Page 10 (2/2)

After a while, Ellie stands while Mr Ha

"I’ve already lost your sister I don’t want to lose you too," he tells her, sorrowfully

And there are tears leaking fros, "Don’t cry, Daddy You haven’t lost Olivia and you’re not going to lose me We love you and we kno hard it ishow sad you are"

And then I hear Eric Hammond’s deep voice, as he wipes at his face with a tissue and reaches out to pat Ellie’s ars will be different from now on"

I won’t hold my breath It’s a promise often made but, more often, broken

They walk back over to the pavement, side by side, and that’s my cue to fall into step behind them As they continue home, Ellie looks back at me--but I don’t make eye contact, I turn my head to the street Because I don’t want her to think I know or care about what just passed between her and her father--I don’t want her to feel embarrassed

As they walk up to the front of Aen Beetle convertible with Ellie’s friend Marlow behind the wheel pulls up and double-parks in the middle of the street She honks the horn and cups her hands around her red lips--the sao! Weekend at Bernie’s!"

Based on what I overheard, their classraduation party at his parents’ shore house in Wildwood, New Jersey Before she can ask, I’o alone"

That’s when Tommy steps out of the diner door onto the pavement

"Tommy can come with us!" Marlow shouts "I’ll even let hi sweetheart like that"

Tooodbye and turns tothose white strappy heels

"WellI’ll see you to into the back On his way to the car, To my arm "Mr Hammond has a visitor Inside"

He slips into the driver’s seat and the three of them take off

I open the door for Mr Hammond and follow hiht of the redheaded visitor Toton rises from his chair

He s his hand "Mr Hammond, my name is Simon Barrister It’s a pleasure to meet you I’d like to speak to you about a business venture that may be lucrative for both of us"

Eric Hammond shakes the Earl’s hand "What’s your business, Si that it will bepies"

Ten months later

A ROYAL A WEDDING IS aave up the throne for an Airl he couldn’t live without? It’s a h-octane event--h alert The place is packed with press, aristocrats, dignitaries, celebrities galore This is e do--these are theprepare us for

Security is planned outfor a battle Everyone knows his role; everyone has a position Tonight, h he’s never far froned to her--Tommy Olivia, now a princess and a duchess, shimmers like a pretty disco ball--all white silk and jewels And Nicholas’s shter than the tiara on her head

"Happy" has left the building--and tonight, at the dinner celebrating his royalshort of ecstatic