Chapter 22 - Plans for the Fourth
After getting back from England and attending a polo game of Harry's, it was the end of June and would soon be the Fourth of July. The Fourth of July was a serious holiday for every member of the Kennedy family. Every Fourth of July was the big family reunion where everyone went to the big family compound and stayed and celebrated the holiday, ate, played sports, swam, sailed, drank, did just about everything under the sun. It was something that I looked forward to every year, especially since I moved out and went to college. I almost never saw my extended family and even my parents and siblings. Anyone who came always had the best time. (And we typically ended up with a good handful of people who weren't even related to anyone, but showed up because they were friends or dating one of us.)
I was bringing Harry along with me. It probably sounds super intimidating since my family is so large, I really didn't want to go alone though. This would be my first time there without Jesse and I just knew that a lot of my extended family would have lots of questions about that whole situation. I would have my family to hang out with but everything is just better when Harry is around. Plus I wanted my family to meet him, we seemed to be getting pretty serious.
It would be odd to bring a British prince to a Fourth of July event though, I do have to admit. Maybe a tad contradictory. Especially since it's when America became independent from Harry's ancestors. But very funny if you ask us.
Harry and I had decided that we would fly down to Boston together and then go on down to Hyannis Port, probably riding with my dad and stepmom, Anne. This way I could stop in Boston to see my mom as well. Since my mom and dad got divorced when I was younger, she obviously didn't come to any more family functions on the Kennedy side unless it had something to do with me or my brothers. I knew my mom would love to meet Harry, she's heard so much about him from me. I knew all of my family would love him.
I also knew that her and my dad and Anne were all very concerned about all the media attention as well as my own safety. They knew all about the headlines, they knew all about the intrusion into my life so much that I had to basically quit my job. I just hope they see how amazing and wonderful Harry is and can overlook the bad stuff. I know I'm trying to.
Before I could even think about packing and traveling and all of that stuff, I was finishing up some work.
Just as I ended a video conference, Harry was calling me.
"Hey." I answered, putting the phone to my ear.
"Hey, babe. What're you doing?" He asked.
"I was just finishing up some work for the next few days since we will be out of town." I said. "What about you?"
"I'm making myself a cup of tea and just looking through some papers for work. After this I'm gonna head to bed. I just wanted to call and tell you goodnight and that I love you."
"Ah. I hope you have a good rest of the night. I love you. I miss you."
"I miss you too. I'll see you tomorrow."
I smiled. He was flying into New York in the morning and then the next day we were flying to Boston together.
"I'm excited for you to get here." I said.
"I'm excited to get there. I have to pack." he said. "What do I pack for a Fourth of July/family reunion?"
"Just whatever you want. I bring red, white, and blue stuff. Bring some swimming trunks And bring a jacket or something, it gets chilly there." I explained. "I'll get you an American flag shirt."
He laughed.
"Oh god, just imagine me getting papped in that." He said. "I can see the headlines now."
I giggled.
We talked for a few more minutes before hanging up.
I got up and put my computer away. I needed to walk the dog, shower, pack, and a bunch of stuff before I could go to bed.
After doing everything that I needed to get done, I slipped into bed and my thoughts drifted onto tomorrow and the coming days.
I was hoping that my family would be nice and easy on him. They can be a bit daunting and ruthless if you've never met them. Well, they can be that way even if you were born into that family.
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-The Next Morning-
I woke up and started to make coffee, it was a big day so I wanted to get moving as fast as possible.
Harry was catching a flight here to New York and we would then drive down to Boston together, visit my mom, and then go to my dad's house where he would be driving him, my stepmom, myself, and Harry down to Hyannis Port tomorrow.
My phone dinged as I was pouring myself a cup of coffee.
good morning baby, i just landed at jfk and getting a cab so i'll see you soon! -H
I smiled, excitement bubbling up in my stomach at the thought of him being close and seeing him soon.
I texted him back that I was excited to see him and I settled onto the couch to enjoy my cup of coffee.
As I waited, I turned the news on and was shocked to see mine and Harry's face on it. It was claiming how we were going on a "weekend getaway" but I don't know how anyone even knew that.
Have I mentioned that to anyone?
I was confused but let it go. People probably just figured that's what we were doing since it would be the Fourth of July soon and knew that my family always has big celebrations for it.
I started dozing off when there was a knock at my door, which sent Peach into a barking fit.
"Oh, calm down!" I said to him and picked him up. "It's just Harry."
I unlocked all of the locks and opened the door to reveal a grinning Harry.
"Hi!" I practically squealed, excited to see him.
It was always so nice when he was at my apartment, it felt like he just belonged there.
"Hello!" he spoke as he wrapped me in a hug. "Hi buddy!"
He scratched Peach's head.
I moved out of the way to let him in and he could set his stuff down.
