12

  At the end of Meredith’s first two weeks caring for the royal children, she had seen progress. Mishka no longer feared water and could almost swim. He had a decent dog paddle and was comfortable floating on his back. He didn’t love the water like Kat did, but he seemed to enjoy their pool time. And Kat seemed to tolerate him a bit more. She also appeared to almost like Meredith. Sometimes. Possibly it was because she appreciated a sparring partner with her beloved sports. And that was okay. It was fun to see her improve and her confidence grow. And thanks to the daily tennis and football sessions, Mishka was getting a bit more skilled.

  In the afternoons, Meredith had sneaked academics into the schedule in the form of reading and writing in journals. Naturally, this came easily for Mishka, but it was like pulling teeth with Kat. Meredith allowed the children to do their academic activities at a place of their choosing. Mishka usually snagged the library, but Kat preferred to hole up in her room—and not necessarily doing anything academic. So far when Meredith had checked on her, the girl was either on her computer or listening to music with headphones. Finally, Meredith confronted her about it.

  After discovering Kat, kicked back on her bed and clearly not reading or journaling, Meredith snuck up and tugged off her headphones. Kat sat up with fiery eyes, but Meredith just smiled.

  “Tell me, Princess Katerina, how are your grades at school?”

  Kat scowled then shrugged.

  “Does your grandmother expect you to be a good student?”

  Kat rolled her eyes and flopped back down.

  “I’m not stupid, Kat. Of course she does. After all, you’re going to rule your country someday, right?”

  Kat looked slightly doubtful but sat back up.

  “Here’s the deal, Kat. I’m a teacher. And I’ve seen how much students lose during their summer holiday if they’re not engaging their brains. It makes it harder to get started up again. But the students who spend a bit of time reading or doing something to exercise their brains fare better.” She paused to see if any of this was sinking in. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Wouldn’t life be easier for you if you didn’t have to catch up this fall, to get back to where you were at the end of your school year?”

  Kat shrugged.

  “It’s one thing to show up at school with improved athletic abilities so you can earn better positions on your teams and impress your peers. But as the future queen of Rotslavia, it seems to me you’d want to excel in academics too. You know, to earn the respect of your classmates. And more than that, for your own sake.”

  Kat flopped back again, her face getting that blasé I’m-tuning-you-out expression she was an expert in. Meredith sat down on the chair by the window and silently prayed for wisdom. Lord, how do I reach this girl?

  “Kat, I really like you. I think underneath your hard shell is a tenderhearted young woman. Something you don’t want anyone to see. To be honest, you remind me of myself when I was about your age.” Meredith paused long enough to spy Kat’s eyes flicker with interest. “I was kind of mad at the whole world for a while. It didn’t seem fair that my mom had died or that I was just a kid taking care of all the housework and cooking for my dad.”

  Kat sat up. “You did all that?”

  “Yep. We weren’t well off like your family. My dad worked hard as a high school teacher, and he coached sports in his spare time to help make ends meet, so I was expected to keep the home fires burning, so to speak.” She smiled.

  Kat frowned. “What does that mean? Fires?”

  Apparently an idiom the girl had never learned. Meredith chuckled. “It means I had to keep things running at home. I had to make sure the laundry was done and groceries bought and food cooked and kitchen cleaned. Like the things Mrs. Warner does for you. I saw my friends doing fun things I couldn’t either because my family couldn’t afford it or because I didn’t have the time. And I started to get a real attitude.” She paused, hoping to get some reassurance that this was actually getting through to Kat. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  “Maybe.”

  “It’s like I’d been dealt a real crummy hand, and it wasn’t fair. I know your mom died when you were only eight. That’s even younger than I was when my mom died. And you had a baby brother you really helped care for. I’m sure he came to depend on you a lot. I’m guessing you were like a mother to him. Even now, when you two fight like cats and dogs, I’ll bet he loves you more than you can imagine.” She waited again, and perhaps it was her imagination, but she thought Kat’s gray eyes glistened ever so slightly.

