Page 43 of Royally Benevolent

“Don’t look all befuddled, Wyatt Worthington! I love the stuff. I amshitat the trumpet. I tried, but I’m a pianist.”

“That’s awesome,” I said. “Theolovesmusic, but I don’t play anything. He’s big into the arts right now. One of the challenges thus far has been to find a nanny willing to put up with his nonstop art projects.”

“How isthat going?”

“So far, so good. But it’s only been a few days. The person they hired is young and seems interested in interacting with Theo like he’s a person.”

“Good. He’s a person—a little person with a big personality.”

I smiled. Shegotit.

“You love kids, don’t you?” I asked.

“Of course! I live for kids. I’d like a few someday. We’ll see if it ever happens.”

“I said the same when I was your age.”Still making it weird, Wyatt.

“At least you admit it. Most men won’t. It’s okay to like children if you’re a man, right?”

“Right.”

“I never suspected Rick and Alex would havethismany kids, but Rick loved having the one so much they did it again… and again… and again.”

“I thought they had only the three?”

Odette gave a cute audible wince, fixing her hair nervously.

“Well, Alex is pregnant, so she’s been sick. This will be four. Please, please don’t tell anyone. I shouldn’t have run my mouth?—”

“My lips are sealed. Congrats to them.”

A conflicting mix of emotions rolled over me. She’d shared this with me because shetrustedme. That was new and exciting. Then, the loss came back—grief is always there. Grief because we never got to have that second baby. Grief because Isla so badly wanted another. Grief that Theo would never have a sibling. Happiness never won out. Even here, happily rolling along with a person I connected with—despite all odds—I wasn’t happy. Would I ever be satisfied?

25

THE VEEP

ODETTE

Vision International was precisely what I predicted—bright, big, and exciting. The American Vice President brought the hype with her. She was tall, pretty, andglamorous.I couldn’t wait to meet her but tried not to fangirl too close to the sun. It would surprise people to know that evenroyalsget starstruck.

“She’ssocool,” I whispered to Wyatt. He was on his phone, looking through the panels on the summit’s app.

“What? Who?”

“The Veep,” I answered.

He chuckled. “You want an introduction?”

I gaped. “What? Youknowher?”

“Odie, I fundraised for the campaign, and she’s an old friend. Yes. I can introduce you to her. She’s just a normal politician. Curb your enthusiasm.”

“She’s ahorse girl,and she loves Alana Grace. I would die if I met Alana.”

“Who is Alana?” Wyatt asked.

“Thepop star. You’re American. Why don’t you know these people?”

---