Sunday night
The Cambridge family had gotten ready and was now heading off to Evelyn's parents home. She was dressed in a dark forest green silk pussybow blouse from Saint Laurent and paired them with black elastic skinny trousers. They gave her enough room to breathe and not feel like she was suffocating. To finish off the look she wore black flats to give her feet a break from the heels.
It was dressier than what she normally wore to the family dinners but it also hid what little weight she was gaining.
In her hands was a painting that Evelyn had created of her mum's wedding bouquet. It was a bouquet filled with white hydrangeas and greenery vines surrounding it. She had learnt to paint a few years ago and has found it very therapeutic. She didn't really know how to explain her style but if she had to put into words she'd have to say it was messy with a side of not messy. She didn't just paint flowers. Evelyn also did seasonal paintings that she would gift her family and friends. This year she already knew what she was gifting everyone for Christmas as she was painting every family something special. She already started working on The Queen's and Prince Philip's painting as it was going to be of their dogs and walking along the pond with Her Majesty and Prince Philip walking in tow. It was her most time consuming work that she was creating at the moment but she hoped they would love it.
Evelyn liked to plan out her Christmas gifts months in advance, especially her paintings. Giving her enough time to create them without the rush feeling. She was also painting circular wooden baubles for everyone that had Christmas flowers and candy canes, or gingerbread and nutcrackers on them with Mistletoe or Holly. It was something that truly brought her joy to do outside of her work.
"It's pretty," Spencer commented as he pointed at his mum's painting. At the bottom of the right hand corner was Evelyn's signature.
"You think so?" Evelyn asked her son with a smile on her face. "D'you think nana will love it?"
"Yes!" He nodded his hand and she kissed his cheek as she ran her fingers through his blonde hair.
"Thank you darling."
"I agree with Spencer," William complimented his wife's artistic skills. "Very professional looking. If you weren't doing your current job, I think you could make money off them."
"Thanks, William," she kissed him on the lips quickly before her mum opened the door.
"Hello everyone," Natasha greeted the Cambridge family. "Come in, come in."
As the family of five came into the warm, inviting home, Natasha hugged all of the grandchildren and then hugged and kissed the cheeks of both Evelyn and William.
"This is for you, mum," Evelyn said as she held out the painting for her mum to see and Natasha let out a small gasp.
"Oh my sweet girl. It's beautiful! Thank you so much. I love it," Natasha said as she took it gently from her daughter and hugged her.
"Your welcome, mum. I'm glad you love it," she smiled at her. "Happy Birthday," Evelyn and William told her as Evelyn presented her with a card from the whole Cambridge family.
"Happy Birthday, nana," the kids screamed at the same time to which Natasha bent down to their levels.
"Oh thank you, my sweets," she told them as she kissed them each and hugged their parents. After they were done with their exchanges the kiddies followed her into the sitting room. Victoria did a little skip to her walking.
"Told you she would love it," William teased his wife from behind as he wrapped his arms round her waist.
"You were right," Evelyn smiled and William kissed his wife's cheek before he took her hand and brought her into the sitting room.
Evelyn and William rarely showed public display of affection out in public and if they did it wasn't as obvious as Harry and Meghan were. It was just something that the couple had decided very early on in their marriage and relationship that they didn't want to do. But at home and with friends and family? They didn't mind.
"There's the Cambridge's," Jake yelled as his younger sister and her husband made their appearance after their children.
Evelyn rolled her eyes playfully at this behaviour and hugged him then Mia.
"Hi Jake," she grinned. "Where are Sam and David?"
"Out back playing football with dad," she nodded her head in the direction of the back garden.
"Ah, makes sense now. He loves those boys," Evelyn told her sister-in-law.
"Need a drink, mate?" Jake asked his brother-in-law.
"God, yes," William let out a groan which made Jake snicker.
"Long day?"
"Long week..."
Jake put his hand on William's shoulder and they left to go into the kitchen.
"Tell me all about it."
"I think he's been most excited for William to arrive," Mia quipped to her sister-in-law and Evelyn let out a gasp of hurt and she put a hand over her heart.
"And he wasn't excited to see me?" Evelyn fake pouted and Mia snickered a little.
