Chapter 165

"What should I wear?" She asked, walking into the bedroom from her shower.

"Something comfortable. We will be going to a few different places." Erik said, leaving her to it.

Pearl looked through her clothes. She looked at the professional dresses she brought for Seattle. She picked out a dark purple sheath dress, tailored in a sophisticated, three-quarter sleeve silhouette with a fitted and figure flattering waist with a belt that fell an inch above her knees. She figured if she was going to be galavanting around town with a prince, she might as well look like Jackie O. She put her hair in a low, messy bun and left tendrils in the front. She put on open toe heels and light, natural looking makeup. Good enough, she thought.

She walked down the stairs to find Erik and Charles in the foyer. Erik looked at her with pride and smiled. Charles leaned toward him. "I told you, Erik. She is a princess." He said.

"Yes, Charles I do believe you are right." He said, still admiring her proudly.

"Are you two just going to stand there all day gawking or are you going to pick up your jaws and take me somewhere. I don't go on many dates, and let me tell you fellas, date night is highly underrated." She said, walking past them and out the front door. Charles laughed and patted Erik's chest. "Come along then. We better get on it." He said.

They pulled up to a small building with a few apartments in it. Jim looked at Charles and Pearl looked at Erik.

"What is here?" She asked.

"You'll see." Erik said.

They pulled to the front and an older woman with a big smile came rushing out to greet them.

"Your highness. Ma'am. It's an honor to have you here." She said. "Come in." She led them through the front door and into a large community room. Several women smiled and waved hello, or came up and introduced themselves. There were children running and playing, coloring and laughing, playing with various toys around the room.

"Welcome to the New Hope transition house of Los Angeles." The woman said. Pearl looked at Erik. He smiled at her and put his head down. She smiled with adoration back. They walked around and introduced themselves to every woman in the room.

A little boy came running up and clung to Pearl's leg. "You're really pretty, like a princess" the little boy said

Pearl smiled and looked up at Erik, blushing.

"Thank you very much. I think you're quite handsome, yourself." She said, crouching down to look at him. "As handsome as a prince." She said. The boy smiled and hugged her. Erik felt his heart might burst watching Pearl interact with all the women and children the way she was. She talked and laughed and was able to relate to them in a way someone that came from privilege couldn't. She was organic in her care for them.

"I can't tell you how grateful I am for this charity."

A young woman said. "It absolutely saved my life, my face was a punching bag and he tried to kill me more than once. He did it in front of my son. A nurse at the hospital gave me this number and I couldn't have gotten out of that house if it wasn't for you." She said. Pearl felt the tears welling in her eyes. She hugged the woman and told her she was so proud of her for how courageous she was for her son. Erik felt his emotions pouring over and he wiped a tear running down his cheek.

"I have hope. I never had hope before. I mean, look at the both of you. I've never seen two people more in love in my entire life. That gives me hope that maybe I can find that too, someday." The woman said. Pearl looked at Erik. He smiled at her, and her eyes told him she understood.

"I mean everybody's talking about the two of you. On tv, online. When is the wedding?" she asked.

"Oh. Ha. I don't know about that you know,

we're just really good.." Pearl said and Erik cut her off.

"Someday, perhaps." He said, putting his hand on hers and holding it.

They spent the rest of the afternoon there, taking pictures with everyone, playing with the children and signing autographs.

They said goodbye and walked to the car. "Erik, that was so wonderful. Thank you for taking me there." Pearl said. He helped her into the car and sat next to her. "Thank you for being so fantastic with everyone today. You are an Angel." He said. "I'm starving. Ready for the next part of our date?" He asked.

"Definitely." She said.