Total pages in book: 53
Estimated words: 50869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 50869 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 254(@200wpm)___ 203(@250wpm)___ 170(@300wpm)
“I’m going to be an aunt,” I gush into the phone. “I’m so happy for you, Tru.”
“I’m happy for you too.”
“Thanks.” I feel myself getting shy. I don’t know why I get bashful when I talk about Wells in this way.
“Any updates?”
“I think yours takes the cake,” I tell her.
“I’ll take the cake and sourdough.” I laugh. “But seriously, what’s going on?”
“No big changes since we last talked.” My brain is still stuck back on her being pregnant. I mean, I knew it was only a matter of time, but how freaking stupid am I?
I haven’t thought about the possibility of being pregnant. Now that I think about it, when was my last period? It was before I’d taken off on this grand adventure that doesn’t appear to have an expiration date on it, though there hasn’t been any talk of getting engaged or married.
“Not even on the land issue?” I’ve kept her pretty up to date on everything going on. My plan had been to tell her everything when she’d gotten back home from her long honeymoon, but I hadn’t thought about how public Wells’ relationship with me would be.
“No,” I sigh. “I’m still digging in the archives, but it’s sucking up a lot of Wells’ time.” He’s been having to work a lot, which I get. It will be a complete mess for Solaria if I don’t find something that will establish their claim. The country would lose that section of land for a ton of residents. I don’t want that to happen either. I’ve already grown attached to the community. I have never felt so welcome before. I don’t understand why, but I’m being well received. I wasn’t expecting that at all.
“If anyone can find it, it’s you.” Tru has been dying to come out and see me, but I told her to wait. I’m spending all my free time researching. When she comes, I want to be able to have the time to spend with her.
“I hope so. I’m starting to feel like Willy Wonka in the chocolate factory every time I open one of the archive boxes, hoping that a golden ticket will be there.”
“How is it going with the mom?”
“Better?” It sounds more like a question with how I say it. I mean, she has been. There are times when she feels cold in her delivery, but when the words settle in, I don’t think she has bad intentions.
“Give it time,” Tru reassures me. “By the time I get to come, you’ll be a princess.”
“Oh my God, I am not a princess.” That’s ridiculous, but is it? I haven’t really thought about it that way.
“Yet.”
We talk for a few more minutes before we hang up. It’s a lot to unpack, because now I’m wondering if I could be pregnant, why Wells has never talked about the possibility of marriage, and then there’s the whole princess thing. Why is that only now hitting me?
I stare at my phone long after Truly hangs up, the screen dark. Pregnant. She’s pregnant. And I’m... I count backward in my head again. I’m not sure why because I know since I met Wells, I haven’t had a period. We make love every day, and that would have come up by this point. Shit.
“Miss?”
I jump. Mrs. Halloway stands in the doorway, her expression carefully neutral. “Her Majesty is here to see you. In the sunroom.” What? Why? Wells is working.
“Eleanor?” I double-check. But Mrs. Halloway only nods.
“She asked specifically to speak to you. Would you like me to tell her you’re occupied?”
“You’d do that for me?” I give her a smile. She only shrugs, and I know she would without a doubt. “No. No, I’ll come.” I don’t want anyone getting Eleanor’s wrath because of me. I smooth my apron, realizing I’m still wearing it, and pull it over my head. “Just let me wash my hands.” I don’t think there is time to change. It feels wrong to meet a “Majesty” in jeans, but it is what it is. I didn’t know she was coming, and I have plans with a dusty archive room.
I head toward the sunroom. I call it a conservatory. It’s big enough to be one.
Eleanor sits at one of the tables, her posture perfect, holding a teacup.
“Mable.” She motions to the chair across from her. “Please. Sit.”
“Mrs. Halloway said you wanted to see me.” I feel nervous, like a kid that’s been called to the principal’s office, which has never ever happened to me in my life, but I’m guessing this inner panic is on par.
“You’ve been helping with the land issue.” It’s not a question, but still I nod. “You’ve been spending a considerable amount of time in the archives. Mrs. Pembroke tells me you’ve made significant progress organizing the uncatalogued materials.”
“I mean, I’m happy to help. It’s interesting work.” Only people who love to research understand the passion. I have always had this need to absorb all information.