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“Okay. I’m going to the stable to see Storm, now.”
“After you put that away, so we know where it is when we need it,” I call after her as she skips back out of the room.
“Freddy, something’s bothering you, talk to me.”
I glance at the photos of Pippa on the mantel and remember just how scared I was before she was born. And after. And then when Laura died, leaving me to parent on my own.
I made it this far, and she’s thriving.
“Oh, don't mind me. Just borrowing trouble.”
“What is it?” She prods again.
I turn to Alex, and my gaze is drawn towards her belly. Yes. We’re going to be fine.
“I just want everything to turn out perfectly, but I know the world doesn't operate that way. So, I’m going to accept each day I have with my family as the precious gift it is.”
Alex squeezes my hand. “It's going to be fine. As long as we have each other, we'll get through whatever the universe throws at us.”
“We absolutely will. I love you, Alex. And I love our perfectly imperfect family.”
30
Alex
It’s beensix weeks since Freddy and I first hit the press, but more importantly, it’s the third day without any coverage of me on the tabloids and gossip sites.
They are focused on the messier-by-the-day trial of that awful Hollywood movie producer that started on Monday in America, which is infinitely more interesting than me.
I told myself weeks ago that if I could get three days with little to no press coverage, I would do it. And during that time, I made sure every last detail was in place so I could be ready to act quickly.
My heart is pounding by the time I knock on Freddy’s study door.
“Hello, my love. Are you all right? You look a little peaky.”
I don’t know why I’m so nervous. He’s told me time and again these past few weeks that he’s ready whenever I am.
He pats his lap. “Come sit down and whatever it is, just blurt it out. It’ll be fine, I promise.”
Once I’m settled in with his strong arms wrapped around me, I find my courage.
“Would you please marry me on Friday?”
He doesn’t even miss a beat. “I’d love to, but we haven’t given notice, let alone all the other things that go along with a wedding.”
“If we go to Gibraltar, we can get married by special license. No notice period required. We can fly there tonight, do the necessary stuff at the registry office in the morning, and then have a nice quiet ceremony on Friday.”
“Is this what you want?”
On this, I have no doubt. “I’ve been part of more than enough royal weddings. I don’t need one of my own. I just want it to be you, me, Pippa, and if they’re willing, Duncan and Charlotte as our witnesses.”
“What about your parents?”
“All taken care of. They just want me to be happy, and as long as this is what I want—which it is—then they’re on board. However, they did make me promise that they could hold a large reception in the not too distant future to celebrate.”
Freddy chuckles. “Didn’t they make Duncan promise something similar in exchange for staying out of his wedding plans?”
“Yes, they did. Ours will be something far less pompous. And I suspect I can ensure that it is something we won’t hate. Especially if we encourage them to let Pippa help.” My parents have already fully taken on Pippa as their granddaughter, and we’ve had to rein them in when it comes to the spoiling department as they’ve been working hard to make up for lost time.
