Isabelle (House of Jensen Series book 5)

Chapter 20

When we were by ourselves I open the menu but I didn't need it. I already knew what I wanted a large vegetarian and half meat pizza with fries.

"Do you know what you're getting yet?" I ask Freddie.

"You're getting a large half vegetarian and half meat feast pizza with fries so we will share. Since you can't eat it all."

"How did you know that?"

"A lucky guess."

After taking my tablets I help myself to another slice of pizza it was really good. "The first thing I'm going to do when your hand heals is put a ring on it."

"I thought we weren't telling the public anything."

"We are not but nothing is stopping you from wearing them."

"I'm not sure let's wait till the cast come off first."

"Okay."

I look out the window and see Andrea and a friend walking by. I look at her and continue eating my pizza. Her friend hits her and points at me and Freddie. I see Andrea go pale I wanted to give her the finger but don't instead I turn away from her.

"They're gone," at Freddie's words I sit properly in my chair.

Two days later Freddie returned to Italy which meant it was me and Bianca by ourselves in the castle most days. "How's my nephew doing?"

"Good he's growing like he should.  How are you feeling about Freddie going back to Italy?"

"I got use to having him around all the time. I can't wait till he comes back and we start our life in Italy."

"It must be hard for you not knowing what happened to you when you were kidnapped. Then your ex turns out to be a piece of crap."

"Italy is my escape from it all?"

"Is that why you got married so quickly?"

"No I really like Freddie and we really gel together. Our wedding just made sense at the time. I don't regret it, I regret my engagement but not my marriage."

"If you didn't hate James I would say you made a terrible mistake marrying Freddie so soon. But you're an adult who can make her own decisions without anyone's help. You've known Freddie your whole life. Your brother isn't worried about your marriage and I have to trust his judgment."

"Trust me I know what I'm doing."

"I trust you."

Hand in hand Freddie and I walk into the living room of the winter palace to see our families there. The baker and her daughter was decorating our wedding cake. "Darling you look lovely,"my mother hugs me.

She was right I did. I was wearing the olive dress because I want to have a positive outlook on life. That includes a great memory in this dress.

William and Eva hug me , "Congratulations to you both."

They bow or curtsy to me and Freddie. "Thank you so much." It's crazy to me that they didn't know about my wedding till recently.

I turn to Zoe and hug her, "I'm so happy for you."

"Thank you Zoe."

I see her brother Carl and his wife Olivia talking to her parents. She recently told the family she was pregnant. The house of Jensen has grown so much. At one stage it was just William,my parents and grandparents. Now there was another generation pregnant with the next generation.

Queen Faith takes my hand and leads me to a room off the far side. There was a security guard in there. She nods to him and he opens a box. A tiara with diamonds and emeralds was in his hand. Faith takes it from him and places it on my head. After she fastens it securely she stands back and wipes away a tear.

"I want everyone to see you wearing this because it will remind them of your position. You look wonderful Isabelle. I wore this to my very first party as a royal and this is your very first party as a crown princess."

I was deeply touched by the gesture, "Thank you."

"You're welcome and I'm selfish I bought you out of earshot of everyone to ask you to treat my son well."

"Don't you worry Your Majesty I'll treat him right."

"Good and you can call me Faith dear."

We walk back into the party and the woman from the bakery comes up to me. "It suits you the tiara it makes you look very regal. Your cake is finished and congratulations on your wedding by the way."

"Thank you what's your name?"

"Kimi Okada  and that's my mum May," she points to the woman putting a bride and groom on top of the cake.

"It's nice to see you again Kimi. How is it you're in medical school but always seem to be doing things for the bakery."

"If you were me would you give up a chance to visit a palace?"

"Heck no so what type of doctor are you going to be?"

"I want to specialise in woman's health."

"Good for you."

Freddie walks over to us, "I'm afraid I need to steal my wife away."

Kimi grins, "Go ahead."

"Your parents want to give us our wedding present."

I sit on the sofa next to mum and dad, "Mum puts an envelope in my hand and kiss my cheek.

I open it to see it was two first class ticket to Canada. I look at her in surprise, "We don't need a ticket to Canada we have a private jet."

Freddie takes the ticket out of my hand and gives it to Kimi and her mother. "This is to say thank you for all you've done."

Much like myself some of the other party people was perplexed. "It's to make sure they don't talk about today," my mum whispers to me. But she wouldn't look me in the eye.

Later that night I ask Freddie about the tickets, "Your mother told you the truth but not everything. Kimi's advice made you start wearing pyjamas again and we are all grateful to her.

The next day was bittersweet as I say goodbye to Carl, Uncle Alexander and William.  I wasn't going to see them again for sometime. They all had their own lives to lead. Jay and his family would be the ones I see most often along with mum and dad.

"Look after yourself little one."

"Uncle Alexander we are only a year apart."

He hugs me and I feel tears on my shoulder. It was a good thing I wasn't wearing makeup because I would've had to redo it.

"I don't care you're still my favourite niece."

"I'm your only niece."

Mum wipes her eyes and look away from me, dad started to say something but was too choke up to speak. He hugs me and kiss the top of my head Mum does the same. Then she put both hands on my face and look at me. "We love you so much and when I thought I lost you. My heart broke for the third time. Make sure you keep in regular contact with us okay."

"I will."