Chapter 21 Royal Reunion Part II
Caleb
"The Queen will see you now."
You could say my mom, he wanted to say but he never got the chance to say those words out loud. The doors were already being opened.
"Home sweet home," he said rather aloof, but in his head. Since his first kiss with Jason earlier that day, everything that used to bother him seemed to go over his head. Caleb was... happy, if not still confused. Caleb still wasn't entirely sure what it was, that came over him in that moment.
The very place meant for Caleb, Mr. Bateman and a few staff members had multiplied since the Queen decided to drop by. He never asked, but that didn't stop his own mother from making herself at home here. What used to be quiet solitude, now turned into a bustling frenzy! Caleb was standing before a large double oak door where two men dressed in traditional doorman outfits (Caleb could kind of feel for them. The outfits alone looked stuffy and uncomfortable) on guard. The room used to be empty, half the size of a ballroom, now it was The Queen's office.
When the doormen opened both doors, they swung inwards. Caleb thought it was unnecessary since he could have walked through the door himself. And it wasn't like he was eight feet in width. Nonetheless, the room was now fully decorated for a Queen. Hand carved future, thick carpets, window shades that could feed a public school for over a month, curtains to match and a large desk filled with paperwork.
This was far from the likes of a principal's office.
"You could hardly talk at the time," she said, for once, set setting aside a stack of paperwork to look at Caleb. She was wearing a pair spectacles at the bridge of her nose. Caleb used to think she wore them for show, but she really did need them. Right now, she was still bent over, her pen leaving elegant scrawl behind. Caleb to this day still thought his mother had the most beautiful handwriting in the world.
He even told her so, multiple times as he grew up. He said her handwriting looked fit for a wedding invitation. She'd smile and then they would have many long, random conversations after. He never told her how he kept a stash of her handwritten notes in a box. Caleb was sure it was still back in Stockholm, in his room. Too bad he hasn't opened it in years. That didn't mean he still didn't remember what was in it. They always smelled like lavender, vanilla or cinnamon. Her hands always had a way of leaving those scents behind. Caleb still didn't know how. The notes consisted of his mother writing notes to herself, but mostly they were custom made, for Caleb, telling him to be good while she had to go away for a little while. Some of them were grocery lists from around the time when she used to sneak out of the palace. She always took Caleb instead of leaving him to the countless nannies at hand.
Caleb found himself missing his mother more and more as thought fondly of those memories from another life. This had to be the first time he found alone time with her in... forever.
Clara finally looked up, but Caleb couldn't read minds to say if this was going to be good or not. He knew the move he pulled a couple weeks ago was foolish. He had a while to prepare himself for the backlash that would inevitably come. Instead, she shocked him with something else.
"You can sit down," she said. "It's not like you're in trouble." Though her eyes were hard, Caleb mentally gulped before taking a seat. His back went ramrod straight and he didn't dare slouch, not in the presence of the Queen herself. He didn't think crossing his ankle over his knee would be safe. So he refrained from it.
"I remember when it was the morning on your sixth birthday, you walked right in the library where your father and I were, and announced that you were going to get a boyfriend." The skin on the Queen's corner left eye twitched into crow's feet as if amused.
Caleb couldn't help the hiss that slipped through his teeth, his body going stiff. How could he have forgotten that?
Clara most likely ignored Caleb's sudden change. He felt himself holding his breath. Just a little. She changed her voice, slightly to mimic a six year old Caleb, or so he assumed. "He would be a prince too and you would happily marry him." That was enlightening. "I think I nearly dropped the slice of cake I was sampling for your birthday for later that week." She chuckled while lost in that distant memory.
Caleb could almost relate, and was glad he was now sitting down. He kept his face neutral, thinking once more of how much he admired his mother's handwriting. He loved the way she looped the letters together in English. That was how came to learn English as his second language; by reading her handwriting out loud.
"And?" Caleb sounded cold without meaning to.
Clara showed that no offense was taken. "And after you left, your father and I had a long talk."
This was it, the part Caleb had been dreading. What would she say next? What would everyone say next? Would he never have a chance, of keeping his crown? Would he feel relief?
"You must remember, it was a slightly different time back then." She explained. "This was even long before your brother decided to step down."
Caleb still hadn't moved an inch but he still able to speak. "He told you that?"
Clara or the Queen depending on how you looked at it gave a look that explained enough.
"I never pegged Augustus as a mama's boy."
The Queen finally noticed something and Caleb wasn't quite sure, but it looked like the Queen melted away, revealing a mother instead. Caleb realized he had many questions and they were all running through his head at exactly the same time. He remembered she was once a commoner. This city, was her home once. He began to wonder what her life was like.
"If you have any questions, you might as well ask them now." As if reading his mind, Clara appeared to look concerned. The look she was currently giving him might as well have been stern, but she was trying not to. Caleb couldn't miss the way she almost flinched. The woman she became, had to become, that must have been a hard habit to break. Caleb found himself horrified, wondering if this was what he was destined to become. Would he look at his children or anyone else the same?
Would Caleb remain Caleb?
He continued to stare back, but that was like trying to stare down a tiger.
"You love him don't you?" She said and Caleb felt his face go white. "I could tell by the way by how anxious you were until you finally found him. It was like you wanted to rush over, and run away with him. You had a hard time taking your eyes off him ever since he arrived."
Caleb hardly registered the fact that his nails were digging into the arm rests. His fingers hurt, he should relax, but he couldn't. He was too scared. Afraid of what might come next. Because hearing the words come out of his own mother's voice officially confirmed it. Caleb was different alright.
"You are aware of that I take." She continued, regally. "And you are aware that I am still your mother." She was trying to catch his gaze but Caleb was having too hard of a time meeting it. He felt sick.
