Excitement lit up Lexi’s eyes. “Mom, remember the story about the princess and the pea?”
While I stood there horrified, Lexi catapulted onto the bed and bounced, as if searching for that pea. “Lexi.”
The one word was all she needed. Now, that was a switch. Back home we’d bickered about everything from why aspartame in soda was bad for you to how much gas to put in the car.
Our guide frowned as Lexi slid from the comforter and ran to the french doors.
I peeked around her shoulder, well aware that the woman behind us was taking in our reactions. “Oh, my. How gorgeous.” I squeezed Lexi’s shoulders.
“Do these open?” With no hesitation, Lexi yanked the french doors open. Fresh air bathed us as she stepped out onto a balcony.
“Oh, my.” In the terraced gardens below, a series of fountains cooled the summer air, surrounded by beds of red, pink and orange blossoms. Their perfume brought to mind exotic places I’d always wanted to visit.
Stone paths wound through the gardens below. The topiaries had been trimmed with an eye to pleasing shapes. On either side of the fountains and gardens stood tall hedges. “Are those mazes?”
Behind us, the woman had fallen silent, straightening an embroidered linen cloth on one of the tables that sat between two boudoir chairs.
“What’s a maze?” Lexi turned. “I’m hungry.” With that, she pointed to her mouth with one finger as if she were one of the sea lions at the Pittsburgh zoo, hoping to be fed.
Did the woman’s upper lip lift? I was probably just being sensitive. “Snack trays will be brought.”
Snack trays? My stomach growled. “That would be lovely. Thank you.”
A man appeared with Lexi’s luggage. “Thank you,” I said. Lexi set her suitcase on the leather rack at the foot of the bed and got busy. The top drawer of an ornately carved chest of drawers gave a dry groan when Lexi pulled on it. “This thing’s stuck.”
“Gentle, gentle.” Stepping over, I eased the drawer open and met the smell of dry wood. This drawer had not been opened in quite a while. At the door stood the silent woman, whose eyes missed nothing.
“Don’t go anywhere,” I warned Lexi as I headed for the door. “Maybe it would be better if we shared a room.” How would I ever keep an eye on her?
“Oh, Mom. Don’t worry so much.” Scooping up an armful of concert T-shirts, she dumped them into the drawer.
“You are ready?” Weariness laced the woman’s voice as if the last few minutes had taxed her strength...or her patience.
“Yes, of course.” The warmth in the hallway smelled stale as I reluctantly left Lexi’s room. My clothes felt wrinkled and worn after the long flight. “When will I meet King Marco?”
A tiny line etched itself between her deep-set eyes. She played with a necklace I hadn’t noticed. The stone suspended from a gold chain looked like a huge sapphire. “At his convenience.”
Oh, my. Really? “Of course.”
As she swirled away from me. I was tempted to call out, “Don’t forget the snack trays.” But I was too exhausted. She disappeared.
“Did you tip her?” Lexi had crept up behind me.
“Honey, I don’t think this is a tipping situation.”
But what were the rules here? And where were we? “Are you finished with your unpacking?”
“Not really. Be right back.”
Head throbbing, I started putting my things away. The plush carpet was thicker than anything I’d ever walked on before. Like Lexi’s room, my bed was accessible by a small staircase. Rich gold brocade draperies accented the tall, arched windows, matching the spread and bolsters. The french doors opened onto a balcony. I pulled the paned glass doors open, drinking in the fresh air.
Lexi’s balcony was just to the right of mine, but far enough to be private. Thick vines crept up the wall. Looking down, I released my breath. The vines might be strong but we were a long way up. Going back inside, I began to put away my clothes, not that it took long. When I opened a dresser drawer, I found a soft green blanket and tossed it on the bed. The armoire worked for anything that needed a hanger, and I hung up my coat and some dresses. Although I’d hoped the one door between the windows and my bed led to Lexi’s room, it opened into the fanciest bathroom I’d ever seen. The dark marble floor accented the white marble counters with gold faucets. The deep clawfoot tub would have pleased Charlemagne. How I longed to slip into a pool of warm water. But not now.
The huge mirror told me that this had been a rough trip. Forty-two and I looked like fifty. My hair felt stiff and I ran a hand over my dry skin. I rarely wore makeup. Going back into the bedroom area, I eyed the bed.
After pulling up the soft blanket, I fell asleep on the bed. Sometime later, I heard a discreet knock on the door before it opened. The chatter of crystal made me smile. Someone dressed in red slid a tray onto one of the circular tables. The snack tray? The door whispered shut. Was eating in bed allowed? Hopping down, I carried the tray to the bed and settled back again. Lexi was right. This sure felt like a fairy tale.
I devoured the triangular quarters of a ham sandwich on rye with a soft white cheese. The soda refreshed me but not enough to keep me from slipping back into sleep. In my dreams, I was in a fountain, trying to breathe while the water took me under.
