MarcoThree weeks later...Marco stepped out of his bedroom at the same time his father was walking down the hallway.“Marco, you startled me,” Carlo said, his voice still a bit raspy, but getting better. “I just woke up from a nap. I can’t believe how drowsy these pain medications make me.”“You look like you're feeling much better, though,” Marco said.“Indeed I am,” Carlo said. “The tests yesterday went well, too. I'm told that I am completely cancer free, at least for the moment. That's good enough for me.”Marco pulled his father close and hugged him, breathing out a sigh of relief. He'd been waiting anxiously to hear about the test results.“I'm so glad to hear,” he said, squeezing his father affectionately. “Let's keep our fingers crossed that the results continue to stay that way. What do you say?”“I'd say that's a fine plan,” Carlo said, with a smile.Carlo was starting to act like his old self again, and Marco couldn't have been happier. Just three weeks after the surgery,
SabrinaAunt Faye connected the top clasp on the back of the Sabrina's wedding dress, then glanced into the mirror in front of them.“How does it feel?” Faye asked.Sabrina brought her hands down the sides of the dress. An intricate design was hand-sewn throughout, with millions of tiny stitches creating a beautiful pattern.“It feels expensive,” Sabrina said, with a smile. “But also really good.”“I can tell you're nervous,” Faye said, spinning Sabrina around to face her. “Am I wrong?”“I'm nervous, but in a good way.” Sabrina let out a sigh, calming the anxiety in her gut. This wasn't going to be any ordinary wedding. It was super formal, and held many traditions that were foreign to Sabrina. She’d been told the ceremony could last up to three hours, and she had no idea how she would sit through it without bursting from excitement and nerves.“Just take a deep breath,” Faye said, her eyes glowing from the daylight that poured in through the window. “And if that doesn’t work, try to
SabrinaOh God, I hope I don't throw up. What a horrible first impression that would be.Sabrina swallowed down her nervousness and shifted a bit in her seat, twirling her auburn hair in her fingers. Anything to distract herself from the swarm of butterflies that was currently terrorizing the inside of her belly. The eggs and bacon breakfast had seemed like a good idea a few hours ago, but she began to question it now that she was about to face the most important interview of her life and it didn't want to stay down.The air of the small square interview room was cold as the air conditioner refused to turn off. It was a stark contrast to the heavy, humid air outside and in a few more minutes, Sabrina thought she might be able to see her breath. She rubbed her arms, wishing she had worn more than a thin dress shirt. She hadn’t brought a jacket, or even a cardigan. Besides the fact that she didn’t own one that was near nice enough for the occasion, she hadn’t even thought about it until
MarcoPrince Marco strolled across the floor of his hotel suite. It was a nice room, there was no doubt about it. It had the best amenities of any hotel in Memphis, at least that's what Valetta assured him. It was filled with big leather furniture, stainless steel kitchen appliances in the over-sized attached kitchen, and floor to ceiling windows alone the outside wall. It also included a hot tub in the bathroom and a massive balcony that overlooked downtown Memphis.Despite its grandiose appearance, the place was significantly smaller than his own bedroom at his palace on Orsino Island. He didn’t mind, though. It made the trip feel more real. He didn't care if it was the biggest or the best because he was on his own. This was the last time his life would be his own and he was going to enjoy every moment of it.He unbuttoned his white dress shirt and slipped it off of his shoulders, tossing it onto the bed. It was still early in the day, but he already felt accomplished. He had just f
MarcoKing Carlo cleared his throat. “So tell me, Marco, how did the interviews go today? Did you find someone to help you while on your sabbatical?”“I did,” Marco said. Sabrina’s face flashed into Marco’s mind.“And...?”“Her name is Sabrina. She’s from Memphis, Tennessee, born and raised. In fact, she lives just a few miles from the hotel where I’m staying now.” Marco couldn’t hide the excitement in his voice and his father recognized it immediately.“She’s attractive, I take it,” the old man said.“Did I give it away?” Marco asked. He ran a hand through his hair and chuckled slightly.“You always do.”“Well, you’re right. She is very attractive,” he told his father. He couldn't stop the smile as she pictured her face. “There’s something about her that intrigues me. She’s not flashy and vain like most of the women I encounter. She seems simple, but a good kind of simple. There’s an innocence in her that I find myself drawn to.”The king chuckled. “She sounds lovely, Marco. But don’
SabrinaSabrina was on cloud nine as she left the conference room and walked toward the lobby of the hotel. There was a beat of exhilaration and energy in her step, now that the interview was over and she had landed the job of a lifetime.Things are turning around for me, she thought. This opportunity is going to be the new beginning that I've needed for a long time. I can't believe how things are coming together right now.She flashed a confident smile toward the young man working at the hotel's front desk, before striding out of the entrance and into the parking lot. She found her old beat up Toyota Corolla sitting lonely at the edge of the parking lot. She hopped in and turned the key.The engine jerked and then rumbled to a start, causing the worn belts to squeal in agony. While the engine warmed, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed her mother, Anna. It rang four times before she finally picked up.“Hello?” her mother said. Her tone made it sound like Sabrina had interrupted
SabrinaThump-thump, thump-thump-thump.She beat the screen door on the neighbor's trailer with the same rhythmic knock she’d been using since her childhood. It was a pattern that hadn’t changed in almost twenty years.The door hinges squeaked as it opened and Aunt Faye stood in the trailer, smiling wide. She was a stout woman whose weight gave way to a particularly jolly laugh. Like most days, she was wearing a cotton dress and shoes that hugged her tiny feet.She was clearly happy that her goddaughter had paid a visit. It was written all over her face.“Hey, Bean,” Faye said, her English accent formal and friendly at the same time.“Hey, Aunty,” Sabrina said, pulling the older woman in for a hug. The two embraced each other as if it’d been years since they had spoken, even though it had been less than a day.“I bet you have some news for me,” Faye said as they broke from their hug, her eyebrows arching into her gray wispy bangs.Sabrina grinned.“Come inside, love,” Faye said, stepp
MarcoMarco sat in the back of the rented Lincoln Town-car. He was quickly realizing that he was far too tall to be sitting in the back seat.“Valetta, I thought we rented the biggest car we could find,” he said, attempting to stretch his long legs. “I’m cramped back here.”“This is the biggest car they had,” Valetta said, as she looked up into the rear view mirror and smirked. She brought her gaze back to the road as she pulled the car off of the highway and into a suburb near downtown Memphis. “Unless we wanted to rent a limousine, but then that would have defeated our efforts of trying to remain inconspicuous.”“Good point,” Marco said. “I’m starting to wonder if that would have been a better option, though. I'm not sure how we're all going to fit.”“Now, now,” Valetta said. “Neither of us needs the headache of someone realizing that the Prince of Orsino is in the States. Besides, you were the one who wanted to come with me to pick Sabrina up. I was going to send a car so she could