Eric loved riding the train as it snaked through the high mountain valleys toward the summer home of his family. He had finished his finals at university just two days before and had planned a brief holiday with friends when he got the dreaded call from his grandfather. His father had been killed in a mountain climbing accident and he was summoned home.
Eric looked up as the door to his coach slid open and Major Gaberal VonHelding stuck her head in. “Sir, we should be arriving in fifteen minutes.”
“Thank you, Major. Come in please,” Eric said as he motioned to the seat facing him. “Have a seat.”
“Sir, I shouldn’t.”
Looking up Eric pleaded “Gabby, please sit with me for a few minutes.”
Looking over her shoulder she nodded then sat down. “Just for a few minutes, sir.”
Eric glared at her. The Major blushed then with a slight smile, “I’m sorry. I meant Eric.”
“We’ve been together for what; six years? And you still insist on calling me sir when we are alone.”
“Eric, as head of your security I take my job very seriously. Your grandfather would have my head if anything happened to you.”
Looking out the window Eric sighed, “Any idea what we are walking into?”
“Word of your arrival has gotten out. The station has been secured and the press will be kept as far away as possible. The streets to the castle will be lined with several thousand citizens. We aren’t expecting any problems, they just want to show their respects.”
“What about tomorrow?”
“Your father's body and the family will return on this train to the capital. Your father will lie in state at the Cathedral for two days. The state funeral will be Friday with interment in the family crypt.”
Eric sighed at the thought of what was to come.
“Eric, how are you handling this?”
Rubbing his eyes Eric sighed, “I’m sad that he died. We were never close. I barely new him; it was grandmother that raised me. Once I was sent to boarding school the only time I saw him was on the holidays.”
“Eric, he was still your father.”
“Gabby, in the last six years do you know how much time he has spent with me?”
“I don’t know. Most of the family holidays.”
Shaking his head Eric said, “Only five days. And none of them were my birthday.”
There was light rap on the door. Looking up, the Major nodded. “We’re coming into the station.”
Lynn Harless returned to her office after a three-hour working lunch.
“How did everything go?” Janet, Lynn’s assistant, asked.
“Great, we got everything we asked for,” Lynn wearily said. “Do I have anyone scheduled this afternoon?”
“No. You’re free.”
“Good. I need some quiet time. They are supposed to messenger over the contracts later. Let me know when they arrive.”
Entering her office Lynn pulled the blinds darkening the room. Kicking off her shoes she picked up the remote and turned on the television. Surfing through the channels she stopped on an entertainment channel. ‘I wonder if Justin or the boys have done anything lately that’s news worthy.’ Lynn thought with a slight smile.
Lynn sat through the show relieved that the only mention of the boys was the report of their tour playing to sell out crowds.
Continuing to surf the channels Lynn paused at CNN. A late breaking new flash caught her attention.
“Tragedy struck the little Principality of Livonia with the loss of Albert Frederick - Crown Prince of Livonia. Prince Albert lost his life while mountain climbing on Monday. A state funeral is to be held on Friday.” The news anchor said. “The new heir to the throne of Livonia, is the Prince’s twenty-three year old son Eric. The new prince will be installed as Crown Prince in a couple months when he reaches the age of twenty-four. So ladies, there is soon to be a new prince of Livonia. And this new prince is unattached.”
Lynn sat in her darken office totally stunned. Holding herself in a hug as she rocked in her chair she silently wept, her grief only broken with a soft chant, “Oh, Albert, my poor Albert.”
Chapter 1
Reconciliation
Lynn pulled into her parking space at Wright Entertainment Group. Getting out of her car she took a long look at the big limo parked outside the main entrance. Entering her office Lynn asked, “Morning, Janet. What’s with the limo out front?”
“Visiting big shots. Johnny is meeting with some foreign minister about *Nsync’s European tour.”
“I thought everything was set for that tour,” Lynn said with a frown.
“I don’t know anything about that,” Janet said. “Here is your mail and you have a visitor waiting in your office.”
“I didn’t have anything scheduled this morning,” Lynn said. “Does he have an appointment?”
“Johnny made the appointment this morning. He said you would find this young man very; interesting.”
“Really? What’s his name?”
Glancing at the note pad on her desk Janet said, “Eric Richard. . . . . . Oh, Lynn, he’s really cute.”
Entering her office Lynn found a young man sitting with his back to her. “Good morning, Mr. Richard, my name is Lynn Harless. How may I help you?” Lynn said as offered her hand in greeting.
Eric rose and took Lynn’s hand but said nothing as her smiling expression turned to stunned recognition. Placing his other hand on top of Lynn’s Eric smiled, “I’m sorry if my visit is upsetting you.”
Lynn broke her gaze of the young man before her, “No. Not at all. It’s just you look so much like your father.”
Looking at the couch against the wall Eric nodded toward it. “Shall we have a seat?”
As they sat down Eric released Lynn’s hand. Reaching into his inside suit pocket he pulled out a large envelope. “My father asked that I deliver this to you in person.”
Lynn took the envelope form Eric. The envelope had yellowed with age but her name could be clearly made out and the wax seal was still in place. “Do you have any idea of what’s in here?” Lynn asked nervously.
“I imagined it’s similar to the letter I received,” Eric stated.
My Darling Lynn,
For some reason I hope you and Eric never have to read these letters but that is just wishful thinking.
You were and still are the one true love of my life. I have never gotten over what my father forced us to do. It was not right to take our son from your arms and forbid you any contact. My father's sense of what would be proper and acceptable in the eyes of the Livonian people was wrong. But as you know I was a coward when it came to confronting my father. And I regret every day that I let it happen.
I can only imagine the pain that my family has caused you. Not having any contact with Eric was unreasonable. I am truly sorry for what we have done.
I would like to report that Eric’s childhood was a happy one. But I really don’t know what his childhood was like. You see ; I also lost my son at that time. My mother and father took over the raising of our son. I was a father in name only. My father saw to it that my duties as Crowned Prince kept me busy and traveling. I was expected to make an appearance for holiday’s and family functions. Other than those times I had very little contact with our son. At the age of eight Eric was sent off to boarding school in England. That meant that what little contact I had was cut even more. The last few years we have been able to get together only for Christmas. And then it is only for one day before he goes off for a skying holiday with his school mates.
As I’m writing this Eric has started his first year at Cambridge University. Last week I stopped by to see him, unbeknownst to my father, and we spent the afternoon getting to know each other. To my delight I found Eric to be a happy, bright, and well adjusted young man in spite of my parents. influences,
Eric has always been told his mother died when he was still an infant. He has never questioned this story because in the family crypt there is a headstone with the name of the woman he has been told was his mother.
After our visit last week I so wanted to tell him the truth about his mother but I could not get up the courage to confront my father about the subject. So this is my cowards way of correcting this grievous error in judgment. With these letters I hope to make amends for all that I and my family have done to both of you.
I am not sure how Eric will take the news about his mother being alive and living in America. I pray he will forgive me for all that I have done.
Lynn, the young man sitting across from you is our son. A product of our love for each other. Truly the one good thing that I am proud to acknowledge about my pitiful life.
Please take some time to get to know each other. You may be surprised at how much alike the two of you are. When I see Eric smile I see your smile. He has your stubborn streak, I see it when he stands up to his grandfather and wont back down.
Please give each other a chance and maybe, just maybe the two of you can find a spark of love. The love that you both deserve.
All my love to the both of you,
Albert
As Lynn finished reading the letter she wiped a tear from her cheek and sighed.
“This is awkward,” Eric said. “How about we start over. Hi, my name is Eric Frederick, I’ve been told that you are my mother.”
TBC