Page 71 of Consume Me

“Where’s the baby?” she asked, her voice an octave higher than normal.

“Madeline.” Alexander stepped in to handle the situation before it became a scene. “As I started to say, I need to speak with you all for a moment. Perhaps, the hall…”

“Nonsense. My daughter is clearly upset. No one even called us to let us know the baby was born.” She fanned herself, casting concerned glances at me with eyes that looked alarmingly wet as well. “What is going on? I’m not leaving her.”

“The baby needed a special surgery,” Alexander kept his voice low in an effort to encourage her to do the same. I doubted that she’d bite on that. “He is in the neonatal unit and can’t have visitors.”

“I can’t see my grandchild?” Madeline’s mouth dropped in horror. Behind her my father was doing a remarkable impression of a coat rack for all the emotion he was showing. “Wait! It’s a boy?”

Her energy shifted immediately and she turned delighted eyes on her husband. “A boy, Harold!”

“I heard,” he said flatly. He glanced to me. “Would you like us to leave?”

It was my father’s natural ability to know when his wife was being too much. He coddled her and guided her as best he could.

“Stay.” I wiped my eyes and then quickly tacked on, “For a few minutes.”

I could use the distraction as long as the conversation steered away from the baby’s condition.

Either my mother understood this or she was easily distracted, because instead of insisting on more details, she started to suggest names.

“He already has a name, Mom,” I stopped her. “William.”

“William,” she repeated it like she was trying it on. It was impossible to tell if she approved. “And the other names?”

My husband sensing this was a topic likely to occupy her took the hit. “We haven’t decided.”

“Oh well, let’s see.”

Alexander shot me a long-suffering look over her shoulder as she launched into a list of what were no doubt the current favorites at the polls.

When the door opened a few minutes later, my sister’s dark head peeked in. “Can we join you?”

I nodded quickly. Lola was even better at keeping our mother in check. But to my surprise, she wasn’t alone. Anders loped in behind her carrying a bouquet of flowers.

“Give her the flowers,” Lola ordered him, planting her hands on her hips. She looked powerful in a striking red sheath dress that dared anyone to question her.

But Anders seemed unimpressed.

“I know how to bring a woman flowers,” he muttered, glaring at her. I could see that my plan to engage my sister’s help in readying Anders for the increased scrutiny he would face as a member of the royal family was going over like a bad date.

“Thanks.” Alexander intercepted them before the moment could become more awkward.

“Can we see the baby?” Madeline asked.

“Only from an observation window.” I knew Alexander wasn’t going to budge on this point. We both wanted William to endure as little stress as possible while he recovered.

“That’s fine.” Madeline hooked her arm through my father’s and marched toward the door. “Lola?”

My sister looked between me and Anders like she was hoping for an out. The issue was that I wanted her there, making sure our mom didn’t make a scene.

“I should…” Alexander looked torn between overseeing this visit and staying with me.

“Anders will be here,” I reassured him. It was strange to consider that would probably ease his concerns given how he’d once felt about his half-brother.

“Georgia’s in the hall,” Alexander reminded me. I heard him launch into the rules—ones I suspected he was making up—as he led them away.

“How are you?” Anders asked softly, placing the flowers on the table next to my bed.