Turning Point (A Reaching Out Novel)

One Hundred Five

"Their Royal Highnesses, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are very pleased to announce that the Duchess of Cambridge is expecting their third child-" this morning's news headline read.
"Kate's pregnant? Again?" Allana said, as she started to breastfeed Zach.
I frowned.
"Well, I have to say, I am very much disappointed with my brother for not telling me this beforehand. I had to know it from the newspapers." I said
"Well, they just had Charlotte a year ago, I mean, I don't think they're gonna stop anytime soon." She said
"Eh, unless you want Zach to have-"
"No! Not yet, he's barely five months old. And I am still dealing with my issues over here." She said
"My brother is having his third child."
"So? Good for them, congratulations. But I am not taking this news as a sign for us to give Zach a sibling."
"Well, I'm not saying that Zach needs a sibling."
"He doesn't. Not in the next, say two to three years." She said
I smiled.
"I just really can't believe that he didn't tell me. Me, of all people."
"Catherine has to tell the father of the child first, meaning your brother, meaning William. And then William has to tell either your father first or the Queen. And then they'll write an announcement for this wonderful news, and then call up newspapers to write news about this, and that leaves you and me to read about it. Let's face it, they're growing as a family."
"I have nothing against them growing a family, it's just that-"
"I think you have to understand that you and him have way too different priorities now that you two are fathers. He's a father of two, and who knows what the heir to the throne is up to on a daily basis, you're a father to a five month old infant, and a wife with some issues that really has to be dealt with-"
"Kate has morning sickness and you have post-partum depression."
"Actually post-partum just manifests until the first month of the baby."
"Then you don't have-"
"I still do for some reason."
I sighed.
"Well, I'm just reacting because how can my brother not tell me?"
"Maybe he got too excited with the news. I mean, it's not everyday that you get your wife pregnant."
"Still-"
"Did you tell him first that I was pregnant before?"
"I can't remember."
"Maybe he plans to tell you differently, plus, Harry, you're the youngest brother, no offense meant but why would he tell the news to you first?"
I looked at her.
"Because! Because we are the ones left together-"
"Harry, you've got me and Zach, William's got Kate, George and Charlotte, as it is, it looks to me as they're a village already. "
I rolled my eyes.
"To be fair, you didn't tell William first. You told the whole family, I told my family and then for some reason my brother forgot about that I told him and freaked out when I threw up in the loo. So-"
"I didn't?"
"Yeah! William came first when Zach was born! So, you're reacting over nothing."
I breathed.
"Fine, I maybe overreacting a bit-"
"A bit?"
"Bear with me."
She smiled.
...
"Love?" I said
It was after dinner, and she decided to feed Zach.
"Yeah?" She said, Zachary was playing with her finger.
"I think I need to go back to work." I said
"What?"
"It has been a while since I-"
I looked at her.
"And to be honest, I am really loving the idea of just sticking here, near you and Zach,-"
"You're not getting deployed are you?" She asked
I shook my head.
"No, no. But I do have to go back to the army and-"
"Zach is five months old."
"I know, and I'd be-"
"Is this an office job or a field job? Harry-"
"Love, to be fair, most soldiers don't see their kids for a long time, most of them have not witness their child's birth or even first steps-"
Fuck.
"Harry, you are not missing Zach's first steps."
"I'm not, it's just that I have to go back to work, to my other responsibilities."
I looked at Zach, who is still latched on to his mother, and who is asleep.
"You don't have to worry, William did it and-"
"William is a rescue helicopter pilot. You're a captain. That's pretty much on the field." She said
"Love, I was hoping that you would understand."
"Believe me, Harry. I am trying to understand."
I blinked.
"I am trying to find the balance between being a husband and a father."
"And you're adding being a Prince and a Captain to the list. Oh, and don't forget being a son and a grandson" she said
"I am all of that way before I became a husband and a father."
"What are you first? I'm sure before you met me, you're a Prince, a Captain, a son and a grandson. What are you first now? A husband or a father?" She asked
"I need to balance all those. I am a husband and a father first before all of that." I said
She handed me a sleeping Zach and fixed herself up.
"What are the chances that you'd be deployed?"
I sighed as I looked at Zachary.
"89%."
"That's huge."
"I've been away for long and-"
"Can you stop being a captain and just be a prince? Harry, I know and I respect all the soldiers who can't be with their wives and children because of work, I really do, but I don't want Zach to grow distant to you. As much as possible, I want you to be there for him and for me. I may sound selfish but it's the truth. I love you and I really need you."
"So, you want me to quit my job in the army and be a full time prince? Be here in London and leave whenever the job-"
"Yes."
"Love, that is more demanding than working in the army. "
She sighed.
"I don't know, Harry! Okay? I don't know, we have been married 4 years and you have been with me, Princing around! For four years, I don't think you have gone to work. You did princing around but not army work-"
"That's why I'm asking you to consider-"
"Harry,-"
"I may be the Queen's grandson, but we are not secured for the rest of our lives! My brother and I maybe close but when he becomes King, we don't have the assurance that he'd take care of us. I need to make sure that our family is secure."
"I can make that security!"
"No, Allana-"
"You're worried that when your brother becomes the King, you'd be out of job? I doubt it."
"You don't understand. I want to go back to work. "
"Then go back!"
"It sounds like you don't want me to."
"I do, if it would make you happy then please do."
I sighed.
"I'm not gonna do it if you are like that towards the idea."
She groaned.
"Harry, if you want to go back to work, then do it. I don't want to be the one to be of hinderance to this-"
"What do you mean? You're my wife, and if anyone has the right to block things from me, it's you!"
"Then I am saying that I want you to go back to whatever job you want. Be it in the army or go back to Princing. "
I looked at her.
"It's sounds like you don't mean it."
"I do! Uh! Why does anything that comes out of my mouth sounds insincere to you?!" She said
"That's not what I meant! "
And then Zach let out a piercing cry.
And it sure did shock me.
Allana grabbed Zach.
"Sincerely, I will make this child go back to sleep. Sincerely." She said, walking towards the closet.
I sighed.
"I'm sorry, love." I shouted
And the answer that I got was Zach's