Chapter 33 The Next Chapter
The Next Chapter
Lars
“Lars! Lars!” My step niece, Jack, raced down the hall towards me.
“What?” I asked, concerned. “Are you alright?”
“I’m coming from the bride’s side of the house,” she said, breathless. “Rose asked to see you. She wants you to meet her down in the library in five—no photographers, no parents, no pomp.”
“But the rule—”
“She says she doesn’t care.”
“Okay. I will… be there,” I turned to my uncle.
He stood in the hall, confused by Jack’s sudden appearance.
“Are you alright, child?” He asked.
“People have been asking me that my entire life,” she said. “And we don’t know yet.”
I snickered. “Uh, I have been requested in the library.”
“Your stepmother will have my head if you’re late.”
“I am well aware. If they ask, I’m just stepping aside for a photo op,” I lied, worried we’d be busted shortly.
I proceeded towards the backstairs. There, I ran into my mother. She’d come down to breakfast, but I hadn’t seen her since.
“That is what she chose for you to wear?” She pulled a face.
“No. I chose to wear my uniform. Rose never even commented or expressed a preference.”
“I hate it.”
“Well, it’s customary,” I said.
“Where are you going?”
“Photo op.” I shrugged. “I go where they tell me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Get used to it. That is how married life is for British people.”
I wasn’t sure what that meant, but given that my mother had been notably unfaithful to every partner she had, I wasn’t sure it was so much a British problem as a her problem.
She always referred to Pappa as being “white as oatmeal” and called my stepmother “beige Barbie”, but I’d take beige every day over the chaos she thrived on. My heart couldn’t take it.
I wound downstairs, trying not to raise suspicion.
At the library, I knocked. Rose said “come in” in a little voice.
I tiptoed, feeling as though silence was key and slowly closed the door before turning to her.
I worried something was wrong until I saw her smiling face.
Still dressed in a robe, she beamed. Atop her head was the most beautiful tiara. She dazzled.
“I… I cannot stay long. My entire family is looking for me. But… I needed to tell you something.”
“Oh… okay. Elskling, I—”
“No, stop,” she fished something out of her dressing gown.
As she handed the object over, I read her face. There was no doubting her smile. I knew immediately what this was.
I asked in confused Norsk, “Er du gravid?”
“I mean, the test says yes, so, yes. It’s happening. I… I felt a little off this morning. I figured if not, I could drink.”
“Well, I hope this is some consolation for not being able to.” I kissed her forehead, then apologized. “Shit. Your makeup!”
“It’s shellacked on so good even Mum’s tears didn’t leave a dent. Don’t worry. I’m almost invincible.”
“We’re having a baby?” I confirmed in English, as if still confused.
“Yeah. We’re having a baby.”
She kissed me, then looked panicked. “I swear I can hear my mother’s voice. I must run. I love you. I’ll see you in about forty minutes. I promise not to be late.”
“You’re so beautiful,” I said. “I’d wait an eternity.”
She dabbed tears with a tissue she’d also shoved in her dressing gown. “I love you. We’re going to have a really beautiful wedding and a super cute baby, but I gotta go before they find me. Pretend you never saw me!”
Rose dashed away, but I never could pretend. She was more beautiful than I could have imagined, and about to be my wife.