Chapter Thirty Four

A King Comes Courting

Saturday the twenty sixth was a glorious morning. For one thing, Toby had allowed Sarah to sleep in. It was nearly ten when he came crashing though her door demanding she get out of the bed and help him with his snow fort. Sarah looked at him with one eye, and tried to pull the down comforter back up over her head. Her little brother was having none of that.

"You promised!" The boy stomped his foot. "And the day is getting away from us! I'm losing the light!"

Sarah sat up and stared at him. "Where did you hear that?"

Toby paused, "Uncle Tommy, last year at the picnic."

Sarah laughed. "Ok, squirt! I'm up. Let me clean up and dress. I'll meet you in the yard."

Toby's snow fort was in the middle of the yard, with Sarah's snowman acting as sentinel. Sarah was working on the wall when the war of the day before broke out to renewed battles. Toby's first shot caught her on the neck, sending wet snow down her back. Screaming, she turned on her brother. He took off round the gangway and toward the front lawn and what he thought would be his freedom. Sarah came round the corner with a slushy ball of snow in her mitten, ready to connect with Toby. Instead she connected with Garrett who was kneeling talking to Toby. Sarah looked at the man with snow on his face and words failed.

Garrett shook off the snow, narrowed his eyes and picked up a handful of his own. Sarah backed up, asking what he intended to do. He balanced the snowball as if it were light as air, tossing it gently up and catching it with smooth graceful motions on the tips of his gloved fingers. Sarah didn't see the motion she was too busy looking at his face. Garrett was closing in on her. When she was backed up against the hedge she let out a cry for mercy. He smiled, and pushed the slushy snowball into her face gently. Wiping the wet snow from his glove he began to brush the snow off her face. She was laughing and so was he. Toby stood in the front yard with a tall man the pair had forgotten about.

Garrett suddenly leaned in, and kissed her soundly on cold wet lips. "Hello, Cookie."

Sarah placed her arms over his shoulders and kissed him again. "Hello."

A throat being cleared brought the pair back to reality. Garrett groaned as he released the girl from his embrace. He took her hand and led her to where his father stood with Toby. The elder King smiled at her with fondness. "Merry Christmas, Sarah."



Sarah blushed as she extended her wishes to the elder. "Merry Christmas…" she was not sure what to call him here, in the light of day. Calling him 'Father' in Garrett's house had been natural, but right now, here in front of her house. It just didn't feel right.

"How are you today, sir?"

Aubrey King looked at his son standing beside the snow-covered girl. "A sight warmer and dryer than you," he teased effortlessly.

Sarah looked at the wet snow clinging to her hair. "We were building a snow fort." She pointed to her brother. "This one broke a truce."

Garrett looked at Toby who didn't deny it, but stood with his arms crossed doing an imitation of a regal being. The fair-haired child looked up at his sister. "Warfare is not for the faint of heart."

Garrett cleared his throat "Neither is love."

Aubrey looked down at the boy standing beside him, "And who is this devious young warrior?"

"Father, this is Tobias Williams," Garrett made the introductions. "Toby, this is my Father, Mr. Aubrey King."

Toby looked up at the man. "You're his daddy?" The child had the look of unabashed adoration on his face for the elder.

"Yes." The elder King said with pride. "It's nice to meet you, young man."

Garrett slid his hand to Sarah's back, and placed his head close to hers. "We've come to pay a call on your parents."

Sarah fell her heartbeat skip a step, then race a bit. "You know you're always welcome."

Toby took hold of the elder King's hand. "Want to see my fort?"

Sarah intervened. "Toby, they've come to see Mom and Dad, first."

Toby looked crestfallen. "My fort's more interesting then them."

"Toby," Sarah shook her head, and he backed down. She looked at her disheveled appearance. "I'll see you in, but I don't dare use the front door like this."

Garrett moved his hand and caught hers. "You look like a snow-angel to me."

Sarah felt the colour rise in cheeks already glowing with the cold. "This way." She kept her fingers in those of the man. At the door Sarah rang the bell and a moment later Karen answered. "Mom, we've got company." Sarah announced.

Karen invited the men in, Sarah and Toby raced to the back to get out of wet garments and make a change to dry clothes.

