The prince smiled. “If you could only see your earnest face, Red. You’re bound and determined to do this. That’s not what I’m looking for.”
Shelby looked completely at sea, and Nikolai reached for her hand.
“Listen to me, Red. I’ve done a lot of thinking about this. I can’t imagine your care of me being any more wonderful than it already is. You go out of your way to see after my comfort and needs. You make yourself available at a moment’s notice. You’re careful what you say, in case I’ll be upset.”
Shelby was still staring at him, and Nikolai gave her hand a little squeeze.
“The words would be nice to hear, Shelby, but they don’t make or break what we have here. Don’t try to love me, just keep on doing what you’re doing. Keep growing in the Lord. And keep talking to me like you did just now. Get mad at me if you need to, tell me when you do or do not like something, let me into your world as much as you’re able, and always be honest about the way you feel. Everything else will take care of itself. God will see to that.”
For the umpteenth time the man had rescued her. She had set up a standard in her mind that was her own, not God’s and certainly not her husband’s. She felt herself relaxing with relief, almost to the point of crying.
“You can cry if you want to,” Nikolai said, and Shelby looked up to see that his eyes were moist.
“Why do you want to cry?”
Nikolai could only shrug. How did a man explain something he didn’t understand? He loved this woman. It wasn’t some skip-around-the-room, lighter-than-air feeling, although he’d had some of that. It was just knowing that she was the one God had given him. She was the one who could fill his heart, whom he could cherish and grow with until they were old.
“How about a walk?” the prince asked.
“That sounds nice. I’ll get my shoes.”
Nikolai had to get his shoes too. He followed Shelby up the stairs, thinking not for the first time that she always smelled nice. Sometimes it made him passionate, and sometimes he just wanted to hold her. Now was such a time. Shelby asked him what the hug was for, but Nikolai never did answer. He stroked her cheek, winked at her, and went to put his shoes on.
“I thought Nikolai would be with you,” the king said when Shelby joined him and the queen for breakfast. “Did he know he was invited?”
“Yes, but he’s a bit of a bear today.”
Pendaran’s ruling couple both blinked at her.
“Nicky in a bad mood,” the queen mused. “That’s not like him.”
“He’s getting a cold,” Shelby said matter-of-factly.
The king found himself smiling. His daughter-in-law sounded like one-half of an old married couple.
“Was he going to rest?” Rafe asked.
“I think so.” Shelby’s voice was still quite calm. “I left him scowling at the clock when it buzzed for the fourth time.”
Erica broke out in laughter at this point. She had the feeling that there was more to this than Shelby was telling, but she didn’t expect her to tell. Every married couple had their little secrets. The mystery was only added to, however, when Nikolai showed up about 20 minutes later and scowled at his wife. Shelby’s placid expression was comical to watch, and when the two shared a look, it was obvious she felt she had the upper hand.
“Are you not feeling well, Nick?” his mother checked with him.
“I think I have a cold coming on.”
“That’s not like you, Nick. You never get sick.”
That Nikolai had had that same feeling didn’t really help all that much. His head was full, and his wife had teased him. He knew he had to apologize, but right now he was crabby and didn’t want to. He warmed up a bit over breakfast, but he was feeling awful, and when he talked, his head sounded stuffed.
“We haven’t had a chance to see you since your anniversary,” the queen mentioned at one point. “Did you do something fun?”
“We went out to dinner,” Shelby filled in, “and then to Farm Days Fair. It was fun.” Shelby looked over at her husband, who was still rather silent. “Well, I had fun,” she said.
“I did too,” he added, knowing he was going to have to make amends. At first Shelby had looked smiling and mischievous. Now she was looking uncertain. He was glad when his parents both left the room so he could have a word with her.
“I’m sorry about my mood.”
“I’m sorry I teased you,” Shelby returned, just as contrite.
Nikolai looked at her. “Would you really move back to your old room if I get a cold?”
Shelby smiled. “Not for a cold, but maybe for a bad mood.”
Nikolai’s lopsided smile appeared. He felt awful, but that was no excuse. A man wasn’t allowed to take a bad mood or an illness out on his wife—it simply wasn’t an option—but he had treated her as though it was.
“Why don’t I head out after breakfast and get some cold medicine for you?” Shelby asked.
“I think I have some, and if I don’t, Murdock will.”
“Why don’t you take it?”
“It makes me sleepy.”
“Well, isn’t that what you need?”
“I have a meeting.”
Shelby’s look was pointed.
“I don’t feel that bad,” Nikolai defended himself, but his denial sounded weak, even to his own ears.
“That’s not the point,” Shelby said, an edge to her voice. Having worked in a hospital, she had a strong opinion on this subject. “If you go out, you’re going to spread your germs. No one will thank you for that.”
With his muddled head making it hard to think, Nikolai hadn’t even considered that.
“I think I’ll go back to bed.”
“Shall I tell Murdock to cancel things for a few days?” Shelby offered.
