so. The timing hadn’t worked out. When he had a minute, she would have been sleeping or in a meeting. He didn’t want to wake her up or interrupt if he didn’t have to.

His brother had a point, though, so Alexander pulled his phone out and waited for the call to go through. But instead of Christiana, her assistant answered.

“Good morning, Diana.”

“It’s afternoon here, sir.” He could almost see the smile on the woman’s face. “How can I help you?”

“I need to speak with the queen.”

Alexander sensed hesitation on her part. “I’m afraid you can’t right now, sir. She’s asleep.”

Another pass of his fingers through his hair. “Okay. Will you tell her to call me as soon as she wakes up? I have to give a press conference. I wanted to talk to her first, but I really don’t want to put it off any longer.”

“About the news program this morning? She’s already seen the replays.”

How had she known about it before he did? And asleep? “Is she feeling all right? Or just tired?”

“Um, she didn’t sleep well.” There was the hesitation again. What wasn’t she telling him? “She’s feeling much better though. Dr. McCall checked on her earlier.”

He knew there had been no appointment scheduled. Why had the doctor stopped by? He started to ask, when something on the television caught his eye. Christopher had changed it to the news network, and they were replaying the spot. “Have her call me, would you?”

“Certainly, sir.”

He didn’t say good-bye but hung up, crossing his arms across his chest as his brother turned up the sound. “Nothing earth-shattering,” he said as it cut back to new anchors speculating away. “Except for the revelation of our identities, but we knew that would happen someday.”

The camera switched to the outside of the hospital. “I guess we need to find the hospital PR people and figure out where we can have a short press conference. If they’d rather us just walk out and do it there, that’s fine with me, but I’d rather work with them than irritate them.”

“I agree.”

Mom walked into the small waiting room, the weight of the world resting on her shoulders and visible on her face. “I heard the news. Dad and Gramps are with Mom. What’s the plan?”

They talked for a few more minutes before heading out to find the hospital PR people.

Chapter 26

Christiana was finally feeling a bit better. She no longer felt like her insides were going to explode or that the smallest sip of Sprite would send her running to the nearest trash can. Her entire body still ached, sore from using muscles rarely exercised. The hot, but not too hot, bath had helped, but not nearly enough. Maybe she should have Diana arrange for a massage.

The thought brought to mind Alexander’s shoulder massage several weeks earlier. The man knew what he was doing as he’d expertly kneaded her stress away. What she wouldn’t give to have him lying next to her, rubbing her lower back, maybe even holding her as he slept.

He did that every once in a while. She did not think he realized he did it. The first time she woke up with his arm around her, she barely dared to breath. The warm cocoon had lulled her back to sleep in record time. It had not happened every night, or even all that often, but often enough she missed it when it did not.

Diana walked quietly into the room. Christiana needed to make sure the woman got a nice bonus. She had been going above and beyond for some time but with the pregnancy, she rarely went home, choosing instead to live in the staff apartments.

“I am awake.” Christiana pushed herself into a sitting position. “Have you heard from the prince?”

“He called a bit ago, ma’am. He had just found out about the revelations on television this morning and wanted to speak with you.”

Right. Everyone now knew she was married to teen heartthrob Alex Slate.

“The press conference will be starting in a minute.” Diana picked up the remote and lowered the screen, pulling up the live feed of one of the news networks as they waited.

Alexander had not consulted her? Had he spoken with Charlyn?

The exterior of the hospital showed behind a local reporter who was being picked up by the network. Likely she hoped it would be her chance to break into the big time. It was not a huge story like 9/11 had been or covering a natural disaster would be, but nonetheless a chance to get some limelight.

The sound stayed turned down but Christiana’s eyes narrowed as she looked through the glass doors. Was that Alexander? Or Christopher? Whichever one it was, he was hugging a woman. A long hug. Perhaps an old family friend?
Please, God, let that be an old family friend.

Whichever brother it was finally released the woman and turned. When he did, Christiana’s fears were confirmed. Alexander walked out of the doors first with Christopher hot on his heels. Alexander stepped up to the microphones with his brother just behind and to his right. Diana turned up the sound in time to hear the shouted questions quiet down.

“Thank you for coming on such short notice.” Alexander shuffled the papers in front of him then looked directly into the camera. “This morning, Margie McCoy made a supposition that my brother and I are also Chris and Alex Slate from the show
2 Cool 4 School
. In that moment, she uncovered something we worked very hard to keep from the public. After the show ended, Christopher and I both just wanted to begin our ‘grown-up’ lives. College, careers, families, without the celebrity specter hanging over us all the time. We always knew this day would come, but we were able to have private lives successfully.”

He gave a wry grin. “Until, of course, I married a queen. That was something none of us could have anticipated. I don’t regret it for a moment and never will. We do ask that you continue to respect our privacy, especially that of our family and friends. The press organizations that cooperate will be given the chance to be among the first we do interviews with. On a personal note, our family asks that you keep our grandmother in your prayers as she recovers from her heart attack. I also ask for your prayers as Queen Christiana continues to struggle,”
Christiana winced.
“with a difficult pregnancy. Thank you for your time.”