It's So Much More Than That (A Selection Story)

Chapter 33

Chapter 33

After a couple months, a large package arrives from Italy with more baby clothes and accessories that I can count, as well as a long note from Nicoletta detailing how she can't wait for the twins to come and how she hopes I'm enjoying my last few months of freedom.

I don't know whether I'm more excited or worried – I still can't completely wrap my head around being a mother in a few short months. That, and I feel like I could possibly never be prepared, tells me that I should stop worrying so much. What happened to the old America that didn't worry about everything? The one that was always impulsive? Well, she didn't grow up. She just became queen.

Mary spreads out all of the new items on our bedroom floor. We're almost done with the nursery – a special project we've been working on while I was supposed to be resting. I sit cross-legged, trying to find a comfortable position to sit with my belly, which now protrudes out like a couple of watermelons that are always strapped to my stomach.

"I like that one over there." I point to a pair of matching blue infant pajamas with a music notes on the front.

Mary smiles. "Oh yes, the queen certainly knows your tastes."

I do my best to help Mary organize all of the outfits into separate piles. I turn to her, "I don't think you'll have to make many more outfits, Mary. I think Nic has us covered."

"I guess so, although you know, I'll probably make more anyway."

"Just make sure to donate some of them once they get older." I think about the orphanages we'd visited in the past few years, and how they've always needed donations of any kind. Maxon and I had channeled whatever extra funding we could towards these programs and those helping sevens and eights as well.

After we get through the whole pile I finally stand up, getting some blood to my legs. These days, I hardly care what I wear around the castle since I don't attend many meetings, and the ones that I do attend, no one would question why their queen is wearing sweatpants all the time.

"How about we take a look at the nursery?" I suggest. "They should be done any day now." Mary and I head over to the room that we've been working on for the past couple months. It's only a couple doors down from the King and Queen's suites, so we can always be near them.

When we enter, I'm amazed at the progress that has been done just within the last couple days. The ceiling's painted light blue with floating white clouds that look like you could almost touch them. I see that they've also started assembling the cribs and the various shelves and drawers to hold all of the supplies and clothes.

"We can put them in here." Mary's holding all of the outfits that we sorted through before. "I'll start folding them and putting them in the drawers."

"Thank you."

Even though the room is fairly small, everything in here seemed like it was fit for a prince or princess.

Speaking of which, Maxon and I had decided to keep the colors pretty neutral for the time being. I knew that the advisors were breathing down our necks to know the gender of the twins, but frankly, Maxon's been too tired and busy to attend checkups with me. Every time, I've told the nurses or doctors that I don't want to know the genders quite yet. I know that it'll have to happen sometime.

"I love the way that the nursery has turned out so far."

"I would agree, our Majesty. It'll probably be less than a week until it's completed."

"Speaking of which, I know I told them to keep it neutral, but I think I'm due for another checkup soon, and we should probably take a look at the genders."