Karen stood back as Garrett and the handsome elderly man entered her home. Garrett made the introductions. "Mrs. Karen Williams, allow me to present my father, Aubrey King. Father, this is Sarah's stepmother, Mrs. Karen Williams."

Aubrey extended a long elegant hand. "My dear lady, this is a great pleasure."

Robert came out of his study to see what the commotion in the hall could be. Seeing Garrett he joined them in the hall. Garrett introduced the men, and Aubrey shook hands with Sarah's father. Karen asked them into the salon after having taken their coats. Aubrey looked round the room and smiled at the tree.

"You've a very lovely home," he said. "So traditional."

Karen's pride shone like a blazing sun. "Thank you. Please be seated."

Aubrey chose a winged back chair, and looked completely at ease. Karen and Robert sat side by side on the couch across from him. "I hope you don't mind us dropping in so unexpectedly. At home the twenty-sixth is by tradition a day for visits with family and friends in a more casual manner, less hectic and more relaxed than all the ceremony that goes with Christmas Eve or Day. I thought it would be the perfect opportunity for us to meet, and get to know each other."

Robert nodded, "You are welcome in our home, Mr. King. We've only met your son in person on one occasion, but we're very impressed with him."

"Kind of you to say." Aubrey gazed at his son, standing at his side. "I am equally impressed with your lovely daughter. My son has informed me that he's spoken to you on the subject of his courting your daughter."

Robert nodded. "He has."

Karen whispered, "When was that?"

"The day after Thanksgiving, dear," Robert informed her gently.

"Good." Aubrey said smoothly. "Far too often, young folk today forget that there are good reasons for traditions. I fear I'm very old fashioned, and have raised my family that way."

Garrett winced, "Father."

"Hush boy," Aubrey looked at Robert. "I hope his courting your Sarah meets with your approval. "



Robert could not mask the smile that was crossing his lips, Aubrey made his son very uncomfortable, in a fatherly way, but it wasn't something Robert had thought possible. "Yes, I approve. We like what we've seen of your son, so far."

Aubrey also smiled at Garrett's visible discomfort. "I was worried you might object to the difference in their ages."

Robert heard the groan that Garrett tried to stifle. "No, Mr. King. I don't have a problem with the differences in their ages. Sarah has always been around older people. I guess I never thought she'd be interested in anyone her own age."

"You must call me Aubrey," the elder King said. "May I address you as Robert?"

"Please do."

As soon as she was presentable, Sarah hurried down the back stairs, and for once, got the jump on Karen with the coffee tray. Whispering to herself to keep calm, she took the tray and it's goodies into the salon.

Karen looked up in surprise at the cart, and the girl rolling it. Her father smiled. Aubrey thanked Sarah, and accepted a cup of coffee, and a piece of Karen's homemade Dundee cake. She next served her father, and Karen. When she came to where Garrett was standing she picked up a Christmas cookie and playfully shoved it into his mouth as she walked past him, Garrett's eyes danced with mischief.

"Thank you," he mumbled.

Toby came in, picked out his favorite cookie and went to sit at Aubrey's feet. Aubrey ruffled the boy's still fine hair. "A fine boy you have here, Robert. This one reminds me of Garrett at this age."

Garrett winked at Toby who winked back. "We've brought something to give to Toby." He turned to Karen. "If we may?"

"That's really so sweet of you," she said surprised and delighted that they would think of bringing a gift for her son. "Of course you may."

Garrett went to the door and signaled their limo driver. A moment later a uniformed man entered the house with a very large wrapped package. The man set the package down and stepped back. Aubrey raised a hand, "That will be all for now, Hobbs." The servant bowed and stepped back to the foyer. "Hobbs has been with me for years. He travels with me, sort of a personal servant and driver."

Toby was staring at the package. "Can I open it?"

Garrett knelt down beside him. "Of course; it's for you."

A moment later wrapping paper was flying and the boy squealed in delight as he spied what was sitting in the box. "It's a castle, my own castle!"

"Garrett," the elder King ordered. "Lift it out for the boy."

Garrett removed the beautiful one-of-a-kind building from the container. He looked at the excitement that Toby was showing. "Do you like it?"

Toby turned to Garrett and hugged him. "My own castle!" He repeated.

