Paul never mentioned Skye to his friends but in quiet moments alone he thought of her often. Trying to be sensitive to his feelings, Bruce and Gene didn’t mention their trip to Paul although they often talked among themselves.
Five
Years had passed.
Paul
invited Gene and Bruce to his beach house for a bar-b-que. As they sat on the deck looking out over the
ocean
"Do
you ever think about her?" Bruce asked tentatively.
"Think
about who?" Paul replied knowing full well who Bruce was talking about.
"Skye."
Paul
looked out over the waves, "No."
Bruce
and Gene exchanged looks, neither believing him.
"I
tried to find the island but I never could." Bruce admitted.
"Sometimes,
when I sit out here late at night, I think I hear her." Paul said without
looking at his friends.
Again
Bruce and Gene exchanged looks. What
would have happened if Paul had stayed with Skye?
Just
think a dolphin jumped out of the water.
Bruce
stood up, "It can't be." He
said as he watched the dolphin.
"Marshmallow."
Gene completed his thought.
Then
they heard a little girl's laughter and saw a second dolphin, this one smaller
than the first. There was more
laughter; this time they heard two voices and lots of splashing.
"Bye
Cuppy, Bye Mallow." A little girl's
voice rang out over the beach.
Walking
up the beach was a young woman and a little girl. When she got closer a shocked Bruce jumped down off the deck
followed by Gene and Paul.
"Skye!"
Skye
could only stare at the three men she believed she would never see again. Then her eyes rested on Paul. She tightened her hold on the little girl's
hand.
"I
didn’t think we would ever see you again." Bruce told her excitedly.
"Hello." Skye said tentatively.
"Who
is the little one?" Gene asked Skye as he knelt down in front of the
little girl. "What is your
name?"
"Star."
"That
is a very pretty name." Gene continued his conversation with the child.
"I
am named for my daddy." Star told
him.
"Who
is your daddy, a starfish?" Paul
almost sounded sarcastic.
Star
did not like this man. "My daddy
wears a star when he works."
"Where
is your daddy?" Gene asked suspiciously.
"He
went a away." Star clasped her mother's hand tighter. It always made her sad when she thought
about the father she had never seen.
Skye
quickly pulled her daughter behind her away from these men and their questions.
Coming
from the house next door, "Your Majesty?" It was Andre. Andre had
been her unofficial escort since Skye had become queen two years ago.
"Take
her inside to my mother." Skye
instructed.
"Majesty…"
"It
is all right. I will be right in."
"Yes
Majesty." Andre held out is hand
to the little girl who willingly went with her friend.
"You
are queen now?" asked Gene.
"Yes. My mother said things were changing too much
in the world and she couldn't keep up with it. I think she just wanted to play with her
granddaughter." Skye smiled as she
remembered that conversation with her mother.
“What
about your grandmother? Is she here
with you too?” Gene continued his interrogation.
“No.”
Skye said sadly, “Grandmother passed on three years ago.”
“I’m
sorry. I liked your grandmother.” Gene
informed her.
“Do
you have two dolphins now?” Bruce asked.
Skye
smiled, “That is Cupcake, Marshmallow’s daughter. She has become great friends with Star.”
"What
are you doing here?" Paul asked.
"My
representative thought it would be best if I made an appearance at some of his
meetings. Just to show the support of
the royal family for these contracts.”
Skye
saw the confused look on their faces.
“My
people are in many places. People just
don't know whom they are actually dealing with. It would cause problems if they did." Skye told them.
Just
then, they were joined by a group of people coming from Paul’s house.
"Skye,
I want you to meet Shannon, and this is my son Nick and my daughter
Sophie. This is Skye."
"Hello. It is nice to meet you." Skye responded
Paul
fidgeted and reluctantly said, "This is my son Evan and this is Erin, my
wife."
At
that moment Skye wanted the earth to open up and swallow her. She quickly suppressed her feelings and just
nodded.
"It
is late. I must go now." Skye turned away not sure how long she could
control her emotions.
"Skye,"
Gene began. "Saturday I am having
a pool party at my house. I would like
it if you and Star could join us."
"A
pool party? I am sorry we do not
swim." Skye said.
"You
don't have to swim but please come. We
have never repaid you for your hospitability those years ago. And please bring your mother. I have missed our conversations."
"I
will consider it. I must go
now." With that Skye quickly
walked away not looking back.
"Daughter,
is something wrong?" Queen Daphne asked when Skye entered the house.
"Nothing
Mother. I am just tired. I will see you in the morning." Skye went to her room and closed the door.
Queen
Daphne knew her daughter well enough to know that when she was ready she would
talk but not until then.
Skye
stood on the decking outside her bedroom.
She looked over at the house where her Paul lived. Where Paul lived with his wife. Skye felt as if she was drowning. She had always hoped that one day she would
see Paul again and that he would want her as much as she wanted him. A single tear trickled down her cheek. She didn't wipe it away but let it run down
her cheek on to her neck and then drop to the floor. This would be the only tear she would cry. He really didn’t want her and it was time to
get on with her life.
Andre
had been her bodyguard, then her escort and her friend. He loved her she knew he did; she just did
not love him like that. Maybe she could
learn. She would talk to her mother in
the morning. She turned and went back
inside.