  “That’s a heavy load for a kid.” Meredith sighed. “I suppose I was lucky not to have any younger siblings, although it was lonely being an only child. But anyway, I’m guessing you started to resent it. Maybe as Mishka started getting big enough to be a pesky brother. A bit of a smart aleck too.” She paused again, pursing her lips. “And although you take your grievances out on him, I have a strong suspicion there’s more bugging you, Kat.”

  She took a long slow breath, reminding herself not to push too hard or too fast. “You know, I’ve been a teacher for long enough to know how hard kids can be on each other. The bullying I’ve seen with girls your age is unbelievable. But I supposed that you, being a member of the royal family, wouldn’t be victim to that. That as Princess Katerina, you’d get more respect.”

  “That shows how little you know.”

  “Seriously?” Meredith acted surprised, although she really wasn’t. “Are there girls at your school who are mean to you?”

  “You have no idea. No one does.” She punched her pillow.

  “Jealousy is often a factor in bullying. Do you think girls might be jealous of your royal heritage?”

  She shrugged, but her eyes seemed to confirm it. “I don’t know.”

  “They could be jealous of your athletic skills.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Or maybe they’re just mean? I’ve seen some girls, especially in your age group, that are brutal. Just for the fun of it.”

  Kat’s eyes lit up. “That’s what it feels like at times.”

  “I’m sorry to hear it.” Meredith moved over to sit on her bed, placing a hand on Kat’s shoulder. “You don’t deserve that. And I wish there was a way to make them stop, but I have a feeling it may be useless. You can’t change their behavior, but maybe you could change your own.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, do you have any good friends at your school? You know, girls you trust, who have your back?”

  She glumly shook her head.

  “Then you need to gather a few. Not too many though. In fact, just one for starters. A sincere girl. Probably one who looks lonely, like she could use a friend. There must be girls like that, right?”

  “Yeah, probably.”

  “So you find that girl, but here’s the trick. Instead of expecting her to be your BFF, try to become a good friend to her. And, really, you’ll be surprised at what a difference that can make. Two together are stronger than one alone. And then both of you reach out to another girl, and maybe a fourth since a trio of female friends can present its own trouble. Too easy for two to side against one. Four is a better number.”

  “Three new friends? You make it sound so easy.”

  “I know it probably seems like it’s not, but really it’s just a matter of taking the right steps. Like I said, start with one. And make yourself friendly to her. I wonder if you could even do some of the footwork this summer.” Meredith pointed to Kat’s nearby cell phone. “If you could connect with someone on your phone—you know, just start a friendly texting conversation or whatever the trending mode of communication is—you may be surprised at the foundation you could have built by fall. Maybe you could even plan to meet up. Invite a guest to come here. I’d be okay with that.”

  “Who would want to talk to me let alone come out here to the villa?”

  “Oh, Kat, you are so mistaken. You’re a fun witty girl, and you’re a great athlete. If you just add some kind friendliness to that, you’ll have no problem. And the villa is a great place. There’s so much to do here.” Meredith smiled. “If I were a girl and you were reaching out to me, I’d be jumping for joy. In fact, I’ve been trying to be your friend for nearly two weeks now, and sometimes I think I’m just banging my head against the wall.”

  Kat looked surprised. “Really?”

  “Absolutely. No offense, but you can be pretty cold at times.”

  “No, I mean, do you really want to be my friend?”

  “Of course. I realize I need to act like a guardian too, but I don’t see why it can’t be on a friendly basis. It would make the summer more fun for both of us.”

  The dinner bell rang, and for a moment they both just sat in silence.

  “Well, I probably gave you a lot to think about.” Meredith gave Kat’s shoulder a squeeze then stood. “But everything I said was true. And to be candid, I think that’s the first time I told the story about how I really felt when I was your age. Not even my dad knows about it.”

