The Swedish Prince (#Royal Romance 1)

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f I ask him. But he just started a job as a mechanic at a local garage

” I said

u s

her but we don’t have money for a babysitter.” An

I was a better mother–scratch that, I am not their mother—but if I was better at settin

. With this family now,

talking about me?” C

like April, he’s immune. He shovels corn flakes–or No Name Flake

l my

” Pike says, pouring himself a cup of cof

eats more cer

o grow up to b

ls as she dumps her plate in th

microwave cloc

grab an apple and then yell, “Okay

ortunately, my parents didn’t have a lot of money

s a much-needed minivan to take place of the broken-down piece

h he then fixed up. Everyone else has to wait until they’re eighteen to claim t

t blam

own and sits on a hill above both Highway 58 and busy train tracks, providing rumbling and endless

of her supreme elbowing, while Thyme, Callum and April climb in the back. I honk goo

scorching summer weather is already here, they ca

hool is closest, then the girls, and take

arents, there was no more unive

y stuff back home. Good friend that she is, she even came a few

tag team me together and on those days I just wanted to lock myself in the bathroom, get in the bathtub and cry. I did that a few times, wa

ings with lawyers and insurance companies, police and coroners, teachers, schools, funeral homes, neighbors. W

ere in town but even that was a bit much since she was friends with my mot

tting to work. It’s only a ten-minute drive from one end of town to the

turn to my mom and dad

t have to feel the grief as much but when I do find those moments alone, in the car or in

e for work. I have no time to reflec

’m a step above where I used to be when I was a teenager. Actually, I’ve taken over

I forgot mine in the washing machine at home), then climb into the backseat and get dressed. I’ve become a pro

he back entrance, hoping to head straight

n right into Ju

ys to me in her no-nonsense voice.

rantically tying my hair back. I h

off the kids,” she says, the stern features of her face me

ryly. “Also, I wouldn’t be able to do it without

get out of her way

thankfully everyone has been really supportive and understanding, Juanita included. I just know

sure what th

I can’t af

ccupation, especially a no-frills one by the highway that coun

cleaning up after people, washing the shit out of the sides of the toilets (literally), finding

g family, maybe it’s because I used t

ger, being on the poor side didn’t affect me as much as you would think. This isn’t a prospero

orld I could have had…I hate how society looks down on people like me. Housekeepers, cleane

e on the job, making snide comments, giving you dirty looks when you’re just trying to get by, compl

dmit, there is something rewarding about it, the fact that when you step into a room that looks like a bomb went off and you manage to make it look comp

section on this floor and

ping,” I

espo

Not Disturb” sign on the doorknob. “House

nd the door ope

, just to make sure that there isn’t anyo

ly run into a man walk

Like, a fu

aked, beas

away from me down the room. He doesn’t seem to hear me.

be one of those encounters that I’ve heard about from other housekeepers, where there’s a na

this

ake my ey

y should but he

rg

y broad shoulders, sinewy mus

his

god, h

tawny skin makes it seem extra firm, like a juicy peac