Page 16 of Royally Benevolent

“You shouldn’t say dick, Pappa,” Linnea reminded. “Or asshole. Or knob. Or wanker. Or fuckwit?—”

“That’s more than enough, Linny, thank you,” Alexandra glared at Rick.

Rick winced. “Vocabularies are like diets—best when colourful andvaried—right?”

10

MR MAYOR

WYATT

“He’s going to want snacks. Don’t give in,” I said. “He won’t eat actual food. I don’t know how to fix it, but it became… a crutch. How do you fix that?”

“You don’t,” Mom laughed. “Sweetheart, you ate two foods between the ages of two and six—bologna and hot dogs.”

“That couldn’t be good.”

“You made it where you are just fine. Children are picky. His choices aren’t a mandate on your parenting, okay? He’s been through so much. If he wants nothing but apple slices this morning, he will get them.”

I grumbled, wishing he’d be the adventurous eater his mothersworehe’d end up if we just kept trying.

“It’s not your fault. Some kids are picky. Some aren’t. By the time they go to college, they all eat whatever,” Mom said. “Go, you have an important meeting. The more you drag it out?—”

“He won’t mind me going if you’re here,” I said. “He has been losing his mind over you coming, Mom.”

She rolled her eyes. “What is it that has gotten you all wound up?”

“Nothing,” I lied.

I still waited to hear from Odette as the next board meeting loomed. We needed to strategise if she would do me afavour and attend. Instead, it was radio silence on that front. I didn’t know why it bothered me so much.

Mom patted my back. “Go say goodbye and head out, Wyatt.”

I entered Theo’s playroom and sat on the floor.

“Papa!” Theo raced over. “I was building a train track!”

“I see that.” I wrapped him in a big hug.

“It will have two engines!”

“Even better,” I said. “We can play with it when I get home. I have to go.”

“Why, Papa?” Theo whined.

“Because I have business. Grandma will stay with you. That’s fun, right?”

“I miss you, Papa.”

“I know,” I said. “And I would much rather stay here and play trains with you, little man. But right now, I have to go meet some people?”

“Who?”

“The Mayor and a prince,” I sighed.

“What is a major?”

I chuckled. “May-or. He’s like the president of the city.”

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