  “You said you got over it.” Kat frowned. “But you didn’t say how. I mean, besides the bit about making friends. Was that all it took?”

  Meredith considered the spiritual element. “There’s more to my story. But hopefully we can continue that later. I still need to clean up for dinner.” She smiled. “By the way, so do you.”

  The next morning, Meredith got up early. During the night she’d been thinking about her promise to take the kids on that Danube River cruise after Mishka got comfortable in the water. What was stopping her? With that in mind, she hurriedly dressed and went down early to run the idea past Mrs. Warner, explaining her promise to Mishka and how even Kat had done her part by not teasing him in the pool. “I think they really deserve to go.”

  “Of course they do. I don’t see what’s stopping you.”

  Meredith frowned. “Well, a lack of funds basically.”

  Mrs. Warner slapped her forehead. “Good grief, I forgot that Master Spencer sent me an envelope for you. It came a day or two ago, and things got so busy. I’m sure it contains your first payment.” She hurried over to a cabinet, extracting an envelope. “Not that you should pay the children’s way on your little day trip. After all, we have a budget for extras like that. But my goodness, you should have your pay.”

  Meredith opened the envelope from Mrs. Warner to see a generous check. “This is too much.”

  “I doubt that.” Mrs. Warner sorted through some other mail. “Don’t forget that you are a full-time nanny. During the short stints I was in charge of the children, which was no walk through the park, I was adequately compensated. I’m sure you have been too.”

  Meredith couldn’t believe her eyes. This was a little more than the amount of traveler’s checks she’d lost in Vienna. Enough to get her home, with some to spare. “Are you certain?”

  “I don’t argue with royalty.”

  “Okay.” She shook her head in wonder. “But I won’t be able to cash it.” She reminded Mrs. Warner of her lack of identification.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll ring the bank in town and explain. Since it’s from Master Spencer, I doubt you’ll have any trouble.”

  “Wonderful. Thanks so much. I’d also like to get a cell phone and send a repayment to Carrie, the woman you talked to on the phone. If not for her, I’d probably be living under a bridge somewhere.”

  Mrs. Warner laughed. “I don’t think so. But, I’m just realizing you haven’t had a day off since you got here. I think you should take the Land Rover into town. On your own. No children in tow. Just take the whole day to do as you like. I will be happy to watch them while you enjoy yourself and tend to your errands. Then you can be all set to go on the river cruise. Even tomorrow if you like.”

  “That sounds great. And I doubt I’ll need a whole day off.”

  “No matter. You just take all the time you need. We will be fine here.” Mrs. Warner glanced at the kitchen clock. “And if you take your leave before breakfast, I’ll serve the children in here.”

  “Good idea.” Meredith knew that would simplify Mrs. Warner’s day greatly. “Okay, I’ll just change into nicer clothes and be on my way.” She hurried back to her room, and seeing both children’s doors closed, she suspected they were both still sleeping. Well, Mrs. Warner could explain everything.

  She quickly slipped into some linen pants and a cream-colored sleeveless silk blouse topped with a pale blue cashmere cardigan. A casual outfit fit for a princess. Of course, it had belonged to a princess. But she was a real princess too. Remembering what Dad used to say, the daughter of the King of the Universe was an important princess.

  Behind the wheel of the Land Rover, she was on top of the world and could hardly believe her sorry straights just two weeks ago. Here she was about to enjoy a day off in an Austrian village, with her check tucked into a sophisticated tan Coach bag. She felt like she’d just won the lottery.

  Driving in Austria was simpler than she imagined, and the half hour journey to the nearest town was purely delightful. Just cruising through the small, charming town felt like a mini holiday in itself. She eventually parked in front of the bank Mrs. Warner planned to call, but seeing it wasn’t yet open, she headed down the cobbled street to a coffee shop where she ordered a pastry and latte and obtained information about the best local cell phone company in town. Lingering over her coffee and treat, she watched people come and go. Couples, families, mothers with children—everyone seemed to have something to do but were in no hurry to do it. The town had a comfortable air, and the shops were cozy and sweet. This was nothing like her first impression of Vienna.

