Natasha's Legacy (14 page)

“My heart breaks for that young man.
Following one’s heart is difficult when it hurts those one loves. I
heard your comment regarding our relationship.”

Stewart sat on the edge of the bed and
reached for her hand. “It was upsetting knowing Momma, Poppa, and
Hope weren’t pleased, but my parents are no longer a concern. Hope
has accepted our relationship and it doesn’t bother Vicki. Both her
children are happily married. Rose and Richard are happily married.
Alex possesses Natasha’s stubborn nature. Natasha agreed to marry
me, and in time, Alex will marry Sarah. I would be honoured to
place another ring on your finger, but at our age, I’m content and
very happy with our relationship.”

The smile on her face was comforting. The
family he created with Natasha had grown before his eyes. First
Hope and now her children. Natasha could look down and smile. That
beautiful smile that would never grow old. Then, an image of
Natasha lying dead on their bed entered his mind. That bloody crown
on her head. He gave his head a wee shake.

He hadn’t looked at or thought of the crown
in years. No one in the family knew he had it. “I’d like to show
you something.” He walked over to his wardrobe and looked at the
bottom drawer. Stewart removed a large box and stared at it before
returning to the side of the bed. Stewart sat, lifted the cover of
the box, and gently removed the silk scarf his momma had given to
Natasha for Christmas. Then he removed the item, handing it to
Izabella.

“Oh my gosh.”

“Natasha’s crown,” he confirmed.

“You’ve had this all these years? You didn’t
return this to Anna?”

“No. Anna left it on Natasha’s head. No one
mentioned it. Not Marcus, Joshua, or Nanny.”

“My word, it’s heavier than I expected. I
can’t imagine wearing it.”

* * *

“Stewart kept the crown?” Keeghan questioned.
“I don’t know what I thought he would do with it, but not this … Oh
my gosh Will. That is the crown we found.”

“Yeah. We’re looking at it again.”

Alexander’s lips curled into a smile. He
turned his attention back to the screen.

* * *

“I must assume Anna thought the crown was
buried with her daughter, but that wasn’t the case. Natasha
despised this jewel. My wife was buried with a piece of paper with
Hope’s hand and foot prints, a letter I wrote, and a red rose. That
and her wedding band, the symbol of our eternal love.”

Stewart removed the portrait of Natasha’s
family from the box. Joshua and Marcus appeared youthful but
Natasha never aged. Even watching Hope grow older, he never
imagined Natasha ageing beyond her mid-twenties. Once Izabella put
the crown back into the box, he handed her the portrait.

“I’ve never forgotten their status, but when
Marcus or Joshua visit with their families, the significance of
their positions—”

“Doesn’t exist within these walls. They visit
their niece and her family.”

“Imagine how different your life would have
been if Natasha had not ended her life.”

Stewart inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly as
he gave that some thought. “It’s possible Natasha would be alive
today, but we would not be together. With her father’s resources,
they would have located us, and my wife would have been confined to
the castle. Hope would have grown up without knowing—me. I’d have
been killed fighting for them. This country wouldn’t know King
Joshua.” The ramifications came with a slight smile.

“Although I miss her terribly, Natasha’s
death brought positive change to this country.”

“Yes, and you have become a man I love. You
must put the crown and portrait away before retiring for the
evening.”

“It’s my intent to give both to Hope. I’ll
return momentarily.”

Stewart placed the portrait in the box and
walked out of the room. With the door to the master bedroom open,
Stewart looked inside. Hope was still dressed and reading. “May I
interrupt?”

“Of course, Poppa.”

“Alex and I had a good visit this evening.”
He sat in the chair beside hers and placed the box on his lap. “We
discussed his relationship with Sarah. It’s good to see Alex
content. I’d hate to see him revert to his quiet shell.”

“Heaven forbid.”

“It’s possible to find happiness without a
marriage vow. I shared a home with your momma before we wed, and
although you didn’t share a home, you became intimate with Adam
before your wedding night.”

Her face flushed. Then she glared at him in
anger.

“Poppa. You read—”

“I did
not
.”