"Oh I think he was," Mia laughed slightly as Evelyn sat down and Penelope made her way over to the library with more markers.
"You are getting so big," Evelyn told her niece and Penny smiled before walking into the library.
"He loves your kids too. I think it keeps him young again."
"Oi, I'm not that old," Peter yelled from behind them and the two women laughed.
"Really?" Evelyn asked with a smirk on her face. "I dunno dad. I think sixty-five is getting up there."
"Hi Evelyn," Peter greeted his daughter as he knew she was only joking. "Glad you and your family could finally make it," he teased.
"Hey, we're not the last ones here. Viv isn't here yet with Paul."
"Now that you mention it that's pretty bad first impressions, don't ya agree?"
"The absolute worst," Evelyn laughed and soon did her dad.
He gave her a hug and kissed the top of her head when William appeared again with Jake this time with a beer in his hand. He had a glass of water for his wife and she thanked him with a kiss.
"Where're the kids?" William asked as he glanced round the sitting room and not finding the golden trio.
"Sam and David took them into dad's library to decorate cards for mum," Evelyn told him.
"That's very sweet of them," William smiled softly at the thought.
Evelyn couldn't believe that Sam and David were eighteen years old and graduated from secondary school and were now starting classes at university. It felt like just yesterday they were four years old and meeting William. They were so innocent back then but as they grew older they started asking more questions about why their uncle and aunt couldn't always be with them. Why they would see people with cameras take pictures of their family. Their parents eventually sat them down along with William and Evelyn and answered all their questions. William had such a way of explaining everything to the kids that made it easy for them to understand and not so technical. Penelope was now nine years old and acted as if she were a big sister to Victoria and Caroline which was very sweet to see.
It warmed Evelyn's heart how William was with her family and their children. She always praised him and how amazing of a father he was to their kids. Not only were they meeting Paul tonight for first time but it was also Natasha's birthday. She was sixty-two years old today.
They heard the door open and her dad was now at the door making introductions with Vivienne and Paul.
"Hi again, Paul," Evelyn greets the surgeon who leaned in and gave her a hug.
Whilst they were around family, they never treated the duke and duchess as if they were royalty. It was just how they wanted it as they got enough of it as it was.
"Nice to see you again as well," he told her and then moved onto greet William.
"Since everyone is here why don't we go into the dining room?" Peter said loudly as he got everyone's attention.
"Yes, please," Natasha smiled. "I'm starving."
"Me too," Evelyn agreed with her mum and they all went in and picked out their seats.
Peter had made all of his wife's favourite foods for the dinner as this was after all her day. It was April twenty-third and whilst that was Evelyn's gift for her mum was the painting of her wedding day bouquet, the grandkids made her some handmade parcels that William had placed amongst the rest of the parcels. Since it was April twenty-fifth it also meant that in two days would be Anzac Day. It would be the first time Evelyn would be at a long engagement since finding out she was pregnant. William already seemed like a chicken with his head cut off as he was running round in every which direction making sure they had everything needed to make sure nothing happened to Evelyn and baby.
"I'd like to propose a toast," Peter said as he raised his glass of wine and sat next to wife. "Here's to you, my darling. It's been the greatest honour of my life having you by my side and I hope there are many more years. I love you. Happy Birthday, cheers!" He said to everyone as he looked directly at his wife and leaned forward to kiss her.
"Aww cheers! Happy Birthday, mum!" Could be heard round the table as they all clinked their glasses together.
"Happy Birthday, Natasha," Paul told Natasha.
"Thank you everyone for being able to make it tonight. Especially you, Paul," Natasha smiled at all her loved ones round the table.
This dinner was exactly what she wanted. All of her favourite people under one roof and a house filled with love, laughter and warmth.
"Are those parcels for me?" Spencer asked his dad rather loudly as he tried sounding out all the words in his sentence.
William laughed at his son's comment and shook his head. Those around them laughed as well.
"No, Spencer. They're for nana. It's her birthday today, remember?"
"Oh, yeah," he said as his little shoulders deflated and he had a pouted look on his face.
"Hey Spencer," Natasha called his grandson and his head perked up and he turned to look at her.
