Page 95 of The English Queen

“Let’s not count our chickens before they hatch,” Beth said.

Louis smiled. “Well, for now, I’m happy.”

Beth wasn’t surprised by Louis’s reaction. She knew he would be happy when it happened. They’d gone about their business living their lives. Beth didn’t want it to seem like pressure. She didn’t want to worry about using a thermometer or peeing on ovulation strips They had been lucky to avoid it. He was chuffed. It was sweet. Maybe Louis was happy to be a dad after all?

“I promise to stop taking up all the space in this courtyard. It’s not my moment. I’m sorry.”

The whiplash was real. She was terrified to hear her mum stepped back. She was also happy for her brother not learning the news when her mother passed. Now, he could take over and live a bit. Vanna and the kids had time to adjust. It was better this way, but was the end of things. And here Beth had a beginning. It was hard to reconcile it.

“You don’t need to apologise,” Robbie said. “I’m glad to have a reason to be happy.”

He was there with an upset Paul.

Beth stretched her arms. “Paul, darling, do you need a hug?”

Paul, lip quivering, nodded. He buried his face in her skirt and she rubbed his back.

“Darling, I will always love you. You will always be so dear to me.”

“We will always love you, Paul,” Louis added. “That’s what family is for. You are a special guy. Your aunt loves you very much.”

Beth nodded. “Love isn’t divided. It’s multiplied.”

Paul looked at her for confirmation and scowled at Louis. “I don’t like you for stealing her. And I don’t want you to be my uncle. You are the King of Bacon forever!”

Louis stifled laughter. “I can understand you are upset, but I promise I haven’t stolen your aunt. She’s always going to be around, Paul.”

“No one steals me, alright? Paul, Uncle Louis isn’t a thief. People grow up. Sometimes, they get married and move away. Someday, you might marry and move away. You may have babies of your own. Change is hard. It’s a challenge for everyone. But you know what comes of a challenge?”

“No? What?”

“Opportunities,” Beth pulled his chin towards her. “You will grow. And you can’t grow if you don’t change.”

Finally, and Forever

“I’ve been having contractions… not that this means anything,” Rita said.

They drove home from Windsor.

“I hope she comes soon,” Bruno said. “Mom gets in tomorrow.”

“Trust me. Everyone wants her to come soon. Vanna texts me nonstop, ‘any movement?’ and I am like, ‘no, fuck off, Vanora’.”

“Do you get to say those things to her when she’s Queen, Mummy?” Gerry asked.

“I said it to her before she was even known to anyone as Lady Vanora Morgan, and I will say it to her when she’s Her Majesty. Some things are forever and unchanging. That’s what it’s like having a best friend in life, sweetheart,” Rita pulled a face and shifted in her seat.

“You alright?” Bruno asked.

“Can we switch?” Rita put on her indicator and pulled onto the shoulder.

“Should we go to the hospital, then?” Bruno asked.

“No, but I’m uncomfortable. Can we trade places?”

“Sure, mi amor,” he said as they played fire drill around the car.

Rita settled in and leaned on the console, trying to calm down. These were real contractions. She didn’t want to scare the boys and knew they needed to do the hand off with Richard. He’d be a pain in the arse if the boys weren’t back at five. Rita wasn’t going to say anything more until they reached home. Then, there was an accident. Rita cursed as traffic halted. By the time they crawled to their exit, she was immense pain.

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