“Just today,” the prince allowed, thinking he didn’t want to baby himself too much. He hadn’t counted on his wife. Shelby canceled all of her appointments as well, and every time he woke, she was close by with a drink or something else he might need. She smelled as good as ever, and her cool hands on his warm skin were something he could get used to in a hurry. He thought that if Shelby was going to be his nurse, he might stay in bed for the rest of the week.
Twenty-One
Shelby gave up waiting for her husband. He had said he would be late, but she hoped he would surprise her. It didn’t happen. She didn’t know what time he climbed into bed, but because she’d been anticipating him arriving home from his trip for several hours before she slept, he woke her.
“Hi,” she said softly, coming wide awake and wanting to talk.
“Hi, Red.” Nikolai’s hoarse voice told of his fatigue. “Sorry to wake you.”
“It’s all right. How did it go?”
“Good, good. I’ll tell you all about it in the morning,” he said as he blew a kiss in her direction.
“Okay.”
Shelby waited, thinking he didn’t really mean it, but just moments later she heard the even sound of his breathing. She lay still for a moment, not wanting to disturb him but almost desperate to talk. Feeling terrible for doing it, she rolled rather hard, still staying on her side but rocking the whole bed. He never moved a muscle. Shelby gave up with a sigh. The alarm was set for an early hour. She was meeting her father for breakfast and then had a full day on the calendar. It took some time, but she eventually fell back to sleep, hoping as she did that Nikolai would be wide awake come morning.
Nikolai woke slowly the next morning, his body telling him he had not had enough sleep. He had not been able to get comfortable in the limo on the way home, and by the time he’d reached the palace, he had been miserable. He had hated to wake Shelby, but he would make it up to her this morning. It was a keen disappointment to find himself alone. He reached across the bed before he understood that she was gone, and that was when he felt the piece of paper. He smiled, sure that she was telling him where she would be. I’m pregnant. The two words jumped out at Nikolai so fast that he literally
started.
“Shelby,” he called urgently, praying that she was in the bathroom. But as he was already on his feet and moving toward that door, he could see she was not. The next stop was her old room, and that was just as empty. Within seconds he was on the phone to his house minister.
“Murdock, where is the princess this morning?”
“She was going to have breakfast with her father, and then she had to be at the botanical gardens. From there she had to go straight to the care center for a special meeting.”
Nikolai sighed.
“May I help you, sir?”
“Yes. Figure out exactly where she is and order the car. I’ll be ready in 20 minutes.”
“Emergency status, sir?”
“No, but a little urgency would be greatly appreciated.”
“Right away, sir.”
Nikolai was ready and waiting for the limo when it arrived, and although no words were spoken, he knew that Murdock would have told Ivan where to head. He was glad to see it was the botanical gardens. There was more chance of catching her alone there.
Five minutes later Nikolai thought the Lord must have known how much he needed to talk to his wife. She was walking along the paths with a small group of garden lovers, all of whom smiled and greeted the prince but who also moved discreetly ahead after the pleasantries were exchanged.
Shelby kept moving, albeit slowly, looking at her husband’s profile from time to time. Nikolai put his hands behind his back to keep from reaching for her and began speaking as if he had all the time in the world.
“This is a pretty bloom,” he commented about the bright purple blossom they were passing.
“Yes. That’s a coneflower. My mother has some.”
“Mothers are wonderful people,” Nikolai said. Shelby smiled just as the prince cast a look in her direction. “I found an interesting note in my bed this morning,” he continued, “but no wife.”
“Did you?”
“Um hm. It was informative, but I found myself rather glad that my heart is strong.”
Shelby put a hand to her smiling mouth.
“So tell me, Red, on your list of important people to call, who else have you told?”
“Well . . .” Shelby’s tone was instantly teasing; she’d been doing a lot of that since they’d been at the lake. “I told Kris right away. I knew he would want to take special care of me. And then the mailman walked by with the post, so I whispered in his ear. Then I saw a man in the park, and he looked as though he needed a little cheering up, so I gave the good news to him too. And of course, I announced it to the entire garden club this morning.”
Shelby looked up now with mischievous eyes, and Nikolai came to a stop.
“You have been a very bad girl,” he told her.
Shelby smiled. “I wanted to tell you last night, but you fell asleep so fast, and then I had to be gone so early this morning, and you were still out cold.” Shelby chuckled. “I even bounced around on the bed in the middle of the night, but you didn’t move.”
Nikolai smiled before he said very softly, “How are you?”
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure about it?”
“Yes. I did the same test as last time, and I feel different again.”
“When, Red?” Nikolai asked now. “When did it happen? The lake?”
Shelby shook her head. “I don’t think that long ago.” Again she laughed. “I think around the time you had your cold.”
Nikolai’s smile was huge. “You were a great nurse.” He laughed when she blushed to the roots of her hair. It didn’t happen as often anymore, but he still loved to see it.
The group had come full circle by now and was headed back their way. Nikolai did have to see someone after lunch, but he trailed his wife during his free time that day, waiting for her appointments to end. It was after dinner before he got her alone, held her close, and told her he loved her with all his heart. They spent the evening talking about babies and baby names and making plans to have all four parents over for dinner to give them the good news all at once.