"Yeah?"
"D'you want to help me open up the parcels later on?"
"Really?" He asked with excitement.
"Of course," Natasha smiled at him.
"Yes pwease," he said quieter with a smile on his face.
"Excellent," she smiled at him as well. "So Paul, you work at the same hospital as my daughter?"
He cleared his throat and reached for his water glass to take a sip before answering.
"Yes, I do. I'm also a surgeon there and that's how we met."
"What speciality do you work in?" Eric asked.
"Cardiology."
"Nice," Eric nodded his head as he liked the answer.
"Did you always know you wanted to be a surgeon?" Natasha asked him.
"No, I actually didn't," he let out a small laugh and Vivienne held his hand underneath the table. "I actually rebelled against the idea of becoming one when I was in my last year of secondary school. My dad was also a surgeon so it seemed like the obvious choice that I would become one as well."
"What did you want to do instead?"
"Join the military," he shrugged his shoulders. "So I did. Right after I graduated secondary school, I enlisted. I did that for a few years before deciding to go to medical school. The military paid for it and I became a surgeon for the military first."
"Wicked," Theo grinned. "Badass mate."
"Thanks," Paul smiled at him. "You and William were in the military too, right?" He asked Eric.
"Yeah, I'm still in the military but he retired to become a full-time Royal," he rolled his eyes playfully. "How boring."
"Eric," Natasha said quietly to her son and William snickered.
"What was your unit?" Paul asked intrigued.
"RAF Search and Rescue Force," he tells him. "I do miss flying," William admitted. "But whenever we can, I try to fly my family in the helicopters. You?"
"Fifteen Squadron Regiment," Paul tells him as the rest of the family listens.
Evelyn knew how much her husband missed the military life and she missed it too. It was nice talking with other veterans or those actively serving about their time in the military. It gave a sense of belonging. A purpose.
*
"I think it's going quite well," Evelyn said to Vivienne as their dad had pulled Paul aside quietly for just the two of them to talk.
"You think?" Viv asked nervously as she bit her lip anxiously as she glanced at the library door.
"I know," Evelyn smiled and wrapped an arm around her younger sister's shoulders. "He seems like a good guy and I know that's all dad wants for you and for you to be happy."
"Thanks sis," she hugged her back and then they continued chatting.
Evelyn spotted her favourite devils on horseback and she made sure to grab quite a few of those. She took a bite of it and moaned quietly as she took more bites. This was definitely what she had been craving and just what she needed. Even though they had just eaten, Evelyn was still hungry.
"These are so good mum," Evelyn told her mum. "Did you get these from our favourite pub restaurant?"
"No, actually I made them," Natasha grinned.
"Your kidding!"
"Not at all. Found a recipe online and tried them out."
"Can you send it to me? I love these."
"Of course I can," Natasha smiled at her daughter.
They then gathered round in the sitting room as Natasha was about to open parcels from everyone.
"Spencer d'you want to come help nana open the parcels?" Natasha asked as Ellie got her mobile out to take pictures and so did Evelyn.
"Yes," he nodded his head with excitement and went up next to the fireplace as Natasha opened up the parcels.
*
"D'you think the rumours are true?" Evelyn asked her husband as she drank her water and watched their kids play in the back garden as they chased each other.
They always let them play out in the back garden once they were done with their homework as it helped to tire them out. It was the perfect way to do so. The tabloids were printing non-stop things about Meghan in regards to her past. Meghan had told them when she first met them that she had never heard of the Royal family before and didn't know anything about them. Now, there was a picture of her younger with her friend and they were in front of Buckingham Palace with big smiles on their faces.
"I mean, they have to be, right?" William asked his wife as he looked at her. "There's solid proof that she's been to Buckingham. But my question is - why lie about it? It just makes you look dumb."
"Not to mention silly. I know we don't know her reasoning by telling us the lie, but I just don't get it. I mean, I knew of you but I didn't know you at the time when we younger. Maybe that's what she meant?"
"I don't know, Evelyn," William let out a frustrated sigh. "Just doesn't make sense. She specifically said 'I've never even heard about the Royal family before.' Meaning there had no mention of us. Unless she lived under a rock her whole life, I find that pretty hard to believe."
