Pretend Prince.

This is bonus content for Pretend Partner's and Pretend Pregnancy that happens between the two stories. I hope it also works as a standalone for those of you who've opened this without having a clue what my two stories are about.  

'Hazel Emmett McGrath and guest are invited.....'

Since that silver and red invitation was handed to me by my supervisor, I couldn't concentrate, eat or sleep. I burst into tears at the least mishap and the clumsiness and poor balance from my left leg cerebral palsy became worse. Even diligently doing the exercises my dancer husband showed me didn't help.

Drumard Outlet Centre where I managed Retro Treats, my traditional sweet shop had won a retail excellence award. With fake humility, the owner Lord Drum was putting up a marquee behind stately mansion for a celebration buffet followed by dancing and motivational speeches.

All outlet employees were resigned to going as to skip it would make you look a poor team player. Lord Drum had even ordered us close at eight o'clock tonight instead of nine so we could dress up.

Leaning heavily on my walking stick, I limped back to the specially adapted house that my husband Romeo designed for me. Once inside this sanctuary my disability didn't matter. Everything from the floor surfaces to units to seating were specially designed but looked really normal.

Even thinking about him raised my spirits. His Christmas break was only thirty three days away when he'd be home for a week. Tonight he was performing with Celtic Dance in Wembley and had a modelling shoot earlier today. 

His latest text said he was just leaving the theatre. After a show, he'd normally go out to dinner. Earlier this week, three members of the Royal family had been to watch Celtic Dance and Romeo was photographed eating out with them alongside his ballerina co-star, Dame Kendra Tavistock.

My clumsiness would shame him among such celebrity friends so I never joined him in London. It was easier for him to commute back to see me. 

After the London run, he was touring Europe and then onto  Las Vegas. I used an online spreadsheet to keep up with where he was.

But he would be here on Christmas Eve.

Romeo hadn't mentioned his plans for the New Year but I'd read online that Celtic Dance were going to Australia for three months. That was probably also contributing to my feelings of despair and helplessness. I often joined him but never for more than a week.

If I stayed too long, he might see how disabled I really was.

I limped into our bedroom and searched through our walk in wardrobe. A month ago, Romeo had sent me a magical yellow dress he bought after a Cosmopolitan fashion shoot. His note said it was a once off design that an Oscar winning actress refused to wear because it made her look gaunt.

The seventeen times I tried it on, my flaccid left leg looked normal, even when I walked or sat. The clever design and fabric turned me into a graceful, fairytale princess.

I held it up against me and already felt better. But if I wore my exquisite gown tonight, it'd provoke snide comments. More than usual.

When Romeo and I became an item, people said he was only feeling sorry for me, not looking for a real relationship or hiding that he was gay.

When we got married the remarks became more vicious. They were wondering how a cripple like me ended up with Romeo McGrath. Then they gossiped about how much time we spent apart and that he'd leave me eventually.

The same women and men then chatted up my husband right in front of me. When he ignored them, they became even more bitchy towards me.

I put the dress back on the hanger. It was best saved for an outing with my husband.

Partners were expected at Lord Drum's buffet so the staff obediently found plus ones. Even my assistant in Retro Treats was bringing the local school principal. Five years ago when the outlet last won an award, only I and Judge Niall Hackett arrived alone at the celebration party.

I'd just started work in Retro Treats and could only remember a hospital appointment after the party so I must have fallen.

I hugged Romeo's suit for a second, returned to our bedroom and sat on the bed. Perhaps I could think of an emergency in Retro Treats to skip the party. A Posy Treats hamper order could take me up to an hour to make as I had to arrange the sweets into flower like shapes.

I rubbed the pillow on Romeo's side of the bed. 'Do I dare?'

'Do you dare what?' Romeo was standing inches away from me in a black hoodie and a track end.

I tried to get up but my left leg spasmed. This was only a stress induced apparition. Romeo had been on stage to an hour ago in a country that wasn't even part of Europe anymore.

He rubbed his follow your dreams ring against mine. He bought the gold arrows the day we met and we transferred them from our right to our left hands at our wedding.  I looked into his blue eyes and reached out to touch his leg and then his arm. 'Are you really here?'

He sat beside me on the bed and put his arm around me. 'Yes. Get it?'

'How?' I snuggled into his warmth and happiness surged through me.

'Dame Kendra lent me her private jet and got landing permission on the race course up the road.' He kissed my cheek and then my hair. 'I jogged the last bit.'

'How long do we have?'

'Until dawn. I've a modelling gig before tomorrow's show. Afterwards I'm on the bus to Berlin.' He took both my hands and pulled me up. 'Come on. We'll get ready and then I'll tell you my surprise.'

It might be that he'd be home again before Christmas.

While Romeo had a shower, I quickly put on my princess dress and fixed my hair and makeup.

He quickly changed into a white shirt and his black suit. 'Do you remember our first night together?'

Unlike Lord Drum's social events, any time spent with Romeo were treasured memories. He couldn't sleep as he was afraid of the dark. 'We imagined all the things we could do together.'

'A visit to New Zealand and Australia was our favourite. And Celtic Dance are touring there from January to March of next year.'

I smiled as if I didn't mind. 'You can send me photographs.'

'No need. You're coming with me.'

'Really?' I hugged him. A quarter of next year would be spent with my gorgeous husband who I trusted to arrange things so my disability didn't matter. When I stumbled, he knew how to break my fall.

Romeo couldn't drive but while he was doing a Las Vegas residency, I passed my test and bought a suitably adapted car.

With my pretend prince beside me, I drove to the Drum Estate and parked in the muddy field designated for junior staff parking.

Even with Romeo holding my hand, anxiety surged through me.

I wanted this party to be over. Which made no sense as six hours after it, Romeo would be gone again.

Another cardboard sign directed us to a marquee that was down a slope. Like when going down steps Romeo walked ahead of me in case I stumbled.

'I'm starving.' Once inside Romeo made straight for the buffet. As he grumbled about the lack of vegetarian options, I proudly waved at various work colleagues scattered around the freezing cold tent.

A pair of icy blue eyes made contact with mine. Not the warm sea blue of my husbands. These ones sent a signal.

Before I could interpret it, Romeo finished loading our plates and said something.

'Sorry. I couldn't hear over the music.'

'When we've eaten, we'll do our showdance and sneak out before the speeches.' Romeo carried our sausage rolls and chips over to a corner table.

He pulled out my chair and when I sat down, the cold blue eyes merged into my line of vision. This time the message was clear and the one I'd waited five years for.

I discreetly nodded my agreement and they turned away to listen to Lord Drum.

'I heard about this hotel where...' Between mouthfuls, Romeo was chatting about his plans for New Zealand. 'What do you think?'

My delighted surprise and relief dropped. By the time the party ended I'd have to think of an excuse to get out of this extended honeymoon. I couldn't risk leaving Drumard and losing forever what I'd given up hoping for.

The End.

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