"Hi." he said and bent down to properly kiss me.
"Hi." My voice barely above a whisper.
"Are you packed?" he asked.
"Yeah mostly. I just have to wait for Tim to get here to take Peach. Then we can load the car up and go." I smiled.
I poured Harry a cup of coffee and we sat down on the couch and waited.
I curled up to him and we sat in a comfortable silence until a knock prompted me to get up.
“Hey!” I greeted and let Tim into the apartment.
“Oh, hi!” Tim sputtered out and bowed to Harry, at the waist and very much wrong. Bless him, us Americans have no idea what we’re doing when it comes to royalty.
“Tim, this is Harry.” I gestured over to Harry and smiled. “Harry, Tim.”
“Hey mate, you don’t have to do any of that.” Harry laughed as he stuck his hand out.
“I’m so sorry, I had no idea.” Tim shook his hand and shook Harry’s hand with both of his.
“Don’t worry about it.” Harry laughed again.
“Well, what’re you two doing over the holiday?” Tim asked as I moved about the apartment getting some of Peach’s favorite toys to put in his little travel bag. (I know, “travel bag” he’s become so fancy these last few months.)
“Oh, nothing wild. Just regular Kennedy Compound Fourth of July celebrations. Eating, drinking, boating, sailing, usual chaos due to there being a thousand and one people there.” I zipped the bag and handed it to Tim. “Thanks for watching Peach, I try to only take him on planes when I visit Harry. Plus he probably wouldn’t like all the little kids trying to pet him and bothering him.”
“Right, it’s no problem. Well, hope you two have fun!” Tim gathered the things and put Peach’s leash on him. “See ya later!”
“Bye, bye Peachy!!” I kissed his little head and waved as Tim walked out back into the hallway.
After I shut the door behind Tim, Harry was standing looking at me with a suspicious look on his face and his arms crossed over his broad chest.
"What?" I asked, confused.
"He seems weird." Harry said.
“Well, I doubt he’s met a prince before.” I joked and patted his hip as I walked past him.
“I’m serious, Beau. I don’t think he’s safe. He seems off.”
“Harry, no! He’s a good friend from work and he’s been so supportive and helpful since we started seeing each other.” I reasoned with him. “Plus he was only here a couple minutes.”
“I just have a bad feeling. Let’s just be careful, okay? Especially you, when you’re here by yourself.”
“I’m a big girl, I’ll be alright.”
"Just promise me you'll be careful, alright?" he wrapped his arms around my waist and looked down at me.
"I promise."
I kissed him.
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
Well, hello everyone! Welcome back!
I hope to update again soon, I'm so excited with where I've planned to take this story so just be patient with me and stay tuned!
Hope you enjoyed this chapter.
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It is with great sadness that we announce the Magic Millions Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park will not take place this year.
Despite great determination from the organising team, the current economic climate has made it unviable for the event to go ahead. Following the adverse weather experienced at Gatcombe last year, which led to the abandonment of the event, and due to the ever-increasing costs associated with operating on a green field site, it has made the event unfeasible to run.
Event Director, Peter Phillips comments, “It is with a heavy heart that The Festival, which has played a significant part in the British Eventing calendar since 1983, cannot run this year. The event has also been a huge part of my family’s lives and those of many others for 40 years.
“It has built up a large community that has enjoyed and celebrated The Festival each year. I would like to thank everyone who has been involved over the past four decades; our sponsors for their unwavering support, the large selection of trade stands and arena entertainment and our spectators who have loved coming to Gatcombe to watch the world-class equestrian sport from the famous Park Bowl.”
Event Chairman, Captain Mark Phillips adds, “The horse trials at Gatcombe and more recently the Festival of British Eventing have been a major part of my life for over 40 years when The Princess Royal and I first had the dream. The dream became reality, and with it, many special memories of the many riders, horses, volunteers, sponsors and spectators all of whom massively contributed to the history of the horse trials at Gatcombe Park.
“It’s truly a great sadness that the original model and indeed the sport has changed so much. Since Covid, costs, particularly insurance, have risen so much that the numbers no longer add up. It is an end of an era, the next 40 years of the sport will be different, let’s hope it can be equally special.”
Rosie Williams, Chief Executive of British Eventing said, “It is incredibly sad news for everyone involved in the sport. My focus this year is very much going to be on how we can implement a strategy that works for the sport going forward. We need to do everything we can to find a way to support our organisers, landowners and stakeholders to make events at wonderful venues like Gatcombe become viable. We will work hard as a governing body to assist in any way we can for the financial risk and burden to be minimised so that we can welcome Gatcombe, and others like it, back into the calendar.
“We will continue to be ongoing in discussions with Peter and the team at Gatcombe and will also be, as a matter of urgency, discussing a tender process for the national championships which will need to find a new home for this season and going forward.”
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