First at Last (Updated Version)

Chapter Twenty-Four

After some time of this, Alice approached us, looking pleased, though still her usual haughty self. Too good for a real smile. "Congratulations, Erika," she said.

I grinned and pulled her into a tight embrace. She stiffened in surprise, before reluctantly hugging me back. "Thank you," I said to her.

Her hold on me tightened just a little. "I'm so happy for you," she whispered in my ear.

I pulled back and beamed at her. "Are you off to go find Poppy, then?"

She motioned just over her shoulder, where Poppy stood close by, wearing a lovely gold gown that nearly matched the color of her eyes. Her dark hair was pinned partially up, held in place by matching gold pins. She was absolutely beautiful.

She grinned and waved at me when our eyes met. I hurried over and hugged her as well. When I turned back to Alice her cheeks were slightly pink. "I know it might not be easy, still, for us to be together, but I think it will be all right since we will have each other."

"Of course," I said with a nod. I stiffed when Mother approached, a look of cold detachment on her face. "Well, Erika." She said. "Congratulations on your engagement."

I was in such high spirits that even her sour demeanor could not affect me tonight.

Mother turned to Alice, a look of deep sadness in her eyes that I'd never seen before. "You really did not want to marry the prince, then?"

Alice met Mother's stare and said, "At first, I was resigned to it. I did not mind marrying him, I would have been all right with it. But, then, I . . . met someone and I realized I could never love the prince the way Erika loved him, and I doubted he would ever love me as much as he loved her."

The sadness in Mother's eyes hardened into something cold and dark. Her eyes slid past Alice to Poppy who stood some distance behind her. "You will never be able to love who you want. Not freely. Not without isolating yourself from society."

Alice straightened, her gray eyes matching the ice in Mother's. "Perhaps my priorities are different than yours. Being a social outcast does not sound so bad. Not if I am with her."

"And what if it isn't enough? What if she leaves or things between the two of you do not work out? What will you do then? Will it have been worth it?"

"Absolutely," Alice said, her voice firm and resolute.

Mother turned to me again with a sigh. "Well, I guess it will be enough that you are on the throne instead. We will settle for that after all since you've forced my hand."

I stared at her, uncomprehending, for a long moment before realizing what she meant. "No," I said, louder than I intended. Mother looked taken aback but I forged on. "You have never been my mother in anything but name. You've always treated me horribly and, until recently, I did not even know why. Though, I've never done anything to deserve it. It has never been my fault that you are angry and bitter and I will not put up with it any longer. I'm sorry, but I do not want you in my life anymore. Ever."

Mother's pupils dilated to pinpoints, her nostrils flared, and I almost thought she might raise a hand against me, but she didn't. "And what happens if it does not work out for you? If, one day, he realizes he cannot stand you and decides to throw you out in the streets? What will you do? You cannot come home. You will be all on your own."

I shook my head. "I will think of something at that time, but I don't think that'll ever happen. But after the way you've treated me, I would not come home anyway. I will risk whatever life has to throw at me because I think I can handle after living with you for the last seventeen years."

Her lips thinned and she clasped her hands in front of her. "You will regret this, dear. I know you will. But, fine. If that is what you wish, then, goodbye."

I took a shuddering breath as I smoothed out my dress to give my hands something to do. They shook so badly. I had never stood up to Mother before and I was glad I did, but it left me feeling slightly nauseous and trembling all over.

"I'm sorry, Alice," I said, turning to her. "I hope what I just did does not affect your relationship with Mother, but I could not do it any longer."

Alice shook her head, staring at the place Mother had been. "Everything you said was completely right, Erika. And she knew it. She would never be happy with us because she will never be happy at all. I think what you did was brave and it was something I have never been able to do. She was poison. Her actions and her opinions were poisoning us. Even if she were to change, I think it would take so much to undo the damage she's done that I'm not sure you had another choice." She turned and met my eyes then, looking more earnest and more genuine than I had ever seen her look in my life. "I'm proud of you, Erika."

I swallowed through the lump forming in my throat and blinked the tears away from my eyes. I hadn't realized how much I'd needed to hear that. But I'd needed it so much. "Thank you."

William strode over to me, grinning. He took my hand, the one with the ring over it, and excused us. He led me over to where his parents stood. His father still looked very unamused by the turn of events, but his mother was smiling. Her sapphire eyes locked on mine and she inclined her head slightly. I wasn't quite sure, but something told me she'd expected this all along.