Page 65 of Once Upon A Time

Dieter had impregnated this child’s mother right around the time he had broken it off with Flicka that terrible night.

Maybe shortly afterward.Veryshortly. Like during that first month when Flicka had sobbed herself to sleep in Kensington Palace every night.

He must have knocked up Alina’s mother withindaysof walking out on Flicka.

Maybe even before.

Maybe that waswhyhe’d walked out on Flicka, because he’d been screwing around and knocked up another woman.

Flicka carefully slid the child to the floor. “Go to Daddy.”

Alina bobbled across the wooden floor toward Dieter.

Flicka turned on her heel and marched up the staircase to go see Reagan.

Inside, Flicka was a broken twenty-one-year-old girl again, weeping in a heap on the floor, but her shiny suit of armor marched right the hell up the stairs, her face immobile, to do what she was here to do.

Flicka had left Montreux and come to the Southwest to keep Reagan company, and if—God forbid—something happened to Rae, to make sure her brother didn’t follow his wife into the abyss.

Flicka’s problems didn’t matter at all.

Not at all.

She was married to Pierre now, and it looked like the best decision she had ever made.

Evidently, there was no way things could have ever,everworked out between Flicka and Dieter Schwarz.

Behind her, both Dieter’s and Wulf’s voices called her name, but she kept climbing the stairs.

Sisters

Flicka von Hannover

Anything.

Absolutely anything.

Flicka reached the door to Wulfram’s—now Wulframand Rae’sbedroom—and pushed it open. Bookcases lined the walls, the books arranged in a flowing rainbow of color. The wall of windows overlooked the sparkling lap pool in the center courtyard.

A lumpy bundle was lying on the bed.

When Flicka came in, Rae lifted her head quickly, surprised. Her coppery hair was mussed and wild.

Tears streaked her face, and her nose was blushed pink.

She said, “Flicka,” and reached her hand across the sheets.

Flicka ran to the side of the bed and dropped to her knees beside the mattress. She grabbed Rae’s warm hand. “Oh, honey. I came as soon as I could get here. Don’t you worry about the wedding arrangements. I’ve called the important people, and I’ve got five admins working on the rest. We’ll do this later. I’ll make it perfect for you, I promise.”

“I’m worried about Wulf,” Rae said.

“I know,” Flicka said.

“It’s stupid. It’s too self-important, but if something happens to me—”

“I know.”

“He’s being stoic and strong. I’m scared for him.”