"Kate, what did you do?! Why is Anthony so mad at you?!" Thank god Edwina and Friedrich missed our- not so little- spat at the football stadium. Apparently they were off buying a foam finger and having a pleasant conversation while Anthony and I screamed at each other. The obvious downside was that my sister had no context as to why we were suddenly avoiding each other.
I was just getting ready to leave when Edwina ran over to waggle her phone in front of my face. On the screen were text messages between her and her poor excuse of a fiancé. And boy, did she look mad.
"You wanna explain to me why he just told me that he doesn't want to come to the poetry reading cause YOU'LL be there?! What the hell is that about?!" "Really? He said that?" My eyebrow raised in mixed emotions. Don't get me wrong! I was relieved to hear that he wasn't coming tomorrow, but…. I don't know; something about it also made me feel weird. I told Anthony to stay away from me, but the idea that he was actually going out of his way to avoid me now…..
That left a sour taste in my mouth for some reason.
Edwina's glare couldn't have been harsher. "Kate!" She demanded and my arms rose up instinctively. Oh man, how do I explain this one? "We had… a little fight at the stadium. I told him that he should do something nice for you, show you more attention…." My sister's eyes reacted as you'd think they'd react. "What?! He DOES do nice things for me- all the time!" "Yes…. in a detached sort of way. All I meant was that he should do something you'd really like, that's really tailored to your tastes. I want him to put in a bit of effort into the relationship," if you can call it that; I can't.
Edwina's one hand planted firmly on her hip as she gazed up towards the ceiling in that disappointed style she does. "He does. Oh my god, Kate; can't you see that he treats me really well? He's polite and decent and generous and….." "I'm not hearing "affectionate"." "I already told you! This isn't a love-match; we don't love each other, and I don't expect us to. But get off his case. He's a lot nicer than you think; he's even making an effort to get to know you better," she exclaimed, and my head tilted in surprise. "Oh?" She nodded. "Yeah. When we went out for coffee, he asked me a lot of questions about you." "You never told me that before!" I gasped and she seemed a tad remorseful, verging her eyes off to the side downwards now. "I didn't want you to think it's weird. But see?! He's a good guy who'll be a good father and good provider. You can't ask for much more than that." "I can ask that he treats you right," I swiftly countered, and her glance hardened. "For the last time, he does! Your standards are just too high; no one will ever be good enough for me in your eyes." Well, except for Friedrich. But I conceded, backing down a little. Ok, so Anthony's not coming to the poetry reading and Friedrich will be there; I can work with this. Now I just need an excuse to get them talking more with each other…
I sighed, running my hand over my eyes. "Ok, ok, I'm sorry. I'll stop fighting with Anthony and try…. to be civil." "Thank you. It's not that hard, sis; I'm civil around your friends." "I know….." "I mean, I even invited that new guy to the poetry reading," aka Friedrich, or "the kind German". I looked at her and nodded my head in final understanding. "Ok, Edwina; you win. I won't egg Anthony on anymore. You're right; you were nice to Friedrich, and I appreciate that. I can the same for you," maybe.
An awkward, pregnant pause slipped in-between us. Edwina glanced down at her right shoe, twisting the top of it on the floor back and forth. She was acting kind of coy, timid for some odd reason. But it soon became apparent to me when she let herself smile again, still staring downward.
"Speaking of Friedrich…" Oh, oh?! What's this?! My cheeks hurt by how hard I was trying to appear straight-faced as she went on shyly. It was painful waiting for her to say more, I was so eager. Her fingers twiddled slightly.
"You met him at Buckingham Palace?" "At the ball you dragged me to, yes." Silence on her part. "I didn't see him there." "He was hiding out in a library; that's where I met him," I clarified. I couldn't help but smile at her as she struggled to squeak out her next question. "He's not on social media; I couldn't find him anywhere online. The only Friedrich Mecklenburg-Strelitz name I saw was on a graduation list, and he had the monacher "Prince"."
I looked at Edwina curious. Friedrich never said anything about being a prince; I didn't even know Germany had a royal family anymore! But then again, he was at the King's ball that night, and his aunt has enough money to buy him season football tickets, which aren't cheap. Hmmmmmmm, interesting.
Still smiling in her direction, my shoulder gave a nonchalant shrug. "It could be him. After all, he was invited to the ball at the palace. He- or his aunt- must know someone important." Edwina didn't reply, instead bringing her thumb and forefinger up to her chin as she nodded her head contemplatively. My smile increased. The seeds of doubt have already been cast in her mind…. This is great! Now I just need to prod her more.
"You were looking him up on Google, were you?" The instant I asked this, her eyes flushed in shame and regret as her head spun around. "What?! No! I mean….. Well, I look up everyone on Instagram; it's not that weird, Kate." "Hmmmmmm, even when you're engaged?" Her cheeks tightened here in a tense fashion, like she'd just been called out doing something wrong. "I didn't mean anything by it. I don't care who "Friedrich" is! I was just curious, that's all….. It's not being sneaky or anything." "Of course not! You were just curious," I smirked in victory and Edwina had to glance away. Another tense moment passed, though I got the distinct feeling she had more to say on the Friedrich-front. Better poke the bear more.
"He is hot though…." "Oh my god, Kate! He's GORGEOUS!" Edwina's voice raised before she immediately caught herself. My eyebrow raised up in her direction in a teasing sort of way, which she did not appreciate. "Your type, uh?" "Shut up," she gave my shoulder a shrug and I laughed. Yet another second of silence slipped in. Edwina was staring down at her feet now, shuffling them a bit awkward, embarrassed…. She didn't look me in the eye when she spoke next.
