it.
She sighed and put the thoughts away for now. Perhaps she was feeling this way due to the holiday season, which usually held terrible memories for her. Or, perhaps, it was because this would be the first Christmas in a long time where she was loved, cherished, and cared for.
Perhaps it was knowing that she could love again, and that she loved Marcello. She saw a bright future with him, all while her dismal past faded more and more into the background. She’d already decided on the perfect Christmas gift for Marcello, but she wanted to give him more. She seemed to have an unending well of love these days, and wanted to pass it on to a child.
Their child.
“I don’t know about this one,” Cat said as she held up another outfit. “Grace, what do you think?”
Grace smiled back at her long-time friend. “I say we take the lot of them.”
“A wonderful idea,” Genevieve said. “We do still have quite a bit more shopping to do. Let’s get these wrapped up and move on to the next store.”
As the girls chattered on their way to the checkout, Grace gave the racks of miniature clothes one last wistful glance before following.
Chapter 5
“I like Finn’s plan,” Alex said as he sat in Gabriel’s office. “Do you really think we can pull it off?”
“Finn seemed to think so. I’m having our legal department review it, in any case.”
A knock came at the open door and Corrado, Gabriel’s chief of staff, walked in and bowed. “Your Majesty. Your Highness.”
“Yes?” Gabriel asked.
“Sirs, there is yet another story circling social media about the royal family.”
Alex’s eyes darkened. “You mean more rumours.”
Corrado smiled. “Sir, if it is a rumour, at least it’s a happy one. Though if it’s not true, the public will be sorely disappointed.”
Gabriel gave the man a bland look. “Stop talking in riddles and come out with it.”
Corrado smiled even broader. “Yes, Your Majesty. I’ve just sent you the media alerts. Apparently, people are saying Miss Campo is pregnant.”
Irritation crossed Alex’s face. “That’s nothing new. They’ve been speculating about that since we moved in together.”
“That’s true, Sir, but this morning Miss Campo was spotted shopping for baby clothes. Purple baby clothes, Your Highness.”
Alex blinked. Surely, this was just a ploy. Wasn’t it? She couldn’t be. Could she? Alex turned to his father’s speculative gaze. “I know nothing about this, Papa, though I can’t imagine the rumours are true.”
“Couldn’t they be?” Gabriel asked with a smirk.
“Well, yes, I suppose they could be true. However, Rebecca would never shop for our child’s clothes without telling me that she was pregnant first.”
“Regardless, Sirs, it seems as though this morning’s scandal has been pushed aside, at least for the moment.”
Alex and Gabriel shared a look. “That seems a much more likely scenario, Papa, though I’ll confirm with Rebecca.”
“What about the questions our press office is receiving, Sirs?”
Gabriel and Alex shared an unspoken communication, and Alex nodded. Gabriel smiled and faced Corrado. “Tell them that pregnancy rumours surrounding Miss Campo are nothing new, and that if the royal family had such blessed news to share, they would do so at the appropriate moment in the pregnancy.”
Corrado laughed. “Yes, Sir. Very clever. Thank you, Sirs.”
After Corrado walked out, Alex quirked an eyebrow at his father. “You realize what that statement says, don’t you?”
“It says that we won’t comment on it.”
“You’re also alluding to the fact that we wouldn’t confirm a pregnancy until at least three months in, even though there is no pregnancy to confirm.”
“That you know of, my son.”
“Papa.”
Gabriel held up a hand. “Trust me, Alexander. The statement will at least
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