Peanut Butter Fingerprints

Chapter 7

"So, Mrs. Singer, tell us what our dear Queen was like when she was a child."

Mom smiled big and let out a chuckle and a whistle. "She had quite the temper, and she was very stubborn, just like her mother."

Gavril laughed, and so did everyone in the seats in front of us, including the Italian royal family. We had pushed our celebration to tonight. Luckily, the Italian royal family was very understanding, and Nicoletta wouldn't leave without an extravagant party. If there was one thing they liked, it was fun, and we were known at the palace to have some pretty rowdy parties. When Maxon and I visited Italy three months into our marriage, Nicoletta dragged us to no less than five parties, all of which were wild and loud. It was a little too much for Maxon, who had a really bad hangover our second day there. But, then again, we were all pretty drunk. Nicoletta made sure of that.

"You don't say?" Gavril pretended to be surprised, which sent Nicoletta and her parents into a fit of laughs. After the laughing died down, Gavril turned to Maxon and my mother, who were sitting closest to him. "Now, I understand that you have your predictions as to what the sex of the child will be, is that correct?"

My mother was quick to answer. "Well, I don't think it really matters whether the baby is a boy or a girl." No, Mom. It does matter. Trust me, it definitely does, I thought to myself. "But I think it's a girl."

"Ah, and what about you, King Maxon?"

Maxon swiveled his head toward me, his bright smile softening his eyes. He chuckled lightly as he winked swiftly at me. 

"To me, it's a win-win either way, really." I felt my eyes expand. What on earth was he talking about? "Whether a boy or girl, I'll always be able to see America in them. And to me, that's the most precious thing in the whole world, to get to see little pieces of America here and there, the good and sometimes the bad." He winked at me out of the corner of his eye. I smiled. "But I will always be able to see my love for America in them, and that's what matters most."

There was a resounding 'aww' from everyone. My cheeks grew red.

"And Queen America, what do you have to say to that?" Gavril said in a quiet tone.

I smiled big and looked at the camera, pretending that I was looking into Maxon's eyes. "This child is going to be a testament of how much we love each other. Sometimes times will get rough and tempers will happen, but underneath, I will always love you, good times and bad." My eyes had wandered to Maxon during that last part, and I saw him smile. He leaned forward and kissed my forehead, for the cameras and for me.

"That's beautiful, don't you all think so?" Gavril asked in a honey-tone. "Next Friday, we'll be able to talk to Queen America's siblings about growing up with such a wonderful woman. Good night, Illea! Tune in next Friday for another special edition of the Report!"

The cameras fell and I let out a deep breath. I always tended to hold my breath during the Report; I wasn't really sure why. Nerves, I guessed.

Maxon turned to me with watery eyes. I was about to ask what was wrong when Maxon tilted my chin up towards him with his thumb, entwined his fingers into my hair and kissed me deeply. It only lasted a few moments before Gavril and Nicoletta broke us apart.

Bright light flashed against my eyelids as Maxon pulled away to address them. When I opened my eyes, it was too late to see who had taken the picture. They had either left or hidden the camera. Maxon smiled brightly at Nicoletta as she said something about lighting to Maxon while Gavril signaled for me to speak with him privately. We wandered away from Maxon and Nicoletta until we couldn't hear them speaking anymore.

He leaned in close to me until our foreheads were almost touching. He looked around and after seeing that no one was within earshot, he focused his sight on me. Then he spoke to me in a rushed tone.