"Me too," Evelyn said in agreement. "Don't you find it odd that Harry nor us has yet to meet her whole family? I know we've met Doria and she seems very nice but it's just something I found interesting..."
"Evelyn the whole thing is odd if I'm being honest. But I feel as though I have to put on a fake front for my brother and act as though I'm happy for him because he was that way for us."
"I know," Evelyn felt bad for her husband and she moved to sit on his lap as his arms protectively wrapped around her. "I'm sorry I just don't know the right thing to say all the time. Because this isn't our normal family wedding..."
"It's okay, Evelyn," he told his wife as he brought her closer. "Just you being here for the kids and doing your job as a duchess and loving me is more than enough. You shouldn't have to always know what to say. I just have a feeling in the pit of my stomach that it's going to get a lot worse from here on out."
"I love you, William, and the kids love you as well. You have so much in life to be grateful for. Let's try to focus on the things we can change and not the things we can't. Sound good?"
"Sounds good," he nodded his head in agreement. "I love you too, Evelyn."
He leaned down slightly and met her halfway in a sweet kiss as her soft lips met his.
"I'm going to go pick some flowers out of the garden," Evelyn told her husband and got up from his lap. "Kids?" She called out to her children and they stopped playing and looked up at their mum. "D'you want to help mummy pick some flowers?"
She gathered her gardening gloves and some scissors for the flowers to clip them.
Alex was the only one who wanted to help his mum out as the twins wanted to continue to play and William walked over to them to play with them.
"What d'you think, Alex? What flowers should we pick?"
He looked round the garden at all the flowers and had a rather thoughtful expression on his face as he thought about which ones to pick.
"These ones," he pointed to the Hyacinths.
"Excellent choice, Alex. Which colours should we pick, hm? Maybe the cream coloured ones?"
"Yes," he nodded his head. "And the lavender ones and blue ones."
She clipped the ones he chose and put them in the basket.
"Any other ones?" Evelyn asked her son as she clipped some pink peonies.
"Tulips," he said with excitement.
"Excellent choice. D'you think red tulips?"
"Yeah and orange."
"Okay," she nodded her head and put them in the basket.
She also clipped some ranunculus persian buttercups and put them in the basket.
"I think we are done. Good job Alex," she high fived her son and got up from the ground, dusting off the dirt from her knees. "Ready to go back to your siblings?"
"Yeah," he nodded his head and ran ahead of his mum.
*
Evelyn had seen the articles. Mainly because Lara Clarke had brought them to her attention. People were wondering why she hadn't been seen in weeks and if she had, it wasn't for a charity engagement. They were starting to get suspicious, but it was too soon to tell the world. Bloody hell, they hadn't even told their family except for Kate, Vivienne and The Queen!
Evelyn had to go to Aldi's to get some food that they were running low on. So she went in her car and left, not needing Emma for the day as she was only going to be gone for less time.
*
She bumped into a cart and whilst she was about to apologise when she looked up and noticed a familiar blonde that she hasn't seen since her wedding day.
"Hi," Chelsy broke the awkward silence.
"Hi," Evelyn cleared her throat and then there was another silence. "I hate that this is awkward," she told her former good friend.
"I do too," Chelsy nodded her head. "How're you?"
"I'm doing well. And you?"
"Same. D'you have time to go to a bakery and chat?" Chelsy asked the duchess.
"I have some time," Evelyn agreed. "D'you want to buy your groceries first?"
"Yeah," Chelsy nodded her head.
"Does Miel Bakery work for you? It's not far from here..." Evelyn said to the blonde.
"That works," she gave her a small smile and they both waited in line to checkout.
*
They had decided to meet at Miel Bakery which had recently become a favourite of the duchess.
"Bonjour Your Royal Highness," the owner greeted the duchess.
"Bonjour," she smiled at her. "Comment allez-vous?" (Hello, how are you?)
"Comme ci, comme ça," Celeste, the owner of Miel Bakery told her. "I see you brought a friend," she said as she noticed the blonde with her as she spoke with her heavy French accent. (Okay)
"I did," Evelyn gave her a small smile. "She's an old friend. Her name's Chelsy."
