Reluctantly Royal
Page 60

“It’s a talent.” Sam pretended to breathe on her fingernails before wiping them on her dress. “She’s one annoying bitch with the memory of a goldfish.”
Meredith laughed and her face lit up. Now that the funeral was over, I could appreciate how stunning she looked today.
Everything about her was understated elegance. She was the woman who walked down the street and caught everyone’s eye. Though I had seen her dressed to kill at Sam and Alex’s wedding, I was pretty sure I liked her na**d best of all. My eyes ran over her body slowly, taking in every inch. Was it wrong that I wanted to whisk her away somewhere private? Probably, but I wasn’t sure I cared. She needed to spend time with Marty; needed to relax and let some of her stress melt away. She needed more than what I could offer right now. I seemed to make her nervous when we were alone.
“So what do we do now?” Her eyes met mine. Her father was standing behind her, his hands stuffed in the pockets of his pants.
I kept my mouth shut. It was the only way I could make sure I didn’t say what I was thinking out loud.
“If you have time, Arthur, I’d like to go back with you and set up a few things for tomorrow.” Rachel looked at the man with a serious expression. “I’d be honored to help with some of the paperwork.”
“All right,” he grunted.
“Then we’ll leave you now and get to business.” Rachel bobbed her head at everyone.
“Thank you for coming.” Arthur mumbled the words, his face a frustrated mask as he nodded his head at Alex.
“It was my honor, sir.” Alex reached out to shake his hand. With no way to escape without being rude, Arthur accepted his handshake before turning and swiftly heading toward the other limo.
I looked at Meredith as she watched her father walk away and I could see the worry etched in the planes of her face. There was also a good amount of guilt there that made me want to punch the old man again. She shouldn’t feel guilty that he was going back to an empty house. He’d brought it on himself.
“Don’t worry, dear, I’ll take care of him.” Rachel touched Meredith’s arm and gave her a warm smile.
“Thank you.”
“I think that after a day like today, we deserve to have fun and relax.” Alex rubbed his hands together. “Marty, would you like to help me feed the birds today?”
“What do they eat?” Marty stuck his head out of the limo.
“Mice.” Alex put his hand on the small of Sam’s back.
“For real?” Marty’s eyes got huge. “Can I, Mom?”
“Um, what will that involve?” Meredith looked at Alex with worried eyes.
“He’ll wear a full glove and I’ll be with him the whole time,” Alex assured her.
“Okay,” Meredith said. Her face still looked a little hesitant.
“I’ll go with them,” Sam said. “After I eat something.”
“Food does sound like a good idea.” Meredith rolled her head from side to side. “I didn’t eat much this morning.”
“Then let’s head home.” I opened the door for her and helped her climb in. It wasn’t until I noticed Alex raise an eyebrow in my direction that I realized I had called D’Lynsal home. For all of us.
I helped Sam slide into her seat and looked up at Alex and Cathy. They were both smiling at me.
“What?”
“You’re in trouble, brother.” Alex smacked my shoulder before climbing into the car.
“You guys are really obnoxious, you know that?” I glared at my sister.
“Only because you know we’re right.” She laughed as she slid in the car.
Shaking my head, I climbed in after her and took the last seat available. The car ride was a jumble of talking, laughter, and good-natured ribbing. It was like we’d all decided to cut loose after a very intense morning.
Marty was draped over his seat so that his feet were in the air and his head hanging down by his mother’s feet. He popped a grape in his mouth and Meredith rolled her eyes.
“Sit up before you choke.”
“I was being a bat. Do you have any bats?” He looked at Alex.
“No bats.” Alex laughed. “We have horses though.”
“Oh cool!”
“When are you going to tell us if the baby is a boy or a girl?” Cathy was looking at Sam with an intense expression.
“What does it matter?” Alex asked. “You’ll be an aunt either way.”
“I want to know if I should buy pink stuff or blue stuff.”
“Oh God. Do not swamp us with pink stuff. I hate pink.” Sam shook her head.
Alex turned to look at her and smiled. “Purple wouldn’t be so bad.”
“Yes!” Cathy sat forward. “It is a girl! I knew it.”
“I didn’t say that.” Sam frowned. “I just said I didn’t want lots of pink stuff . . . if it is a girl.”
“Come on.” Cathy laughed. “It’s a girl!”
Sam looked at Alex and he shrugged.
“Don’t tell anyone else.” Sam looked around the interior of the limo. “Yes, it’s a girl.”
“Ahh!” Cathy jumped across the cab and hugged Sam.
“Don’t squish me!” Sam fended off my sister with a laugh.
“Names?” I leaned forward and looked at my brother.
“Not yet.” He shook his head. “We’re not going to decide for certain until we have the baby.”