"Are you…..? You're not interested in him….. are you?" And I laughed again, shaking my head and placing my hand on her back. "No. Friedrich's the perfect gentleman, but I'm starting PhD in the fall. It's not a good time for me to get into a relationship with anyone, and besides, he's not my type," I gave her a cheeky wink and she blushed, gazing down again. "He seems to like you….." She muttered under her breath. "He's just being polite. He's a good man, Edwina; one worth getting to know better. I know you want the billionaire lifestyle but think of what else he could give you." "I…" She started before her phone vibrated in her hand. She checked the screen to see Anthony's name appear. I saw it too and rolled my eyes- hard. Nugh, of all the worst timing in the world! She was almost onboard the German train, if you get what I mean.
Edwina unlocked her phone with her thumb and read the message aloud to me, which I did not ask her to do. "This isn't an apology to your sister. I'm just keeping a promise," her tone was sceptical and confused as she read it. Her head then turned toward me. "What promise?" I shrugged my shoulders, just as puzzled as she was. Or that was until there was a knock at our front door. Edwina ran to open it, and I followed suit, standing close behind her. There was a man in a fancy delivery suit on the other side with a clipboard and set of keys in his hands. He blinked up to us somewhat vacantly.
"Miss Edwina Sharma?" His voice was monotone and dry. Edwina hesitantly nodded, staring at the man. He proceeded to hold out the set of keys for her. "Delivery from a Lord Bridgerton." "Anthony?" She took the keys, studying them for a second. Then we both looked forward onto the street, and audibly gasped.
There was a car! A frikin car! Parked right in front of our house! It was brand-new and had a red ribbon and bow on it. It was one of those ultra-expensive cars which I couldn't identify with a knife pointed to my head. But I knew it was a very rich-person car; didn't see many of these on the streets. It was red, like it's bow, and very slick. That thing probably costed as much- or more- than all of my Oxford tuition.
Edwina screamed louder than she ever had before, literally jumping for joy. Her hands curled into elated fists, bunching into her chest thrilled. "That's my car?! MY car?!" She repeated over and over. The unamused and deadpan delivery guy just nodded like this was normal Wednesday for him. His eyes did widen a tiny bit however, when Edwina suddenly threw her arms around him, squeezing him tightly. Letting him go, she ran over to her new vehicle.
"A car! He bought me a car! Kate! Kate, look! It's a car! Anthony got me a car!" "I see that," I took my time to come down the steps to join her, crossing my arms in the interim. While Edwina was racing around all excited, I couldn't help but have a bitter feeling about the whole affair. Now I understand what his text meant; I told him to do something nice for Edwina, something according to her tastes….. But he didn't do that at all! He only did half the work. Watch; I'll explain.
Coming over to the gasping Edwina, I looked at the car. My sister reached over to give my arm a tight squeeze. "Isn't it beautiful, Kate?!" "Does he know you DON'T have a drivers' licence?" "I'll get my licence! Now I have a car to practice in," she beamed, and I rolled my eyes. "And what about the colour? You hate red cars; always said they were tacky. Maybe you can exchange it for a different colour?" "No! It's perfect! I'll learn to like red cars! In fact, red cars are my new favourite! Oh, I love it! I absolutely love it! You see, Kate? I told you Anthony is thoughtful and considerate. He's already taking such good care of me." Yeah, with minimal effort, I had to suppress an eyeroll.
The delivery man came over to hand her some documents and have her sign his clipboard. "Proof of ownership and insurance are in the glove compartment. Lord Bridgerton's also purchased a parking spot for you in the parkade 'round the block." "Thank you. Isn't that sweet of him, Kate?" Edwina flashed me a victory smirk of her own. "Yeeeeeeees," I sighed in defeat. Well, I guess if she's happy, that's all that matters. Squealing once more, she ran back towards the front door, leaving me and the delivery man there. "I've got to post this! Ooooooooh, everyone's going to be so jealous!" "And call Anthony!" I hollered back after her. "I will!" With a wave, the front door slammed behind her; she was most likely running to change into "TikTok worthy" clothes. I rolled my eyes and turned to the still deadpan delivery guy, giving him a polite grin.
"Thank you, sir," I was also about to head back inside before he stopped me by lifting up his arm. "Oh miss. There's one more delivery; it's over there," I peered over my shoulder to see him pointing over to the tree. Glancing that way now, my eyes widened to see a bike leaning against it- one I'd never seen before. Intrigued and perplexed, I approached it slowly, which wasn't amusing to the delivery guy. He watched me examine it thoroughly, confusedly….
It was a bike; the exact same size as my last bike, the broken one. It was brand-new and pink; my favourite colour. Hanging off the handlebar was a helmet in the same colour…. Fit for a head my size. It was….. It was perfect. The perfect size, the perfect model, the perfect colour…. Everything about it mirrored perfectly with my tastes.
My hand lifted up to my fluttering chest as I continued to stand there, gawking wordlessly at the vessel. I needed a new bike….. He knew I needed a new bike. This is the kindness, most thoughtful present anyone's ever gotten for me. The tree it was leaning under still had little pink blossoms out and flourishing. They matched the colour of my new bike…. A few dropped down, landing gracefully all around the machine, giving it this enchanting, magical kind of impression. The longer I stared at my beautiful bike, the more my lips quivered. My arms and legs trembled. It wasn't a car, but it was so unbelievably ideal for someone like me…. almost like he really wanted to do something genuine for me. A single tear trickled done my cheek, alarming the delivery guy. His hand stretched out in my direction worriedly. "Hey, are you ok, miss?" This is confused, unsure, charmed smile drew across my lips as I glanced from him back to my bike… My pink bike. "Yeah…. Everything's fine.
Everything's fine now."