Peanut Butter Fingerprints

Chapter Nine

"DARLING, YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY STUNNING."

My dress billowed around me as I twirled for Maxon. Anne and Mary together designed this dress for me just for the occasion. It took Anne sometime as she's still recovering, but Mary finished it just in time for tonight. I was somehow excited for this party, even though there'd be no drinking of alcohol and wild partying. This was supposed to be a big deal, as it was my first time in a public setting where I'd be showing off my baby bump.

The layers of chiffon settled around me and rested gently on my bump, which was made prominent by an empire waist. The dress was absolutely gorgeous. It was a baby blue gown that flowed like a river to the ground where fabric surrounded me like a puddle. The bodice was covered in pearls and gold dust. Lucy pulled my hair up into a milkmaid braid. Gold dust was brushed across my eyes and chest and arms. It made me shimmer like sunshine hitting the water's surface.

The dress was by far Anne's best creation. And not only that, it was comfortable to walk in, and the fabric was so soft against my skin I constantly felt like I was surrounded by warm water. She knew just what could comfort me in a time where I would be nervous. That was always Anne, knowing how to make me feel like myself while also making me sparkle like the most beautiful jewel. I was beyond glad she was back in the castle as my confidant, my friend.

"You think so?" I asked as Maxon's eyes locked with mine.

"Oh, I know so," he said, offering his arm to me. I took it with a smile on my lips. He saw me smiling and looked at me curiously. "And what might you be smiling at?"

I giggled. "You."

"Me?" he exclaimed in mock surprise.

"You're too proper for me, I swear," I replied with a soft laugh.

"And you're too beautiful for me," he said with a warm smile.

I elbowed his side. "Oh, save it for the cameras, you sap."

He threw his back and laughed. There was a knock at our door. "Come in!" Maxon called as I released his arm for the time being.

Carter and Marlee bounced in with their daughter Heidi in tow. Marlee, of course, choose a bright and bubbly lemon yellow dress for the occasion with her hair in two braided pigtails adorned with pretty pink and yellow daisies. Her daughter was wearing a spring green dress and the sparkly silver flats she was attached to; her white-blond hair was finally long enough to be braided into two pigtails. Carter wasn't wearing his usual guard uniform but a comfortable looking suit. As soon as Marlee let Heidi down, she ran on her chubby toddler legs towards Maxon and me.

She was all giggles and laughs as Maxon scooped her up in his arms and twirled her around. He bounced her up and down in his arms, and they laughed together. Marlee walked over to me and smiled. Carter took Heidi out of Maxon's arms. She protested and whined, and her father set her down on the bed and talked to her in a stern but patient voice.

"Heidi, remember what I said about behaving tonight?"

She nodded and swung her feet back and forth. "I have to be nice, or I don't get any cookies."

"That's right. Now how about you go tell Avery about the butterfly you saw in the garden yesterday?"

"Okay, Daddy! And then can I tell Uncle Max and Aunt Mer?"

He picked her up and set her down on the ground, and then kneeled down to fix her dress and straighten the pink headband in her hair.

"Of course, you can. But first, Mommy and Daddy need to talk to them first, and then you can, okay?"