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The new safe didn’t fare nearly so well What few of ht with me had been utterly destroyed, because the safe that had "protected" the but scorched and twistedpull and made my way back to the bar

After my second drink, I retrieved my cell phone fro to calm her down After all, ere all alive Even the cat was safe Then she told iven her an ultimatum She could marry him, or she could ith me

Oh, shit That hurt A lot I mean, the man was supposed to beabout her, he was a mercenary, for God’s sake It was ive that kind of an ultih to marry him I didn’t want to co her there, cheerful and efficient, helping ly head, and I shoved it down, hard Dawna deserved to be happy Chris made her happy I’d find someone else to ith

"I understand"

She sniffled, blew her nose, and said, "He doesn’t get to tell me what to do, Celie I love hiet to" Her voice was thick with tears but I could tell she meant every word "If I let him order me around noill it be like after we’re o into war zones for his job, he needs to do the sa in a war zone How sad was that?

"But Dawna…" I tried to find the right words Chris was perfect for her They loved each other

She interrupted me "I think we’ll be able to work it out when he calms down We both just need a little time So don’t call for a day or two, okay?"

I felt terrible I knew she was right, kneas right I desperately wished I could do or say so to say This was their business, not mine Still, she wasso wounded

Two drinks later, I was ready to call Bruno I had practiced everything I wanted to say … and got his voice e and settled into the recliner No more news for me I drank more alcohol and watched mindless television until I couldn’t keep my eyes open

I woke at 3:00 AM with a stiff neck and a pounding head My vaetting too drunk and prevents ht, not so ain, I’d drunk quite a bit more than I usually did

I levered myself out of the chair and stumbled up to bed Tomorrow … scratch that, today, was scheduled fairly loosely Just a few gatherings after lunch and another luau tonight

The gatherings were no big deal Just a loose group of palace insiderswith the queen, Adriana, and Dahlmar Since it was hot and sunny, nobody colasses

Lopaka tried to consoleat the Rusland ambassador’s joke I am sorry for your loss, my niece I kno places can hold memories and emotional attachments I would be likewise devastated if the palace had been destroyed I will o to your quarters and have a good cry It will help

I nodded and took her advice Adriana and Dahl their concern They nearly followed me, but Lopaka pulled them aside and I could see by their reactions that she was telling them the news Then I closed the door behind me and disappeared into the cool, quiet palace

I didn’t drink any o down the same path as my mother and crawl into a bottle But it was a teuarded beach and sat in the shade, looking at the horizon and listening to the waves and the seagulls

By the time of the luau, I was sober and clear-eyed Adriana kept the conversation away froe of the gathering, satisfying those who noticed such things I drank ss instead of beef Not bad, I suppose, but not up to La Cocina standards At least the fruit juice was nice Mango, pineapple, and poranate Tasty

I knew I had to overco part of my life, and fast Or at least wall it off somehow

Because to

30

There are a lot of things I don’t like about being connected to the royal faive the is top of the line--the food, the wine, and the transportation First thing in the e and I were shuttled by limo to the tarmac of the private royal area of the local airport Once there, I boarded the queen’s signature plane--the siren equivalent of Air Force One

It was beyond nice Everything was designed to be elegant, efficient, and comfortable In addition to full access to the coiven a small room for my private use All of the furniture was built in so that it wouldn’t fly around in the event of severe turbulence and so well-designed that it seee and an office and the couch could fold out into a bed The walls were dove gray, the carpet navy blue, and the furnishings co, black-painted wood and white and chrome metal accents