“Did Alex speak—”

Stewart pursed his lips together.
Hope Donovan Venderkemp. Think about this.
“He has not spoken a word about your entries.” He calmed his tone.
“I knew. The glow on your face was unforgettable and Adam confirmed
my suspicion when avoiding eye contact. With his shy demeanour, I
was surprised.”

Her face brightened with a slight smile. “I
recall the night as if it occurred only minutes ago. Adam pleaded
with me to wait but I was persistent. It was a romantic, magical
night, and I wanted it to last forever. Seeing you in the hallway,
I thought you’d comment. I could hear your voice in my head. ‘Hope,
sweetheart, is it still your intent to marry Adam after lying with
him. Is he adequate while intimate?’”

Stewart chuckled. Then he remembered
Izabella’s comment when he returned to bed followed by what Vicki
said the following morning.
So little faith in
me.

“I sympathized with Adam when you entered our
home so late. I would never embarrass you in his presence. Adam
would have attempted to avoid me from that day forward, refusing to
look my way. If you had entered the house alone, perhaps I would
have spoken.”

“I’m thankful Adam was with me. I was
embarrassed when we discussed my first kiss. I’m ashamed to admit
if the roles were reversed, I would have spoken. My appearance may
resemble Momma, but I possess Donovan blood. I have a tendency to
be outspoken and blunt.”

Stewart raised his eyebrows and nodded. “I
don’t doubt you would have spoken. You only became reserved when it
was hampered your personal gain. I recall that night like
yesterday. I expected Adam to excuse himself and dash up the steps
to change before returning home. He never moved but remained by
your side. Your entire being glowed as you stood, attempting to
avoid speaking with me. The following morning, you didn’t notice
Izabella, yet she
never
arrived that
early.”

Hope’s jaw dropped before she raised her
hands to cover her mouth. “Izabella spent the night?”

“Ugh.” He closed his eyes and lowered his
head. There was no need to mention Izabella during this
conversation.
Too late to deny it
. He
nodded and looked into his daughter’s eyes. “Yes. Once you left
with Adam, Vicki and Greg joined us as we dined at a quaint café.
After the meal, we separated and enjoyed a long stroll. The evening
became romantic. I believe Matthew was conceived that evening.”

Hope’s eyes shifted to the ceiling before
nodding.

“Once you and Adam left to swim, Izabella
joined me in my room.”

“I’m so naïve. I didn’t question you being up
for a drink. It never occurred to me Izabella stayed. You’re my
poppa. Of course you would wait until you were….” She pressed her
lips together and then she giggled. “Married?”

“Of course. I have always set such a
fine
example.”

Hope snickered.

“My relationship was not uppermost on your
mind that evening or the following morning. My spunky daughter was
not herself that evening, or on Sunday.”

* * *

Reflecting, Hope couldn’t help but smile.
Adam was so mature, so responsible while at the orphanage, but
relaxed at the pond. He laughed and played. He didn’t have a care
in the world while swimming with her family. She fell even more in
love with him. Her poppa would take Izabella home and her aunt and
uncle would retire for the evening. Adam would tuck his bicycle out
of sight and follow her to her room.

“We didn’t spend a Saturday evening apart. I
cherished our time together. Falling asleep in Adam’s arms.”

Poppa raised one eyebrow. “Every Saturday
night before the wedding? I
was not
aware
of that.”

Hope covered her face with her hands.
This is silly. I’m a happily married woman with
two grown children.
Allowing her hands to drop back to her
lap, she nodded. “I love Adam with all my heart and am so pleased
Izabella entered your life.”

Poppa’s facial expression turned serious.
“Alex closed off his heart, like I did after your momma passed.
He’s not willing to admit his true feelings, but he loves Sarah and
is committed to her.”

“Adam says the same.”

He pointed his index finger at her. The
dreaded lecture finger. “You must
swallow
your pride and
accept
your son’s
decision.”

“I pray Alex will put a ring on Sarah’s
finger. We can arrange a small ceremony with family members. Sarah
can move into our home as his wife.”