  As she strolled, she noticed a gelato shop with striped awnings just rolling out. Next to it was a toy store with lights just flickering on inside. She wondered if Kat and Mishka ever came to town and what spots they might frequent. Would they even enjoy it? It would be fun to take them on an outing here from time to time. Unless they thought it was silly. Not for the first time, she puzzled over the idea of royal children. When everything was available to you, did you become jaded? Did they enjoy the same entertainment as an American kid? She really wasn’t sure. At the estate, activities were limited. But so far the kids hadn’t complained too much about boredom. And, good grief, what was she doing obsessing over them on her day off?

  She walked around a bit longer, just soaking in the local color, the overflowing flowerboxes, old fashioned streetlamps, narrow streets, and old charming buildings. Still waiting for the bank to open, she might as well familiarize herself with the stores for when she actually had some money in her pretty Coach bag. Some of the clothing shops looked tempting, but thanks to the generous filling of her wardrobe and dresser, she had no interest nor need.

  What a treat to feel adequately dressed as she walked. Not shopping for thrift store threads with borrowed funds or feeling like a homeless, penniless transient. Seeing a pharmacy open, she realized she still needed a few personal items after she got some cash. But to kill time she walked up and down the aisles, making mental notes of what she would return for later. And finally, noticing the bank guard unlocking its front doors, she crossed the street. After talking to several employees, including a woman who acted as a translator, Meredith cashed the check.

  She returned to the pharmacy to gather a few necessities and then, still thinking about Kat and Mishka, decided to pay the toy and game shop a little visit. Maybe she could find something the three of them would enjoy doing together. But with the age gap between Kat and Mishka, it was hard to settle on anything she felt they’d both like equally. Finally, she spotted a card game she used to play with her friends. She’d perused the game cabinet at the estate but hadn’t seen a pack of Uno cards. This would be perfect. In fact, she decided to get two decks—one to play with the kids and one to give Kat to take with her when she returned to school. Perhaps she too would want to play with her friends.

  Satisfied with her purchase, she realized that it was past noon, and the coffee and pastry hadn’t really satisfied her appetite. A restaurant with outdoor seating caught her attention, so she decided to enjoy a leisurely lunch. After all, it was her day off, and if she were touring Europe like she’d expected to be doing right now, wouldn’t she be enjoying something like this?

  However, after she was seated, she felt strangely alone. All the other tables were filled with couples or small groups and lively conversations that she couldn’t even eavesdrop on since they were in German. She was the only lone diner, and it felt a bit awkward. Or maybe it was pitiful. As she perused the menu, trying to translate it, she wondered if she really would’ve enjoyed her lone travels through Europe like she’d imagined. Maybe it wasn’t such a loss after all.

  As she closed the menu, hoping she would be able to place her order, she wished she’d thought to get her cell phone first. At least she could’ve pretended to be preoccupied with it, although she wasn’t sure what she’d do with it since her personal phone directory had vanished with her phone. She didn’t even know Dad’s number. Not that he’d be taking calls out there on the PCT.

  Abandoned and alone and adrift at sea, that’s how she felt after she placed her order and sat there waiting. And strangely enough, she began to miss the children again. She wondered what they were having for lunch. Meals with them hadn’t been exactly pleasant because they bickered so much, but at least they had been interesting. She wondered how they’d occupy their time without her around to direct them. Mishka would probably avoid the pool. And she doubted Kat would offer to play tennis or football with her younger brother. But would they just loiter around the house and bicker? Or drive poor Mrs. Warner out of her mind with their demands? Or perhaps the kids liked being on their own. Maybe they would enjoy her absence. She imagined Kat in her room contentedly tuned into her online videos or music and Mishka in the library with his nose buried in an oversized reference book. They probably didn’t even miss her.