Page 21 of The English Queen

“Well, people do when Dad shows up and makes fun of us. When he came to the science fair, he embarrassed Tony to no end,” Gerry said.

Winston never went by Tony anymore. It stuck when he was younger, but at school he hated it when Gerry or George called him Tony.

“He made fun of my project. I got third out of all ages. Third. I worked so hard, and I won my school division and for my house,” Winston sighed. “But he took the piss and… it really hurt my feelings.”

“I am sorry,” Rita said. “Your project was excellent.”

“You and Bruno were supportive. Dad said it was a waste of time. He hates that I am a nerd. He wants me to be anything but. I wish I had a dad like Cousin Robbie. He’d expect me to do well at school. Natalie is so clever. He always gives her compliments and encourages George to do well. My Dad will never!”

It broke Rita’s heart.

Bruno shrugged. “Well, not everyone values academic talent. My family did. My father wanted us to excel at school. And we did work hard. Sometimes, he expected too much and sometimes it was stressful. But your mother and I see you both working so hard. Being smart is good, but you also have to put the work in. Both of you do that so well.”

“I know, Bruno. Thanks. I want to be like you and Grandpa and run a business someday. So can we just not invite Richard, Mummy?” Winston whinged.

“No,” Rita sighed. “He is your father. That said…”

She looked at their sweet little faces wanting nothing more than to separate their academic lives from their father’s bullying. As a mother, it killed Rita anyone would want to change her perfect little humans–good, motivated young men. Richard hated Gerry’s compassion. He loathed Winston’s instinct to protect Rita and to speak up for Natalie. He thought it was because of Rita’s “coddling” of her boys. Rita knew children deserved to be loved, snuggled, and protected. It didn’t matter what their gender was. As a mother, it was her job to do just that.

“I told him I wasn’t going to remind him about things he could read in the newsletter if he bothered to open it. I can’t un-invite him. I can, however, forget to remind him.”

Winston jumped up and hugged Rita. “Thank you, Mummy! Thank you, thank you!”

His tight squeeze made Rita wince in pain. Her breasts had been so tender this pregnancy that anything set them off.

“Bruno, will you come?” Gerry asked.

“To what?”

“Dad’s weekend,” Winston said. “It’s stupid but it’s important to people.”

“I think Cousin Robbie is going,” Gerry added. “You wouldn’t be alone.”

“If you’d like me to be there, I can be,” Bruno looked chuffed. “Sure. Of course.”

The boys smiled.

“I’m not sure if Cousin Robbie will attend. Boys, I need to tell you about two things before you leave with your father this weekend. The first is very sad and it means we will be seeing less of Cousin Vanna and Cousin Robbie.”

The boys looked at her, concerned. Bruno was perplexed.

“Are we blacklisted again by Great Aunt Maggie?” Winston sighed.

“No, no. Where did you hear that?”

“The Internet,” the boys answered in unison.

“No, not that. Vanna told me something horrid today. Robbie will be… busy from this point forward. Aunt Maggie is very, very sick with brain cancer. Georgie, Natalie, and Paul are finding out right now and I suspect George will communicate with you about it this weekend.”

“But the doctors can help her.” Gerry’s voice was still so sweet and innocent.

Rita wished it were true.

“They will–a bit. She will have surgery this coming week. It will be immeasurably hard on Georgie and Nat. However, it will only give her about a year or a year and a half to live.”

“So, Cousin Robbie will be King?” Winston put it together.

“Correct. And he will be acting as such–is already. He will be Prince Regent. He was before you were old enough to remember, too. When she was undergoing cancer treatment the first time. But this isn’t breast cancer and it’s not curable. It’s sad. Mummy is gutted. Granny will be broken-hearted. We will need to support her. She is learning from Auntie right now. I am so sorry, boys.”

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