Sarah knelt down beside them. "This is amazing. It so… real."

Aubrey smiled down on the three children before him. "It is not unlike one I gave Garrett when he was about your age, Tobias."

Garrett showed Toby how to open the castle; inside were rooms that looked like a fairytale story. Toby looked inside and smiled a secret smile when he spied the throne room of the little model. He looked at Garrett and whispered, "The babe with the power."

Sarah looked up at Garrett, "How on earth did you know that Toby loved Castles?"

"Toby more or less told me so when he showed me his fort," Garrett said. "I knew my father was coming for Christmas, and I asked him to bring this with him. I know the man who designs these. Each one is different. It just seemed the perfect gift for my young friend here."

Toby stood up. "Help me take it up to my room" He asked Garrett. "You come too Sarah."

The parents watched they procession to take the castle to its new home. Robert commented. "Your son has quite a charming way with children."

"Yes, Garrett is very fond of them." Aubrey agreed.

"It's surprising that a man like that is not already married," Karen commented discreetly.

Aubrey understood the fears not being voiced. "I have for a long time tried to understand that boy! Until he voiced interest in Sarah, I was fearful that he was going to be a confirmed bachelor. Having met your daughter, I now understand he was merely waiting for his perfect match."

Robert leaned forward. "Then you believe he's serious?"

"Very." Aubrey confessed. "He's asked for my blessing."

Karen looked from one man to the other, "And you gave it?"



"The moment I met her, I knew she was the only woman my son could ever love."

Aubrey looked toward the stairs. "She sang a song to me as a Christmas present. There was no way I could not give my blessings. I hope you will do the same when they come to you, Robert."

Robert Williams rose to his feet, "When the time comes, and they come to me, they will receive my blessings." He looked at the stairway. "I'd rather see her with someone who loves her, then someone who just wants to possess her." He looked at Aubrey. "You see, Sarah is a very special kind of girl. The world does not see many like her anymore."

Aubrey knew far deeper the meaning of those words. "She is a precious thing."

Chapter Thirty Five

Tell me a story

Toby came down stairs with Garrett and Sarah in tow. He was going on and on about how his castle was the best thing any boy had ever gotten. Toby had asked Garrett to help him set in up on a table near his bed so he could go to it in his dreams. Sarah had watched as the man and the child worked side by side until the set up was perfect.

Garrett took Sarah's hand, held her back as the boy went on to the salon to gloat over his new toy and sat on the stairs. He pulled Sarah close, holding her with tender arms and gentle hands. He looked at her though his smoky glasses, hiding his eyes, and his soul. Long fingers crept up into her hair, as he cupped her face and tipped it upward. He rested his forehead to hers. "Sarah." He whispered her name, and for a moment the voice sounded strangely familiar. Sarah closed her eyes. The stairs, and a man…she could hear words, spoken six years ago by another King. A Goblin King. "We are well matched, you and I."

Sarah opened her eyes wide, "What did you just say?"

Garrett looked at her, "Sarah." He repeated the word.

'Come on, Sarah! You are sitting on the stair with a man who is professing undying love for you. A man who said he'd battle even you to keep you! Why are you dragging The Goblin King into the equation?' her mind scolded. "I thought you said something…"

Garrett pointed to the salon. "My father just said he thinks we're a good match. What did you think you heard?"

"We are well matched, you and I…"

Garrett smiled, "I agree." Had Sarah looked closely at his smile she'd have recognized the self-satisfied smirk of a King. Not even trying she was amusing him; he could only hope that once everything was settled things would remain amusing.



Karen came into the hall and cleared her throat. "Don't you two want to join us?"

Garrett sighed, "Yes, of course."

Sarah let Garrett follow Karen, but something made her pause a moment, looking up the staircase. The arch at the landing, and something less definable, begged her to notice, to hear the message. The stair here, in her parents' home, was very similar to another she'd stood on once, somewhere else. She had never noticed that before. Or maybe she had, and had just dismissed it, not wanting to see.

"Sarah, darling?" Garrett called her softly. Sarah turned, to see him standing there, holding a hand out to her. She stepped down and crossed the foyer to him, accepted the hand, and looked up at the smoky glass that covered his eyes. His arm went round her shoulder, and he smiled as she put an arm to his waist. " Darling?"