“Hope Elizabeth Victoria Donovan Venderkemp.
You risked your life giving birth to a son and daughter.”

He glared up at the ceiling. Hope knew from
journal entries, he was talking to her momma.

“You struggled when I told you Izabella
wouldn’t become my wife. I could have been forced to make a
decision I didn’t want to make. Share a home with my daughter
or
with the woman I love. Neither of which
would have made me completely happy. Alex won’t leave this
building, but you would be forcing him to live in pain. He is
grieving, watching you struggle to accept his decision. It’s
hurting him. Seeing both you and Alex struggle is hurting me.”

“I know.”

The finger came out at her again. “Then
swallow your pride,” he demanded. “Allow your son to be happy.”

It was impossible to argue with both Adam and
Poppa. Neither supported her. “I will not risk my relationship with
Alex. Loving Sarah as a daughter, my eyes will be sparkling when
she moves in.”

Her poppa smiled and then leaned over and
kissed her forehead. “Years ago I allowed Alex and Rose the
opportunity to read my journal, but never allowed you the same. We
have been living under the same roof with a person we love for
years. Perhaps it is time you read my thoughts on how our lives
have progressed. Both you and Adam have permission to read my
entries.”

“I’d like that. To read your perspective.
After this evening, I don’t have secrets. Like Momma, I wrote
detail, but you and Izabella have permission to read my entries in
the journal as well.”

Poppa turned his attention to the box.
Intrigued, she watched as he reached inside. First, he handed her
what appeared to be a piece of paper. Instead, it was a portrait of
her momma with her uncles, and her grandparents.

“They are so young.” She looked at their
faces. “Ugh, Momma.” Hope looked at her father. “Even at this age,
she did not appear happy.”

He shook his head. Her focus dropped down the
the photograph.

“I am not accustomed to seeing Uncle Marcus
in royal attire.”

“Nor am I, yet this is your heritage.”

When he removed the crown from the box, Hope
stared at it. She could vision the words her momma had written in
the diary regarding the crown. The emotions and pain her momma felt
surfaced. Hope's eyes filled with unshed tears. “This isn’t
something I expected to see.”

“I suggest you show this item to Adam, Alex,
and Rose. I never want to see it again.”

“I don’t want that. Momma despised that
crown.”

“Yes, she did. What you do with this is your
decision.” Poppa’s eyes glistened with tears.

There were so many times in her life Hope
wanted her momma. When she needed her momma. It wasn’t God’s will
her mother wasn’t with them. Her momma felt trapped and Anna didn’t
help her. Her own brothers couldn’t help her. Overcome with
emotions, Hope’s tears broke free. Comforted by Poppa's warm
embrace, she sobbed.

“I’d like to spend an hour with her, Poppa. I
want to talk to her.”

“So do I. There isn’t a day that passes I
don’t miss her. I want to hear her voice and see her smile. Over
the years we’d have enjoyed some wonderful conversations.”

“I lack memories.” She rested her head
against Poppa’s chest as the tears streamed down her cheeks.

“Why the tears?” Adam asked.

Hope looked at the doorway to see her
husband. “Oh my gosh. How long have you been standing there?”

“Only a moment.”

Poppa pulled back from the embrace.

“Why are you crying?” Adam asked.

“Hope will explain,” her poppa said, wiping
his own cheeks. “I’m returning to my room. I love you, Hope.”

“I love you, Poppa.”

Once Hope settled herself, she removed the
portrait from the box and handed it to her husband. Then she showed
him the crown. A long discussion followed.

* * *

“Ah, geez. You should have warned me
Alexander.” Keeghan wiped the tears from her own eyes. “Normally
when you think of a life, you think of how they made the world a
better place. Their positive contributions. Stewart and Hope’s
lives and those around them improved because of Natasha’s
death.”

“Indeed,” Alexander admitted. “Her death was
unfortunate. Nana Natasha would have been a remarkable woman.”

“I can’t imagine growing up without both my
parents.”

“Neither can I,” Will admitted, placing his
arm around her shoulder.

Alexander pointed to the screen.

* * *