Page 7 of Royal Player
I cock my head. “And look where it got me. On probation in Florida for a year.”
“Please,” she begs. “It won’t be that bad. Just hold my hand, interpret French, and say soothing things like, ‘You’re strong! You got this! You can do it!’ I want a natural birth, but I need support.”
I consider this. “So I’m like a coach.” I have some experience coaching young girls in soccer and basketball when I was in high school. Though I must say I don’t see much crossover between the two.Defense! Pass! Shoot!Won’t quite work for getting a baby out.One hundred ten percent, girls!Maybe?
Her eyes light up. “Yes. My birth coach. And don’t tell Gabriel I said this, but we did have private birth classes. Gabriel was so busy trying to direct me, I fear I’ll throw something at him during the real deal. He’s just so used to giving orders.”
I press my lips together, trying not to laugh. Gabriel is a king. Of course he would be commanding no matter what the situation. Anna and I do have a sisterly bond. We both wanted a sister our whole lives since she’s an orphan and I’m an only child. Iwantto be there for her, but I feel nauseous just thinking about it.
I swallow hard. “I heard there’s some gore.”
“It’s not a horror movie. It’ll bebeautiful.” She slowly stands, hanging onto the arms of her chair to balance with her unwieldy stomach. She is freaking huge, and I still don’t see how that gigantic baby is going to come out without some gore. “Come on.” She gestures for me to follow her to the sofa.
I follow behind her, still queasy just at the thought of the birth. “What’re we doing?”
“I recorded some natural birth shows. I want you to see how beautiful it can be.”
I halt, take a deep breath for courage, and then I do the right thing, even though it’s not the easy thing, because I love her. “I’ll be there for yours, okay? That’s the only one I need to see.”
She turns around. “Really?” Her eyes well, and she throws her arms around me. “Thank you!”
I hug her back, feeling like a total jerk for even considering leaving her alone with the best doctor in the world and her loving husband.
“You’re the only family I have left,” she whispers. “Besides my adopted family.” She adopted the Rourkes as her own.
I know what she means. Before the Rourkes, her family was just me and her foster father, Mike. She lost him about eight months ago. I lived with him in Florida until he died, keeping him company during the late stages of lung cancer and bringing what comfort I could. He said I reminded him of a more polite version of Anna. We do resemble each other. She’s bold, like me, though she’s much more outspoken, never having been trained for royal decorum like I’ve been since birth.
I pull back and hold her by the shoulders. “Mike will always be with you. He’s watching over you, and I’m sure he’s just as proud of you as I am. Look at you, a queen, guiding a kingdom from the brink of collapse to a new thriving future.”
“Are you trying to make me cry?” she asks, wiping her eyes. “Geez, Pol, have a heart.”
I smile, my own eyes stinging. “Will Gabriel mind that I’m there? I mean, in the delivery room.”
“I already told him you would be.”
I shake my head with a smile. “Why am I not surprised?”
“He’ll probably be relieved to have some backup. He gets very emotional over my well-being.”
I’m trying to picture it and can’t quite. Gabriel is a formidable presence, usually gruff and serious. Though he smiles for his wife, and he smiles for me because he credits me with bringing them together. Anna took my place in what turned out to be a bridal competition for his hand. We thought it was to collect an inheritance and, boy, did we need the money. It was desperate times, needing funds for a shark lawyer to keep me out of jail. I’d spent what I had with me on the apartment building gift for Anna, and there was no way I could go to my parents. They would’ve disowned me had they known I’d escaped to the US to get away from my chosen husband and then committed a crime. Gabriel ultimately used his considerable connections and funds to keep everything quiet and get me a lesser sentence of probation with a fine. Which is why I have a soft spot for the gruff man.
Anna goes on. “Only problem is when Gabriel gets emotional, it comes out sounding like he’s pissed off.”
“Ah.” That I could see. “Okay, then, it’s settled. I’m going to check on Marge before dinner.”
She walks me to the door. “The doctor will be here tomorrow to check her for strep throat. Just a precaution. Would you like Emma’s maid, Lina, to assist you in the meantime? Emma went off on her honeymoon with only a couple of guards and a hired crew on a large houseboat. I’m sure Lina would love to work for another princess.” Emma is her sister-in-law.
“You know, I think I’ll pass. I’ll enjoy having some privacy for once. My guard has backed off. He’s satisfied with all the palace guards here. I almost feel like I have some real freedom.”
“Jailbird gone free. Look out, Villroy!”
I laugh.
She gets serious. “Are your parents still insisting you marry that awful man?”
I force a neutral tone. “I’ve agreed to marry Peter.”
“I thought you didn’t like him,” she says with a scowl. “You said he’s sleazy.”
