"Oh, you are here. Everything is okay now?" Adeline ask me
"Yeah. They are gone now. Who is this little princess?" I answer Adeline and ask that little girl who is hesitate to answer but with a single nod from Adel, she start to speak.
"My name is Victoria and my friend calls me Vicky and your name is Arthur. Mommy has a lot of your pictures and I hate you because..." I am speechless with this little girl outbursting. Adel seems regret to let Vicky talk, she immediately shut her mouth.
"Ah uh. Princess talks too much. Will my baby girl help Mommy go to uncle Max and tell him that dinner is ready?"
"Yes" and she runs inside while yelling Max's name.
"I am sorry. She just blabbering a lot lately"
"It's okay. I just.. I don't know you were married"
"No, I'm not."
"Divorced or something?"
"No. I never get married. Just a daughter"
"I see. So where is her father?"
"Have his own life"
"Oh... So um... What do you want to talk about?"
"I..." before she can answer me, Vicky running back to the living room.
"Mommy! Uncle Max said we should having dinner in the garden. Aunt Becky is setting the table now"
"Okay. Let's bring the food out." And Vicky runs again to the kitchen. I swear that girl has a problem with walking.
"I am sorry, can we continue this after dinner?"
"Yeah sure. Your daughter surely likes to run a lot!"
"Yes, she is. Like how her father used to. A runner!" sounds like sarcasm
"Something happened with her father?"
"Oh no. He just stopped running a couple of years ago. Help me with the dishes?"
"Yeah sure. Let me take the big one"
"Thank you"
Dinner is served at the table. From the scene where I'm standing, I saw a portrait of a happy family. Even I'm a little sad because Adeline has a daughter with another man. Back to when we still together, I always told her I want a baby girl with her.
"Do I know the father?" I ask Adeline
"Uh... I forgot the beer" Max and Becky left, I look at Adel who is completely in silent.
"Yes"
My heart just drops from its place and I felt dizzy. I'm not ready for this conversation but I'm curious as well. I want to know who is he? From the look of Vicky, she no more than five or six years old. We broke up six years ago. Who would it be? Could it be mine? If Vicky is mine, why won't she tell me from the beginning?
"Arthur"
"What?"
"I'm asking you are you okay? You look pale"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little dizzy. Tired I guess.. anyway how old is Vicky?"
"She is six" and she looks away, avoiding my eyes
"Adeline, look at me please." She looks at me and I knew she's uncomfortable with my questions.
"Who is her father?"
"Arthur..." Adel's about to cry
"Answer me, please. Is she is mine? Please tell me" she stroke my hair and her hand down to my face with her teary eyes, say nothing only small smile form from her lips and head lay on my chest.
For a couple of minutes, we stay in those positions, I don't realize how much I miss her, how much my body longed for being touch. We always fill each other correctly and this silence only means one thing, Victoria is my daughter.
"Why don't you tell me?" I broke our silence with her still lay on my chest.
"I don't know I was pregnant when I broke up with you. I want to tell you but then I remember you have a fiancee who is waiting for you"
"Did she know?"
"Yeah, she knows. I can't hide anything from her. She is noisy just like you but enough with this story. I will tell you more after we have dinner" and she went to wherever the three of them, leaving me with my own thoughts.
"Is this what you want to tell me?"
"Yes..."
How can I tell my parents? How can I tell Sarah? I cherished Adel and my daughter but will my family do the same? What should I do now?
"Earth to Arthur?" Max startle me.
"What?"
"I said, have a seat" Vicky laugh.
"Oh, you think that is funny, huh? See how can you laugh now!" I start to tickle her and her laughter fills my moment. I look at Adeline and I know love still around us, I can felt it and so does she.
"So Arthur, do you know that Vicky likes to sing. She can sing like a pro and she will sing for us tonight" Max tell me
"I did not say I want to sing uncle Max"
"No you did not but I did, and do you know that Arthur here is a singer?"
"You are?" She asks me
"Not quite true. I used to sing for money and money only" I answer
"At a very popular club and don't forget how those women scream your name every time you start to sing" Max start to telling a story that I completely forget
"Don't remind me how much I wanna choke each one of them every time they scream how much they loved you" Adel continues to remind me of those good old days
"Maybe we can sing together?" Vicky ask me
"I am afraid we have a different style, dear"
"Try me!" She challenges me
"Beautiful in white?"
"Easy. That is mommy's favorite song"
"Hit it then!"
Vicky :
Not sure if you know this
But when we first met
I got so nervous, I couldn't speak
Me :
In that very moment
I found the one and my life had found it's missing piece.
So as long as I live,
I love you, will have and hold you
You look so beautiful in white...
Vicky :
And from now till my very last breath
This day I'll cherish
You look so beautiful in white tonight...
Me :
What we have is timeless
My love is endless and with this ring, I say to the world,
You're my every reason
You're all that I believe in with all my heart
I mean every word.
Adel jump in to sing with us
Adel :
And if a daughter is what our future holds
Me :
I hope she has your eyes
Find love like you and i did
Adel :
Yeah but when she falls in love we let her go
Me :
I'll walk her down the aisle
Adel :
She'll look so beautiful in white
Me :
You look so beautiful in white tonight..
YOU ARE READING
The Royals
Short StoryArthur, born as an intersex. He had to fill his brother's positions to marriage his own cousins because of the traditions of his family. After his brother's death, he moved out and never coming back again until one day he decided to come back and fi...