"Nice to meet you Chelsy," Celeste smiles at her.
"You as well," Chelsy smiles back.
"Would you like your usual, Duchess?" Celeste asked.
"Please," Evelyn nodded her head. "Can I have double the amounts? I'll take some home as a treat for the kids and William."
"Of course," Celeste agreed. "And for you, Ms.?"
"What's your best seller?" Chelsy asked as she had never been here before.
"The pistachio financier and our lemon loaf cake," Celeste told her. "Depends if you want something sweet and nutty or something citrusy."
"I really love both of them," Evelyn told her. "But I've quite fancied the pistachio financier as of lately."
"I'll have that then," the bubbly blonde told the owner.
"Excellent choice. They'll be right out as well as your to-go baggie," Celeste told Evelyn. "D'you want to put it on the same tab or pay separately?"
"On the same tab is good," Evelyn told her.
"Are you sure?" Chelsy asked, gobsmacked. "I can pay. I did after all ask you if you wanted to go somewhere."
"It's okay," Evelyn smiled at her. "I want to."
"Will it be card or cash, duchess?" Celeste asked the blonde.
"Card please," she smiled and then inserted her card into the machine and signed.
"I'll be right out with your desserts," she told the two women and gathered some saucer plates and picked out the best looking ones for them. She looked for where they were sitting and it was pretty empty in the bakery right now which was just how the duchess liked it.
"Thank you, Celeste," Evelyn thanked the owner as she set them down along with forks for them.
"Of course," she smiled at them both. "Let me know if I can get you both anything else."
"We will, thank you," Chelsy thanked her before she left.
"Are you coming to the wedding in May?" Evelyn asked the blonde cautiously but since this was the only time to ask she might as well.
"Harry didn't tell you?" She asked a little shocked. Harry and Evelyn told each other everything from what she remembered.
"Tell me what?" The blonde asked as her eyebrows furrowed.
"I am going," she gave a small, strained smile. "I'm surprised he didn't tell you..."
"We don't talk like we used to," Evelyn gave a small, strained smile back.
"I'm sorry I never called you. After the break up, I mean. It was just hard but it wasn't right for me to do that," Chelsy apologised to Evelyn.
"Thanks," Evelyn gave a kind smile this time. "I'm sure all this must be even more weird for you."
"Yeah, it kinda is. I mean, we both moved on, but that doesn't mean that I don't think that it could've been us. Even if I didn't want all this..."
"I get it," Evelyn reached her out and squeezed her hand reassuringly and then they continued eating their treats.
Because the truth was she did get it. She understood the pressure from the media and how there was no privacy. It was hard. It was still hard for Evelyn to this day but she never complained about it the way Meghan did. There was no need to as it was always going to be that way. No one person could change something that has been that way for years.
"Would you like to meet the kids some day soon before the wedding?" Evelyn asked her.
"Would Harry mind?"
"He shouldn't," Evelyn told her. "But if it makes it easier we can do the meeting at our home in Surrey. That way you don't have to chance running into him."
"I'd like that. I'd like that very much," Chelsy let out a small laugh as a few tears clouded her eyes and she thought about what could have been.
"Tell me what you've been up to since we left off," Evelyn said to her former friend and so she did.
Chelsy told her that she was starting a jewelry business and that she would love for Evelyn to come to an event sometime. Evelyn told her about all three kids and how William has been. There was zero talk about Harry and Meghan. There was something inside of Chelsy that she could just tell was a touchy subject and decided not to ask the duchess about it. Besides, she had to earn that right again to be given private information like that. It wasn't just something that came automatically.
"Oh my God," Evelyn's eyes widened at the time. "I didn't realise we have been sitting here for two hours."
The two women let out small giggles and they stood up. Evelyn was given her desserts in a to-go bag and she gave Celeste a big hug. Thankfully, Evelyn didn't have any groceries in the car that required being frozen and she didn't have milk, so she was all good. They walked out to their perspective cars and exchanged phone numbers. Evelyn still trusted Chelsy as she never did anything to lose that trust. Even after Chelsy broke up with Harry, she never spoke to any tabloids for money on what it was like dating him or what his family was like.
