Little Queen

Chapter 10

Weddings are dreadful. I never knew so much work was put into a wedding. And, mine is a royal wedding which is a thousand times worse to prepare.

Months go by without me even noticing.

It is only now a week until my wedding so all the wedding preparations are nearly done. My dress and Aaron's tux is now made (we are having the final fitting today) as is all the royal families clothes. The royal hall is decorated and all the invitations have been designed and sent out. The musicians, choir, caterers, videographers, photographers and coachmen are now hired and payed. Tomorrow we have scheduled our cake tasting session and our meeting with the caterers as to what food we want.

I also have my meeting with all the mayors of Pivvotlee and the annual Pivvotlee dinner on Tuesday this week. It's going to be a big week and I don't know if I have the energy to take it.

Now here I am by the pool with Aaron, in the sun, enjoying the last day of summer. I'm wearing my white high-waisted bikini and a wide brimmed hat. My feet are in the pool while I sit on the edge reading my book. Well, not really reading it, just looking at the words.

Aaron is lying on my inflatable duck I've had since I was twelve. He's wearing swimming trunks and sunglasses.

"This is the life," he breaths. I know he's trying to make me feel better so I close my book and try to smile at him.

"Yeah," I say lamely, squinting because of the sun.

I twirl my wedding ring around my finger. I have only just started to wear it regularly when a picture was printed in the newspaper of me not wearing the thing; it made quite a fuss.

Only in the past couple of weeks the reality of Aaron and I getting married has hit me. It's smacked me in the face.

The words wife and wedding and bride play over and over in my head.

"What's with the long face?" Aaron asks. He jumps off the inflatable and swims over to me.

I look down at my lap, fiddling with my ring. Aaron pulls himself out of the pool and sits beside me.

"Do you want this?" I say. Tears fill my eyes but I avoid making eye contact.

"What do you mean?" He asks innocently.

"Do you want to marry me?" I look into his brown eyes.

He shrugs. "I'll do anything for my mum and Pivvotlee. And... well... for you, Averi. I'll do anything for you." He says it so naturally, like this is what's meant to happen. Like we're meant to be together.

I then mutter the words that have been on my mind for a long time. "We're going to have to produce an heir, you know."

"Yeah. I guess we do, don't we?" He rubs the back of his neck.

We sit in awkward silence.

"Why do you like to garden?" I ask abruptly.

"I always have. I find plants interesting. I was going to get a job in gardening." He nods his head, thinking back.

Silence.

"Thanks for looking after me." The words escape my mouth.

"I'm used to it." He mumbles to himself.

"Huh?"

"I had a sister." He says by accident. Seems like a lot of secrets are coming out today. Then the cheerful Aaron I know disappears.

"Charlotte." He claims to the sky. "She got diagnosed with melanoma when she was 5..." His voice hitches but he tries to cover it up with a cough. "My mum was too heart broken to do anything and my dad was too drunk. I nursed her until death. She was only 6."