“Have I lost you?” Toby asked the prince quietly. The two men were sitting in Toby’s home office.
“No. I’m just flabbergasted. I’m thrilled, but I’m also shocked. Pam Owens came to Christ last night?” Nikolai clarified.
“Yes. She called me about a problem with the water, and when I got over there I could see she’d been crying. I assumed that the water and all the pressures of acting as a parent to Penny and Peter were just getting to her. That wasn’t it at all. Her supervisor at work just learned that he has cancer. There’s nothing they can do, but he’s not afraid because he knows where he’s going.”
“Who is it?”
“Harland Hayes. I think you’ve met him.”
“Is he medium height, with glasses and salt-and-pepper hair?”
“Yes, that’s the man.”
“And Pam clearly enjoys him as a boss.”
“She loves him. She’s utterly crushed that he’s dying and angry that he’s not upset about it. That led to our talking about my belief, and she realized that her tears were rooted in fear. She pictured herself dying the way her father did, or getting cancer, and she knew that she was lost. I led her to Christ while we sat on her front porch.”
Nikolai stared at the older man. They had both continued their contact with the Owens family. Progress had been made, but this was remarkable. Nikolai felt himself starting to smile as his heart fully realized what God had done.
“There’s more,” Toby said as he smiled as well. “Peter sat on the porch with us and witnessed the whole thing. Penny was in her bedroom, but Peter never moved from his seat on the porch railing. His eyes were huge when Pam finished praying. She went to him, told him she loved him, and gave him a hug. He hugged her back but was utterly silent during the whole exchange.”
“Wow.” Nick voiced the only word that came to his mind. This was so unexpected. He had been praying for Peter and meeting with him for a long time now, not ever sure when the next opportunity would come to share with him. Now Peter’s sister had seen the truth.
“Tell her I’m praying for her,” Nikolai said. “And if she needs anything, just ask. I’ll admit to you, Toby, that I’ve doubted about Peter’s little heart, but I think that it just might be a matter of time.”
The older man could only nod, suddenly overcome with emotions.
“Thanks for calling me,” Nikolai said softly. The two men embraced before Nikolai made his way out to the day limo. He couldn’t wait to get home and tell Shelby the good news.
Nikolai had always heard that expectant women waddled, but as he stood in the doorway of the kitchen and watched his pregnant wife walk about the room, he thought she still moved like a swan on the lake. It probably helped that even in her eighth month her stomach was not very extended. Daria had carried Shelby and Brice the same way and thought it was because Shelby was tall.
“Well, hello,” Shelby said as she spotted her husband and came to kiss him. He’d been in a meeting all morning. “Were you looking for me?”
“Not exactly, but I’m hungry, and I knew where you would be.”
Shelby smiled. She was always in the kitchen these days. She hadn’t felt at all sick in the first six months, but now, unless she was eating, she felt slightly queasy.
“I’m having tacos. Are you interested?”
“What, no fruit?”
“Not today.”
Nikolai came all the way into the kitchen, still surprised that Shelby did not have a plateful of peaches, pears, apples, or any other type of fruit she could get her hands on. She had craved them for weeks now. Before that it had been mashed potatoes, broccoli, and chocolate, thankfully not mixed together.
“I am, however,” Shelby added, “having chocolate cake for dessert. Doesn’t that sound good?”
“Yes. I think I’ll join you.”
“For the cake or tacos?”
“Both.”
Sh
elby went about preparing things and setting the table for two. Nikolai had wondered where Fran or Arlanda might be but didn’t ask. Lately Shelby had done some outrageous things, and he knew in time that he would learn.
“I gave the staff the day off,” she said suddenly, as if reading his mind.
“Was there a reason?” he asked from his place at the table.
“Well, I have all this energy, and I thought why should they stay if I want to cook and look after myself?”
Nikolai knew very well that they hadn’t really “gone” anywhere. The north quadrant’s staff was much happier staying close to and protective of their very pregnant princess. Almost as if he’d said the words out loud, Fran’s face suddenly appeared around a doorway at the end of the room. She took in the scene and grinned at the prince before ducking back away.
“What if you get tired later?” Nikolai wished to know.
“Do you think I will?”
“You do every time you let the staff leave.”
Shelby turned to look at him, her face uncertain and then clearing. “I do, don’t I?”
Nikolai smiled at her. “I think they’re all still here, Red. Why don’t I just ask them to be on call?”
“Do you think they’ll mind?”
“I think they’ll be relieved. They like taking care of us, and you do need a little extra care right now.”
Her brow lowered in a frown. “I’ve told myself not to be a baby during this pregnancy. I hate it when women do that.”
“And you haven’t been, not at all. I wish you would slow down a little, at least when you’re feeling tired.”
Shelby nodded because she suddenly was. She turned back to the taco meat in the pan and adjusted the temperature. She sighed very softly when Nikolai came up and put his arms around her from behind. She didn’t know it could be like this between two people. He was so tender with her, and the more time she spent with him, the more she wanted to see him. She had missed him that morning at breakfast and not been very hungry because he’d been away.