Total pages in book: 173
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 174632 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 873(@200wpm)___ 699(@250wpm)___ 582(@300wpm)
So this morning, she was tired and in a fog. If she’d had to organize anything, she might have fallen apart.
Luckily for her, the guys had done it all. She hadn’t even had to pack her own bag.
All she’d grabbed was her handbag and Ziggy. Jack had even turned up with a new cell phone for her with all their numbers in it already. She’d put Indie’s number in and sent her a text to tell her that she was coming.
As they were moving across the tarmac, a car started to approach. Jack moved in front of her, but Ian touched his back.
“It’s one of the palace cars,” Ian said.
She glanced over in surprise to find that Jameson had also stepped up beside her as well.
She was surrounded on three sides. She was so glad Jameson was coming with them. Having the three of them with her felt so right.
A window wound down as the car stopped. She peered around Jack, shock filling her as she saw Pippa.
“I’m so sorry, I know it’s rude, but can I talk to Maggie? I’m not allowed out of the car.”
“Of course,” Maggie said.
Jack didn’t move and she had to prod him. Sheesh, talking to Pippa was the least she could do, considering the royal family was loaning them their jet.
Also, she liked Pippa.
Jack grunted and let her pass. But he hovered close by and Ian didn’t let go of her hand.
Pippa stared up at her worriedly. “Are you all right, Maggie?”
“I’m feeling better. Thank you. Are you all right? I’m sorry your wedding plans were interrupted.”
“Don’t worry about that. It wasn’t like I was enjoying any of that anyway. And the truth is . . . Kassim is making arrangements for our honeymoon.”
Confusion filled her. Wouldn’t they just postpone the honeymoon until after . . . oh.
“Are you saying that you guys got married?” she asked.
Pippa held her finger to her lips, but her eyes danced. “It was much more what I wanted. Just us and our friends. Isobelle wasn’t pleased, but Kassim put down his foot. And his dads backed him up.”
“I’m so happy for you.”
“I’m so sorry you couldn’t be there. And for everything that’s happened.”
“Yeah. Me too.” Maggie managed a small smile. None of it was Pippa’s fault.
“I hope you’re going to come back here. That what happened hasn’t put you off Escana.”
“I don’t know. I guess I’ll have to see what’s happening with Uncle Willy and my friend.”
Sympathy filled Pippa’s face. “About your uncle, Isobelle is really worried. And so are the kings. They want you to know that if you need their help, they’re here for you. And that there’s always a home here for your uncle. And for you.”
“Thank you.” That was really kind.
“Bye!” Pippa waved wildly and not at all like she imagined a royal might wave as the car drove off.
“Come on, Little girl. Time to leave.” She let Ian lead her inside the jet. He helped her into a really comfortable seat before taking one across the aisle. Jack sat in front of her. Jameson in front of Ian.
Then they were off. Ian kept hold of her hand the entire time. When they leveled off, Ian let go of her before standing and undoing her seatbelt. She looked up at him in question.
“Nap time.”
“I just woke up!” she protested, but she let him pick her up.
“And you barely slept. You’re still exhausted.” He carried her into the back room which was a bedroom.
This was the same jet that had flown her and Uncle Willy here.
She was so worried about him. What if he was still in the hospital? What if he wasn’t? Where would he be?
Why hadn’t she asked for the truth about him earlier? Guilt ate at her insides.
She’d accessed the work emails and sent him a message. She’d tried calling him as well. She had his number memorised. But he wasn’t answering. So she was stuck until she got a hold of her mum.
“I can hear you thinking,” Ian told her.
“You can’t hear someone think. That’s silly,” she said as he laid her down on the bed.
Jack walked in and handed her Ziggy. He set down a small bag down by the bed.
She grabbed hold of Ziggy, giving Jack a grateful smile. He winked at her. “Sleep tight, baby girl. I’m sure if you can’t go off to sleep, that Ian will help you out.”
What did that mean?
Ian just shook his head and searched through the bag, pulling out the dummy and bottle from yesterday. Ooh. She hadn’t tried the dummy yet.
He grabbed a bottled protein drink from the small fridge and poured it into the baby’s bottle.
“I could just drink from the other bottle, Daddy,” she told him.
“No, I think this will help you sleep. And besides, I like doing this for you.”