Sarah moved closer, putting her head on his heart. "Sorry, lost in thoughts."

Karen looked at the antique clock on the wall. "Gentlemen, would you care to stay for a buffet lunch?"

Aubrey looked at Karen with peaceful eyes. "That's very kind of you, Karen. If it's no trouble, Garrett and I would be pleased to accept your invitation."

Karen stood up, proud of her skills as a hostess. "No trouble at all. Sarah could you give me a hand with the table?"

Sarah nodded, leaving Garrett in the room full of males.

Karen opened her refrigerator, pulled out the cold roast beef that was left and some other items. She spoke quietly to Sarah as she began her arrangements. Sarah had to hand it to her; nothing got in Karen's way of being the perfect hostess. Sarah noticed that having the Kings there seemed to take some of the disappointment of not being at her sister's off Karen. When Karen finished setting up the sideboard, it looked like a picture from one of her magazines. The men praised her. Sarah lifted her water glass and silently toasted her stepmother. Karen's eyes glistened with pride.

By the end of the meal Robert was acting, as he'd known Aubrey for years instead of hours. Garrett was seated beside his father, and kept his eyes on Sarah through most of the meal. Toby would look at them and giggle.

"Sir," Garrett addressed Robert, "Do you and your wife have plans for New Years Eve?"

"We usually stay home that night." Robert said.

"I'm having a small group of friends in for dinner and ringing in the New Year. I'd be very pleased if you and your family would join us." Garrett extended the invitation.

Karen looked a bit troubled. "It will be difficult getting a sitter on such short notice."

"Toby is welcome in my home as well." Garrett winked at the boy.

"I get to see your house?" The little boy crowed. "That's so cool." Excitedly he turned to his mother. "Say yes!"

Robert snickered. "You have no idea of what you've just gotten yourself into Garrett."

Sarah looked at the way Garrett and Toby related to one another, as if they had a secret. "Toby will be fine there dad," she said with confidence.

Garrett understood the concerns that Karen had, "Mrs. Williams, I have a wonderful staff, and our cook's daughter is on hand to be sort of an unofficial nanny. I'm sure she can keep him out of trouble. I'll have videos for him to watch and I've a wonderful collection of wooden toys in a playroom that are going unused."

Karen looked at him and blinked. "You collect wooden toys?"

Garrett smiled, "I've been collecting them for years. It would make me happy to see someone play with them, besides me."

"Robert, what do you think?" Karen looked hopefully at her husband.

Robert looked at his son bouncing at the prospect of being able to see Garrett's house. "I think if I say anything but yes, there will be a rebellion here. Thank you Garrett. We'd love to come."

Garrett felt the smirk, but made himself smile instead. "Wonderful! Seven-ish then on New Years Eve."

The men went back into the salon as Karen and Sarah cleared the luncheon things away. Aubrey sat again in the winged back chair. This time Toby climbed up into his lap. The elder man smiled down at the child. "And what can I do for you?"

"Tell me a story." Toby requested, snuggling closer.

Robert looked on with amazement. First the boy's reaction to Garrett, now to his father. There was something so unusual in the behavior being displayed by his son. He looked to see if the man were disturbed by the child's instance. To his relief and his confusion, the man seemed most at ease with the child cradled in his lap.

Garrett leaned toward Robert. "My father has a magical way with children. I think that's why he has so many of his own."



Aubrey began to tell a story to the boy in his arms. His voice was soft and gentle. He spoke of mists and dragons filling the room with wonder. The child in his arms closed his eyes and fell into dreams. Aubrey looked up and saw that his words had a similar affect on the father as well. He smiled at the dazed look on Robert's face. "I have a good many grandchildren that I've practiced on," he said lightly. "And as for having a lot of children. Garrett exaggerates. Not all of my children are of my blood. I've adopted a good many and fostered others. I'm on the board of at least three orphanages." When Robert moved to remove the sleeping boy, Aubrey shook his head. "Leave him for now. I find nothing quite as comfortable as a sleeping child in ones arms."

Robert looked at Garrett, "I see now where you get your knack with kids."

Garrett freely admitted. "I am my father's son." Both Kings looked at each other, and smiled.