"I've learned that it's all about choice. You can choose to turn regrets into lessons that change your future.
-Ali Harris
"Darling what's the matter?"
Debbie looks at her parents, "When I was a little girl I use to wish you and my dad would get married again and I would have a younger brother or sister. I'm just feeling a little overwhelmed that my wish became a reality".
"Oh sweetheart", says Irene holding her tighter.
When Debbie collected herself she ask them why the wedding was so quick when there was eight months left till the baby came.
"We've wasted too many years being apart we want to be married as soon as possible", answers her father.
Debbie understood their reasoning her parents loved each other and were happy to be starting a new life together. A part of her was feeling sad that she never got to experience a childhood with two loving parents. Then she realise as horrible as things were for her growing up it made her into the strong woman that she was today. She knew she would never resent her sibling for having two loving parents throughout its whole life. She also knew right now in this moment she had a mother and father who loved her to bits and that was enough for her.
"That's understandable" She replies.
Debbie hugs her parents again then take her leave deciding any in depth discussions about Antonio's birthday party will happen at another time. She wanted her parents to enjoy their little bubble of happiness for as long as possible.
She went to her bedroom and change into a lilac playsuit with ballet flats. She was removing her makeup when Antonio walks into the room.
"I'm going to be a big sister".
Antonio pause holding the tie he was removing at a weird angle, "What did you just say?"
"Mum is pregnant and that's not all they're getting married in couple weeks".
Antonio sits on the bed taking his tie and his jacket off before answering Debbie.
"Wow that's just wow, so Denmark will have a queen and you will no longer be an only child. I'll love to see Anette's face when the news is made public. A black queen the first for a European monarchy Denmark is truly progressive. How do you feel about the baby and marriage?"
"I'm genuinely happy about it my dad get to see his child grow up that has to mean more to him that his crown. He and my mother can go on engagements together at last and she can support him in public which I'm happy about. You and I both know how tiring and gruelling tours can be. I'm happy he has that support in mum now".
"You're a good daughter come here", Debbie walk over to Antonio and he hugs her, "You've a good heart".
They stay in an embrace for a while before Antonio change into blue jeans and a olive shirt, he clips his sunglasses onto the front of his shirt. He takes Debbie's hand and they walk to the nursery and get Johan and Isabelle then go for a walk around the vast palace grounds with them.
That evening Debbie, Antonio, her grandfather and her parents celebrated the two important events that was to take place in the coming weeks and months.
Debbie knew that her father told his brother about the baby but not his children. Her mother wasn't past the three month mark yet and they didn't know if any of Anette's children was still speaking to her. They didn't want her knowing palace information she could sell. She would find out like everyone else about the baby by reading the newspaper.
Debbie's grandfather stands up, "I just want to say how happy. I'm for my son and his fiancée who I've gotten to really know over the past couple months. You both deserve your happiness and I'm glad you have it now".
Debbie never told Antonio the whole story of what her grandfather did to cause her parents to split up. She wanted to protect her grandfather and didn't want her husband to look down on him in any way.
"Thank you dad", says Alexsander.
"Yes they do and I can't wait to meet my brother or sister it's crazy my sibling and my kids will be less than two years apart".
"He/she will have playmates their age that can only be a good thing", says Antonio.
"Have you started wedding dress shopping yet mum?"
Irene looks at Debbie across the dining table, "I thought we could go dress shopping together although I saw a dress from a designer's look book I really like".
"We can bring the designer to the palace I take it it's a Danish one".
"Of course".
The dinner was a happy and joyful occasion for everyone involved. Debbie had gotten used to not sharing information with her cousins and not seeing them at family occasions like this. Her father's family and his brother's family were two separate entities that overlapped every now and then.
When the news broke her father was getting married it became breaking news on every tv channel. The country was excited their lonely prince turned king wasn't lonely anymore. When the day of the wedding was given the people were unhappy not to see a big royal wedding taking place. When they were told the blessing would be a big public occasion in a church with a carriage ride after they were happy.
On the day of the wedding crowds gathered outside the town hall to see their king and soon to be queen. When Debbie and Antonio enter the town hall the cameras that were following them to broadcast the ceremony live was everywhere. The country had been enthralled by the romantic story of the king and queen who had a second chance at love. They talk about how you could see the genuine love between them and how happy Debbie must be to see her parents reunited.
When the ceremony began Debbie takes Antonio's hand she was acting as one of her mother's bridesmaid along with Victoria who was now like a sister to her. Her mother's two best friends daughters were also bridesmaids with them.
As the words were spoken to marry her parents Debbie looks deeply into Antonio's eyes and smile remembering their wedding day. When the ceremony was over she gave her mother her wedding bouquet back.
Debbie watch her parents walk out the building to deafening cheers. She and Antonio follow behind them after a few minutes. The wedding reception was packed it was weird for Debbie to hear her mother called your majesty for the first time.
The day of Antonio's surprise party arrived and both he and Debbie were free for the day they spent the early morning making love. While Antonio was showering Debbie made him his favourite breakfast a full English, he became hook on it from the first time he tried it. She put bacon, sausages, cut tomatoes on three separate trays in the two ovens in her state of the art kitchen.
She then walk over to the coffee machine, being Spanish Antonio enjoyed astringent espresso with steam milk. She bought a state of the art coffee machine with a steamer when they started dating for him.
She got everything ready for him to just press go on the coffee machine when he walked in the kitchen.
She was getting the tomatoes out the oven when Antonio appears in the kitchen in his robe.
"Something smells good".
"I'm making you a full English breakfast". His eyes lights up and he walks over to her and kisses her.
Debbie put the tea towel on the kitchen table and Antonio grabs her and kisses her passionately. Debbie response to the kiss just as fiercely.
He stop kissing her and rest his forehead on hers, "Thank you for making me breakfast".
"You're welcome".
They start kissing again and Antonio takes her on the kitchen table when the lovemaking was over Debbie goes and brushes her teeth again. She and Antonio share a shower and walk into their bedroom with big smiles on their faces. They both put on their robes then sit down to breakfast after they disinfect the kitchen worktops.
Antonio takes a bite of a sausage, "It's not as dried out as I thought it would be".
"That's because I turned the oven down to low babe before we started fooling around".
After breakfast they get ready for the day Debbie wore the olive dress she wore when Antonio proposed to her. She knew he liked seeing her in that colour. Antonio was wearing blue jeans and a light blue shirt over a blueish-black blazer which Debbie picked out for him.
They went and said hello to the children then feed and dress them for the day. Debbie was weaning them both and was now giving them homemade baby food.
They took the children for a walk as they often did when they woke up early or had no engagements for the day.
Debbie had Theo and Greg take Antonio out for lunch so she and David could put the final touches together for his birthday party.
Only two chapters left guys.