Happily Ever After Teaser

 “It’s going to take me hours to pack, Masen,” she sighed, looking at the two open suitcases. “It’s not like it’s going to be just the two of us. We have to pack for every contingency. You remember the weather in New York, right? It’s freaking manic, especially during the late fall and early winter. Give our Charlotte her bath and read her bedtime story. It’s been a while since you two had some time together.”

“What do you say, Charlotte?” I asked. “Want to hang out with Daddy?”

“Okay,” she said, getting off my lap and skipping out of our bedroom. I followed her and chuckled when she turned toward the kitchen.

“Where are you going, Charlotte?”

“Daddy, it’s tradition. When you give me a bath and put me to bed, we always share a glass of chocolate milk,” she smirked, looking so much like her mother. “Are you coming?”

If this was my daughter at five, I fear when she becomes a teenager. Lord grant me strength. “You are going to be a force to reckon with when you get older, Charlotte,” I deadpanned.

She gave me a crooked grin, walking to the kitchen and moving to sit on the stool at the island.

I opened up the refrigerator and pulled out the milk along with a jar of homemade chocolate sauce that was made by our staff. I tried to learn how to do it, but I couldn’t get the knack of it despite being shown several times the steps to make it. With a flourish, I added the chocolate to the milk and mixed it for her. “Use two hands, Charlotte. I don’t want you to spill the best chocolate milk in all of Gevalia.”

She giggled, taking the glass and sipping her drink. She looked up at me with a milk mustache. “Daddy, do you know anything about my Aunt Alice?”

I looked at my child, arching a brow. Alice’s name hadn’t been muttered in the palace since Bella and I flew to Gevalia after her accident. “Where did you hear about Aunt Alice?”

“Grandpa,” she answered simply. “When we were on the computer, he showed me a picture of Aunt Alice. He sounded sad.”

“Charlotte, your Aunt Alice and your maman did not get along when they were younger,” I said. “She moved out of the house when she was really young and then got into trouble when she was visiting us here at the palace. Anyway, it’s been a long time since we’d talked to her.”

“Grandpa said he missed Aunt Alice,” she shrugged. “I was just wondering if she was nice.”

“Hmmm,” I said noncommittally. “Maybe, you can ask about your Aunt Alice when you see Grandpa?”

“When are we leaving again?” she asked.

“In a couple of days,” I answered. “Are you done with your milk?”

She slurped the rest of her milk and pushed the glass back to me. I ruffled her chocolate curls before I put the glass into the sink. She scowled at me but squealed when I flipped her over my shoulder, running to her suite. I tossed her onto her bed, tickling her sides. “Daddy!” She pleaded in French for me to stop through her giggles.

“D’accord, ma petite fille,” I chuckled. “Go get your pajamas. Do you want strawberry or lavender for your bath, Your Highness?”

“I want to smell like Maman,” Charlotte said. “Strawberry, please.”