Evelyn sent a quick text to her husband after she noticed he had written her five different times wanting to know where she was. Normally, it didn't take her long to get groceries so he was a little worried.
*
"How're you and your family doing?" Evelyn asked Beatrice as they sat in Apartment 1A and drank their tea whilst Alex was at school the twins stayed home today.
They were keeping each other entertained and playing with their toys as they were talking and babbling to each other. Evelyn making sure to keep an eye on them but also giving them space to play.
"You mean amidst the scandal with my dad?" Beatrice asked her best friend. "Okay for the most part. Though its been hard on my dad and Eugenie most of all. But you know that."
"Yeah," Evelyn let out a sad sigh. "I'm so sorry what you guys are going through. I wish I could do something but my hands are tied."
"I know," Beatrice gave her a strained smile. "I just - it hurts my heart knowing that there is a possibility that my dad was involved with those girls. You know? I think Eugenie is more in denial than me because that's our dad. You want to believe that he's innocent because you're innocent until proven guilty. But there's so much proof that he was involved and it literally sends shivers down my spine. Literally makes me physically sick that sometimes if I think about it too much, I throw up."
"Aww Bea," Evelyn set her tea cup down and brought her in for a hug as she rocked her back and forth. "I can't promise you that it will all be okay in the end because none of us know that. But I can promise you that William and I will be there for you and your mum and even Eugenie even if she doesn't want us to be. Or even if sometimes you hate us too because we can't do anything to help."
"Thanks love," Bea smiled at her best friend and hugged her back as she wiped her tears that had fallen during Evelyn's speech to her. "Mind if I play with your kids now?"
"Please," Evelyn let out a tiny laugh and joined Beatrice.
"Come on mummy," Alexander squealed as he saw his mum and cousin Beatrice join them.
"What're you playing?" Evelyn asked her kids as they bent down to get comfortable on the ground.
"Cars," Spencer yelled with excitement. "Here," he said handing his mum a red car and Beatrice a blue car.
"Thanks bubs," Evelyn kissed his cheek.
They acted as if the small table in the sitting room was a race track and they zoomed the toy cars along to see who would win. Victoria loved playing cars with her brothers. Really anything that didn't involve her being left out.
"We need a bigger ramp," Alex said as he started thinking. "What about the stairs?"
"Yeah," the twins agreed and Evelyn snickered at her kids and held onto the twins hands as Alex guided Beatrice.
William and Evelyn were okay with their kids playing with anything that didn't cause them harm or break anything important.
"How about Bea goes first," Alex declared. "Then mummy. Me then Tori and Spence," Alex said and they all agreed. "But we can't pick up the cars until all of us have gone."
"To see who wins?" Beatrice asked and he nodded his head.
Beatrice went first like Alex instructed and her blue car went pretty fast and far. Evelyn went next and her red car was just slightly behind Beatrice's. Alex's was further than his mum's. When it was Victoria's turn her car was tied with Alex's then Spencer went and he lost.
"Bea won," Alex pouted.
"It's okay to not win all the time," Evelyn consoled her son. "Besides, we have more times to try."
William and Evelyn really tried to instill in their children that they couldn't get everything they wanted or win all the time. They didn't want their children to become spoiled but at the same time they knew that kids would be kids and they would pout.
"D'you guys want to play Jenga now?" Evelyn asked everyone.
"I want to," Tori nodded her head.
"Okay, I'll be right back. Can you please watch them whilst I get the game, Bea?" Evelyn asked her cousin.
"Course," she smiled and continued playing with them.
https://www.harrods.com/en-us/shopping/saint-laurent-silk-pussybow-blouse-18870201
^ this is the blouse Evelyn wears to her mum's birthday party.
If you are wondering this is the inspiration I got for the painting that Evelyn painted her mum. If you know who the painter of this painting is, your awesome! If you don't its camilla creations :).
Hope you enjoyed my day late Christmas gift to you all and hope you all had a Happy Christmas!
Also Anzac Day will be the next chapter. How do you think that will go?
Also for those wondering who plays Paul this is who - Jesse Williams.
Xx.