Checkmate

The first step

"Amazing" I turn around for Claire as she judges the fourth wedding dress
I've tried on.

"You've said that about every dress I wear" I look at my belly in the mirror and suddenly feel subconscious.

"Can you see it?" I ask her.

She smiles "not yet"

I sigh and smiles at her. I was glad my father found someone normal this time around and I was starting to think I didn't give Claire enough credit.

"Claire? Can I ask you something?"

She smiles adjusting my sleeves "of course you can!"

"I want my baby to have grandparents..including a grandmother" I pause and look at her "do you think you would be up for that?"

She smiles and starts to cry "I was starting to get nervous you would never ask me!"

We laugh "don't cry Claire you'll make me cry" that was not true in the slightest but I didn't know what else to say.

She laughs "I'm just happy and sad..I don't want to give you away just yet" she presses her palm to my cheek before checking on Stephen who got stuck coming with us.

I laugh "why are we shopping for dresses..I'm having it custom made"

She laughs "you never know and it's an experience Madeline"

I change out of the dress I was trying on and change back into my original clothes.

"Come on there's so much more to do!" She exclaims while I take the stroller from her.

We shop for everything possible. We decided on napkins and plating and a caterer. We chose the tablecloths and the table cards, the table decorations and the entrance designs.

By the time we finished all that I was exhausted with the amount of gold and pink and silver and agreed with Claire it was time to go home for a break.

We arrive home to find the weirdest thing happening.

My father, Michael and Alessandro are outside welcoming a man. He looked to be a bit older than my father but younger than Amodio. He had dark brown and grey hair and walked with a limp.

I help Claire out of the car as she carries her little boy.

"What's going on?" I ask and that's when I realize Alessandro's face looks horrible.

He looks worried and devastated that I was there.

Dad clears his throat and helps Claire inside. What was going on?

"Madeline" Alessandro forces a smile "this is my father, Antonio"

Oh. "I'm Madeline"

Antonio looks up at me and smiles "your majesty..congratulations, my son isn't an easy man to love"

I laugh a bit making Alessandro uneasy "why don't you come inside and get settled?"

Antonio nods and I send him to get situated with Luke.

I lead Alessandro back outside and cross my arms over my chest "what's the face for?"

He sighs "that's my father"

I roll my eyes "I am aware what wrong with it?"

His expression turns dark and cold "I hate him. And he's dangerous"
His voice is so full of hate it makes me almost want to take a step back.

I press my hands to his cheeks and kiss his lips "a few more days..just hold it together then we can investigate the son of a bitch"

He smile and pulls me to his chest, kissing the top of my head.