“You don’t have to say anything, little brother. You’re family,and family comes first. Always.”
It was only a few minutes later that the doctor came in, and after a flurry of questions and answers we learned that the surgery had gone fine, the tumor was smaller than they had estimated, and we would be able to see Hannah soon.
After the doctor left, we all hugged one another and celebrated Hannah’s good prognosis. But I wanted to see her with my own eyes.
It was almost an hour later before they finally started letting visitors in to see her. Officially only family was allowed in at this time, but Hannah’s parents made an exception for us. I waited impatiently in the waiting room with my family as Hannah’s parents went in and saw her. Then her brother. Finally, after what felt like eons, it was my turn.
She looked so small and pale in the hospitalbed. Her eyes were closed, so I assumed she was still resting. Quietly closing the door behind me, I crossed the room and sat in the chair closest to her bed and looked my fill. A TV murmured in the background, but I didn’t pay any attention. I couldn’t look away from the beautiful sight of my Hannah alive and only centimeters from me.
“Hey,” she whispered softly.
“Hey, how do you feel?”
“Prettygood. Wait, am I still dreaming, or is that your brother and mother behind you?”
“I think you’re still loopy from the drugs,mon chou. My family is—” I broke off as I heard my brother’s voice behind me.
“Hannah is currently receiving treatment for stage one thyroid cancer in Las Vegas.”The taped piece on the local news channel showed Bastien standing in front a large group of press personnel,wearing the same clothes I saw him in earlier.“And our family is here to give her our support. We would ask that you please respect her privacy at this time. Thank you.”
“Prince Sébastien!”
“Prince Sébastien! Do you have anything to say about Princess Helene and your engagement with her?”
“Prince Sébastien! Do you have any comments about Princess Helene’s latest photos?”
“Prince Sébastien!”
“Oh, my god.” Hannah gasped as she watched Bastien smile tightly on the TV screen. “Did he do that for me?”
“He did. Bastien knew that if he were the one to give the statement, then all the press coverage would focus on him and his scandal. It’s his way of apologizing for the way he treated you in Monaco. He considers you part of the family now. Both he and Mum are here, waiting for their chanceto visit with you.”
“Oh, my god. Wow.” Hannah dabbed at the tears welling in her eyes. “That’s so sweet.”
“You did the impossible,mon chou.You put my family back together aftermon Pèreand Julien’s deaths tore us apart.”
“Luc.”
“Am I allowed to say the things I wanted to say on the ride over here this morning?”
“That depends.”
I raised an eyebrow at her teasing tone. “What does it dependon?”
“On whether or not you’ll let me go first?”
“Always.”
Hannah smiled shakily at me. “I love you, Luc. I think I loved you from the first moment I saw you on the other side of that awful karaoke bar. You made me laugh and you made me cry. You took me places I never thought I’d ever be able to see. I can’t wait to find out where you take me next.”
“That’s my line.” I smiled at her even astears welled in my eyes.
“Fine, you go now.”
“I love you, Hannah. You have been this great, amazing whirlwind in my life. You made me think about things I’ve taken for granted. You’ve been the first person who wanted to know me, the man, and not the prince. You’ve made my life worth living again. And I want to make sure that I’ll always have you in my life. So, Hannah, will you—” I got out ofmy chair and went to kneel at her bedside, as Hannah shrieked.
“No! Don’t you dare!”
“Er, what?”
