Page 138 of Tabloid Princess

I watched him go and then I put my head down and sobbed. Nana came back in and put her hand on my back, soothing me with calming circles while I just let it all out.

My poor heart, so bruised and so battered hung on for dear life. The worst bit though, was the aching chasm of space in the place normally occupied by the electric currents we made. It hung vacant and void.

“You’re a silly girl,” Nana chided, going around to the other side of the bed.

I shook my head, forcing myself to speak. “It was the only way.”

I bit on my bottom lip.

A nurse bustled in. “Good evening.” She smiled but there was no disguising that she looked for the royal guest. I kept my wry smile to myself. “I’m going to take some stats and then the doctors will be in. I think it’s time this little one woke up.”

“Really?” I sat up straighter. We’d been in the room for hours and hours. In fact, I had no idea what the time even was. Days could have passed, and I wouldn’t have known.

“Her breathing seems stable. The doctor will want to ensure her oxygen levels are high enough, but I should think so.”

Nana and I sat in silence as she worked around us. “I’ll be back soon,” she said and slipped back out again.

I looked up at Nana who watched me carefully. “I think we need to get out of the city, Nana. Just for a while. This air can’t be good for her, can it?”

“I don’t know, Leia. I really don’t know.”

I cried as she blinked her eyes open. Uncontrollable droplets of relief rolled down my face, landing on the bedsheets.

“Sweetie.” I rained kisses down on her until she battered me away.

“Mummy, my throat is sore.”

“I know. I bet it hurts so bad!” Daisy blinked a little, her blue eyes slowly focusing.

I smoothed my hand around Daisy’s face. “You scared us all, my cheeky monster.”

“I’m sorry.”

I wiped at my face, but it didn’t make much difference.

“Mummy?” Her voice rasped as she talked.

“Yes, sweetie.”

“Where is Oliver? I dreamt he was here.”

Her words stopped everything. Had she been dreaming about him? Or had she been able to pick out his voice?

I bit my lip.

He was the first thing she asked for, and I’d sent him away.

She loved him as much as he loved her. Impossible and quick, but mutually instant.

Again, my life flipped over.

“Daisy…”

Nana spoke up, interrupting me. “Leia, look in your bag.”

Automatically, I did what she said. In the depths of my bag, along with cereal bars and cartons of juice Nana had arrived with, was my burner phone. “You brought this?”

“One of us has to have brains.”