"You are still... my son. My third born. Mama's boy."
Now she had his attention.
"Oh... my dear. What you must be going through." Were her eyes looking a little glassy?
"I hope," pause, "you don't think," another pause, "that we'll ever stop loving you."
Yet another long pause followed. Caleb felt too uncomfortable that he had to look away again. He didn't see it coming when the woman who once sat across from him now had both arms wrapped around him. Caleb, as if by muscle memory returned the gesture but he did not cry. Neither did the woman who was bent over before him. Her arms wrapped around him tighter, or protectively.
When Caleb felt lips pressed to his temple, he knew he still had his mother. She never left.
The woman who used to be more carefree, who used to leave the palace when she wasn't supposed to, who also took her youngest son at the time (Augustus and Samantha were old enough to be left on their own) and walk amongst the people unknowingly. That was the same woman before him now. It felt like a whole other lifetime from the last time he got a hug from his mom.
Thanks mom.
As quickly as she hugged him, she had let go, but Caleb was alright with that. He was a big boy now. No... a soon to be King. Someday. Maybe.
This family didn't need to hug often, to show their love for one another. Caleb got that. He also got, that like his mother, he too had difficulty expressing his emotions. He had to hide his smile as Clara walked back to her seat, her back to him.
"You can go now." It wasn't stern or cold. It was like she was offering a privilege. He had her approval after all.
Caleb didn't utter a single word as he got up. Clara still had her back to him, facing the window but pretending to look for a file. He knew there was nothing of the sort. All there was, a window that looked out east towards the trees.
He didn't have to hide his smirk when he saw her hand move towards her cheek, as of trying to rid herself of a bug.
Caleb was back in the lobby when Samantha popped out of a room, the library, as if she had been waiting for him all along. She wasn't wearing any makeup which was good considering her skin was flawless. She was wearing a silly loose neck shirt with only a gold bangle on her right wrist. Her hair was wild with an assortment of some flower power going on. The flowers were fake. She might have been attempting to have her own girl time.
Sadly, Samantha hardly had many friends. She was Snow White incarnate. So there was a lot of jealousy issues that Caleb was sure went on. She never talked about it but Caleb couldn't ignore the fact when growing up together, how she would be found in an empty room with her head down.
When Samantha hugged him, Caleb hugged back with no surprise.
"Told you everything would be alright." She whispered in his ear.
Caleb ignored the crazy assortment of the odd things that girls like to put in their hair, as it brushed against the side of his head.
Samantha pulled away when she smiled. "There's someone here to see you."
She stepped away from the library door where a fourteen year old boy awkwardly stepped out. He was brown eyed (like the king), wore his Stowe uniform, with his usually shaggy hair slicked back, bottom lip fuller than the top, peach fuzz starting to take place on his chin and thick eyebrows.
Caleb wasted no time in pouncing on the unsuspecting Viktor by purposely messing up his hair (which he hated) and hugging him at the same time. "How ya been buddy?"
Caleb made sure to rub his knuckles rougher on the left corner of Viktor's head for good measure.
"Aaaah."
Viktor was trying to move away but as usual, it was useless. His once gelled hair was a lost cause now. Caleb never showed any mercy and Viktor knew it. Viktor did manage to get an arm around Caleb's neck and pulled down.
"Whoa!" Caleb took had to take note that his little brother had gotten stronger. "I give up! I give up! I give up!"
Viktor let go but Caleb still swatted his little brother with his fist before asking him what he was doing here.
"Mom pulled me out school recently." Puberty had hit him hard, his voice was deeper.
Caleb found himself exchanging a wide eye glance with Samantha who added, "Just for a little while."
"Yeah... too bad." Viktor eerily reminded Caleb of himself by the stance he changed into. Hands behind his head, ankles crossed like there wasn't a care in the world. Caleb thought about tripping him to get him out of that habit but he noticed a smallish purple bruise just below the left side of his chin.
Without thinking Caleb took his little brother's head in his face to examine. Viktor tried to move away and Caleb was surprised yet again by how much his little brother had grown up. He was stronger too, that meant Caleb had a harder time hanging onto him but managed anyway. The bruise was old and Viktor scoffed.
"Caleb!"
Caleb was still shocked that his baby brother had a deeper voice. This was not the same little boy Caleb had always known. The baby fat that used to rest mostly on his cheeks was almost gone. His eyes were blinking angrily up at Caleb. Caleb was trying to not to think that too would soon change. Soon Viktor would grow taller, perhaps the same height as Caleb.
"What is with you two?" He asked with Viktor's head still in his hands.
For whatever reason, Tim's little brother was about the same age as Viktor, and they fought a lot. It was a complete mystery even to Tim, one of Caleb's best friends.
"Just because you and Tim get along doesn't mean that asshole and I have to."
Caleb froze wondering if he should glare, flinch or say something wise. Before he could do anything, Viktor tore away from Caleb's reach. Caleb had to hide the hurt he felt as Viktor moved to the opposite wall, with his hands in his pockets and head bent down. He leaned against the wall without a word.
Samantha just looked about as puzzled as Caleb felt.
"What is going on?" He wanted to shout but he had to remember, it wasn't that long since Caleb had been his age. Shouting would have only made things worse. The teenage mind was a complex place to be, and Viktor was just starting to slip into that phase of life.
"Nothing." But Caleb still knew better.
Samantha, as always, the peacekeeper, the bridge that kept the family together. The glue. "He'll tell us when he's ready. Ok?"
Her question was obviously aimed at Caleb but Caleb was watching Viktor. Viktor was watching the floor.
"Look," he said in a softer tone bringing Viktor's attention from the floor back to him, "I'm glad you're here."
Viktor didn't respond right away but it was in his eyes. "Me too."
And the roughhousing picked up from where it left off.