Page 115 of Royally Yours

“Thank you.” Knox smiled from ear to ear and leaned into Connor and whispered, “I blame the pumpkin ale and cat costume she wore at Halloween.”

“Dude!” Connor exclaimed. “That’s my sister, gross!”

Knox let out a boisterous laugh. He was always giving Connor shit, just like any older brother would. I gave him a playful slap across the knee and shook my head. He wasn’t wrong; we had absolutely conceived our baby on Halloween night at the palace’s party, but he definitely didn’t need to let my brother know that.

After all the presents were unwrapped and the room wascleared of the explosion of wrapping paper, the kids played together on the floor with their new toys and electronics while the adults sat on the sectional in a haze from the enormous breakfast.

“I’m going to head upstairs and shower and get ready for dinner at the palace,” Knox said.

“Us too,” Colleen announced, giving Connorthat look.

As they cleared out of the room, my dad came and sat next to me, placing his arm along my shoulders and pulling me into his side in a sweet, fatherly embrace.

“I’m so happy for you, Bernadette,” he said softly, pride in his voice. “Not just about the new baby, but for this entire life you have built for yourself.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I replied, tears filling my eyes. I blamed my hormones since they were all over the place lately. It definitely wasn’t the fact that my dad was being so sweet.

“Your mom would be so proud of you.” His own eyes started to fill up with unshed tears.

“Aw, Dad. I know she would be. She would love being here in this winter wonderland surrounded by her grandkids.”

I never thought that I would be able to sit and talk about my mom, especially on Christmas of all days, with my dad. But here we were, making strides of progress and talking about the “could haves.” Regardless of what the pregnancy hormones were doing to me, I knew that this moment was special and a huge win in the healing column for both of us.

“I have two boxes of white-chocolate-covered Oreos in the pantry. Want to go open one up? For Mom?” I smiled.

“I would love that,” my dad smiled as he kissed the side of my head.